1. Change your furnace filter

Baking for the holidays does not come easy. Following a recipe or baking from scratch can be a tall task to follow.

“Can I ask you a personal question? Why MADD?”

Meccano M.A.X. Robot - 1

In this season of giving, charitable gifts may bear the brunt of tax reform. Changes in the law will reduce the number of taxpayers who benefit from their charitable tax deductions. While most give to charity for reasons other than tax incentives, the deduction allows folks to give a little …

Imagine walking into a home decorated with white winter fantasies that surpass all your Christmas dreams and would make Santa Claus blush with envy. Take a step back – you’re in a home in Bakersfield.

The holidays typically represent togetherness, family and friends uniting at the dinner table indulging in good food and good conversation.

The holidays can either be a massive stress or a source of joy.

Kern Community Foundation was created as a liaison between local philanthropists and nonprofits.

The holiday shopping hype is upon us and in today’s retail environment, we can find pretty much find anything we need through e-commerce. Maybe this year you’ve decided to take a break from the Black Friday crowds and want something more than clicking away on some website? We want to tell yo…

Kids in Kern County go without the holiday excitement and joy of the season each and every year. As families continue to face financial struggles, they are unable to provide Christmas gifts, even the smallest ones.

While the start of autumn brought cooler weather to Kern County, it certainly didn’t cool down the sports action around the Golden Empire.

It’s late into the evening and Ken Burdick is hunched over, cynical, gruff and miserly, the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s become cold and distant, a self-imposed loneliness the byproduct of death and keeping others at bay. Christmas brings him nothing but negative memories and h…

Kern County is known for its generosity. When called upon to provide for the needs of the community, companies and individuals alike rise to the occasion. While Give Big Kern is a well-known annual event, there are ways to contribute year-round to help sustain our local nonprofits.

For many, the holidays are a stressful time of the year. Add to that a move to a new neighborhood or the extra tightening of the family budget and things will definitely not feel a lot like Christmas.

In an age where technology has all but kicked bound books to the curb, there are artisans fighting the resistance, celebrating the lost art of restoration, one leather spine at a time. Most conservation-trained bookbinders work in museums, large libraries and academic institutions. But scatt…

Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of plant foods that moves food and liquids through our body. It is commonly referred to as “roughage” and aides our body to dispose of waste through the aid of our digestive system. Without it, we commonly feel bloated, full or constipated and are unabl…

Nina Ha racing at the new Track House in Bakersfield. 

Better Bowls

Simple, fresh ingredients often make the best dishes. The pad thai served at Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar is the recipe of head chef Preeda Piamfa’s mother. This recipe is more than 75 years old. When his mother was a teen, she opened a store in Thailand that only served this dish – that’s how g…

Muertos Kitchen & Lounge 

The straw bale is a common fall decor item found on front porches and yards across Bakersfield. But they also have another use. They can be used as a gardening container.

Garage, low-fi and indie.

Don your finest suit or gown and join the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra Nov. 10 for “Romantic Classics,” a night of music that will elevate any night on the town.

A cozy, makeshift haven is tucked away in a corner on the Bakersfield College campus. Near the not-so-up-to-date campus center lies an approximate 750-square foot lounge full of veteran students.

Before tax reform, employees could potentially write off work-related expenses that were not reimbursed by their employer. Those deductions have been chopped along with several other “miscellaneous itemized deductions” as Congress attempts to simplify your tax reporting. The main argument is…

They spend countless hours under the hot sun on pool decks and worn-down practice fields, in musty gyms, drafty arenas and sweaty locker rooms.

For many Americans, health is a priority. They’re conscious of the foods they eat, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water.

With cooler temperatures, now is the perfect time to take advantage of an often-overlooked characteristic of Bakersfield – it is a bike-friendly city!

Ever since I was a kid, if there was a racetrack at an amusement park, I’m either in line or already burning rubber.

The stench of oil permeates the air. The sounds of engines nearly deafen. Cars pass by at speeds that would cause whiplash.

Stylist: Laurie Brucker, style ambassador for the Outlets at Tejon

A light breeze passed through the lush greens of The Gardens at Monji, running water from a nearby water feature and singing birds creating a relaxing atmosphere as the sun slowly descended behind Andrew Lewis and Spencer Shoemaker as they exchanged vows.

San Antonio

November marks a transition month for local sports. The fall sports season wraps up during the month, while the winter sports season begins. Here are some of the noteworthy sports happenings.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Allies and the Central Powers declared an armistice. “The Great War” was over.

Walking down 18th Street, there is tangible excitement growing around this once-neglected swath of downtown. New energy melds with downtown institutions, all framed by an unrelenting street grid.

The needs of veterans and their families are vast and complex. Government departments such as Defense and Veterans Affairs, while providing a tremendous amount of support to veterans and their families, have been challenged in recent years by the enormous increasing needs of this sector. Mor…

Most men approaching their mid-60s are eyeing retirement off in the distance. Slowing down. Scaling back.

In today’s world, a father’s role isn’t as clearly defined as it once was.

Ever since I wrote my first editor’s note in the July 2016 issue of Bakersfield Life Magazine, I’ve used the space as an opportunity to share some of the thoughts that run through my mind. That explains why so many columns mention my pug, Tina Louise.

Get ready for more fun and entertainment as the Bakersfield Young Professionals hosts its fourth annual Downtown Street Party on Oct. 12.

Promoting health and using a play on words to further its agenda is the Cycling Lab Rats, a group of clinical laboratory scientist at Memorial Hospital who have taken up cycling as a group. At its core is co- founder Jessica Liebenow, who started the group with a friend.

Born in Vietnam and raised as an orphan by an American family in New York, local artist Aliza McCracken started painting at 4 years old and developed into a professional artist at 15. Her art carries themes of love, life and hope, blending her passion for drawing and painting with creative w…