Halloween Prep Guide

BOO! Did I scare ya? Whether or not you celebrate Halloween, it is certainly that ghoulish time of year. With a bevy of brewings going on in Bako that are spook-related I thought I’d give you my top picks for the rest of the week to get you in the spirit.. err.. mood.

Wednesday, October 28th: Head to Metro Special Events, 2801 F Street, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. for The NeverEnding Comedy Show. Not only will you get laughs from local talent Brian Ross, Dane Forst, Ernesto Gomez, James Mongold, and Joe Alaniz, your holiday tie-in includes Witches! The continuing Burn the Witch all female group art show will be on exhibit to enjoy during the comedy performance. Admission to the 21 and over show is $5.00 and beer is available for only $2.50. Proceeds from the show benefit BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists). Go get your ha-ha!

Thursday, October 29th: Need an adrenaline rush? This might be a good night to head to Talladega Frights, located at Fruitvale-Norris Park (6221 Norris Road), and let the cast of crazy characters at this haunted house scare a little life out of you. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. every night this week. Admission is $12.00 at the door, but you may still be able to find $2.00 off coupons at one of the attraction’s sponsors. Visit http://www.talladegafrights.com/ for more information.

Friday, October 30th: FLICS at the Fox returns with a vampire-themed presentation that will thrill and chill you. Although the film includes young actors in the lead roles, this bloody but beautiful movie (according to on-line reviews) is not a children’s film—Let the Right One In is rated R. This is sure to be a popular draw—you may wish to get there well before the 7:30 p.m. showtime. Admission is $5.00. The Fox Theater is located at the corner of H and 20th Streets.

Saturday, October 31st: It’s Halloween! Grab your costume and head to the closing reception of Burn the Witch IV at Metro Special Events, 2801 F Street, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Check out the eclectic, the weird, the beautiful, the serene, the passion and the expressions that our local women artists have created. This is a great opportunity to purchase local artwork at very reasonable prices and support BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) and The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault. A costume contest is also on the agenda—along with food, wine and live entertainment. Admission is only $5.00.

After Burn the Witch, join the patio crowd at Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar, 3310 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 160, where Cinema Saturdays ends its October run with a zombie double-feature: Night of the Living Dead (original version) at 7:00 p.m. followed by the comedy-horror spoof, Shaun of the Dead at 8:45 p.m. Sit on the patio, meet some cool Bako peeps (or Tweeps!), enjoy a glass of wine, a delicious chocolate souffle or even a full course meal served by a most attentive and hospitable staff. Wear a costume & you'll even receive a sweet treat--A perfect end to your trick-or-treat week!

Happy Halloweenie! See you out there!!

Bako this week!

Food! Concerts! Rides! The Great Kern County Fair returns. BECA sharpens up for Saturday’s Band Razor. Last chance to catch The Kern Shakespeare Festival.

Believe it or not (and I know, it is very hard to believe), it is now fall and that means lots of activity in Bako as we get ready to head toward the holidays. Thankfully this week is not quite as crazy as last–(See this week’s slideshow to get an idea of some of last week’s frenzy of events)–because Bako might need a chance to breathe before we dive into the busy season.
However, I say this on a week when the Kern County Fair begins, the Shakespeare Festival continues, MetroGalleries hosts a concert, FLICS has a film offering and BECA hosts Band Razor–a show featuring several bands.

Of course, the biggest event of the week is the return of the Great Kern County Fair! My mouth is already watering for a corn dog, cinnamon roll, tri-tip sandwich, kettle corn, baked potato... Oh, and there’s concerts, rides, exhibits and family-friendly shows too. Wednesday night’s opening act is country singer Phil Vassar, Thursday it will be Tower of Power and Friday, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. All performances start at 8:00 p.m. on the Budweiser Pavilion. The concerts are free with fair admission: $8.00/adults, $3.00/ages 6-12, children under the age of 5 are free. Parking is $5.00. Fair hours are: Monday - Thursday 3:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.; Friday the 25th from 10:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Friday, October 2nd, 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.; Saturdays Noon - 11:00 p.m. and Sundays, Noon - 10:00 p.m. On Friday, September 25th, seniors 55 and over can enjoy free admission to the fair.

