What to do when Bakersfield turns up the Heat

The Bakersfield heat has been known to drench its residents in sweat and give an overwhelming sense of desperation to escape. With the summer approaching quickly, all you will want to do is douse yourself with these three ways to beat the heat.

1. Just Keep Swimming

Hanging pool side with friends is an excellent way to beat the heat in Bakersfield.

In this town, the struggle is real. As the sun beats down upon you, it’s a true wonder that the sun hasn’t melted you yet. You need SPF 45 just to stay alive. The best way to beat the heat in Bakersfield is to cannonball right into your pool if you have one. If you don’t have a swimming pool to call your own, you may have to find a friend that does or venture out to Buena Vista Lake. It’s a short drive away and the parking fee is cheap if you’d like to take a group of friends out for a good time.

You can check out BV Lake’s facebook page here

2. Scream for Ice Cream

Image by flickr.com
Everyone loves ice cream on a hot day.

There are so many places you can get your ice cream fix around Bakersfield. One of my favorite choices is your neighborhood’s local ice cream man or the ‘La Rosa Man’ who sells those delectable Mexican popsicles. If you’d rather not wait around for either men and don’t have their pop-by schedules memorized you can head down to Dewar’s, Cold Stone’s, Baskin Robbins, RiteAid or a Sno Shack nearest you. Nothing cools you down like icy yumminess.

For a list of various ice cream places in Bakersfield, click here

3. Netflix, the AC and the wardrobe

Image by: Netflix.com
Netflix is a wonderful way to relax, stay out of the heat and bond with others.

Power your air conditioner on, throw on some light and breathable comfies and plop yourself how you see fit on your couch. Netflix’s streaming plan is only $7.99 month (and another $7.99 if you’re interested in the DVD plan as well). The instant streaming can offer a wide variety of movies and tv shows. You can find some real treasures with independent films, foreign films and the plethora of tv shows that Netflix has to offer. It’s all very easy to use, and it’s ideal for those days you don’t feel like wandering outside your house to get fried by the Bakersfield sun.

Click this link to sign up for your own Netflix account.

Fandango Movie Theatres Offer Cool Movies and Atmosphere at Valley Plaza Mall

One of the coolest things to do in Bakersfield when the weather heats up is to go to the movies. Fandango Theatre at Valley Plaza Mall is located at 2000 Wible Road, Bakersfield.  Offering 16 movie times and tickets daily, they show current blockbuster films all day long. The matinees are between 11:00 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., and are priced at $5.50 for all patrons. At 5:00 p.m. ticket prices change to $7.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and children. For more information go to www.fandango.com or call (661) 833-2230.

Fandango Movie Theatres offer cool family entertainment. Photo by: Wanda Winkler

You can grab a bite to eat while watching the movie. Candies, hot dogs, sodas, and of course, buckets of hot buttered popcorn are available in many sizes and prices, depending on your appetite.

Hot dogs, buttered popcorn, and sodas are delicious movie snacks. Photo by: Wanda Winkler

One of my favorite movies playing this weekend is Iron Man Three, 3D. It is the latest film in the trilogy and is full of adventure and famous stars like Robert Downing Jr., and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Iron Man Three in 3D is dynamite. Photo by: Wanda Winkler

Opinions and Comments about the movie were mixed.

“I really liked the first Iron Man the best because it was original and started out fresh,” Cameron Denny, 18, said.

  “For me, Iron Man Three is the best one so far,” Jackie Morgan, 28 said. “I think Robert Downey Jr. is so cute, and I love to see him in action,” Morgan said. 

Other action packed movies playing this week include: “Star Trek into Darkness,” which comes in 3D, and “The Great Gatsby” also available in 3D, “Pain & Gain,” and “Peeples”. Many of the people that work at the theatre also get to watch the movies  that are playing.

Manny Evangelista, 21, loves his job at Fandango. Photo by: Wanda Winkler

 

“I love my job at Fandango’s because we get good benefits, and nice discounts on our tickets. The people are very friendly and I like to greet them and help them with directions,” Evangelista, 21, said. He has only worked at the theatre for six months but he plans to stay there for a while.

