See you at the Clock Tower
| Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 04:28 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 04:28 PM
GO & DO
What: Clock Tower Holidays & My Favorite Things Preview
When: Opening reception: 5 to 8 p.m. today
Where: Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Ave.
Admission: $25 members; $30 non-members
Information: 852-5000.
The Kern County Museum's holiday theme, "My Favorite Things," strikes a familiar note, collectively -- who could forget the song Julie Andrews made famous --and personally, as in hobbies, collectibles and family memories.
As a result at this evening's opening reception in the museum's main gallery you'll see a glittering array of items hanging from the branches of nine 12-foot trees or tucked into a dozen or so individual wreaths measuring 36 inches in diameter.
"Each tree or wreath has the kind of things that mean a lot to the person or organization that designed it," said Jeff Nickell, museum director.
For example, the tree decorated by Nemesis Station, a Star Trek-oriented group headed by Daryl Curtis, interpreted the theme as "Vintage SciFi," while Renfro and Cunningham, an architectural firm, chose "Baseball," which was designed by Renee Goodwin.
As for the wreaths, the preferences reflect such things as gardening, pets, coffee, snowflakes and jingle bells, fairies, and Kern County's crops. One wreath is appropriately named, "Sound of Music."
Each wreath will be auctioned during the reception; the trees will remain in the museum throughout the holiday season. Nickell said proceeds from the event will be given to the museum foundation's educational services fund.
Also that evening will be the exterior lighting of two historic structures on the museum grounds. One is the clock tower, a replica of the structure that once stood in the intersection of Chester Avenue and 17th Street in downtown Bakersfield. The other is the Lopez-Hill House which was built in the early 1900s by J.J. Lopez, a legendary figure who played a prominent role in the early history of Tejon Ranch.
Tonight's reception heralds two family-friendly holiday events at the museum, Lamplight Tours on Dec. 5 and Cookies at the Clock Tower on Dec. 19.
