bakersfield californian eye street / 8-18-11

24 The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, August 18, 2011

Eye StreetEditor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail [email protected]

BY MATT MUNOZBakotopia.com editor

[email protected]

The devastating June fire that leveledthe home of Trace Adkins was apretty intense reminder for the

country star that nothing matters morethan the safety of his children, whoescaped the flames unharmed. Surveyingthe damage, the singer’s wife aptlysummed up the situation for a televisionnews crew: “Stuff is stuff.”

But in the weeks following the fire,Adkins has found that some stuff mattersmore than he thought. He’s just nowbeginning to feel the incalculable loss of aspecial piece of red, white and blue mem-orabilia that was lost along with every-thing else in his Brentwood, Tenn., home.That treasure — which Bakersfield coun-try music fans would recognize anywhereas the signature guitar of favorite sonBuck Owens — was given to Adkins by hismentor.

But though the guitar is gone, the con-nection Adkins feels to his hero endures,and so he has agreed to return to theCrystal Palace tonight to headline Buck’sBirthday Bash. Aug. 12 was the 82ndanniversary of Owens’ birth.

“Anytime I have a chance to do any-thing associated with the name BuckOwens, I’m always honored to be a part ofthat,” said Adkins in a telephone inter-view from Pittsburgh.

“The friendship that I had with BuckOwens is one of the things I cherish that’scome to me from being in the business allthese years. One of the things that I pointto when people ask me, ‘What's the mostspecial thing that you lost in that fire?’ —it’s that red, white and blue guitar thatBuck gave me. It was displayed in myfamily room there in my house, andeverything that was in that room is gone.Something like that just cannot bereplaced.”

Two weeks into a media whirlwind topromote his new CD, “Proud to Be Here,”the 49-year-old father of five said thegratitude he feels for his family’s safetyhas helped him navigate through thepain.

“It’s been easy for me to deal with itbecause my focus as a father has just beenfor the welfare of my kids, and their stateof mind has been my number one con-cern, my main focus, so that’s really what

I’ve busied myself. It’s kind of kept mefrom dealing with my own loss. Now, as Iget farther away from the event and I real-ize that the kids are OK, I describe it as the‘gift that keeps on giving.’ Every daythere’s something that I don’t have now. Itjust continues to bother you and it justdoesn’t seem to ease up.”

A Grammy-nominated artist and recipi-ent of several ACM and CMT awards, thedeep-voiced giant has carved a niche forhimself in the music industry over the lasttwo decades. That’s a long way from hisearly days as a rough young hell-raiserand star athlete in his home state ofLouisiana. A major car accident put a haltto any college football aspirations, a darkperiod he writes about in his book, “A Per-sonal Stand: Observations and Opinionsfrom a Freethinking Roughneck,” wherehe also discusses being shot by his secondwife.

But lately he has enjoyed success out-side music, with a featured role as a bikegang member in the recent MatthewMcConaughey film, “The LincolnLawyer.” Actually, Adkins thinks his ownrough-and-tumble life story would makea pretty decent big-screen biopic, and healready has someone in mind to star.

“Nick Nolte. He’d be perfect playingme,” Adkins laughed.

And then there was Adkins’ respectableshowing on a recent season of NBC’s“Celebrity Apprentice,” which allowed thegood ol’ boy to show off his business acu-men to none other than Donald Trump,the part-time mogul and full-time self-promoter who was in the news severalweeks ago weighing a potential presiden-tial nomination.

“It would be the most entertaining pres-idency in the history of this country,there’d be no question about that,” saidTrump’s one-time protege. “We’d proba-bly have to be apologizing a lot for thingshe’s said to world leaders. I think it wouldbe a blast. I think it would be hilarious. I’dvote for him just because of how fun itwould be.”

But those forays into film and TV camelong after Adkins’ start as just a face in thecrowd coming out of the Nashville

machine. It was during that pivotal time,on a visit to Bakersfield in 1996, thatOwens commanded the up-and-comer toperform an impromptu talent test.

“I came by KUZZ that day and it wasraining, so he wasn’t playing golf and hewas there that day. When Buck saw mewith a guitar in my hand, he got on the PAand said he wanted everybody to come tothe conference room. He sat me right upfront and then he took a chair and literal-ly sat 10 feet in front of me, faced me andhe said, ‘OK, play me your favorite MerleHaggard song,’ and I played it. Then hesaid, ‘Now, play one of mine,’ and Iplayed it. And then he said, ‘Now, playyour single.’ I played it. Then he juststood up and said, ‘Thank God, they sentus one that could sing.’ I’ll never forgetthat, ever.”

In the years that followed, the tworemained close friends until Owens’

death in 2006. “He always reached out to me and

made sure that I knew he cared about me.One of the biggest honors I’ve had in thisbusiness was singing at his funeral. Youknow, I don’t have any connections withany of the legends in this business, really,that can compare with the connectionthat I had with Buck Owens.”

And to make it a true birthday bash,Adkins is ready to pull out all the fanfavorites tonight.

“We’ll come in there and try and do agreatest hits show for ’em. Like, if I wentto see old Buck and he didn’t do ‘Tiger bythe Tail,’ I’d be pissed, and I’m the sameway. I know that those fans wanna hearthose songs that they’ve heard on theradio over the years, and so we’ll give ’emthat, and maybe throw two or three thingsof this new album in the mix so they get ataste of it.”

IndexMartin Yan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Scott Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Opera preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Third Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Jerome Lazarus exhibit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36-37

Adkins lost gift from Buck,but memories still with him

JASON MOORE / ZUMA WIRE

A Grammy-nominated artist and recipient of several ACM and CMT awards, Trace Ad-kins has carved a niche for himself in the music industry over the last two decades.

Buck’s Birthday Bash with Trace AdkinsWhen: 7 tonight. Sold out.

Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace,

2800 Buck Owens Blvd.

Information: 328-7560 or

buckowens.com

“One of the things that I point to when people ask me, ‘What’s the most special thing that youlost in that fire?’ — it’s that red, white and blue guitar that Buck gave me.”

— Trace Adkins

A bond built to last

BY STEFANI DIASCalifornian assistant lifestyles editor

[email protected]

If you’re looking for a taste of hospitalfood that is a cut above along with adazzling display of culinary knife skills,

head out to Kern Medical Center’s cafe onAug. 25 for a demonstration with chefMartin Yan.

Probably best known for the ’80s PBScooking series “Yan Can Cook,” Yan is acertified master chef, food consultant,cooking instructor and prolific cookbookauthor. Next week’s food tasting and knifedemo will be his seventh hospital eventfor Morrison Management Specialists,which oversees food and nutrition servic-es for 50 hospitals, including KMC.

For a sampling of Asian cuisine and ablink-and-you’ll-miss-it poultry decon-struction, any foodies should be sure toattend — since this is likely to be the onlyevent of its kind at KMC.

“This is a one-time event,” according toMorrison corporate executive chef JosephKraft. “Not saying it's not possible, but sofar there have been no repeat events.”

A skilled workman, Yan is a star chefwith a humble touch, Kraft said.

“We have a close partnership with Mar-tin Yan. He has the celebrity status to drawpeople in. (And) he’s a real down-to-earthguy,” Kraft said.

He may be down to earth, but Yan isquite the master with his knife skills,which he points out are far different fromthose used by KMC’s medical staff.

“I use just one big butcher knife for allmy cutting and slicing techniques, andthe KMC doctors have a variety of tools forperforming different functions,” Yan said.

Chefs and doctors use different blades,but share some characteristics, Kraft said.

“We all have to be trained to handle thetools of the trade. And we take pride inwhat we do.”

While not life-saving, Yan’s knifedemonstration is a must-see, Kraft said.

“Chef Yan is definitely a master with theknife,” Kraft said. “He fabricated (cut up) awhole chicken in 17 seconds. I haven’tseen a doctor do that.”

Yan will also share some advice onkitchen skills and safety.

In the kitchen, “I always have my per-sonal chef knife on hand. In my style ofcooking, it is my all-purpose tool,” Yan said.

Maintaining the blades is also vital toprevent an unplanned trip to KMC.

“Always keep your knives sharp — a dullknife is a more dangerous tool.”

Handling a safer implement — a pen —Yan will also be signing his cookbooks,which are being sold in KMC’s gift shop.

Along with the knife display and meet-and-greet, Yan will be in the kitchen work-ing with the KMC kitchen staff to presentan assortment of Pan-Asian dishes. Thosewill include Thai cucumber salad, Koreanbulgogi barbecue beef, pad Thai noodleswith chicken, stir-fried rice, Chai tea cup-cakes and green tea sorbet.

Other than grill items, everything servedin the cafe that day will be Asian-inspired,Kraft said.

KMC’s menu currently includes twoAsian items — Asian beef pepper steakand fried rice — and other dishes arerotated in on a cyclical basis, Kraft said.

“All our Asian recipes are influenced bychef Yan. Asian food is simple, very easy tomake, has a variety of bold and fantasticflavors and it’s economical.

“Our menu is based on physicians’orders on what patients should be having.Asian food is often higher in sodium, soit’s not for cardiac patients. We use leanercuts of beef and lower-sodium soy sauceand cook in zero trans fat oil.”

Fighting the mindset that hospital foodis as bland as green JELL-O and bakedchicken can be overcome with creativethinking, say both chefs, who are mem-bers of the American Academy of Chefs —the American Culinary Federation’s honorsociety.

“Preparing hospital food is definitely achallenge because of the patients' variousdietary and medical requirements. Sothere is not the same freedom as a restau-

rant chef,” Yan said. “But with creativityand dedication, the culinary professionalsof the hospital can create delicious andnutritious meals.”

“Unfortunately the stereotype is outthere,” Kraft said. “You’d be surprised whatwe do with food. We incorporate a lot offresh ingredients. As an organization, weprovide food that is wholesome, that pops— has eye appeal as well as taste.

“We’re cooking for patients, familymembers and loved ones. And we’refeeding health care providers who aresaving lives every day. We want to pro-vide them with something that is givingthem a taste memory. Let them enjoy agood, simply executed meal.

“I’d challenge any chef to put them-selves into an environment like this, withextremely stressed-out people.”

When tensions run high, Kraft saidthere may be one simple solution: a goodburger. At least for those who aren’t cau-tioned against having red meat.

Kraft said he and the 53 members ofKMC’s food and nutrition staff stand bytheir entire menu, from fancier cuisine tocomfort food.

