X Marks the Spot

Geocaching is modern day treasure hunting. The outdoor recreational activity can provide plenty of fun and entertainment for those who are looking for something new and interesting to partake in.

Firstly, treasure seekers typically use GPS through their mobile devices or a receiver in order to locate geocaches. Caches contain hidden treasures and a log to keep records of geocachers and the date the found the cache. If a treasure is removed, a new treasure of equal or more value must replace it. The goal is to trade items. You take something with you and leave something behind, like leaving your mark.

Caches are generally contained in pill bottles, military ammunition boxes, Tupperware and/or other storage containers. Little trinkets await whoever finds them.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
It’s always fun to find random objects in caches.

The coolest aspect of geocaching is that you’re finding something that someone else—someone you’ve never met but are now connected with—has left behind. You make your mark by entering your name or team name in a log with the date you found the cache.

There are caches everywhere and all over to find. It’s truly fascinating to look through the cache and examine the wondrous objects left behind by others for you to find. Bakersfield has several caches that you can find.

I suggest using this website http://www.geocaching.com/ to get started and learn more. To find others interested in geocaching with you, visit this page.  If you have a Smartphone, you can download the app by Groundspeak Inc. for $9.99 and it has great features and functions to aid your quest. It will show nearby caches, track your progress with interactive maps or compass view and more.

Geocaching can be thrilling and adventurous. It can also challenge you with obscure clues and messages left by others. It’s definitely a fun way to enjoy your day or evening if you’re tight on money and need something to do with friends. Best of luck, treasure seekers!

Entertainment in Beale Park

Williams is about to get on the slide.

According to Williams mom, he “enjoys himself “going down the slide.

Annie Williams, 34, who lives in Bakersfield, had brought his 18 month old son, Carson to play in this playground.

The Beale Park is considered a place of entertainment for a particular family. On Tuesday afternoon, April 23th, a family was entertaining themselves in this park.

According to Williams’ mom, he enjoys playing in the playground and watching other kids play.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
The Marketplace is a wonderful environment for friends and family, offering eateries, shopping, entertainment and a fantastic atmosphere.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Jill Miller, 42, holds onto her daughter Sabrina, 3 1/2, protectively as she touches the water of the fountain.

 

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Jill Miller, 42, keeps a watchful and loving eye on her daughter Sabrina, 3 1/2, as she plays by the fountain at The Marketplace.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Jill Miller, 42, gazes at the fountain with her 3 1/2-year-old daughter Sabrina.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Bakersfield’s Marketplace offers lovely landscape design by offering roses underneath an old style lamp.

 

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Jessica Sons, 16, and younger sister, Jenny Sons, 11, gaze out into the distance as they eat their frozen yogurt at The Marketplace.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Jessica Sons (middle), enjoys her sixteenth birthday alongside her siblings Jared Sons, 14, and Jenny Sons, 11.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Amanda Caldwell bites into her rainbow sherbet ice cream.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Mary-Kay beauty consultant Dolores Ventura assists Danielle Alcala in matching her color tone for liquid foundation.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Katelyn Prosser applies the finishing details of her eye makeup.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Mary-Kay specialist Dolores Ventura sets up a makeup palette for her guests.

 

When Bakersfield has nice weather, many residents enjoy being outdoors. The Marketplace is a family-friendly atmosphere for eating, shopping and entertainment. For a day with your best girlfriends, hosting a Mary-Kay makeup party may be exactly what you need. There is nothing quite like sharing good company, playing with makeup and making some new purchases to satiate your inner shopaholic.

Get a job. Career fairs are fun

A representative from the Masters in Business Administration program waits for interested students.

Students gather around company tables in search for job opportunities and internships during CSUB Career Day.

Students were offered free pens as an incentive to sign up for the Masters program. The future prospect of a high paying job isn’t enough for the modern student.

Sophomore Traci Schnaidt tries to keep her chin above the bar at the Marines table during Career Day.

Junior Biology major Cassandra Cortez gets some information from Sergeant Major Johnson.

The Magic’s in the Makeup

“‎Lipstick is really magical. It holds more than a waxy bit of color – it holds the promise of a brilliant smile, a brilliant day, both literally and figuratively.”
― Roberta Gately, author of Lipstick in Afghanistan

Bakersfield can seem repetitive and routine, especially when weekends are almost always spent downtown bar and club hopping. This past weekend my friends and I decided to try something new. Our remedy was to kick off the heels, ditch the club dresses and trade them for a day in.

