FISHING FOR ENTERTAINMENT

Fishing at Bakersfield aqueduct with Darryl Carter a avid fishermen from Bakersfield.

DON’T WANT TO GET TOAST,HIT THE COAST

Photo provided by http://www.wildnatureimages.com

Bakersfield is one the hottest locations in the valley. Bakersfield gets extremely hot at the end of spring and the beginning of summer with temperatures reaching close to one hundred degrees and above. One way to beat the heat in Bakersfield and not get toast is to hit the coast. Santa Monica is my place to be when I want to beat the heat in Bakersfield. Santa Monica is only an hour and a half away and the breezy ocean water makes the temperature cooler. Not only is the weather in Santa Monica cooler, there are variety of activities to enjoy. Some of the activities to enjoy at the beach are jet skiing, surfing, or simply enjoy relaxing by the cool water. If you want to keep sand from between your toes, walk over to the Santa Monica Pier and enjoy the attractions it has to offer. Have a delicious lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants on the pier. My favorite restaurant whenever I go to the Santa Monica Pier is Bubba Gumps. They have a great drink menu and a fantastic lunch and dinner menu. One of my favorite dishes I recommend is their tasty popcorn shrimp and amazing dipping sauce! Great attractions I really enjoy are the arcade and carnival rides, it makes me feel like a kid again. And for a peaceful and relaxing attraction, bring your fishing gear and fish right off the pier where you can catch crab and fish. For more information about the Santa Monica, go to www.santamonica.com and for more information about the Santa Monica Pier go to www.santamonicapier.org.

EVERYONE IS V.I.P!!

Photo provided by http://www.prioritypass.com/Lounges

Looking to step out on the town with friends for some social time and cocktails? Check out the V.I.P lounge. The V.I.P lounge is located on 5460 California Ave in Bakersfield, Ca. The V.I.P. lounge has great tradition being one of the oldest bars in town. The V.I.P lounge has great drink prices, jukebox, darts and much more. The bar is small, so it gives you the ability to build a relationship with the bartenders on duty. The V.I.P lounge treat their customers really good. For football season, the bar keeps their customers coming back by providing free food. The bar has a very diverse crowed, which is due to its history here in town. The older crowed seems to occupy the spot much earlier than the younger crowed. The drink prices is one of the cheapest in town. Happy hour drink are half off any drinks from 4:00pm to 5:00pm everyday 7 days a week. I’m from Chicago and the V.I.P lounge just have everything I look for out of a bar. It doesn’t look like much on the outside or the inside, but looks are not everything. I met one of my really good friends at V.I.P lounge, and we make it a tradition to meet once a week for a cocktail. No matter if you want to go solo or with a group of friends, the V.I.P. lounge will make you feel like a very important person.

For more information about the V.I.P. lounge check out http://www.yelp.com/biz/vip-lounge-bakersfield.com or check them out on http://www.facebook.com.

Martini’s, More than a drink

Martini’s is a bar in Bakersfield, Ca and we are listening to Kareem Bland a bartender at Martini’s. He will be giving us insight on being a bartender at Martin’s “The feel good lounge”

PIN DOWN AT REGENCY

Looking for some entertainment? Roll down to Regency bowling. Regency bowling is a wonderful place for family and friends. Regency bowling has many different bowling leagues, if you’re looking for a little competition in Bakersfield. Regency bowling has amazing food and drinks at reasonable prices. I love bowling and with good food and friendly staff, I make Regency my #1 place to bowl in Bakersfield. Regency bowling is located 820 Real Rd or for additional information go to www.regencybowling.com

Ron Martinez entering Regency bowling for a league game, Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (Photo by Jon Bell)

Doug Miller getting ready to knock down some pins at Regency bowling Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (Photo by Jon Bell)

John Taylor assisting a family of four at Regency bowling Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (Photo by Jon Bell)

Bowler picking up the bowling ball at Regency bowling Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (Photo by Jon Bell)

Doug Miller rolling the bowling ball down the lane at Regency bowling Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (Photo by Jon Bell)

CSUB HOLDS THE 41ST ANNUAL SPRING BBQ

photo by Jon bell

The 41st annual CSUB Spring Barbecue will be held Thursday, May 9 on campus, outside the Icardo Center. The barbecue is held annually to help raise money for the Athlectic Deparment at California State University Bakersfield.

The CSUB Barbecue expects to have more than 3,000 people attending the event. That means there will be a massive amount of food. Six cases of teriyaki sauce, 300 pounds of pinto beans, 10 pounds of chili powder, 25 pounds of onions, 120 pounds of ground beef, 1,400 chicken breast, 2,400 12-ounce New York steaks, and 1,000 pounds of charcoal, according to Assistant Athletic Director Mark Mayes.

More than 75 volunteers from the community come out to make the fundraiser happen. Volunteers will consist of CSUB student-athletes and 40 members of the Bakersfield West Rotary. The members of the Bakersfield West Rotary help with cooking and serving the food. The student-athletes help with setting up and cleaning up the event. The community also gets the chance to meet and greet the student athletes.

“I always look forward to the CSUB BBQ. I remember volunteering when I played basketball here. It’s a time to mingle, especially if  you’re single,” said former basketball player Fred Nichols while laughing.

The inaugural fundraiser was held at the Police Pistol Range on Truxtun Avenue 41 years ago, with 300 attendees. For the next 25 years, the event was held at the Kern County Fairgrounds. In 2004, the barbecues moved to CSUB campus. “When the CSUB barbecue moved to  the campus the idea was to showcase the campus to the community,” said Mayes.