“If we're going to serve them a cheese-burger, it's going to be the best damncheeseburger.”

Thursday, August 18, 2011 The Bakersfield Californian 25

Eye Street

Slicing at KMC — and wedon’t mean the surgeons

Chef Martin YanWhen: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 25

Where: Kern Medical Center, cafe,

1700 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Information: 326-5598

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPH KRAFT

Martin Yan, seen here during a demonstration in Foster City, will display his knifeand culinary skills at Kern Medical Center's cafe on Aug. 25.

“Chef Yan is definitely amaster with the knife. He

fabricated (cut up) awhole chicken in 17

seconds. I haven’t seen a

doctor do that.”— Joseph Kraft, corporate executive chef

for Morrison Management Specialists,

which oversees food and nutrition services

for KMC.


Eye Street

It’s rare enough when we get top-shelf bands in Bakersfield, but thisweek we’re extremely fortunate to

be getting a double dose of outstand-ing musical entertainment.

First up is the mighty Dave Alvin,who will be taking the stage at FishlipsFriday night at 8. And when I say tak-ing the stage, I’m serious. There arevery few artists who can walk out thereon stage and just own it, but Dave isone of those guys.

From his days with The Blasters (thephenomenal band from the ’80s) to hiswork with X, Dave Alvin has alwaysbeen able to meld together rock andblues and country and rockabilly andpunk and bluegrass and anything elseyou can think of into what you have tocall “The Dave Alvin Sound.”

If you need a primer on what Dave isabout, I have a few recommendations.First off, get “The Blasters Collection”from 1990. If you’re going to have justone Blasters record, this should be it.Then you’re gonna want to hear “SeeHow We Are” by X. It showcases someof Alvin’s edgiest guitar work ever, plusit’s just such an amazing record. Thereis just something very cool about abunch of L.A. guys making the bestpunk records in the world. As for Dave’ssolo records, anything you get is goingto be really, really good. I like “King ofCalifornia” a lot, and his new record,“Eleven Eleven,” is typically superb.

The guy just creates amazing stuff.And there’s really only two major ingre-dients to his formula, and ironically,they’re the two things that too manynew bands don’t have: great songwrit-ing and massive tone. Lots of guitaristscan play fast or loud or whatever, butthis guy wrings fat, sweet, dirty, greasytone from his Stratocaster that anyaspiring guitarist would be stupid notto try to steal. The guy’s music is loudand awesome and brooding and fore-boding and beautiful at the same time.

This guy is a living legend, a vitalpiece of the history of American music.If you have a baby on the way, do me afavor and make its first and middlenames “Dave” and “Alvin.” Even if it’s agirl. Because I totally missed the boaton that one.

Reckless KellyAfter a brief recovery period follow-

ing the Dave Alvinshow, you’re going towant to hightail it

over to the CrystalPalace, where Reck-less Kelly will be

playing Saturdaynight. Originally

from Idaho but

now based out of Austin, Texas, theseguys are another of those fantasticAmericana bands that should beplayed on every country station on theplanet but, sadly, that’s just not gonnahappen.

Reckless Kelly is one of the best livebands ever. I’ve played all their recordsa zillion times, and they’re profoundlygood, but, as is the case with any reallygood band, the magic is in the liveshows. It doesn’t hurt that they have aton of songs that are just fun to hearlive. They played here last year, and itwas great to see so many peoplesinging along and screaming theirheads off.

They have a couple of live records,and you should at the very least get“Reckless Kelly Was Here.” Bring anextra $20 to the show and get a copyfrom the merch table because it’s apain to find: It’s not on iTunes, andrecord stores can’t usually find it(sounds like a decent challenge for Patat World Records …). I play it a lot, andit’s probably the record that my friendsask for illegal copies of most.

These guys write great songs andchoose their cover tunes very well —their version of Alejandro Escovedo’s

“Castanets” is amazingly good, andanybody who has the good taste to do“1952 Vincent Black Lightning” by thegreat Richard Thompson is OK in mybook.

The band is jammed full of greatplayers, which is woefully under-appreciated in music lately, but stillnice to hear. David Abeyta is one of myfavorite guitar players (he’s anotherguy who knows what tone is about),Jay Nazz is amazing on drums, ChrisSchelske is a monster on bass, and theBraun brothers — Willy and Cody —just have awesome in their DNA, com-ing from a long line of great musicians.Willy is the lead singer and plays somevery cool guitar, and Cody is not of thisworld. That guy can play anything. Ihave been tempted to throw an oboeor something onto the stage whilethey’re playing just to see what wouldhappen. He’s one of those gifted peo-ple that I deeply resent.

As for the music, call it what you will— country, Americana, roots rock —but come hear these guys play greatsongs live, which is what they do best.

So there you go: In a town wherepeople (myself included) are constant-ly whining about having nothing to do,we have a great opportunity to see twotruly great live bands play in a singleweekend. I’m going to both shows, andI highly recommend that you do thesame. I hope to see you there.

Dave Alvin, Reckless Kellyto tear it up this weekend

We have some live ones

Dave Alvin & The Guilty OnesWhen: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517

18th St.

Tickets: $20; 21 and over only.

vallitix.com; 322-5200

Randy Rogers Band &Reckless KellyWhen: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Buck Owens’ Crystal

Palace, 2800 Buck Owens Blvd.

Tickets: $20.50 to $28.50.

vallitix.com; 322-5200

Scott Cox CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Listen to Scott Cox spout off on just about

everything on his radio program weekday

mornings at KERN-AM, 1180.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RECKLESS KELLY

Reckless Kelly performs Saturday night at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE ALVIN

Dave Alvin will perform with TheGuilty Ones at Fishlips on Friday.

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Eye Street

There’ssomething for everyonethis year and our season ticket package is priced so low everyone can afford to enjoy a season of entertainment at the Harvey! Reserve your great seats today!

A BROADWAY EXTRAVAGANZA!

The MusicalBASED ON THE COMIC STRIP “PEANUTS”

BY CHARLES M. SCHULZBOOK MUSIC AND LYRICS BY CLARK GESNER

325-6100bmtstars.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

September 24, 25 and 30WRINKLES, A Broadway Extravaganza

October 29, 30 and November 6You’re a Good Man, Charlie BrownThe Musical

January 28, 29 and February 4Thoroughly Modern Millie

March 17, 18 and 24

Lowest Season Ticket Prices EVER!

All performances held at the Harvey Auditorium, 1241 G Street

ALL 4 SHOWS for Adults: $70ALL 4 SHOWS for Students: $35

Susan Scaffidi CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

There are people who complainabout the use of some of the world'sgreatest music as soundtracks for

cartoons and commercials. There arethose who lament that so many peopleonly know classical music from what theywatch on television.

But the organizers of “Opera Fever,” afundraising concert on Friday evening, arecounting on it to entice you to attend theirshow.

“That's how we sell it,” said Guye Mem-mott, who will perform Friday. “You'veheard (the music) a million times.”

Sure you have. If you have seen the com-mercial for UBS or the trailer for the videogame “Grand Theft Auto,” you've heardGiacomo Puccini's “O mio babbino caro.”If you've watched Bugs Bunny cartoons orhave seen the Hershey's candy-coatedKisses commercial, you've heardGioacchino Rossini's “Largo al factotum,”from “The Barber of Seville.” (It's the onethat goes “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro.”).

If you feel really guilty about the wayyou learned your opera arias, you couldmake up for it by hearing them in concert.

Memmott, a baritone, is bringing tenorScott Miller and soprano Jesye Havrilla,

who is also Memmott'sdaughter. In addition tothe Puccini and Rossiniarias, the programinclude “Summertime”

and “Bess, You Is MyWoman Now,” fromGeorge Gershwin's “Porgyand Bess”; the famous

tenor-baritone duetsfrom Puccini's “LaBoheme”; and Georges

Bizet's “Les pecheurs des perles” (“ThePearl Fishers”). Also on the program ismusic by Sergei Rachmaninoff, CharlesGounod, Andrew Lloyd-Webber andRichard Strauss.

The concert will benefit the ProCareFoundation, which provides financialassistance for patients in its ProCare Hos-pice and related services.

“Many of our patients are MediCal,Medicare patients,” said Virginia Mem-mott, a chaplain for ProCare Hospice. “Weservice the working poor, but many of ourpatients have no resources at all.”

“We've paid electric bills, we've putbrakes on cars,” said chief operating offi-cer Pattie Baker. “So we look for opportu-nities to support the families.”

ProCare's offices are located at 4800Easton Drive. The company also has facili-ties in Lancaster, Mission Hills and Ventu-ra.

Guye Memmott is an established singerand voice teacher, who has worked prima-rily in Washington, D.C., and the mid-Atlantic area. His repertoire includesmany of the great choral solos as well aslead baritone opera roles. Miller is on thevoice faculty at Whitworth College inSpokane, Wash., and has performed as asoloist with opera companies and choralsocieties in Santa Fe, Dallas, Coeur d’A-lene, Omaha and Washington, D.C. Havril-la, who lives in Maryland, has sung leadroles in “The Magic Flute,” “Die Fleder-maus,” and “Gianni Schicchi.”

Songs recognizable from ourdaily lives to be performed

Don’t like opera?Oh, yes you do

Opera FeverWhen: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: St. Paul's Anglican Church,

2216 17th St.

Admission: Free, but donations

accepted.

The late Wes Moore, aka “The Colonel,” led theDriller marching band at Bakersfield High Schoolfrom 1946 to 1979, positively influencing countlessyouth. As Kern County collectively picks up thebook “The Other Wes Moore” as the 11th annualOne Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern communityread this fall, many who knew him will recall Bak-ersfield’s own Wes Moore. The book, about two WesMoores growing up in similar neighborhoods, isabout how life choices and mentoring can make adifference in a young person’s future.

As part of this community read, the One Bookcommittee is collecting memories of our own WesMoore to publish in The Bakersfield Californianand online at onebookonebakersfieldonekern.com.

Please submit your stories in 300 words or fewerto Jennifer Burger at [email protected] byWednesday, Aug. 31. The community read kicks offSept. 20 and ends with a visit from the author to CalState Bakersfield on Nov. 8.

For more information, please call Jennifer Burgerat 661-654-2138.

SHARE YOUR WES MOORE STORIES

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOORE FAMILY

Wesley Moore was the band di-rector at Bakersfield HighSchool from 1946 to 1979.


Eye Street

Amake-believe detectivewho solves mysteries withthe help of kids in the audi-

ence is the hero of a play thatopens this weekend at The EmptySpace.