I called up my friend Dolores Ventura, a Mary-Kay specialist, and setup a makeup party at my house. I hosted the get together in the backyard this past Saturday, April 27. The Bakersfield sun offered a warm and lovely day for the ladies and me as we took our seats.

We spent the afternoon sharing fond memories of our friendship as we learned new makeup techniques to enhance our favorite facial features. Dolores took us step by step on applying the makeup from the palettes she gave us. It was exciting to admire our new looks when everything was put on.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Mary-Kay Consultant Dolores Ventura (left) searches for the correct shade of foundation as Danielle Alcala (right) tests out a different tone.

Photo by: Athena Skapinakis
Katelyn Prosser applies Mary-Kay’s moonstone eyeshadow to complete her eye makeup.

The most fun aspect about makeup is the sense of confidence it can bestow. Of course, a woman should always be comfortable in her own skin, but there’s nothing wrong with a sassy shade of lipstick to shake things up every now and then.

Needless to say, we all bought many new products and didn’t feel guilty about our purchases—I do admit to misbehaving with my wallet the most out of my friends.

After the makeup festivities, we took a break to eat the pizza and hot wings we ordered. Days or nights in always require tasty carbs and a little ‘mixology.’ We played a quick game of trivia before calling it a day.   We accomplished several things that day: We applied makeup, we shopped and we had a damn good time being ladies.

To look up a local Mary-Kay beauty consultant and host your own makeup party, you can visit www.marykay.com and search for specialists in your area. You can also contact my Mary-Kay consultant Dolores Ventura at http://www.marykay.com/dolores.ventura/en-US/Pages/default.aspx?lcov=1

Eureka Burger Celebrates One Year in Bakersfield

Scene Setter: Eureka Burger is located at 10520 W. Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311. Eureka Burger celebrated its Steal the Glass night on April 18 and its one year anniversary on April 19.

Medium: Eureka Burger displayed the performances and specials for the two-day event on the bulletin board at the entrance of the restaurant. The Steal the Glass night was on April 18 and the one year anniversary was on April 19.

Portrait: “Eureka Burger has the best food and beer,” said Irene Sanders, 23, a Eureka Burger regular. “I had to come to Eureka Burger for its one year anniversary.” Photo of Sanders meal (Italian Caprese Burger and a draft Blonde).

Detail: Racer 5 was one of the specialty beers that was served on April 19 during the one year anniversary.

Detail: Eureka Burger’s Steal the Glass night on April 18th featured Firestone 805. If you order the beer that is featured on Steal the Glass night you get to keep the glass it was served in.

Action: Brandon Burch (left) and band-mate (right) performed at Eureka Burger’s Steal the Glass night on April 18. Burch played a mixture of cover songs and his songs.

Brent Brown performed at Eureka Burger’s one year anniversary on April 19. Brown played a mixture of cover songs and his songs.

 

The Empty Space Theatre Performs “Crimes of the Heart”

The lights come up on the house of Lenny Magrath, played by Amy Hall, as she returns home from visiting her ailing grandfather while he is in the hospital in The Empty’s Space Theartre’s performance of “Crimes of the Heart” written by Beth Henley and Directed by Bob Kempf.

A single candle is lit on a store bought cookie by Lenny Magrath who lives with her now hospitalized grandfather.

Lenny Magrath sits at her kitchen table and reflects on the fact that, during all the commotion of her sister’s shocking crime and her grandfathers ailing condition, no one has remembered her birthday. Despondently, she lights a lonely candle in a store bought cookie and sings “happy birthday to me,” softly to herself.

Chick Boyle, also known as chicken to the sisters, is a southern socialite played by Jennifer Maddern (right). She scolds her cousin Meg Magrath, played by Cody Ganger (left), about her leaving for California after Meg’s free spirited ways nearly got Meg’s old boyfriend, Doc Porter killed and the shame it brought to Chick.

Babe Magrath,played by Ellie Siversind (left), describes the illicit affair she has been having with a 15 year old African American boy they use to know as children.Confiding in Meg (right) what it feels like to be truly loved by someone.

