Bakersfield Life Magazine

04/11/2023

Rich histories can fill libraries, and that’s as true in Bakersfield as many western cities. But they live in memory, too, and sometimes all it takes to coax them out is to ask politely. So, that’s what we tried to do — and what flowed from there is every bit as interesting as a trip to the archives of Beale Memorial Library.

Rich histories can fill libraries, and that’s as true in Bakersfield as many western cities. But they live in memory, too, and sometimes all it takes to coax them out

04/10/2023

1948 was, by today's standards, ridiculously affordable: The cost of a new house was $7,700. A gallon of gas ran you 16 cents, a loaf of bread was 14 cents, and a ticket to the movies was 60 cents. It was a good year for local organizations marking their diamond jubilee with equal meager and humble beginnings.

1948 was, by today's standards, ridiculously affordable: The cost of a new house was $7,700. A gallon of gas ran you 16 cents, a loaf of bread was 14 cents,

04/08/2023

The Easter holiday brings with it the excitement of Bakersfield in bloom. Spring flowers boast Easter lilies, daffodils and tulips.

Like the Easter Sundays of my childhood, we start our Sunday morning by celebrating with our church family, then we gather with our extended family to feast and watch the kids hide and seek Easter eggs.

I love taking a jog down memory lane. I remember my mom taking my brother and me to Kmart or J.C. Penney to purchase our Easter outfits. Shopping for Easter always felt like a special occasion.

The Easter holiday brings with it the excitement of Bakersfield in bloom. Spring flowers boast Easter lilies, daffodils and tulips.

04/06/2023

Ready or not, spring is here! The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, and soon the Easter Bunny will be hopping your way! With the sweet sunshine and the pretty pastels, it’s also a popular time to document some beautiful family moments. Whether you’re hiring a professional or saving a few bucks and snapping some photos of your own, we’re helping you think outside the box and find a fun and fashionable spot to nail those family-friendly spring photos.

Ready or not, spring is here! The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, and soon the Easter Bunny will be hopping your way! With the sweet sunshine and the

04/05/2023

April 1

04/05/2023

Easter is a beautiful holiday that is often overshadowed by the flashiness of Christmas or Halloween. But with light and fresh colors to brighten your home, decorating your space for the springtime holiday is a great way to spread cheer and celebrate the end of the dark and cold days of winter.

One of the simplest ways to bring springtime into your home is by incorporating fresh flowers. Whether you are fortunate enough to have your own blossoming garden to harvest, or opt to buy your blooms, filling your home with beauty is a surefire way to lift the mood and give reason to smile.

A few more cheap and simple things can be done to add to your space, such as filling your favorite glass bowl or vase or even the lid of a cake stand with foam, plastic or wooden eggs of your choosing.

Next are some craft ideas to make your own this Easter. Get your creativity flowing and adapt these to fit in your home, whether you want to lean into the Easter theme, or stick to a more general spring feeling. Or perhaps you want to adapt any of these to use only items you already own, or focus on ways you can include your kids in the craft process.

Easter is a beautiful holiday that is often overshadowed by the flashiness of Christmas or Halloween. But with light and fresh colors to brighten your home, decorating your space for

03/25/2023

Women and men donned their best pink outfits Feb. 9 for the Links for Life Love Links lunch at Buck Owens Crystal Palace.

The fundraiser supports the nonprofit's mission of service, support and survival for people facing breast cancer.

Women and men donned their best pink outfits Feb. 9 for the Links for Life Love Links lunch at Buck Owens Crystal Palace.

03/24/2023

When Gayle Tape was named among five finalists to become 1974 Miss USA, she became excited and confident about winning.

She had been told that the odds were stacked against her because, at 5 feet, 6 inches, she wasn’t as tall as past winners or other finalists. Still, she remained hopeful she could win until she was named third runner-up.

She carried herself with grace and smiled with the runner-up status as she battled her inner feelings.

“It’s kind of like getting a gut punch because you’re standing there, you’re on top of the world and you’re thinking: ‘I’m going to do this,’” said Tape, who is the director of the Bakersfield Pageant, which had its 29th annual competition in January. “I remember fighting back tears of disappointment but more of the rug being pulled out from under me because of all the preparation to get there. It’s like practicing for the Olympics, prepping for something and you miss the goal by one point. That’s kind of how it is with any competition.”

Tape now knows that disappointment served as a catalyst for her work with the Bakersfield Pageant.

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When Gayle Tape was named among five finalists to become 1974 Miss USA, she became excited and confident about winning.

03/24/2023

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Installation and Business Awards Gala was held Feb. 4 at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center.

Awards went to: Linda Quinones-Vaughan, businesswoman of the year; Dr. Hemmal Kothary, businessman of the year; Fresco Mexican Grill, small business of the year; Klein DeNatale Goldner, large business of the year; Advance Beverage, corporation of the year; Adventist Health, nonprofit of the year; Steve Flores, community service award; and Zachary Rabanal, next generation award.