It’s called “Saved in the NickTickle of Time” and was written byaward-winning children’s theaterplaywright Steph DeFerie. In thisadventure, Nick must find a miss-ing library book, among otherthings, and also prove he’s not athief.

In preparation for the show,cast members have taken part in afive-week theater arts workshopsponsored by Tonicism Produc-tions and taught by Amy Hall,Cory Rickard, David Rock andGuinevere PH Dethlefson.

Performers include MillerMcCraw, Elleigh Davis, BenjaminLe, Lexi Cabral, Anusha Gogulap-ati, Lucas Shearson, AshleySorensen, Megumi Harris,Chancee Morgantini-Lucio,Nicholas Le, Joeyta Banerjee, Miri-am Clark, Elizabeth Vaughan, SkyeTrevino, Laina Williams, Christo-pher Le, Elijah Harris and DorienRoberts.

“Nick” will conclude next week-end with two more performanceson Aug. 26 and 27.

Dr. Seuss musical at BCTTo put a slightly different spin

on Bakersfield Community The-ater’s Youth series production of“Seussical Jr.,” organizers areoffering a couple of attractions forthe Sunday performance of themusical, which opens withevening performances on Fridayand Saturday.

One of these is lunch with thecast; the other is a book sale thatbenefits Friendship House, acommunity center that provideseducational and recreational serv-ices to children from low-incomefamilies.

Pat Kerley, director of the show,credits “two helpful moms,”Janelle Webb and Melissa Varela

for pro-viding themeal. The$10 per-platelunch —the cost isin addi-

tion to the

show ticket — will be served start-ing at noon Sunday.

“People can come at noon-timeand sit and talk to the cast whilethey have lunch,” Kerley said.“Then at 1 o’clock the cast willleave to get ready for the show anddoors will open at 1:30 p.m.”

Russo’s Books will provide aselection of books by Dr. Seussand other children’s authors, witha percentage of the sales pricedonated to Friendship House.

Kerley, who directed last sea-son’s “Goody Bird Green” at BCT,said this is the first time she’sdirected “Seussical Jr.”

“I’m approaching it from aunique perspective in that I didn’thave any preconceived notions ofwhat should happen on stage,”she said. “But I’m amazed at thecooperation I’ve gotten — evenfrom parents whose kids aren’teven in the show.”

Basically, the show is a taleabout what happens in Whoville,an imaginary town created byTheodor Geisel — better knownas Dr. Seuss — in his book, “Hor-ton Hears a Who!”

In the BCT production, HectorRubio plays the mischievous Cat

in the Hat; Justin Thompson isHorton, the gentle elephant; andJoJo, the son of Mr. and Mrs. May-or who gets into trouble for think-ing, is portrayed by Erik Tarango.

In all, the cast includes 26 chil-dren — the youngest is 4-year-oldBraxton Kerley, who also happensto be the director’s grandson —and nine adults. Ruben Carillo ismusic director.

Madigan exhibits ‘Highwire Act’

Directly or indirectly, just abouteveryone in Kern County hasbeen, or is now, affected in someway by alcohol and drug abuse.And that is the topic four localartists have chosen to deal with intheir exhibit called “Highwire Act:Insights into Substance Abuse.”

“Highwire” opens with a recep-tion Friday at the Todd MadiganGallery at Cal State Bakersfield. Itis the third and final show in aseries of art exhibits presentedthis year by the Arts Council ofKern’s “Creating Community,” aprogram developed by NicoleSaint-John, the council’s directorof visual art.

Each artist took an individualapproach to the theme. BarbaraReid, for example, used images ofbroken-down or abandonedstructures as a metaphor for theprocess of rehabilitation and

recovery.One of her photographs, for

example, captures a sunlit mead-ow viewed through a hole tornfrom the interior of a building andframed by the ragged edges ofinsulation material and screening.

“I know people who have gonethrough recovery,” she said. “I’velearned it’s a process, a lifelongpath to wellness, so I decided totake that angle.”

Reid also said she and her fel-low artists —Christine McKee,Claire Putney and ChristopherLikins — will talk about their workat the reception and their person-al connections to the topic of sub-stance abuse.

They also will discuss how edu-cation can help people realize thataddiction is a disease, and that itcan be treated. In this way, theyhope to be a catalyst in bringingthe community together toaddress this issue.

Kaiser Permanente, the show’ssponsor, has taken an active rolein educating the artists on the top-ic and enlightening them as tocurrent thinking in the field ofaddiction medicine.

“One thing I liked about KaiserPermanente’s approach is what iscalled ‘harm reduction,’ wheremaybe instead of four beers a day,you cut down to two,” Reid said.“It’s different than AA (AlcoholicsAnonymous) and some other pro-grams that say you must havetotal abstinence.”

An organization called Com-munity Action Against Drug andAlcohol Abuse, or CAADAA, is alsoinvolved in the show and willreceive 25 percent of the exhibit’sproceeds. Its membership is madeup of Kern County residents whowork to educate the communityabout substance abuse.

“Highwire Act” will be on dis-play until Sept. 22. After Friday’sopening, the exhibit can be seenduring the CSUB gallery’s usualopen hours, noon to 4 p.m. Mon-day to Saturday.

Kat Devlin at MetroMetro Galleries in downtown

Bakersfield is the venue for a con-cert this evening by Santa Bar-bara-based singer-songwriter KatDevlin.

An acoustic guitarist, her stylehas been described as a combina-tion of Celtic, country and popfolk-rock music.

Devlin has made numerous sin-gle recordings in the past fewyears. “Voyage Out,” her debutalbum, was released in July 2010.

Don Martin of Metro said appe-tizers will be served, and thosewho attend are welcome to bringa bottle of wine.

Kids’ summer swan songs

Camille Gavin’s “Arts Alive!”column appears on Thursday. Write to her

via e-mail at [email protected]

Camille Gavin CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

‘Saved in the Nick Tickleof Time’When: 7 p.m. Friday and 2

p.m. Saturday

Where: The Empty Space,

706 Oak St.

Admission: $10, $5 for

children under 18

Information: 327-PLAY or

tonicism.com

‘Seussical Jr.’When: 7 p.m. Friday and

Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Bakersfield

Community Theatre, 2400 S.

Chester Ave.

Admission: $12; $10, children

under 12, free to children 5

and under


‘Highwire Act: Insightsinto Substance Abuse”art exhibitWhen: Opening reception:

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Todd Madigan

Gallery, Cal State Bakersfield,

9001 Stockdale Highway

Admission: Free, no-host bar


Kat Devlin concertWhen: Doors open at 6 p.m.,

concert at 7 p.m. today

Where: Metro Galleries, 1604

19th St.

Admission: $25


GO & DOArtists delve intotopic of drug abuse

PHOTO COURTESY OF GUINEVERE PH DETHLEFSON

Ashley Sorensen as Princess Porcupine, Lucas Shearson as KingMousepants and Miller McCraw as Nick Tickle appear in “Saved inthe Nick Tickle of Time” at The Empty Space.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN BELL

Kat Devlin is an acoustic gui-tarist whose style has been de-scribed as a mix of Celtic,country and pop folk-rock.


Eye Street

THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Longtime Techachapi resident Del Connell, who createdscores of Walt Disney comics among hundreds of others inhis prolific career, died Friday, just weeks after receiving alifetime achievement award at the annual pop culture con-vention known as Comic-Con. He was 93.

“It was a grand life,” said his widow, Ruth Connell, in atelephone conversation Wednesday.

“His most well-known activityis he wrote the Mickey Mousestrip that was syndicated allaround the world in differentlanguages. He really touchedmillions of lives in his lifetime.His whole life was comics.”

The irony of the recent award— what his widow called thecrowning achievement of hiscareer — is that he earned it, inpart, for not making a name forhimself. It was common prac-tice for the panels of artists andwriters at that time to gounsigned, which meant that thecreators worked anonymously.

“It didn’t bother him,” Mrs.Connell said. “He was making aliving.”

But the knowledge that thecomics industry would singlehim out for the honor meant theworld to Connell, according to

his son Brady, who accepted the award on his father’sbehalf after medical concerns made it impossible for theartist to be honored in person at the San Diego conven-tion. Connell was suffering from cancer and the earlystages of Alzheimer’s disease.

“I wasn’t able to bring the plaque to him right after Com-ic-Con; I had to wait another 10 days, and by that time hewas declining, and I was able to put the plaque in his handand he at least felt the recognition from his peers,” BradyConnell said.

“And it was just 20 days after the awards ceremony thathe passed.”

In his long career, the mostly self-taught artist createdmemorable characters such as Super Goof, the daring alterego of Disney's beloved Goofy, and wrote the basic story-line that was eventually adapted into the "Lost in Space"television series and motion picture.

Mark Evanier, a television writer and comic book histori-an, chaired the committee that gave Connell the award.Evanier told The Californian in July that Connell was a per-fect choice; he had written thousands of comic books andcreated memorable characters, but to Evanier's knowledge,Connell's name didn't appear on a single one.

“He was very humble,” Evanier said. "One of the reasonswe don't know how much he wrote was because he wasn'tthe sort to shout it from the rooftops."

Connell was born in Ohio in 1918 and took only a cou-ple of art classes before moving west. He worked for WaltDisney as a young artist from about 1938 to 1940, whenhe joined the Army during World War II. He was sta-tioned in Panama, where he drew up strategic maps ofthe area.

“Walt Disney was really wonderful,” Mrs. Connellremembered. “He told them when they went off to war

that when they came back, they’d have a job at Walt Dis-ney.”

After the war, Connell started a 30-year career atWestern Publishing, where he eventually became editorin chief. All the while, he continued his association withthe Walt Disney company.

“I’m most proud of him doing Mickey Mouse,” Mrs.Connell said. “He did a three-panel gag for MickeyMouse every day of his life, including Sundays, for 20years.”

But once he retired in the late 1980s, he left comicsbehind entirely, his widow said, and showed little interest inthe evolution of the industry.

“He really made a break from that world. His was very,very nice stuff, Disney, MGM — goody-goody stuff. Theycouldn’t talk about sex or race or religion or anything ofthat stuff. He was a pretty pure person.”

The Connells moved to Tehachapi in 1987 and settledinto retirement, though son Brady and his dad collabo-rated on a number of entertainment projects aimed atchildren. The senior Connell also had written manymovie and television scripts over his lifetime, which maybe further developed by his son, executive producer ofABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

“Because I’m in the industry, I feel blessed to havesome of his scripts and ideas realized,” Brady Connellsaid. “He was an adventurer and he created dozens anddozens of original characters. I’m looking forward topulling those out and doing something with them.”

