Bakersfield.com Local Entertainment

Film club: the reel deal

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:49:23 PDT

Is there anything movie buffs like to do more than watch movies? Yes. They like to talk about movies.

JOSE MACIEL: Kids and their poor excuse for rock 'n' roll

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:15:00 PST

Kids today! The music they listen to all sounds the same. You can't understand it, it makes no sense and they play it too loud. And it has a bad influence on today's youth. Those words, or something similar, were spoken by my own parents years ago. And by me just last week.

The Beatles ushered in what is arguably the best rock 'n' roll musical generation ever. With a few notable exceptions, everything recorded after the '60s is not worth playing. But '60s music was true rock 'n'roll. The real thing. Whatever became of that? It's no longer rock 'n' roll. Music today is

A 'tribute to our country, our flag, our veterans'

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:10:00 PST

Having become a way of life, talent searches sometimes have a higher purpose than drama and finding the "next big thing." Organizers of the fifth annual "Keep Old Glory Flying" concert at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace on Saturday are first concerned with celebrating Veterans Day.

"It's a tribute to our country, our flag, our military and our veterans," said Karen Norton, a board member of Keep Old Glory Flying.

Merle Haggard to sit for live interview at CSUB

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:10:00 PST

Merle Haggard will be the featured guest at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, but this will be an appearance for the Oildale-bred music legend like none before.

Haggard's "concert" will be almost all conversation, with a little music thrown in. Haggard, whose band the Strangers helped develop and popularize the Bakersfield Sound, will sit down for a live, 90-minute interview with The Californian's Robert Price -- accompanied on stage by singer-songwriter Marty Stuart, a member of the board (and past president) of the Country Music Foundation.

Local fliers hope 'Amelia' film inspires women

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:08:05 PST

Actress Hilary Swank learned how to fly for her starring role in "Amelia." Members of the Bakersfield chapter of the Ninety-Nines hope the movie, currently on screens in Bakersfield, will inspire others to earn their wings.

Bakersfield members of the national women's aviation organization will be at the entrance of Edwards Theater in The Marketplace from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday with information about learning to fly and about joining the Ninety-Nines.

PETE TITTL: Crepe expectations

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:07:06 PST

Certainly when I list what types of restaurants Bakersfield needs that it doesn't yet have, I'd include a crepe restaurant. We had one for a brief period on California Avenue near Stockdale Highway, but it quickly went away.

I think we'll have better luck with Café Crepe, a new family-run operation at the corner of Brimhall and Coffee in what was last a Great Wraps location. The folks running this place are so gentle, so kind, so charming that you can tell their customers are rooting for them to succeed. They offer both savory and sweet crepes as well as paninis, and, with a few tweaks here and there, I think they will have a fantastic product.

Variety of cultural events makes November unofficial 'Celtic Month'

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:05:00 PST

Without intending to, several cultural groups have turned the month of November into "Celtic Month."

It began with a concert by the trio Banshee in the Kitchen, sponsored by KVPR public radio and the Fred and Beverly Dukes Concert Series at First Congregational Church at Real Road and Stockdale Highway. Next up is a concert at the BeeKay Theater in Tehachapi by the Battlefield Band today.

Life over, but life's work is not

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:54:00 PST

Miracles happen every day. For my family, we were blessed with the challenge of the disease neurofibromatosis and the effect it had on my sister, Alison.

Terminal illness can tear a family apart or bring it together. While the doctors believed Alison could not make it past 18, faith and a miracle gave her the strength to carry on until the age of 34, when, in March, she left this world to go home to God.

Let this art shake and stir you

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:49:00 PST

For the second year, the Arts Council of Kern is shaking up the arts scene of Bakersfield with a fundraiser that showcases the art in bartending. ARTini has become the largest fundraising event for the nonprofit group, and how could it not? Guests are not only encouraged to buy the exclusive selection of art being sold throughout the evening, but they are treated to 10 to 12 of Bakersfield's best and most creative martini recipes. ARTini was crafted by Anthony Goss last year.

"Our community hosts several popular and successful wine and/or beer-tasting events throughout the year," Goss says. "People love to experience a variety of great foods and drinks from local and not-so-local establishments while supporting a worthwhile organization and cause. Martini tasting adds a new twist to the growing circuit of community fundraisers."

Local authors hit the books at festival

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:47:00 PST

Five notable authors and one very entertaining Mark Twain impersonator will be on hand to speak and interact with visitors at the Festival of Books on Saturday at the Marriot Hotel. Each one has strong ties to our community.

Keynote speaker is Pam Munoz Ryan, an award-winning author of children's books who grew up in Bakersfield.

Monster truckin' Saturday

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:30:00 PST

It might be a week too late, but it shouldn't matter a bit to the thousands expected to welcome the Monster Trucks to a post-Halloween visit to Bakersfield on Saturday night.

Monster Jam Series champion "Bounty Hunter" and series regular "Iron Outlaw" will be the highlights among a host of trucks competing in the Del Taco "Go Bold" Fall Nationals Truck Spectacular at the Kern County Fairgrounds.

Haggard, Haslam to reflect on town

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:16:00 PDT

What better way to commemorate Oildale's centennial than by inviting two of her favorite sons to share their experiences? Music legend Merle Haggard and esteemed writer Gerald Haslam will do just that Saturday at a Cal State event jam-packed with the fascinating history of our stretch of the valley.

If you want a capsule summary of what Oildale was like during his growing-up years, just ask Haslam.

Can Christians accept holiday's pagan origin?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:06:00 PDT

There is an old saying, "Ignorance is bliss." Most people have no idea about the origins and true meaning of Halloween. So if you want to remain ignorant, STOP READING NOW!

Children are excited by this night as one of fun, fright and fear filled with candy and gifts they receive from trick-or-treating and not the blood, death, horror and the occult at its roots. Let's look at how it all started.

Commercialization corrupts Halloween's religious context

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:05:00 PDT

In a nutshell, the word Halloween is a contraction for All Hallows Eve, which is the vigil or eve of All Saints Day (also called Alhallowmass), at which time the Roman Catholic Church commemorates all of the hallowed saints in Christian history.

The historical origin of All Hallows Eve goes back to the ancient Celtic tribes who lived in Scotland, Wales and Brittany. They were pagans -- Druids, actually -- and Nov. 1 marked the beginning of the new year and the coming of winter. The eve before Nov. 1, they celebrated a festival called Lord of the Dead, or Samhain. During this festival Celts believed that the souls of the dead, including ghosts, goblins and witches, returned and visited the living. In addition, they believed that evil people reincarnated as cats, which also made their appearance on Oct. 31. In order to scare away these unwelcome visitors, the people would don masks and light bonfires.

JOSE MACIEL: Memories of tricks, treats of years past

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:03:05 PDT

Halloween. It conjures up ghosts and witches, black and orange. Candy corn. It can be special -- a treat. Or terrifying -- a trick. Sometimes it's both. But now in retirement, and with an empty nest, Halloween is mostly just memories.

As a young boy I used to go trick-or-treating with my younger sister. My older brother and sister would go with their friends. When we got home, our father would have out on the kitchen table the bowl that awaited for our loot. Its stated purpose was to collect all the treats so that they could be equally shared. But we all knew better. Its actual purpose was for dad to pick out his favorite candies, which he quickly stashed in his secret candy hideout. That was definitely a trick.