Vacation season is right around the corner. For the second straight summer, travelers may have to contend with uncertain circumstances as the world continues to confront the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On a lazy spring day of backyard chores a few years ago at our Las Palmas neighborhood home, an empty clay strawberry pot was in my way. So I decided to paint it. Then another and another, as you can see. The general idea was for a patio motif that caught one’s eye. Subsequently, I thought a…

When you walk inside the Five and Dime Antique Mall inside Woolworth's on 19th Street, you instantly feel as though you've gone back in time.

Buck Owens was a man with a unique sound and iconic discography, so it only makes sense that anything with his name on it stands out.

As spring pops up in Bakersfield, so too do the number of activities available through the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Sometimes one comment is all it takes to completely shift your goals in life. 

In 1157, poet Thomas Tusser wrote in “A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry,” “Sweet April showers Do spring May flowers.” In our modern way, we say April showers bring May flowers, and since 1938 Log Cabin Florist has been bringing flowers to the community — and not only in May.

When Bakersfield native Beaux Gest Mingus moved to Southern California to study filmmaking nearly 30 years ago, he left a piece of his heart and a wealth of inspiration behind, namely the rich Basque culture that enchanted him in his youth and has made our community world renown.

Our nation's foundation of health needs a major overhaul. As this pandemic unfolds and the “nocebo” effect takes its toll on an already-fragile population, it pushes me to spread positive, valuable and effective information centered around the fact that YOU have more control over your biolog…

I stood outside of the hospital entrance for what felt like forever to pick up my mom from her first surgery at the beginning of her journey with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The day was long, and hospital staff locating a vacant wheelchair was all that stood in the way of me reclaiming my momma.

Josh Connor will always remember his first time scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean.

Homeless for most of his life, Jason Thorwegen understood what it was like to struggle and told himself that he would never be in that situation again.

The Pacific Ocean just got a little closer to us in Bakersfield thanks to the city's newest seafood restaurant, At C Fresh.

It has been said “From our first breath to our last the only thing constant is change.” If that statement holds a thread of truth, then isn’t the ability to adapt an essential part of life?

With roots in the Burgundy region of France, chardonnay’s popularity has made it the world’s most planted grape. It’s the white grape in Champagne and the wines are in demand because they can deliver whatever style you prefer.

The annual Best Of Readers' Choice Poll highlights the best of the best in our community, and I think this came at the perfect time. 

“Wrong Turn (2021)” (YouTube TV): There’s nothing I love more than a good horror film. The “Wrong Turn” franchise is made up of six movies, each movie becoming more predictable than the next, which is one of the reasons why I love watching them.

Similar to others, I was inspired to cook something I saw on TikTok and decided to give this apple and brie grilled cheese sandwich my own twist. Ever since Salty & Sweet made a visit to PorkChop & Bubba's for the November issue, I couldn't stop thinking about their gouda burger. It …

Local Bakersfield theater The Empty Space is putting a twist on its upcoming Shakespearean performance “Bard in Your Yard.”

I think most of us fantasize about having healthy and beautiful looking hair. From our trials and errors with products, some of us can't seem to get it right. With the right stylist and the right products to look for, you can achieve that look. I asked Carie McKay-Rose, a stylist at Sola Sal…

Salty’s BBQ & Catering is an eminent restaurant within the Bakersfield community, though its climb to be one of the city's favorite eatery spots was not an easy journey. 

With open arms, Bakersfield welcomed a new bakery in 2020: the delicious Crumbl Cookies located at The Shops at River Walk. As a cookie lover myself, I had to try what some residents of Bakersfield raved about. 

It is still difficult to fathom that we have just crossed the one-year mark since the novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic. Over the course of the past year, stay-at-home orders have been mandated throughout California. Most of us would have never expected that in April 2021, many would…

Many Americans have questions about COVID-19 vaccines – and rightfully so. There’s lots of information out there, and researchers are learning new details about the virus daily.