The family is planning a private memorial for Connell,who, in addition to his wife and son Brady, is survived byanother son, Kelly Sean Connell, daughter, Casey AnnNoll, and four grandchildren.

Tehachapi resident honored withindustry award weeks before death

Comics creator leaveslegacy but no fanfare

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JACLYN BOROWSKI / THE CALIFORNIAN

Del Connell spent several decades drawing MickeyMouse and other cartoons for Walt Disney.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNELLFAMILY

One of the many comicbook series Del Connelloriginated for WesternPublishing Company(in addition to SpaceFamily Robinson).


Eye Street

One thing about life on theroad is that you often losetouch with reality.

Such is the case with reggae/skaartist and Philadelphia transplantMike Pinto, who appears at Nar-ducci’s Cafe Saturday. He wasshocked by news of flash mobriots consuming his former homecity and comments made byPhiladelphia Mayor Michael Nut-ter, who publicly blasted the city’sblack youth during a church serv-ice in the city last week.

“Man, I had no idea this hap-pened,” said Pinto during a studiobreak in Costa Mesa, where he’sputting finishing touches on anew six-song EP. “We’ve just beenon the road for so long. That’scrazy. You know, the mayor has hisown beliefs on the way you’re sup-posed to act. Philadelphia is his-torically known for independence,and the reason why people cometo this country to express them-selves through tattoos, poetry orwhatever. It’s just hypocrisy.”

Raised on a steady diet of soul-ful sounds emanating from thethe City of Brotherly Love as ateen, the 29-year-old said it wasthe allure of California’s punkscene, along with the reggae flavorof Sublime vocalist Bradley Now-ell, that inspired him to start hisown musical solo project.

“Bradley had a lot of soul. Peo-ple mention his lyrics and rap, butthe guy could spill his guts. Sub-

lime was myintroduction

to this styleof music,because Ihad never

listened toreggae at allbefore. I

was

only listening to bands like BadReligion and NOFX. Definitely allthe third-wave ska bands like LessThan Jake. I don’t wanna knock it,but there isn’t a really strong reg-gae scene in Philly.”

Now residing in sunny SanDiego, Pinto has released threeindependent CDs since 2005 andtours incessantly wherever his fanbase reaches, even if means a last-minute backyard barbecue likethe one he did in Bakersfield a fewyears ago.

“We’re still down to party withpeople at their homes. That’s whatmakes you feel like you’re doingsomething special,” he said.

In addition to his regular three-

piece setup, which includesdrummer Todd Elrod and bassistMatt Brein, Pinto will be bringingalong a two-piece horn section onSaturday for a preview of theupcoming EP, slated for release inmid-September.

“It’s gonna be a raging 90 min-utes full of fun,” said Pinto.

Also appearing will be fellowreggae rascals Dub Seeds and Van-ity Avenue. Admission for this all-ages show is $12. Narducci’s Caféis located at 622 E. 21st St. Formore information, visittgptix.com or call 324-2961.

Outside Lands FestivalLast weekend’s Outside Lands

Festival in San Francisco’s GoldenGate Park way exceeded myexpectations. As a frequentattendee of massive music andarts fiestas up and down Califor-nia, this was the first time I hadattended this relative newcomerto the summer circuit.

In relation to the CoachellaMusic & Arts Festival held everyApril in the sweltering Indiodesert, Outside Lands could beconsidered the cooler cousin ofthe two. Let’s face it: When you’ve

already survived four months of100-plus-degree Central Valleyheat, there’s nothing more entic-ing than a 60-degree mid-Augustweekend in the Bay Area, andthat’s exactly what I was lookingforward to — along with plenty ofgood music and food.

Held over three days on thepark’s polo field festival grounds,the full 1,017-acre nature preserveis a beautiful landscape of sweet-scented eucalyptus trees, trails,and lush grass. Kicking off Fridayat noon, the news of a selloutcrowd had me worried and envi-sioning a nightmare of traffic andconfusion. It’s to be expected atthese events, but after having anearly phone conversation withOutside Lands co-founder RickFarman, also responsible for theannual Bonnaroo festival in Ten-nessee, his advice to “take theshuttle,” suited me fine.

Leaving in consecutive shiftseach afternoon from the Bill Gra-ham Civic Center located in theheart of downtown, we weredropped off near one of three ven-ue entrances and picked up night-ly. Once inside, the tightlyscheduled weekend lineup of The

Black Keys, The Shins, TheDecemberists, The Roots, TheLimousines, Phish, Julieta Vene-gas, Erykah Badu, Muse and morehad me floating.

But for me, the ultimatemoment was watching Sundayheadliners Arcade Fire bring theirbrand of theater rock in front of60,000 fans. Opening with “Readyto Start” off their Grammy win-ning concept album, “The Sub-urbs,” the band weaved aseamless tapestry of music andstriking video imagery throughtheir entire set.

I tried to meet up with someBako attendees trying to reachme throughout the weekendwith no success; however, I didscore a quickie post show reviewwith Sylvia Gomez Ray of Bakers-field, who attended with friend,Israel Shawn Spire, also of Bak-ersfield.

“This was my first big festival. Ithought it was very well organ-ized. Muse was my favorite. Wewere about 15 feet from the stage.I was also impressed with the peo-ple, the weather, and would defi-nitely go back.”

I agree.

Band grows from Philly rootsThe Lowdown with Matt Munoz

San Francisco festexceeds expectations

Bakotopia UnpluggedOpen Mic Night With host Matt Munoz

When: 8 to 11 p.m.

Wednesdays. Signups start at

7:30 p.m.

Where: Fishlips, 1517 18th St.


visit the Facebook page for

updates.

Matt Munoz is editor of Bakotopia.com, a sister website of

The Californian that devotes itself to promoting Bakersfield’s art

scene. Matt’s column appears every Thursday in Eye Street.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE PINTO

The Mike Pinto band — from left, Todd Elrod, Mike Pinto and MattBrein — will perform at Narducci’s Cafe on Saturday.

PHOTO BY MATT MUNOZ

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys at Outside Lands performs at lastweekend’s Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco’s Golden GatePark. See more photos at Bakotopia.com.


Eye Street


Third Thursday returnstonight to Mill Creek, livingup to this month’s theme of

“Hot Summer Nights.”Keeping things cool will be the

return of the water balloon toss forchildren. Also returning is thepopular Boot Scootin’ Boogie,hosted by Bakersfield CommunityHouse, with barbecue and coun-try music. A standout booth thismonth will be the Kern CountyFair’s, previewing what’s comingto the fairgrounds in September.

Downtown Business Associa-tion president Cathy Butler saidpreparation for the fair is themain reason that Third Thursdaywill be dark in September.

“We’re taking a break for Septem-

ber. There will be an art opening atthe Bakersfield Museum of Art, butno official Third Thursday.”

The break will give the associa-tion and surrounding businessestime to plan for exciting events inOctober, including a Party in thePlaza, which will kickoff the Bak-ersfield Condors season, on Oct.15 and Fall Family Faire in thePark (featuring a pumpkin festi-val) on Oct. 20.

“We’ll have a pumpkin patchwith pumpkins for sale. We’re alsoconsidering a costume contestand trick-or-treat with business-es. We’re meeting next week withthe businesses to discuss.”

So have fun tonight and staytuned for downtown events com-ing this fall.

Third Thursday returnsto Mill Creek tonight

Terry &

Charlotte’s

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Dine In Only Expires 8-31-11

August Special

August Special

Named Bakersfield’s Favorite Pizza

in The Californian’s 2011 Readers

Survey

THE CALIFORNIAN

Beale Library

The Nines at theThe Nines at theMarriott HotelMarriott HotelThe Nines at theMarriott Hotel

MexicaliMexicaliRestaurantRestaurantMexicaliRestaurant

Mill CreekMill CreekDeli and BarDeli and BarMill CreekDeli and Bar

GooseGooseLooniesLooniesGooseLoonies

BakersfieldBakersfieldMuseum of ArtMuseum of ArtBakersfieldMuseum of Art

CentralPark

Third ThursdayThird Thursday5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today5:30 to 8:30 p.m. todayCentral Park at Mill Creek, 21 and R Central Park at Mill Creek, 21 and R streets. streets. Information: 325-5892Information: 325-5892

Boot Scootin’ BoogieBoot Scootin’ BoogieBegins at 5:30 p.m.Begins at 5:30 p.m.Hosted by Bakersfield Community Hosted by Bakersfield Community HouseHouseBeer and wineBeer and wine garden from garden from Bakersfield Community HouseBakersfield Community HousePasta on the PatioPasta on the Patio by The Garden by The Garden Spot Spot BarbecueBarbecue by Martin's Meats by Martin's MeatsCountry musicCountry music by Trout's by Trout'sCasino tablesCasino tables by Golden West by Golden West CasinoCasino

Restaurants in the parkRestaurants in the parkGoose LooniesGoose Loonies – tri-tip – tri-tip sandwiches, barbecue pit beef, sandwiches, barbecue pit beef, strawberry lemonade, corn on the strawberry lemonade, corn on the cobb, gyro lamb and chicken. cobb, gyro lamb and chicken. Juicy BurgerJuicy BurgerCaffeine SupremeCaffeine Supreme

Other restaurantsOther restaurantsMill Creek Deli and Bar,Mill Creek Deli and Bar, 700 18th 700 18th St.St.Mexicali Restaurant,Mexicali Restaurant, 631 18th St. 631 18th St.Goose Loonies,Goose Loonies, 816 18th St. 816 18th St.The Nines at Marriott Hotel,The Nines at Marriott Hotel, 801 801 Truxtun Ave.Truxtun Ave.

Nearby art galleriesNearby art galleriesBakersfield Museum of Art,Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 1930 R St.R St.Adobe Krow Archives,Adobe Krow Archives, 430 18th 430 18th St.St.

Third Thursday5:30 to 8:30 p.m. todayCentral Park at Mill CreekInformation: 325-5892

Boot Scootin’ BoogieBegins at 5:30 p.m.Hosted by Bakersfield Community HouseBeer and wine garden from Bakersfield Community HousePasta on the Patio by The Garden Spot Barbecue by Martin's MeatsCountry music by Trout'sCasino tables by Golden West Casino

Restaurants in the parkGoose Loonies – tri-tip sandwiches, barbecue pit beef, strawberry lemonade, corn on the cobb, gyro lamb and chicken. Juicy BurgerCaffeine Supreme

Participating businessesMill Creek Deli and Bar, 700 18th St.Mexicali Restaurant, 631 18th St.Goose Loonies, 816 18th St.The Nines at Marriott Hotel, 801 Truxtun Ave.Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St.