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Installation and Business Awards Gala was held Feb. 4 at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center.

03/24/2023

Hundreds flocked to the 43rd Bakersfield Prayer Breakfast Jan. 24 at the Mechanics Bank Arena Convention Center for a spiritual boost.

Speakers representing various parts of the community prayed for education, public safety, health care and the military.

Hundreds flocked to the 43rd Bakersfield Prayer Breakfast Jan. 24 at the Mechanics Bank Arena Convention Center for a spiritual boost.

03/23/2023

It was a simple enough question to ask some of Bakersfield's most accomplished women. From whom in women’s history do you draw your inspiration? But what a tapestry of responses they sent back.

Click the link to take a look.

It was a simple enough question to ask some of Bakersfield's most accomplished women. From whom in women’s history do you draw your inspiration? But what a tapestry of responses

03/23/2023

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber's annual Board Installation & Awards Luncheon held Jan. 19 rang in the new year.

2023 Chairman of the Board of Directors Ken Keller, the president/CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital – Dignity Health, was inducted during the event at Seven Oaks Country Club.

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber's annual Board Installation & Awards Luncheon held Jan. 19 rang in the new year.

03/23/2023

Garden Pathways hosted "Heart of the Country," an evening of music and inspiration, on Feb. 2 at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace.

Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit Garden Pathways' mentoring and education programs for at-risk and low-income families and youth.

The evening included dinner and entertainment featuring La Marcha Sound, Limelight, and Amy Adams & The Rising Stars.

Garden Pathways hosted "Heart of the Country," an evening of music and inspiration, on Feb. 2 at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace.

03/22/2023

Bakersfield’s expectant mothers looking for a homelike and modern place to safely deliver their babies needed to look no further than Miss Freise’s Maternity Home. No need to wait for the stork, when Minnie Freise was there to provide one of the most sought-after facilities for Kern County’s obstetrical needs.

Freise had vast experience in the medical field that dated back to World War I. According to the May 3, 1932, edition of The Bakersfield Californian, she served for 15 months at Camp Fremont, located near San Francisco, where she trained nurses to serve the American forces overseas. She was also the head surgical nurse at Bismarck Hospital in North Dakota, as well as the superintendent of San Joaquin Hospital.

Bakersfield’s expectant mothers looking for a homelike and modern place to safely deliver their babies needed to look no further than Miss Freise’s Maternity Home. No need to wait for

02/15/2023

February = the month of love = thoughts of fancy jewelry! Talk a walk through history with the American Jewelry Co. in Bakersfield.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it has one of the greatest days when it comes to love.

02/15/2023

Show some love for our hometown!

If Bakersfield is your hometown, you were born and raised here, your family lives here, or you are a transplant who has been here for a while, you can't help

02/15/2023

These couples found the loves of their lives online. Read their stories ...

Karina Castro of Bakersfield admits to being “very picky” during her first experiences with online dating in 2018.

01/25/2023

Come New Year’s Day, it’s likely you will find dinner plates piled high with black-eyed peas, collard greens and pork in many Bakersfield homes.

"My mother always believed in black-eyed peas," said retired Cal State Bakersfield administrator Penny Lampkins. I still do it. That is a lot of years of black eyes."

Teri Staats, a retired teacher, can relate.

"My grandmother was born in 1903 in Texas and raised in a very poor family with many children," Staats said. "My grandfather was born seven out of nine in Oklahoma Indian Territory in 1902 to poor farmers."

Staats is familiar with her family's history and all they endured.

Come New Year’s Day, it’s likely you will find dinner plates piled high with black-eyed peas, collard greens and pork in many Bakersfield homes.

01/23/2023

Each January, we’re given the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and evaluate our goals for the coming year.

Sometimes, this reinvention can be a useful tool in accomplishing a longstanding goal or living in better alignment with one’s values. While a clean slate feels fresh, starting from scratch isn’t always necessary, which is why I’m taking a different approach to Kern County.

This year, instead of reimagining who we are, we’re embracing what’s always been here.

Toward the end of 2022, our organization partnered with local production company The Beacon Studios to produce a new promotional video titled: "This Is Kern County."

It showcases the kaleidoscope of culture across our more than 8,000-square-mile county — the third largest by size in California.

Each January, we’re given the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and evaluate our goals for the coming year.

01/22/2023

The new year is here. What do you need to become the new you?

You need sleep.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, cdc.gov, has become popular the past two years for all things COVID-19, but there are also some helpful tips for sleeping, and the relevance of getting a good night’s rest among other valuable information.

There is actually a thing called sleep hygiene. It’s real and for many improving it can be a game-changer.

For starters, getting the proper amount of sleep would be beneficial. For those over 18 years old, seven or more hours per night is needed. I’m sure you’ve heard this before.

However, ask almost anyone and they would tell you that just seems impossible.

Still, at this link are four tips to prioritize sleep, as recommended by the CDC.

The new year is here. What do you need to become the new you?