The Spring BBQ has more than 40 sponsors that either donate money or products to help offset the cost of putting the even together. Depending on how much money the sponsors donate, a booth is provided at the event promoting their business or product. Tejon Ranch has been donating to the CSUB Athletic Department for many years.

“The socializing, the good food, and the live bad sounds like a good time to me,” said Richard Daley, director of technology at Tejon Ranch.

A theme will be added to this year’s event, “Salute to the 80’s” will include a best outfit contest, trivia contests and live entertainment by the band Foster Campbell and Friends, which will play numerous hits from the 80’s and much more.

“the social aspect of the even along with great food has contributed to make this a popular event. People run into people they haven’t seen for years,” Mayes said.

General admission for the event is $30 pre-sale and $35 at the gate ont he day of the event. Pre-sale tickets will be available until the day of the students barbecue. Tickets are available on www.GoRunners.com and www.BillWright.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Vons and  Wells Fargo Bank locations throughout Bakersfield.

CSUB students ticket are $15 pre-sale and van be purchases at the campus cashier’s window or by calling 654-BLUE. Students’s tickets the day of the event are $18.

SHOWTIME IN BAKERSFIELD!

Looking for some entertainment that you or your family can enjoy? Check out one of the movie theater here in town. I have experienced majority of the cinemas in Bakersfield and I must say every time I go I leave extremely satisfied. Below is a description of three movie theaters in Bakersfield.

Edwards cinema in the Marketplace. (Photo by Jon Bell)

EDWARDS CINEMAS (Bakersfield Movies 14) – One of the best theaters in Bakersfield. Edwards cinema is located 9000 Ming Ave inside the Marketplace. Edwards cinema is surrounded by restaurants and shopping. A great place to bring the family or a date. To check out showtimes and additional information go to www.fandango.com/edwardsbakersfieldstadium14

Maya Cinema (photo by Jon Bell)

MAYA CINEMAS (Bakersfield Movies 16)-  One of the newest cinemas in town. The Maya is located 1000 California Ave few blocks away from the downtown area. The Maya is my favorite theater. It has reclining seats and for a few bucks more you  can upgrade to reclining seats that vibrate. The Maya has remarkable promotions throughout the week. Monday is Hot dog appreciation day where hot dogs are $1.25 and Tuesday is Family day,where all seats are $5.50 and 3D features are $8.50 all day. To check out showtimes and additional information go to www.mayacinemas.com.

Starplex Movie 6 cinema (photo by Jon Bell)

STARPLEX CINEMAS (Bakersfield Movies 6)- Starplex Cinema is the cheapest ticket in town. If you don’t want to pay the general admission of $9.50 or the matinée admission of $5.50 to see a movie when it first comes out, wait 4 to 6 weeks and you can see that same movie at the Starplex for just $1.00 (shows before 6:00pm).  Shows after 6:00pm tickets are $1.50 and on Tuesdays tickets are .75 cent all day. Starplex Cinema is located 4200 California Ave and has the best price in town. For showtimes and additional information go to www.fandango.com/bakersfield6

SPRINGING UP IS THE 41ST ANNUAL CSUB BBQ

Picture by CSUB Athletic Dept.

CSUB will be hosting their 41st Annual Barbecue Thursday, May 9 on campus  outside the Icardo Center. The Barbecue is held annually to help raise money for the Athletic Department at California State, Bakersfield.

The CSUB  BBQ is expecting to have more than 3,000 people attending the event. So that means it will be a massive amount of food present. The aroma of chicken and steak will be in the air as the grills are fired up. There will be stations set up around the event that will be serving alcohol beverages for those who are 21 and older. Tickets for alcohol will be for sale at the time of the event which kicks off at 5:30pm.

A ’80s theme will be added to this year’s event to spice things up. “Salute to the ’80” will include a best outfit contests and a live entertainment by the band Foster Campbell and Friends, which will play numerous hits from the ’80s and much more.

I have been to a couple of CSUB spring barbecues and the atmosphere is amazing. Socialization with your fellow classmates and meeting different people from the community is a great way to network while having fun. I plan on attending this year’s event as well.

General admission for the event is $30 Pre-sale and $35 at the gates on the day of the event. Pre-sale tickets will be available until the day of the barbecue. Tickets are available on www.GoRunners.com. Tickets can also be purchase at Vons and Wells Fargo Bank locations throughout Bakersfield.

CSUB students tickets are $15 Pre-sale and can be purchased at the campus cashier’s window or by calling 654-BLUE. Student’s tickets the day of the event are $18.

WALK INTO SOME ENTERTAINMENT!

Looking for a little outdoor entertainment? Grab some friends and family and head on over to the River Walk. River Walk is a park located at Buena Vista Road and Stockdale Highway. One of the main attractions at the River Walk is the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre, an amazing outdoor public performance venue. I been to many concerts at the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre and I must say its a mind-blowing experience. If you would like to check out a concert at the venue go to http://www.bakersfieldampitheatre.us/

Do you love to go fishing? Grab your pole and tackle box and head over to the lake at the River Walk. Fishing at the River Walk is great, I remember the very first fish I caught it was a 15 inch bass. The lake has many different kinds of fish Species, Rainbow Trout, Bass, and Blue Gills to name a few. The River Walk consist of two lakes. The upper lake has a surface area of 3 acres and the lower lake is 2 acres and has become one of the most popular fishing spots in town. If you want to find out more information about the fishing at the River Walk park check out  http://www.kernfishing.com/content/lakes.com

If fish is not on your menu? Pack up some hotdogs and hamburgers and occupy one of the barbecues the River Walk has available. Great for family and friend picnics. The River Walk is a great outdoor adventure for all ages and can be your next destination for entertainment.

photo by Caric S.