BakersfieldBakersfieldCommunityCommunityHouseHouse

BakersfieldCommunityHouse

21ST ST

TRUXTUN AVE

17TH ST

Q S

T

19TH ST

R S

T

S S

T

18TH ST


Who says putting things off to thelast minute is a problem? Ifyou’ve procrastinated buying

back-to-school clothes for the kids, you’rein luck: Valley Plaza mall is making a partyof the last shopping Saturday before mostlocal schools open for business Monday.

“This is one of the biggest weekends atthe mall,” said Elizabeth Salinas, businessdevelopment representative and coordi-nator of the group and common areas. “Iwouldn’t compare it to Christmas or any-thing, but even this week it has been busy.I expect traffic to increase 50 percent thisweekend.”

Salinas expects a couple of thousandpeople in addition to the regular back-to-school shoppers to pack the JC Penneycourt for the festivities, which include aconcert by the band On Being Human, aprize wheel, T-shirt spray-painting, DanceDance Revolution contests and otheractivities still being planned.

But the main reason to head out Satur-day may be the bargains, Salinas said.Shoppers who spend $150 at the mall Sat-urday have the opportunity to redeemthose receipts for a $20 gift card, whilesupplies last, to be spent at Valley Plazathat day. That’s in addition to the storesthat will be offering discounts and specialdeals that day, Salinas said.

The event, months in the making, repre-sents a stepped-up marketing strategy bythe mall’s owner, General Gross Properties,said Salinas, who noted that Saturday’sshow is the first concert of its kind at themall. But she said Saturday is just the begin-ning and that more special events shouldfollow once a marketing director is hired.

“We’re just trying to drive traffic and giveour customers a good time,” said Salinas,who has worked at Valley Plaza for 16years.

The back-to-school event comes just twoweeks after a man was stabbed at the mallafter being approached by a group ofyoung men asking for money. No arrestshave been made in that altercation. Salinasdeclined to answer whether security wouldbe increased because of the stabbing,though she did say the mall will providesecurity for the event.

Back-to-school eventfeatures music, games

Morethan justshopping

Shop Til You Rockwith live performance by On Being

Human

When: 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Valley Plaza Mall, 2701 Ming

Ave.


BY CAMILLE GAVINContributing columnist

Some day soon,Jerome Lazarushopes to resume his

profession of filmmaking,but not in Sri Lanka, hisnative country.

His departure was not bychoice.

“I was forced to leave SriLanka in 2007 and I'm herenow on a green card,” the36-year-old said. “I’mapplying for political asy-lum in the United States;my next hearing is inDecember in San Francis-co.”

For the past two monthsLazarus has had an exhibitof about 36 photos andseveral collages at the Reit-er Gallery Art Parlor indowntown Bakersfield.The closing reception isFriday evening and he’s

hoping proceeds from hisphoto sales will help to payhis attorney fees for thehearing.

Lazarus is reluctant toprovide any details aboutthe reasons for his expul-sion out of concern forfamily members still livingin Sri Lanka, a large islandnation in the Indian Oceanthat has suffered 25 yearsof civil war.

The photographer saidthe country now has a sta-ble government.

Previously, he operatedhis own production houseand focused on personalbiographies, documentaryfilms and commercials forprivate organizations.

He still hopes to create adocumentary called “Savethe Innocent” on the cur-rent rehabilitation of childsoldiers in Sri Lanka.

In an “iReport” segmentbroadcast on CNN,Lazarus said, “Now that SriLanka is at peace, thesechildren must learn tomove forward and live lifepost-war. My documen-tary will be about thesechildren. I am taking thisopportunity to raiseawareness about mycountry.”

Nearly all of his picturesat the Reiter Gallery show

more peaceful scenes.Some were taken in SriLanka, others in this coun-try and at least two — oneof an almond orchard, theother of Isabella Lake —were taken in Kern County.

One, called “Asian Bud-dhas,” which shows a col-lection of identicalBuddha sculptures, isnotable for the way thelight falls on the half-lid-ded eyes of the seatedstone figures.

Another piece that is fas-cinating both for its per-spective and itscomposition was taken inSan Francisco.

Lazarus has given it thetitle “English Sycamores”and provided this explana-tion of the subject matter:“When faced with thescarring involved in tryingto control nature at theSan Francisco Civic CenterPlaza, artist PatrickDougherty installed anenvironmental sculpture,‘The Upper Crust,’ madeof 18,000 (pounds) offreshly cut willow saplingsinterwoven into the tree-tops.”

Lazarus came to Bakers-field in 2008 as a represen-tative for a hair productscompany and says he nowconsiders it his home.

For the past two years hehas worked for ValleyDecal as a screen printer.


Eye Street

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Artist leavesSri Lanka butcan’t escape it

Jerome LazarusphotographyexhibitWhen: Closing

reception 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Reiter Gallery

Art Parlor, 1914 Chester

Ave.

Admission: Free


BY MIRANDA WHITWORTHContributing writer

It’s a small mountain community tucked away inthe mountains west of Interstate 5, but for scien-tists, American Indians and the residents of Pine

Mountain Club, it is the center of the world. An annual festival that features performance art,

native tradition and playwriting takes its name fromthat very mentality. The Center of the World Festival,Friday through Sunday in Pine Mountain Club, isaimed at encouraging the creative spirit. The themechosen to guide this year’s playwrights, tasked withsubmitting original 10-minute works, is “Eco Drama.”

Center of the World Festival founder Sheila Clarksaid the topic highlights the importance of recogniz-ing environmental problems as issues that can besolved with the right motivation.

“We want to give every person’s perspective on whatcan be done and what are some things that we asindividuals can do. We also want to get these mes-sages across in an entertaining manner.”

The play performances will take place at the PineMountain Club gazebo.

“It’s a reader’s theater that is simply staged withgreat acting,” Clark said. “It’s storytelling as social the-ater, so the message is what is the most importantpart.” For those who have never traveled to the tinycommunity, the gazebo sits in the heart of the busi-ness district and will host the three nights of events.

In addition to the performance of the amateur playsubmissions, the festival will include native Americanstorytelling, digital storytelling from children in thecommunity and a songwriting competition.

As with the playwriting competition, the story-telling and songwriting will also focus on expressionand problem-solving, areas that Clark knows a littlesomething about as the former head of a nonprofitwhose aim was to help clients find resolutions andavoid conflict. For Clark and the community of PineMountain Club, ecology is an issue that has hit closeto home, not just in recent times, but for centuries.

“We sit at the bottom of Mount Pinos, one of the lastremaining dark skies in Southern California. It’s awell-known spot for astronomers to stargaze, and theChumash Indians would come here to do spiritualwork. This is the point where the relationshipbetween humankind, nature and the heavens are allbrought into balance.”

It’s that relationship between environment andcommunity that inspired Clark to create this form oftheater.

“We are a community theater and we involve every-one in the community in the festivals that we put on.It’s the community that runs these programs. We alldo it together.”

Mountaincommunityhas ‘World’in its hands

Center of the World FestivalWhen: 7 p.m. Friday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday; closing

ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Pine Mountain Club, in the commercial

center gazebo, 1626 Askin Trail, Pine Mountain Club

Information: 242-1583, cowfestival.org or

centeroftheworldfestival.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEROME LAZARUS

A photo by Sri Lankan artist Jerome Lazarus, part of acollection of his work on display now at the ReiterGallery Art Parlor in Bakersfield.


Eye Street


Tehachapi is ground zero for a tributeto the western way of life as cowboysand cowgirls from across the country

saddle up and head to the 48th AnnualTehachapi Mountain PRCA Rodeo.

Taking place Friday and Saturday, thetwo full days of festivities are the culmina-tion of countless volunteer hours and com-munity support of the rodeo tradition andwhat it means to the mountain city.

“We are a nonprofit organization and wereally work hard to partner with everyone inthe community to make this happen,” saidrodeo secretary Heidi Tully, who has helpedcoordinate the event for six years.

This weekend’s rodeo is just one of manysimilar events organized by the TehachapiMountain Rodeo Association throughoutthe year. Between the Rodeo Season Kick OffDinner and Dance, Loop Ranch Trail Ride,Bad Bulls Tour and the PRCA Rodeo, theassociation is able to contribute annually tothe Tehachapi Hospital Foundation, whichis working toward raising enough money tobuild a new hospital in Tehachapi.

The action gets started tonight, when theTehachapi Mountain PRCA Rodeo kicks offwith a special event honoring those whohave helped get the show on the road.

“We have always done a sponsor appreci-ation dinner and this year it will be held indowntown Tehachapi at the CentennialPlaza. We have invited all of our sponsorsand there are tickets for the community, sowe want to invite everyone to come out andcelebrate.”

Auction items will be up for grabs at thedinner, and bidders will have a shot at get-ting their hands on rodeo paraphernalia,like an autographed jersey from rodeo starTrevor Brazile and an autographed CalvaryStampede vest from two-time world cham-pion Luke Branquinho.

The actual Tehachapi Mountain PRCARodeo begins at 7 p.m. Friday with the gal-lantry of the Grand Entry. A full rodeo willtake place that night and then again on Sat-urday, as well as the coronation of the rodeoqueen.

“We are full in all seven events andentries are closed,” Tully said. “This is aPRCA event, so we have people comingfrom all over the country to compete. We’llhave national champions and amazing girlsfrom the barrel racing circuit.”

While the annual rodeo may be steepedin tradition, there are a few new things thisweekend, including the Dollar Dig for chil-dren in the grandstands, sponsored byUnion Bank.

“All kids under the age of 9 can come outinto the arena and dig for silver dollars.There are over 200 silver dollars up for grabs.They just need to go out and get them.”

Also new this year is vendors row. Anentire arena just inside the main entrancehas been dedicated to shopping, with every-thing from barbecue lunches to roping andriding accessories available for purchase.