Babe’s lawyer, Barnett Lloyd, played by Matthew Borton, arrives at the Magrath home and reveals to Meg the long history of abuse that Babe has suffered from the hands of her husband.

Babe (left), after being confronted by Meg(right) about the abuse she has endured from her husband, reenacts the scene of the crime.

Doc Porter, played by Brian J. Siversind, and Meg Megrath, played by Cody Ganger, realize that after years of separation, they still feel deeply for one another. However, Doc has a wife and two small children, and decides to remain with his family over rekindling his romance with Meg.

Babe looks horrified at the picture given to her by Barnett Lloyd, after coming back from the hospital to see Babe’s Husband’s incriminating evidence. She discovers that the affair between the young boy and her has been uncovered by her husband.

Lenny (left) and her sister Babe (right) consoling each other after finding out that their grandfather has slipped into a coma and may not have long to live.

Chick Boyle is mortified when she discovers that Meg and Doc Porter spent the night in the country together and the scandal it brings to the family.

Lenny (center) kicks Chick out of the house and is then surprised by her sisters, who bring out a birthday cake.

The three sisters make a toast with their own big slice of cake to the uncertain future ahead of them. Knowing that whatever may come their way they still have each other.

The play ends with the Magrath sisters coming together in solidarity and in support of one another’s future. Overcoming past scars they had inflicted upon each other and the tragic suicide of their mother in their younger years, the sister stride forth into an uncertain future, more confident in their love, even though it came a day late.

“The Good, The Bad and The Judges,” Tour at Historic Union Cemetery Fascinates Public

“THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE JUDGES,” TOUR AT HISTORIC UNION CEMETERY FASCINATES ALL AGES.

Tours of the Historic Union Cemetery and more information on their events can be found at http://www.UnionCemetery1872.com

COL. THOMAS BAKER’S OBELISK EXEMPLIFIES HIS DEDICATION TO MAKING BAKERSFIELD LIVE FOR ETERNITY.

Judge Benjamin Brundage (1834-1911) was instrumental in relocating Kern County’s seat from Havilah to Bakersfield.

A stroll through the emerald golf course grounds of Union Cemetery Saturday morning, April 27, for “The Good, The Bad, and The Judges,” tour was fascinating. It was a special tour of the Pioneers Section where Bakersfield’s founding fathers are buried.The City of Bakersfield is named after Col. Thomas Baker, who was an attorney, a judge, and served as a senator from Fresno and Tulare counties 1861-1862. He loved the land and with Harvey Brown, bought swamp land in 1863 that is now Bakersfield.  He is one of ‘The Good,” as well as one of “The Judges”. His profound knowledge and foresight was instrumental in the creation and promotion of Bakersfield and the welfare if it’s residents.

Benjamin Brundage, (1834-1911) was Bakersfield’s first Superior Court Judge. The original Kern County seat of government was in Havilah, but Brundage fought hard to have the seat of government permanently moved to Bakersfield.  Brundage Lane is named in his honor.

RALPH M. FARISS, IS ONE OF THE “BAD” (1889-1915).

Peggy Schrader tells tour group about the infamy of one of  Bakersfield’s trouble makers, Ralph M. Ferris (1889-1915). Ralph, a resident of Bakersfield, was hanged in San Quentin in 1915 after he committed a train robbery in which  he shot and killed Horace E. Montague, December 1, 1913 near El Monte, CA. 

       

VICKI SCHALLOCK DESCRIBES SHOOT OUT BETWEEN ANOTHER “BAD”– PERCY DOUGLAS AND THE “GOOD” CHIEF EDWIN L. WILLOW.

 

EDWIN L. WILLOW WAS A MAN WHO WORE MANY HATS–OWNER OF WILLOW FURNITURE, DEPUTY SHERIFF, AND FIRE CHIEF.

UNION CEMETERY IS 141 YEARS OLD, AND PRESENTLY UNDERGOING RECONSTRUCTION.

LAST YEAR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD DECLARED UNION CEMETERY A HISTORIC SITE–RENOVATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

GROUNDS KEEPER, ROBERT GALAVIZ TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN RESTORING THE BEAUTY TO UNION CEMETERY.

JIM MCCONNELL WELCOMES VISITORS TO UNION CEMETERY.

As one of the grave stones reads:

 “ Reader, Behold! As you pass by, As you are now, So once was I, As I am now, so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me.”