01/21/2023

On the eve of a new year, when there is so much emphasis on renewal and rebirth, 44-year-old Bakersfield native Nanette Bonilla is ready.

The mother of three is no stranger to reinvention. Eleven years ago she started Custom Creations, using woodworking and Do-It-Yourself crafting, with projects large and small.

"I had my youngest child and decided I was not going back to work," she recalled. "Instead I was able to use my skills at home with the kids and continue. Imagination and creation are always reaching out to me.”

The business began to blossom, and it has been a welcome distraction. The demise of a 20-year marriage is still raw and her emotions often take over.

On the eve of a new year, when there is so much emphasis on renewal and rebirth, 44-year-old Bakersfield native Nanette Bonilla is ready.

01/20/2023

I felt at ease when I put a blindfold over my eyes for the Dining in the Dark event at Luigi’s Warehouse.

The charity dinner benefited Valley Center for the Blind, an organization that has been in Bakersfield the past four years.

I have no idea the rigors and difficulties associated with being blind, but I have eaten in the dark many times during my previous gig as a sportswriter for 20-plus years. Many nights after sporting events I would eat a packed meal or grab take-out, hopeful that streetlights would guide my bites during my late-night meal.

I experienced some anxiety at Luigi’s when Jose Ruiz told us to turn off our cell phones and dig in. He joked that we didn’t have to show good manners because no one was looking.

I was concerned about the salad dressing that missed my mouth and dribbled onto my chin. But this experience was more about somehow gaining more taste for the food.

The event organizers asked us to guess our dish. People at each table discussed their dish and soon figured out what they were having.

It was a fun way to start dinner, yet the experience was meaningful because we captured moments of what it is like to be blind.

Valley Center for the Blind, which originated in Fresno, held Dining in the Dark for the first time on Nov. 18, resulting in a rousing success that’s expected to be followed by more fundraising dinners in the coming years.

I felt at ease when I put a blindfold over my eyes for the Dining in the Dark event at Luigi’s Warehouse.

01/19/2023

History: The start of a new year often inspires people to make changes. Resolutions include kicking a bad habit, living healthier, taking on new adventures and perhaps exploring a new hairstyle.

A trip to a local salon can make that resolution one of the easiest to keep, but you want to make sure you have a well-trained and talented stylist.

For 60 years, Lyle’s College of Beauty has been training students to become experts in the most modern techniques in the field of cosmetology. Established by Lyle Upton in 1962, students were sure to learn from the best in the industry.

After working as a hairstylist for many years and as the owner of Lyle’s House of Beauty for 10 years, Upton decided to share his expertise with aspiring stylists when he became the style director and manager for the Bakersfield College of Beauty.

The start of a new year often inspires people to make changes. Resolutions include kicking a bad habit, living healthier, taking on new adventures and perhaps exploring a new hairstyle.

01/18/2023

The legendary Tommy Emmanuel. The famed Larry Carlton. The brilliant and versatile John Jorgenson. And the unbelievable Rory Hoffman, a master of 14 instruments, none of which the blind virtuoso has ever seen.

These are just a few of the dozens of musical treasures that Rick Kreiser has brought to Bakersfield over the course of the past decade through his creation: The Guitar Masters concert series.

"What a joy it has been," he said of 10 years of curating those incredible shows. "You talk to these guys. You look after them. You respect them. And they want to come back."

As 2022 rolled toward its curtain call, Kreiser looked back at the myriad shows and audiences and marveled at how it all came together — and evolved.

The legendary Tommy Emmanuel. The famed Larry Carlton. The brilliant and versatile John Jorgenson. And the unbelievable Rory Hoffman, a master of 14 instruments, none of which the blind virtuoso

01/17/2023

Aunt Dorothy was my mother’s older sister. She set a high standard for others and did not hesitate to let them know.

A department manager at an exclusive downtown Detroit department store — when Detroit had them — she terrorized employees and anyone else, including her younger sister.

So, when Aunt Dorothy sent me Christmas gifts, you better believe my mother made me write notes praising the gifts and thanking her generosity.

It did not matter that Aunt Dorothy mostly bought gifts because they were on sale, rather than appropriate. Think size 16 blouse for a second-grader’s body.

As a result, I’ve never liked to write thank-you notes. But I know they are necessary and I write them anyway. However, to listen to friends, you would think I am the only one. They rail about their children and grandchildren who never acknowledge gifts.

Aunt Dorothy was my mother’s older sister. She set a high standard for others and did not hesitate to let them know.

01/14/2023

The new year brings resolutions, and that could lead to some wanting a new job. What is needed to find and land your dream job?

The unemployment rate in California was at 4 percent just before November. The state Employment Development Department estimated Kern County's jobless rate at 6.8 percent in November.

Does that mean fewer people are applying for jobs because they are currently working? Not necessarily.

Landing your dream job will be competitive.

The new year brings resolutions, and that could lead to some wanting a new job. What is needed to find and land your dream job?