City’s rodeoa tribute tocowboy life

48th annual Tehachapi MountainPRCA RodeoWhen: 7 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Tehachapi Rodeo Grounds,

Dennison Road, Tehachapi

Admission: Presale: $13 for adults, $10

for children 5-12, seniors and active

military; at gate: $15 for adults, $12 for

kids 5-12, seniors and active military


tehachapiprorodeo.com


Anational partnership is getting localattention as Harley-Davidson loversgear up and hit the road to help kids

with muscular dystrophy. The 26th MDA Rockin Ride for Life takes

place Saturday, which promises to be a dayof fun whether you’re a biker or just lookingto pitch in for a good cause. Hosted by Bak-ersfield Harley-Davidson, the Rockin Ridetakes the relationship the motorcycle mak-er has with the Muscular Dystrophy Asso-ciation and brings it home to Bakersfieldfor a poker run and all-day event aimed atputting smiles on the faces of kids livingwith the debilitating condition. Poker runorganizer Gary Crawford said the ride'sscheduled stops will entail something a lit-tle different this year.

“There are a lot of sick kids in the hospi-tals around here and we want to stop andsay hello, so they can get out and see thebikes.”

The Rockin Ride kicks off with registra-tion at 8 a.m. at Bakersfield Harley-David-son's location on Merle Haggard Drive.Following registration, the poker run revsinto action, giving riders a chance to cruisethrough the city and beyond collectingplaying cards at each stop to build a hand.

When the ride is over, participants willfind themselves back at Bakersfield Harley-Davidson, where they can lay their cardson the table for a chance at prizes and thenenjoy hours of activities with appeal forpeople of all ages.

If you don't have a Harley but still wantto try your luck, a “walk-around” poker run

has been organized to take place at thedealership, so you can stroll the groundsand enjoy the festivities while puttingtogether a hand.

“There's even going to be a chance towin a new Harley by rolling the dice,”Crawford said.

In addition to a 1950s-style barbecue lunch,live band Triple Threat and door prizes,Crawford said there are a few organizationsstepping up to make the event a success.

“The U.S. Army will be out there withtheir rock wall for climbing and dog tags.There will be bounce houses and face-painting too. It's really something for thewhole family."

The partnership between Harley-David-son and the MDA began in 1980 and,according to www.harley-davidson.com,has brought in more than $65 million tofund research and programs for childrenand adults living with muscular dystrophy.During the lead up to the annual LaborDay telethon to raise funds for the organi-zation, Crawford said Bakersfield Harley-Davidson is taking the issue to the streetsand drumming up support from friendsand neighbors.

Motorcycle lovers ridefor MDA fundraiser

26th MDA Rockin Ride for LifeWhen: Registration at 8 a.m.; ride at

9 a.m.; festivities all day Saturday

Where: 35089 Merle Haggard Drive

Cost: $25, single rider; $40 double

riders

Information: 325-3644;

www.bakersfieldhd.com

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Additional $30.00 coupon Print coupon at

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CA Lic. #793014 Licensed, Insured

3100 East Belle Terrace

Call 397-2121 Financing Available (O.A.C.)

Always a truck in your neighborhood! STARS THEATRE RESTAURANT 1931 CHESTER AVENUE325-6100 bmtstars.com

JULY 29 - AUGUST 20Call the theatre to take advantage of

the Stars Season Ticket Special Pricing!

Bakersfield Harley-Davidson 35089 Merle Haggard Drive

661-325-3644


Eye Street

BY STEFANI DIASCalifornian assistant lifestyles editor

[email protected]

When you hear the words“highly contagious andlethal disease” and

“concentration camp,” you’reprobably not expecting a lovestory. But that’s exactly how“Beirut,” a late-night show open-ing Friday at The Empty Space, isbilled.

It doesn’t hurt that there is alove story behind the scenes.Director Eric Tolley, also the the-ater’s technical director, is direct-ing his wife, Michelle Guerrero,in the show about a dystopianAmerica where all shows of affec-tion are banned.

“The show takes place in thenear future,” Tolley said. “Thereis a disease infinitely more con-tagious than AIDS. You can get itthrough sweat. In response, theU.S. government has essentiallycreated concentration camps

(for the infected).”Guerrero plays Blue, a woman

who has contracted the diseaseand is sent to live in the quaran-tined zone on the lower east sideof New York, known as Beirut.

Along with the quarantine,society has changed to reflect thefear of contagion.

“An anti-love, anti-sex culturehas grown out of it. The slogan is‘No touching, no kissing, no sex,no love.’”

Despite this culture, Blue’slover, Torch (played by AlisonMartin), sneaks into the camp tobe with her one true love.

With all this talk of love, it maybe surprising that the flier warnsof smoking, violence and sexualsituations. But that is exactly the

juxtaposition that Tolley said he’slooking forward to addressing.

Based on the warnings, “wemay get people expecting a peepshow. This is about as far fromthat as you can possibly get. I'mexcited for people to come inwith preconceived notions ofwhat's on the flier. Hopefullythey’ll get the point and changetheir notions midway.”

Adjusting to the material wasalso necessary for the cast, Tolleysaid.

“This was outside the comfortzone for all three actors.”

That was especially the case forDrew Hallum, who plays a campguard. The role is quite a depar-ture for Hallum, who is the chil-dren’s programming director atBakersfield Community Theatre.

“The guard role is creepy,” Tol-ley said. “When he (Hallum)found out he had the role, hesaid, ‘Why?’”

Tolley said he put a lot ofthought into the casting and keptan open mind. The show, writtenby Alan Bowne in the mid-1980sat the beginning of the AIDS cri-sis, was originally staged with

Torch as a man and Blue as awoman. Tolley said the play-wright later clarified that hewrote the play so the lovers couldbe played by any combination,something that Tolley took intoconsideration.

“He didn’t limit his play. Lovewas universal. When I was hold-

ing auditions, I didn’t go into thisthinking it would be girl-girl,guy-girl or guy-guy. I chose whowould make the best partners.”

The Empty Space is known foroffering late-night shows meantfor mature audiences, from com-edy troupes to darker subjectmatter, a fact that makes Tolleyproud.

“For a lot of our late-nightshows, we’re drawing in ayounger demographic, collegestudents, 20- and 30-some-things.

“Even the main stage showsare edgier. It’s a crowd we’rebuilding as well. It’s a need that’snot met anywhere else in town,by any other theater.”

Continuing to push the enve-lope, Tolley will be co-directing“Marat/Sade” with his wife. Theshow, set in an asylum aroundthe French Revolution, will be anexciting and challenging showfor the couple.

“I am really looking forward toco-directing that with Michelle.It’s crazy, all over the place. Thereis no resting for anyone in theshow.”

Play looks at societychanged after disease

Imagine a loveless future‘Beirut’When: 11 p.m. Friday and

Saturday

Where: The Empty Space,

706 Oak St.

Admission: $5

Information: 327-PLAY

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Lovers embrace in “Beirut,”which opens Friday at The Emp-ty Space.


& PRESENTS:

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Eye StreetGO&DO

TodayConcerts by The Fountain, top

40 hits with A.K.A., 7 to 9 p.m.,

The Marketplace, 9000 Ming

Ave.

Bakersfield Blaze vs. LakeElsinore Storm, 7:45 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday, Sam Lynn Ball

Park, 4009 Chester Ave. $8-

$12.50. bakersfieldblaze.com or

716-HITS.

Third Thursdays Faire (more

on Page 31)

Read the Classics, for young

readers ages 8 to 12, 4 p.m.,

Barnes & Noble, 4001 California

Ave. 631-2575.

San Joaquin Sport DiversMeeting, for those interested in

free diving, snorkeling and scuba

diving, 7:30 p.m., Rusty’s Pizza,

6675 Ming Ave. 589-3334.

FridayDave Alvin & The Guilty Ones(more on Page 26)

Movies in the Park, presents

“The Longshots,” dusk, Dr.

Martin Luther Jr. Park, 1000 S.

Owens St. 326-3866.

“Opera Fever,” (more on Page

27).

Third annual Center of theWorld Festival (more on Page

32).

2011 Tehachapi MountainPRCA Rodeo (more on Page 33).

Fantastic Friday Storytime,with Miss Olivia, 10 a.m., Barnes

& Noble, 4001 California Ave.

631-2575.

SaturdayRandy Rogers Band &Reckless Kelly (more on Page

26)

26th annual “The Rockin’Ride for Life” Poker Run,benefitting Muscular Dystrophy

in Kern County; (more on Page

33)

48th annual TehachapiMountain Festival, pet parade,

carnival, arts and crafts booths,

pancake breakfast, gem and

mineral show, parade, beer

garden, car show, PRCA rodeo

and entertainment, Saturday and

Sunday, Philip Marx Central Park,

Tehachapi.

tehachapimountainfestival.com

or 822-4180.

Golden Days of SpainRenaissance Faire, with food,

music, and revelry, 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Tait

Ranch, 3344 Frazier Mountain

Park Road, 31⁄2 miles west on

Interstate 5, Frazier Park. $7.50

adults, $5 children 10-17, $5

seniors (65+), children under 9

are free; $2 parking. fmrf.info or

858-367-9708.

Handcrafts Festival, 10 a.m. to

5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. Sunday, Railroad Park,

Tehachapi. 822-6062.

Raider Jam 2011, Super Bowl

champion Rod Martin, music by

Rock A Mole, Raiderettes, food,

vendors, refreshments,

entertainment for kids, DJ Raw

One, waterslide, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

Noble Park, 700 South P St. 340-

7167.

Second annual MakeoverMania, chair massages, haircuts,

vendors, fresh fruit and

refreshments, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,

Columbus Estates, 3201

Columbus St. Free. 872-5855.

Shop Til You Rock, (more on

Page 31)

The Sacred Work Sabbath,fellowship, speakers, video

presentations, musical guests,

10:30 a.m., the theater at

Rabobank Convention Center,

1001 Truxtun Ave. sjch.us or 869-

6562.

“The Usual Suspects” CinemaSaturday, sundown, Valentien

Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1310

Truxtun Ave., Suite 160. 864-

0397.

Bakersfield Green ThumbGarden Club, meeting with Bill

Moffatt from Kern Audubon

Society, discussing “Attracting

Birds & Butterflies to Your

Garden,” 9 a.m., Church of the

Brethren, in the social hall, 327 A

St. 393-3657.

Certified Farmers Market, 8

a.m. to noon, next to Golden

State Mall, 3201 F St.

Eagles 2011 Fun Fair, CarShow & Membership Drive,bounce houses, 50/50 raffles,

entertainment, karaoke, music,

games, vendors, drink specials,

begins at noon, Eagles Hall, 1718

17th St. 747-1628.