CSUB Runners Defeat Fresno State

On Tuesday April 23, the California State University Bakersfield baseball team played Fresno State at Hardt Field and were victorious. After beating Fresno just a week prior, Fresno was looking to redeem themselves but unfortunately they fell short of the win. Admission to the game ranges from five to ten dollars depending on the section you choose and student admission is always free.

Fans showing support for the baseball players at Hardt Field on Tuesday the 23rd of April for the CSUB home game Vs. Fresno State. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

Hardt Field during the CSUB vs. Fresno State baseball game on Tuesday night the 23rd of April. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

Fans watch as CSUB plays Fresno State at Hart Field Tuesday the 23rd of April. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

 

CSUB fans and supporters leave the baseball game at Hardt Field after the victory over Fresno State 2-0. (Photo taken by Danny Gudino)

CSUB fans leave Hardt field after the victory over Fresno State Tuesday the 23rd of April. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

 

Senior couple who are Bakersfield residents wanted to remain nameless, but are showing support for the CSUB Runners at their home baseball game on Tuesday April 23rd Vs. Fresno State. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

 

CSUB students show their support and school spirit with this poster that encourages students to attend the baseball game Vs. Fresno State on April 23rd. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

 

CSUB baseball player #2 Oscar Sanay next at the plate at Hardt Field Vs. Fresno State on Tuesday the 23rd of April. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

CSUB player tries to get to first base after getting a hit off at Hardt Field. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

CSUB player #1 Jordie Hein steps up to the plate in hopes of getting a hit off on Tuesday the 23rd Vs. Fresno State at Hardt Field. (Photo taken by Danny Gudino)

#9 Cael Brockmeyer with a focused look on his face after scoring for CSUB Tuesday the 23rd of April Vs. Fresno State at Hardt Field. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

#21 James Barragan winds up for a pitch against Fresno State Tuesday April 23rd at Hardt Field. (Photo by Danny Gudino)

Entertainment in Bakersfield: Three High Quality Choices

Although we may all be under the impression that Bakersfield is just a small city, it is important to keep in mind that its entertainment sources are increasingly expanding throughout the years. When it comes down to narrowing choices for a weekend of entertainment in Bakersfield, the choices may be unlimited! It all depends on what you are looking for!

People enjoying a sunny day at the River Walk Park.
Source: http://www.rjmdesigngroup.com

 River Walk Park: If you are looking for a meditative experience, where you can reflect upon the recent events in your life, or simply reorganize your thoughts, then going to the River Walk Park located by Buena Vista Road and Stockdale Hwy, would be the most suitable choice. River Walk can be described as a recreational park in which you can contemplate wonderful nature features such as native plants, luxurious landscapes, and even lakes.

Padre Hotel Lounge Logo
Source: http://www.eventful.com

 

Padre Hotel Bar/Lounge: If you are really looking forward a place to distract yourself to get away from the ordinary stresses of the everyday life, embarking upon a wilder experience might be just the right choice for you. The nightclubs in Bakersfield may help you achieve this wilder experience in which you can rejoice yourself by socially drinking or dancing the night away in flashy platforms. A great place to embark upon this “wilder” experience is the Padre Hotel located at Bakersfield’s downtown. El Padre Hotel nightclub features all kinds of music every weekend, in a classy and trendy atmosphere at no cost to you.

People lining up to pay for their movie tickets.
Source: http://www.cinematreasures.org

Edwards Theater: But if the nightlife is not suitable to you, another wonderful place where to relax and enjoy of a stress-free environment is the theater! Watching a funny, romantic, or action movie isn’t a bad idea when it comes to trying to entertain ourselves. In fact, it may also serve for a higher purpose: inspiration. Inspiration may come by simply watching a conversation in a movie. Who knows? you might be able to expand your ideas on a story you would like to write in the near future. So what could it be better than killing two birds at once by entertaining and inspiring ourselves simultaneously? A wonderful theater to do so is the Edwards Bakersfield as it features the newest movies all the time, and it even offers discounts for College students on Tuesdays. It is conveniently located on Ming Avenue at the Marketplace.

So now whenever you find yourself debating in what to do for fun on an ordinary weekend, keep in mind these wonderful places! They could definitely offer you an upscale experience from which you can get away from the monotonous stresses of life.