For those into the local music scene or those wanting an introduction to the alternative arts in Bakersfield, don’t miss Saturday’s “Band Razor,” sponsored by BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists). Seven bands will take the stage at Le Corusse Rouge and local artwork from BECA artists will be featured in the patio. The $5.00 admission benefits BECA as it moves into production of this year’s annual “Burn the Witch” all-woman art exhibit. “Band Razor,” which was created by BECA member Amanda Rosado, allows visual artists, singers and musicians to complement and support each other through the use of their talent. If you are a local artist or art-lover who wants to know how to get involved in Bakersfield’s growing art community, consider joining BECA. Membership is free & you will be the first to know of unique art events like “Band Razor.” More information can be found at www.BECA.ws. Le Corusse Rouge is located at 4647 White Lane. Show starts at 6:00 p.m. for all ages, over 21 after 9:00 p.m.

Lastly, and I mean that in the saddest way possible, the Kern Shakespeare Festival is in its last days. And I don't mean for just this year. Due to budget cuts, the Festival ends its 25-year run this Sunday, September 27th at Bakersfield College Indoor Theater. This year's productions are King Lear, taking the stage September 22, 24 and 26th and Midsummer Night's Dream, playing September 23, 25, and 27th. Shows start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.50/adults, $3.50/students, children under 6 are not allowed in the theater. Don't let this opportunity to catch the Kern Shakespeare Festival pass you by--you won't get another chance.

What? Culture in Bakersfield?

Yes, it’s true. It has been found, in pockets, in this dusty, histamine-laced valley—even here in our own city: a burgeoning art scene, a bevy of things to do and people who care about our community! Need proof? Just check out Go. See. Do. to see some of the things happening in the next couple of weeks. There are benefits, art shows, concerts, fundraisers, theater performances—even a spoken word event!


This weekend, in addition to art, live music, food & wine samples and an atmosphere that will make you believe you’ve left Bakoland, the monthly Arts District treat, First Friday, will include two exhibit openings downtown. “Latination,” which opens at Metro Galleries, 1604 19th Street, will feature the artwork of local and other Hispanic artists; “One,” opening at Surface Gallery, 1703 20th Street (across from the Fox Theater), is the celebration of the one-year anniversary of the locally owned gallery. The accomplishment is definitely one worth celebrating in a town that does not make it easy to survive. Proving the point, recently closed underground gallery and indie art center, Basement Gallery (which thankfully looks like it has a new lease on life—more details to follow), will be sorely missed at Friday’s event but its spirit will live on as members of BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) hold a fundraiser including carnival games and an art raffle at 19th and Eye Streets, just outside their former headquarters. BECA is a local group comprised of individuals who want to connect with other artists and art lovers to create, discuss and participate in building an art community in Bakersfield. To get involved join BECA at http://www.meetup.com/Bakersfield-Emerging-Contemporary-Artists.

Also keeping the spirit alive is Ginn Williams and her fellow poets who bring a spoken word event, “Two Hours Inside,” to Fishlips on Thursday, September 3rd. This event had to relocate to a new venue after the Basement closure and should not be missed by lovers of the letters, emerging poets or anyone who wants to support having more really cool art events in Bakersfield. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and poetry flows at 7:00 p.m. SHARP. Admission is $10.00.

Over in the northeast corner of the world, an often-overlooked venue, Jones Gallery at Bakersfield College, will play host to its own as staff art professors put on an exhibit of their works. The opening reception is on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and the show runs through October 1st. If you happen to be up on the bluffs taking in the sunset, stop by for a great opportunity to support the BC art program.

Lastly, don’t forget the new season of Flics at the Fox starts next Friday, September 11th. Also, the 37th Annual Greek Festival will be making our mouths water with Greek delicacies, as well as entertaining us with dancing and general merry-making. This always fun event runs next weekend, Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th. More details on these and other events next week.

That’s it for now. Stop by anytime to see what’s happening in this old town of ours and to check out event slideshows where you might just be part of the action.