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1

p.m., Brimhall Square, 9500

Brimhall Road.

Gorgeously Green BeautyRoutine Workshop, with

Sophie Uliano, 2 p.m.,

Greenshops, 4821 Stockdale

Highway. $42 workshop fee

includes goodie bag. Reservation

required, 834-6477.

Green Workshop: A VeryGreen Mommy’s Morning,with Sophie Uliano, 11 a.m. to 1

p.m., Greenshops, 4821

Stockdale Highway. $42

workshop fee includes goodie

bag. 834-6477.

Ice Cream Zoofari, wildlife

presentation, free rides on the

railroad, 5 to 8 p.m., CALM,

10500 Alfred Harrell Highway.

CALM will close at 4 p.m. and

reopen for the Zoofari. $10 adult

members, $8 children (ages 3 to

12); $15 non-members, $12

children. calmzoo.org or 872-

2256.

Kids Discover Music,classically trained musician

performs, reads a story and

teaches kids about the music

and instrument, 11 a.m. to noon,

Russo’s, 9000 Ming Ave. 665-

4686.

Low-Cost Dog Spay/NeuterClinic Program, 7 a.m. to 4

p.m., Vons, parking lot, 5610

Lake Isabella Blvd. Free. To

schedule an appointment and to

verify income qualification, call 1-

888-504-7729.

Sunday14th annual Thunder on theMountain annual Car & TruckShow, trophies, raffles, 50/50

drawing, event parking begins at

7 a.m., show 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

Downtown Tehachapi. $35 entry

fee. thunderonthemountain.net

or 821-1781.

Buena Vista-North KernMen’s Golf Club Tournament,individual stroke play begins at 9

a.m., Buena Vista Golf Course,

10256 Golf Course Road. $15 per

person, plus green fees ($36.50).

398-9720.

THEATER“A Chorus Line” 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday, Stars

Dinner Theatre, 1931 Chester

Ave. $45 to $55; show-only

tickets $35; matinee $46 to $50.

325-6100.

“Beirut” 11 p.m. Friday and

Saturday, The Empty Space, 706

Oak St. $5. 327-PLAY.

Improv Comedy Show, with

Center For Improv Advancement,

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Ice

House, 3401 Chester Ave., Suite

M. Adults: $5 on Friday and

Saturdays, children under 12 are

$1 every day.

ciacomedy.com.Comedy.

“Saved in The Nick (Tickle) ofTime” 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m.


Oak St. Visit tonicism.com.

“Seussical Jr. the Musical” 7

p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m.

Sunday, Bakersfield Community

Theater, 2400 S. Chester Ave.

Pre-sale $10; $15 adults; $12

children. 831-8114.

“The Show Must Go On,”followed by the vaudeville revue

“Hot Summer Nights” 7 p.m.

Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m.

Sunday, Gaslight Melodrama

Theatre & Music Hall, 12748

Jomani Drive. $12 to $23. 587-

3377.

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: TheMusical” 7 p.m. Friday and

Saturday, Spotlight Theatre, 1622

19th St. $25; $22

students/seniors. 634-0692 or

thespotlighttheatre.com.

Major League Improv,improvisational comedy show,

appropriate for families, 6 p.m.

Saturdays, The Empty Space,

706 Oak St. 327-PLAY.

ART“Connections,” an exhibition of

works by artists participating in

the visual arts festival.

Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930

R St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-

Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Saturday

and Sunday. Closed Mondays.

323-7219.

Artwork on Display, “I Dream

of Art,” now until Aug. 27, The

Empty Space, 706 Oak St. 327-

PLAY.

Closing Reception for “Heart”Photography, photography by

Jerome Lazarus R., Simon

Cardoza and Mitch Reiter, 7 p.m.

Friday, Reiter Gallery, 1914

Chester Ave. 862-0059.

MUSIC

AcousticKern River Brewing Company,13415 Sierra Highway, Kernville,

760-376-2337; Slideways with

Eric Hershkowitz and Tom

Corbett, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

BluesKern River Blues Society Jam,2 to 8 p.m. every third Saturday,

Trout’s, 805 N. Chester Ave. 872-

7517.

Sinaloa, 910 20th St., 327-5231;

Glenda Robles, 8 to 11 p.m.

Saturday.

Pyrenees Cafe, 601 Sumner,

323-0053; Swamp Katz, 1 p.m.

Saturday.

Classic Rock Banacek's Lounge, 4601 State

Road, 387-9224; Usual Suspects,

9 p.m. Friday.

Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139;

Billy Russell Band, 9 p.m. Friday;

Left Coast Groovies, 9 p.m.

Saturday.

T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020

District Blvd., 398-1300;

Elevation 406, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday.

The Old River Monte Carlo,9750 Taft Highway, 837-0250;

No Limit, 9 p.m. Friday and

Saturday.

Iron Horse Saloon, 1821 S.

Chester Ave., 831-1315; The

Press, 2 p.m. Friday.

Crest Bar & Grill, inside

Bakersfield RV Resort, 5025

Wible Road, 833-9998; Mike

Montano, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

ComedyElevation Lounge, 818 Real

Road, 325-6864; Improv Tuesday

- Live comedy with DJ after

party, 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

CountryTrout’s & the BlackboardStages, 805 N. Chester Ave.,399-6700:, offers karaoke, line

dancing, West Coast Swing

among other various activities.

Call for times and days.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace,2800 Buck Owens Blvd., 328-

7560; Monty Bryom & the

Buckeroos, 7:30 p.m. Friday. $5

per night.

Ethel’s Old Corral Cafe, 4310

Alfred Harrell Highway, 873-7613;

Twang Bangers, 7 p.m. Friday;

Valley Fever, 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Ethel’s Old Corral Cafe, 4310

Alfred Harrell Highway, 873-7613;

Nightlife with Pairs and Spares, 7

p.m. every Sunday. $5 members;

$7 nonmembers.

Tejon Club, 117 El Tejon Ave.,

392-1747; Crossroads, 6 to 10

p.m. Sunday.

BY MATT MUNOZBakotopia.com editor

[email protected]

We’re just a month away fromthe Kern County Fair, butyou can get a jump on family

fun at the fairgrounds Sunday at the17th annual Kern County HispanicChamber of Commerce Business &Consumer Trade Show.

Along with bounce houses, games,kiddie rides, face-painting and foodvendors, there’s also a back-to-schoolgiveaway.

To highlight the importance of edu-cation and school preparedness, 500free backpacks and supplies will bedistributed to the first 500 childrenfrom pre-kindergarten to junior high.

This is the first time for the back-pack giveaway, but in light of theeconomy and desire to help families,chamber president Jay Tamsi saidmany chamber members and busi-ness sponsors wanted to give backand help.

“Our chamber members have beenworking hard to collect as many back-packs and school supplies for Sun-day’s trade show. The donor supporthas been amazing. We even had onegentleman, a former Bakersfield resi-dent and Foothill High School classpresident who lives in the Bay Area,mail backpacks and school supplies tohelp about 50 children; he learnedabout our efforts through Facebook.It’s just inspiring how people areresponding.”

Live entertainment will includeThee Majestics, Mento Buru, LostVinyl, Ballet Folklorico Huaztecalliand Mariachi Juvenile de Aztlan.

Chamber chairman Risto Rubiosaid the trade show is expected toconnect families to many local busi-nesses offering a variety of servicessuch as retail items, real estate, bank-ing, insurance, law enforcement out-reach and health and wellness booths.

“We are excited about linking ourconsumers with local businesses,” hesaid. “Aside from the dozens ofexhibitors, there will be lots of activi-ties for families to come and enjoy. It’sgoing to be a great family-filled event.”

Admission and parking to the eventis free. Exhibitor booths and sponsor-ships are still available. Potential ven-dors as well as sponsors are beingasked to contact the KCHCC office at633-5495.

Get a jumpon fun atfairgrounds

KCHCC Business &Consumer Trade ShowWhen: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Kern County Fairgrounds,

1142 South P St.

Admission: Free


kchcc.org


DancingJoaquin Squares, 7:30 to 9:30

p.m. Thursday, Rasmussen Center,

115 E. Roberts Lane. $5. 324-1390,

325-3086 or 399-3658.

Folklorico Classes, advance

dancers/performing group 6 to 8

p.m. Fridays; and beginners, all

ages, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, Fruitvale-Norris Park,

6221 Norris Road. $22 per month

for beginners; $25 per month for

advance dancers. 833-8790.

Pairs and Spares Dance, wear

your best western clothes and

dance to the music of Jerri Arnold,

Country George, Ed Shelton, 7 p.m.

Friday, Rasmussen Senior Center,

115 E. Roberts Lane. $5; $7

nonmembers. 399-3575.

Dance classes, beginning west

coast swing,

intermediate/advanced west coast

swing with instructor Mimi

Johanson, at 8214 Mossrock Drive.

Call 927-7001 for details.

Whirlaways Square DanceClub, has workshops/classes

every first, third, fourth and fifth

Mondays, Park Stockdale Civic

Association Community Center,

205 Rio Bravo Drive.

whirlaways.org or 213-3105.

African Dance for Fitness,taught by national touring artists,

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 1

to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Su Studio

Dance Academy, 1515 21st St. $5-

$7 per class.

africandanceclasses.com or 760-

917-3685.

Beginner Belly Dance Lessons,8 p.m. every Tuesday, Centre Stage

Studio, 1710 Chester Ave. 323-

5215.

DJRockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany

Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; DJ

James, 9 p.m. Thursdays through

Saturdays. Free.

Banacek’s Lounge, 4601 State

Road, 387-9224; with DJ Casey

Overstreet, 9 p.m. Fridays.

Le Corusse Rouge, 4647 White

Lane, 834-1611; with DJ Chill in the

Mixx, 5 p.m. every Friday until 2

a.m. Saturday.

Sandrini’s, 1918 Eye St., 322-

8900; Wax On, 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Tam O’Shanter, 2345 Alta Vista,

324-6774: DJs Prtyboyz, Frankie

Perez, Blowskee, Raul V, Alex G and

Sparkle, 8:30 p.m. Friday and

Saturday.

The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, at

Hotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino Del

Rio Court, 327-0681; with Meg,

7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Jazz Cafe Med, 4809 Stockdale

Highway., 834-4433; Richie Perez,

7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays


Lane, 834-1611; Bakersfield Jazz

Workshop, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

every Wednesday.