You can also stay cool by walking through the air conditioned stores and restaurants next door to Fandango’s at The Valley Plaza Mall. Famous department stores offer excellent window shopping as you walk a mile or two just strolling the enclosed hallways. It is fun and the miles can add up by walking from one end of the mall to the other once or twice a week. There are no “mall walking fees,” so it might be more economical for people looking for inside walking with the added comfort of central air conditioning, to go to the mall. There is also disabled parking and bathrooms for wheelchair assisted persons. For more information go to: www.valleyplazamall.com or call: (661) 832-2436. Valley Plaza is located at 2701 Ming Avenue, Bakersfield.

Walk inside the air conditioned Valley Plaza mall to stay cool. Photo by: Wanda Winkler

For other great malls in your area go to: www.mallseeker.com. This site assists in finding malls and providing a list of stores that are located inside the mall.

Ask a Bakersfield Native About Fun in Town!

I interviewed Bakersfield native resident and CSUB student Vanessa Martinez about her idea of having fun in town.

 

Catching a Movie at Maya Cinemas Bakersfield 16

Catching a movie is an affordable and fun way to stay entertained in Bakersfield. Maya Cinemas is a local movie theatre that offers much more than blockbuster hits.

Power Rankings: Bakersfield’s top movie theaters

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re bored and on a budget just like me. So how do you stay in town and have a good time? For starters, you can see a movie.

Want to see a movie right now? Check out movie times, even buy tickets here: http://www.fandango.com/bakersfield_ca_movietimes

When it comes to watching a movie in Bakersfield, there are really only three options. I’ll rank them for you right now.

If you want to see a movie in Bakersfield, go to Edwards. Just look at it, Greek gods could live here. (Photo from bluefier.com)

1. Edwards Cinema (9000 Ming Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93311 Phone: [661] 663-3042): If there’s any place to be when you’re in the mood for a movie, it’s here. For starters, it’s a sight to see on the inside. It’s clean, and there’s an awesome bathroom upstairs if you’re willing to make the 30-second trek. On the outside, it’s just as good. The Edwards Cinema is located in the Marketplace, the biggest social hub in town. It’s in a nice part of town and there’s all kinds of food everywhere, which is always a plus. The only down side to this location is that on Friday nights, the place is crawling with eighth graders.
2. Reading Cinemas (2000 Wible Road, Bakersfield, CA 93304 Phone: [661] 833-2230): This places second on my list just because it’s better than what’s next. I like this one because it’s close to the mall, just in case you want to spend a lot of money when you’re done with your movie. Good luck finding a parking spot in the same time zone, though.
3. Maya Cinemas (1000 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93304 [661] 636-0484): This place is nice and spacious on the inside, complete with the best arcade selection on the list. If you’re going to see a movie here, go in an armored car… or a tank. Your movie-watching experience would be untouched as far as your satisfaction is concerned. That is, until you go outside. The Maya isn’t exactly in the best part of town, and is known for the robberies that go on in it’s parking lots.

These are my top three movie theaters here in town. However, there are two more that need mentioning: The Dollar Theater and Regency Theaters at the East Hills Mall. These are great if you’re feeling adventurous and brave or you want to shake off a terrible date.

Here’s the link to buy tickets at Edwards: http://www.fandango.com/edwardsbakersfieldstadium14_aaede/theaterpage

The Best Seat in Town

One of America’s favorite pastimes is going to see a show.  Whether you’re watching an action, drama or family feature; there’s fun for all at the movies.  One of Bakersfield’s newest cinemas is Maya Cinemas 16. 

Maya Cinemas Bakersfield 16 is located at 1000 California Avenue. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Maya Cinemas often hosts specialty days including: family, senior, and classic series day.

Allyson Johnson, 17, purchases her ticket to “The Croods” for the 8:45 p.m. showing. “I love Maya Cinemas because it’s the newest theatre in town and gives me something to do on a boring weekday night,” she said.

Tyler Scott, 18, takes movie tickets on Monday evening. Elizabeth Perez, 20, and Stephanie Montoya, 19, visit Maya Cinemas for a late night showing of “Oblivion.”

 

Maya Cinemas offers a full snack bar that sells the buttery icon that’s synonymous with the movies. They also serve drinks, pizza, ice cream, and candy.

 

Tyler Scott, 18, has been working at Maya Cinemas for 1 year. In addition to redeeming tickets near the front door he also works the snack bar. “I love working in the theatre, i get to see all the movies I want,” he said.