Card players gather for Magic: The Gathering

Russo’s Bookstore is known to hold an array of events to attract more business by giving the community a place to bond over a common interest.

This Friday I watched over the guys and girls as they engaged countless hours of mental dexterity.

Click here to see The Gathering!

Girls’ Night Out

Girls Night Out

Women today have a lot more on their plates than ever before. With an abundance of responsibilities such as: work, school, and family, ladies have less time for socializing and even less time for relaxing. A girls’ night is a simple way to kill two birds with one stone. girls’ night out, or ladies’ night, can be described as a social gathering for a small group of girlfriends. The friends spend quality time together to catch up with one another. They engage in activities that are of interest to everyone. You can’t go wrong with the three basics: food, fun, and drinks! Also, despite popular belief, girls’ night out doesn’t have to start after sunset. There are plenty of day-time activities fof ladies to participate in.

Client receives facial treatment at Skinsations Medical Spa

Spa: One of the most common forms of quality girl timewould have to be going to the spa. Bakersfield is home to many options, Skinsation medical spa and EuroTan Spa are two of the more established spas within the city. Both establishments have made regular appearances in Bakersfield Life. A massage is one of the best ways to wind down.  Skinsation goes above and beyond by offering body wraps, body scrubs,  facials, and minimal medical procedures. EuroTan Spa, a subsidery of  Europhoria Spa & Solarium, provides massages along with tanning services, specialty facials, and waxing treatments. Many spas today offer hair and nail treatments to better serve customers. Planning ahead and researching various spas and any accompanying deals make preperation and execution easier, especially with groups of women.

Image provided by richlymiddleclass.com

Shop: There is no need to shop ’til you drop, but a little retail therapy never hurt. Even if it’s just a pair of gold hoop earrings, buying a gift for oneself is sometimes necessary. It can be viewed as a small token of self-appreciation for all of the hard work that only you know you do. Valley Plaza Mall is home to an ecletic mix of shops. However, the area can become very crowded and cause ones’ patience to dwindle. This defeats the purpose of having a girls’ night (or day). A more relaxing place to shop, or window shop, would be the Marketplace. The stores are more “high-end,” but there is more elbow room. Also, everybody seems to move at a slower pace. For the budget-minded, try to plan ladies’ night around sale days or shop from the clearance rack to catch a steal.

Dinner & Drinks: You can indulge in both or just stick to one. The possibilities are endless for where to eat. Different people have different taste buds. Sushi is enjoyed by many. Ichibans off of Gosford offers quality sushi dishes with affordable prices. Chilli’s, Olive Garden, and the Elephant Bar, all located within Bakersfield, give residents a range of restaurants and eateries to choose from. For a more energetic atmosphere, try Hooters, it gives you a reason to leave the kids at home. Hooters, like many eating establishments have bars installed for guest to wait or watch television. For those who find this less than desireable, downtown Bakersfield has an activ street life which makes bar-hopping a breeze. The Padre Hotel gets positive feedback for its ability to create a club-like mood. Que Pasa, though it caters to a different demographic, can be a blast with events like Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday. $2 tacos and half-priced drinks, need I say more?

Hooters waitresses serve up smiles in the form of chicken and beer.

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.