Imbibe Wine & SpiritsMerchant, 4140 Truxtun Ave.,

633-WINE; live music & wine bar

with featuring local artists, along

with 24 wines, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Friday; featuring Jazz Connection,

along with 24 wines, 7 to 9:30

p.m. Saturday.

Jazz at the Nile, open to all jazz

artists, bring your instrument, 6

p.m. every Sunday, The Nile

Theater, 1721 19th St. $10.

Imbibe Wine & SpiritsMerchant, 4140 Truxtun Ave.,

633-WINE; live music & wine bar

with featuring Jazz Connection,

along with 24 wines, 6 to 8:30

p.m. Tuesdays.

Intimate Theatre & Music Hall,2030 19th St., 323-1976; Ron

Christian and his Big Band, 5:30

p.m. Tuesdays.

Padre Hotel, Prairie Fire, RoofTop, 1702 18th St., 427-4900; Jazz

& Martinis, 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday.

KaraokeB. Ryder’s Sports Bar & Grill,7401 White Lane, 397-7304; 8 p.m.

Thursdays and Tuesdays.

Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 9

p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and

Sundays.

Cactus Valley MexicanRestaurant, 4215 Rosedale

Highway, 633-1948; 6:30 to 9:30

p.m. Thursday; beer pong and

happy hour all day Sunday.

Cataldo’s Pizza, 4200 New Stine

Road, 397-5000; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Thursday.

Corona’s Cantina, 9817 S. Union

Ave., 345-8463; 7 to 10 p.m.

Thursdays.

Don Perico Restaurant, 2660

Oswell St., Suite 133, 871-2001; 7

to 11 p.m. Thursdays.

Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139;

Bellvedere Idol Karaoke Contest,

prizes for winners, 9 p.m. to 1

a.m. Thursdays and Sundays.

Pour House, 4041 Fruitvale Ave.,

589-9300; 9 p.m. Thursday

through Saturday.

T-Bones Steakhouse, 8020

District Blvd., 398-1300; with Irish

Monkey Entertainment, 6:30 to 11

p.m. Thursdays.

The Old River Monte Carlo,9750 Taft Highway, 837-0250;

8:30 p.m. every Thursday.

The Wright Place, 2695-G Mount

Vernon Ave., 872-8831, 8 p.m.

every Thursday.

Tomi’s Cowgirl Cafe, 1440

Weedpatch Highway, 633-1949;

Karaoke King Show, all ages, 7 to

10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.

Julie’s The Branding IronSaloon, 1807 N. Chester Ave., 6 to

10 p.m. every Friday.

B. Ryder's Sports Bar & Grill,7401 White Lane, 397-7304; 8 p.m.Tuesday.

Maria Bonita MexicanRestaurant, 10701 Highway 178,

366-3261, 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays. All

ages.

The Pourhouse, 4041 Fruitvale

Ave., 589-9300; 9 p.m. every

Friday.

The Prime Cut, 9500 Brimhall

Road, 831-1413; hosted by Ed

Loverr, 9 p.m. to midnight Friday.

The Regent, 2814 Niles St., 871-

4140; 8:30 p.m. every other Friday.

Chateau Lounge, 2100 S. Chester

Ave., 835-1550; 9 p.m. every

Saturday.

Del Rio Cocktail Lounge, 5840

State Road, 393-0262; 8 p.m.

every Saturday.

Pyrenees Cafe, 601 Sumner, 323-

0053; 8 p.m. to midnight

Saturdays.

Rocket Shop Cafe, 2000 S. Union

Ave., 832-4800; 8:30 p.m. to

midnight Saturday.

Sports & Spirits, 6633 Ming Ave.,

398-7077; 9 p.m. Thursdays and

Saturdays.

Tejon Club, 117 El Tejon Ave., 392-

1747; 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

The Playhouse, 2915 Taft

Highway; 397-3599; 7 to 10 p.m.

Sundays.

Diana’s Pit Stop, 10807 Rosedale

Highway, 587-8888; 8 p.m.

Mondays and Thursdays.

Rockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany

Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; 8 p.m.

Mondays through Wednesdays.

The Wrecking Yard, 9817 S.

Union Ave., 827-9192; 7 to 10 p.m.

Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Best Western , 2620 Buck Owens

Blvd., 327-9651; The Junction with

host Mac Clanahan, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesdays through Fridays.

Cataldo’s Pizzeria, 6111 Niles St.,

363-7200; 6:15 to 10:15 p.m.

Tuesdays.

City Slickers, 1001 W. Tehachapi

Blvd., 822-4939; 7 p.m. Tuesdays

and Thursdays.

DoubleTree Hotel, Club Odyssey,

3100 Camino Del Rio Court; 8 p.m.

to midnight Tuesdays.


Lane, 834-1611; A to Z Karaoke, 8

p.m. to midnight Tuesdays.

Lone Oak Inn, 10612 Rosedale

Highway, 589-0412; 8 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday.

Magoo’s Pizza, 1129 Olive Drive,

399-7800; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday.

McMurphy’s Irish Pub & SportsBar, 14 Monterey St., 869-1451; 7

p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays.

Round Table Pizza, 2060 White

Lane, 836-2700; 6 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday.

The Bull Shed Bar & Grill, at

Hotel Rosedale, 2400 Camino Del

Rio Court, 327-0681; 7 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Trout’s & The BlackboardStages, 805 N. Chester Ave., 399-

6700; 7 p.m. Mondays and

Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays,

Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays

and Sundays.

Ethel's Old Corral, 4310 Alfred

Harrell Highway, 873-7613; 6 to 9

p.m. every Wednesday.

Latin/SalsaLatin Salsa Dancing, 8 p.m.

Thursdays, DoubleTree Hotel, Club

Odyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio

Court. 323-7111.

Tam O’Shanter, 2345 Alta Vista,

324-6774: Salsa dancing, 7:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays.

DoubleTree Hotel, ClubOdyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio

Court, 633-1949; various levels, 3

to 9 p.m. every Sunday. $5 per

person, per lesson.

Mariachi Camino Real Restaurant, 3500

Truxtun Ave., 852-0493; Mariachi

Imperial, 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Oldies KC Steakhouse, 2515 F St., 322-

9910; Jimmy Gaines, Bobby O and

Mike Halls, 6:30 p.m. Thursday

through Saturday.

Old School Que Pasa Mexican Cafe, 2701

Ming Ave., 832-5011; Al Garcia &

the Rhythm Kings, 8 to 11 p.m.

every Thursday.

Maria Bonita MexicanRestaurant, 10701 Highway 178,

366-3261; Savor, Unlimited Edition,

8 p.m. Saturday.

Open Mic

Fishlips, 1517 18th St., 324-2557;

Bakotopia Unplugged Open-Mic

Night, 8 p.m., sign-up sheet

begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

RockRockstarz Party Bar, 7737 Meany

Ave., Suite B5, 589-6749; live

bands, 9 p.m. every Thursday.


8900; The Indians, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday.

Jerry’s Pizza, 1817 Chester Ave.,

633-1000, T-Mills, 6 p.m. Friday.


8900; Soulajar, 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ska/reggaeB. Ryder's Sports Bar & Grill,7401 White Lane, 397-7304; Mento

Buru, Latin Breeze and DJ Frankie P,

8 p.m. Saturday. $5; 21 & over only.

Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21 St.,

324-2961; Mike Pinto, 7 p.m.

Saturday.

Top 40DoubleTree Hotel, ClubOdyssey, 3100 Camino Del Rio

Court. 323-7111; 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

every Friday.

Fishlips Bar & Grill, 1517 18th St.,

324-2557; musical lyrics theme

hosted by Golden Empire Ladies

Active 20-30 #1038, 7 p.m.

Thursday. $5.

Bellvedere Cocktail Lounge,3090 Brundage Lane, 325-2139; 7

p.m. Tuesdays.

Chuy’s, 2500 New Stine Road,

833-3469; 7 p.m. every Tuesday.


8900; Trivia Night with Dave

Rezac, 10 p.m. Tuesdays.

VarietyGolden State Mall, 3201 F St.,

Dance to Joe Loco, 2 to 5 p.m.

Sundays.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday 8/22Cardio Kickboxing Classes, with

heavy Muay Tai bags, 6 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m.

Saturday, Kickboxing Bakersfield,

9601 S. H St. 374-5728.

Recreational Swim Team, for

ages 5 to 18, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through

Thursday, Bakersfield College, 1801

Panorama Drive. Open enrollment.

395-4663.

Roller Hockey Beginners Clinic,6 to 6:45 p.m., Rollerama, 1004

34th St. $5. 327-7589.

Senior Discovery Days,for

seniors 60 and older receive 50

percent off admission, 10 percent

discount in the gift store, CALM,

10500 Alfred Harrell Highway. 872-

2256.

Tuesday 8/23Creative Corner Bazaar,featuring handmade items such as

fabric art, kitchen accessories,

quilts, children’s items and more,

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Villas at

Scenic River, 4015 Scenic River

Lane. 871-3340 or 619-4153.

Oildale Farmers Market, 3 to 6

p.m. now through August,

northeast corner of N. Chester

Ave. and Norris Road, Oildale. 868-

3670.

Sierra Club Conditioning Hikes,three to five miles, 7 p.m., meet at

corner of Highways 178 and 184.

872-2432 or 873-8107.

Thursday 8/25Concerts by The Fountain,Jamaican ska with Mento Buru, 7

to 9 p.m., The Marketplace, 9000

Ming Ave.

Ray Price, 7 p.m., Buck Owens’

Crystal Palace, 2800 Buck Owens

Blvd. $28.50-$40.50. vallitix.com

or 322-5200.

Read the Classics, for young

readers ages 8 to 12, 4 p.m.,

Barnes & Noble, children’s

department, 4001 California Ave.

631-2575.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey Circus: Fully Charged,animal open house, an hour and a

half before show starts; show 7:30

p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11:30

a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday

and Sunday, Rabobank Arena, 1001

Truxtun Ave. $10-$65.

ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-

3000.

Friday 8/26“Beirut”, 11 p.m. Friday and


Oak St. $5. 327-PLAY.

Fantastic Friday Storytime, with

Miss Olivia, 10 a.m., Barnes &

Noble, 4001 California Ave. 631-

2575.

Eye StreetGO & DOEagles 2011 Fun Fair, CarShow & Membership Drive,bounce houses, 50/50 raffles,

entertainment, karaoke, music,

games, vendors, drink specials,

begins at noon Saturday,

Eagles Hall, 1718 17th St. 747-

1628.

bakersfield californian eye street / 8-18-11

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