Bratcher Home & Design is owned and operated by residential interior designer, Brooke Bratcher. Located at 1219 18th St. in downtown Bakersfield, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful showroom stocked with home decor, a design studio filled with textile samples, wood finishes and home furn…

I love pasta, and I recently decided to make some on my own. It's a task I've wanted to do for quite some time, and it turned out to be much easier than I thought! To accompany my fresh pasta, I made a homemade marinara sauce. It's simple, requires few ingredients, many of which you already …

Have you heard of the term “earthing”? Or “grounding”? Earthing is a natural way to heal your body by connecting your skin to the Earth. But why? Our Earth is alive and shares electrons that our bodies need. With increased inflammation in our bodies, scientists have found links that direct s…

If your family is anything like ours, your once quiet and empty home is now full of life. With one or more parents at home working, kids still schooling at home, not to mention the family pets, keeping the house tidy, clean and organized feels like an endless, overwhelming and even impossible task.

It’s warming up. My peach tree is breaking out in salmon colored blossoms. It reminds me of enjoying a glass of rosé with friends, something I hope to do soon. Rosé has come a long way since the days that some California wineries combined leftover red and white wine and marketed it as such.

When Madison Anderholt decided to give candle making a try last January, she had no idea where the journey would lead her — mainly because the first candle she made was a little bit of a "disaster."

Amid all the questions and a little bit of chaos that the COVID-19 pandemic caused this past year, bringing a little bit of nature indoors was one way people decided to take on the challenges.

The ad in the April 3, 1937, Bakersfield Californian stated, “Homes bloom where cactus bloomed [a] month ago.” Referred to as both Upper La Cresta and La Crest Heights, La Cresta’s newest 160 lot subdivision on the Kern River bluffs promised prospective buyers a view of the city, valley and …

Ibram X. Kendi, historian, antiracist scholar and author of “How to Be an Antiracist,” will be the featured speaker for the Kegley Institute of Ethics' 34th Annual Charles W. Kegley Memorial Lecture.

In the Latino community, the worry surrounding coronavirus isn’t just contracting the illness itself. Instead, it’s more of a concern of “how can we continue to provide for our families?”

Why rent when you can buy! Now is a great time to purchase a home. Take advantage of the lower interest rates and all of the special opportunities for first-time buyers. If you’re not familiar with what it takes to purchase a home, here is a simple checklist to help you make that decision.

Corinne Pettit delivered all three of her children prematurely, but noticed delays early with her youngest, Cora, who was delivered at 31 weeks gestation and remained in the neonatal intensive care unit for four weeks.

I have been looking forward to our home and garden issue for the last few months now because I love everything associated with it!

Whether you're looking for a breakfast/brunch spot or a place to take a special someone out, you can count on New Vintage Grill day or night.

Mid-century modern

“Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” (Netflix): Netflix has been releasing many docu-series in recent months and I’m here for it. This four-hour docu-series tells the story of the disappearance of Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles.

Since its inception, the Women’s and Girls’ Fund, part of the Kern Community Foundation, has been affecting change in the lives of women and girls through annual grants to organizations dedicated to making a difference. This year, $75,000 was awarded to three programs, all pilot efforts focu…

Something I've seen become a popular trend since people started working from home is plant decor. There's something about houseplants that offer a nurturing and peaceful vibe to your surroundings. If you're ready to refreshen up your space, it's time to bring in some houseplants to make your…

Living a minimalist lifestyle does not have to be for everyone, but when you live in a chaotic world, many of us have a need to get away from it all — longing for less, needing less and doing less.

Avid gardeners know that compost can add vital nutrients to soil used in gardens, container plants and lawns. The fact that compost is so versatile and nutrient-dense may not even be its most admirable quality. Made from items used in and around the house, compost costs just about nothing to…

It's no secret that we have a trash problem — and we're running out of places to put it.

This Fresno-based tech hub is building a new building in downtown Bakersfield and expects to hire 500 people to participate in apprenticeships allowing employees to "earn while you learn": Bitwise

There was a clear standout from SXSW Online 2021: Megan Park's "The Fallout." The film earned the grand jury award in the narrative feature competition, and it's one that stays with you long after you watch it.