Bakersfield.com Local Entertainment

Some suggestions for Sunday having nothing to do with the game

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:23:29 PST

Super Bowl Sunday. An event where everyone gathers in front of the largest television they can find, snacks and beverages on hand, to watch with bated breath as one team is crowned NFL champion.

Or not.

Civil rights activists share stories at Beale

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 PST

One of the most terrifying acts of violence during the civil rights era -- the firebombing of a bus full of activists in Anniston, Ala. -- would have a deep, lifelong impact on two people who, on the surface, couldn't have been more different: a 12-year-old white girl, who lived nearby, and a young black Los Angeles college student witnessing the horrifying events 2,000 miles away.

Both will be in Bakersfield Saturday to speak about their experiences at the Harlem & Beyond oral history presentation at Beale Memorial Library.

It's not whodunit, but howdunit for Kern's 'CSI' guy

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 PST

Greg Laskowski picked up his smartphone a few days ago and read an interesting -- if slightly macabre -- question that had popped up on its screen.

"A bad guy melts stolen gold in his Crock-Pot. We are going to find him dead, with melted gold on his face. Being the chemistry expert that you are, how would you know if the gold is real or low-grade on his face?"

PETE TITTL: Give BAM Deli a test drive for some Greek flair

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 PST

Contributing columnist

pftittl@gmail.com

TV vs. reality: Learn the difference at 'CSI' class

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:00:00 PST

Today's popular science-based television shows may depict real crime-fighting situations, but they are still just fiction.

"TV is TV. It is not real life," said Greg Laskowski, a supervising criminalist with the Kern County District Attorney's Forensic Science Division and a consultant for such television shows as "CSI Las Vegas," "CSI Miami" and "Bones."

RICHARD SHIELL: City could use some more color

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:35:46 PST

Bakersfield could certainly use more beautiful residential landscapes. Some local housing tracts, built cookie-cutter style with only five floor plans offered (so every fifth house is identical), have even less diversity to their grounds. Every front yard has the same number of trees, the same square footage of lawn. The reason is simple expediency; it's easy and cost-effective to not get creative.

That doesn't mean the attractiveness of a landscape is proportional to its cost, only that it's easy to make cheap look mundane. In many cases improvement comes easily, by adding an accent point in the right spot, removing overgrowth to open up sight lines, or by losing a few feet of grass and adding a colorful border planting.

Legendary Bakersfield concert promoter Danny Lipco dies

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:16:28 PST

Entertainment impresario Danny Lipco, who dedicated his entire career to bringing legendary entertainers like B.B. King, Merle Haggard and the Pixies to Bakersfield stages, died Saturday night at San Joaquin Community Hospital after a brief illness. He was 59.

“He’s done concerts everywhere, from parking lots to the Western Stockman’s Market, and it piggybacked and grew, and he learned the ins and outs and ups and downs of it,” said Lipco’s brother, Marc, in a phone conversation Sunday. “I wish we could have done this article when he was living. He would have loved the accolades, but he wouldn’t have shown it. He would have read it and realized the hard work was not in vain.”

PETE TITTL: Leave Sugar Twist unsatisfied? Fat chance

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:27:40 PST

Today's column comes at a most inopportune time. I know it's January. I know that the No. 1 New Year's resolution made by most Americans is to lose weight. But when a place like Sugar Twist opens, well, to heck with the calendar.

Yet we must be responsible. We must report on our findings, but we can politely ask anyone who made such a resolution to leave the room. Drop the paper. Turn the page. So only thin people -- or folks happy with whatever size they are -- will be allowed to continue reading this column. I'm as serious as five days of rain, so everyone else can just move on right now.

Comedy, songs and a little faith for Mark Lowry concert

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:37:42 PST

Performer Mark Lowry is one of the superstars of the contemporary Christian music world, but he is much more than that. Lowry is also a storyteller, a songwriter and -- a comedian. He's bringing his unique show to Valley Baptist Church on Friday.

Lowry has been wowing packed houses for decades with his blend of passionate devotion, clever songs and mischievous humor. His musical versions of Bible stories, his personal messages on life and living, humorous anecdotes about his childhood and especially his hilarious ribbing of his mentor, Southern gospel superstar Bill Gaither, have made Lowry a favorite since he first started performing with Gaither's Vocal Band in 1988.

Local actor makes splash on 'Wipeout'

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:38:52 PST

An obstacle course of trap doors, unstable platforms and devices designed to send contestants plummeting into a chilly pool below may not appeal to most people, but it's right up Matthew Borton's alley.

"It's like a giant bounce house on water. Why wouldn't you want to go on that?"

Guest to help CIA make it up as they go along

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:40:01 PST

The nature of improvisational comedy requires performers to keep things interesting and engage their audience. The Center for Improv Advancement is doing just that this Saturday with a new format special show featuring guest monologist Mark Price.

On the heels of a show featuring film actor and Bakersfield native Derek Mears, CIA will add local comedian and businessman Price to the mix for a one-time performance.

On with the shows: Meet arena's new GM

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:18:18 PST

The sparsely decorated office that belongs to new SMG General Manager Scott Neal is slowly coming to life.

The Missouri native moved to town in November and has made getting acquainted with the community his top priority after landing the job of running SMG's family of Bakersfield venues -- Rabobank Arena being the big one, but also the downtown convention center and ice rink as well as the Bright House Networks Amphitheater in the southwest.

On the Town with Stefani Dias: The Bull Shed

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:41:18 PST

I'm gonna ride that bull."

Although I didn't have as much conviction as Sissy (Debra Winger) telling Bud (John Travolta) the same thing in "Urban Cowboy," I would end up riding a mechanical animal by night's end at The Bull Shed Bar & Grill.

MATT MUNOZ: Funeral Club dead ahead

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:48:22 PST

Monday's full moon fit the mood perfectly for my meeting with Bakersfield duo Funeral Club.

Haunting, dark, or romantic depending on your tastes, there are almost too many musical categories to file them under -- gothic spaghetti western, chamber jazz, Euro. Whatever you call it, just don't call it dead.

CSUB puts out call for golden voices

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:50:12 PST

Cal State Bakersfield's music department has hung out the "singers wanted" sign as it resumes rehearsals for an upcoming performance with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.

CSUB choral director Dr. Robert Provencio said he is inviting singers from the community to join the University Singers on Monday evenings for the winter quarter, which officially began Monday.