I have meant to post this tale of a day-trip adventure to the agricenter of our state when I lived in West Hollywood… It was a fun day.
As we headed up the 5 [why are all our highways “the”
something. Is it because their lore and
traffic is so legendary that it has to be THE 405 – not just 405? Anyway – another topic for another day] – my
friend Kristen repeated the question – Bakersfield? Really?
The little gems that we kept uncovering in this San Joaquin Valley metro
of nearly 840,000 people were as fun as they were surprising. Here – for your enjoyment are the highlights…
See
-The Bakersfield Sign
– An iconic arch that’s part of the city’s fabric
-Buck Owens’ Crystal
Palace – Yep. His music hall and
they serve Dwight Yoakam’s Baby Back Ribs.
That's disturbing.
-Meadows Field – Those
of you who know me – know that I’m obsessed with airports and how they’re part
of a community and how they represent the community. I have to say Bakersfield’s Meadows Field is
spiffy, has a great aeronautical art collection – and for a small metro between
two large metros (SFO/LAX), has decent non-stop destinations.
-Bakersfield Museum
of Art – Cool architecture, a serious collection and curated exhibits. My guess is that this is a hidden gem.
-Central Park at Mill
Creek and the Walk – Part of the effort to revive downtown Bakersfield
includes a pretty, pleasant 1.5 mile walking park along the city’s Mill Creek
that culminates in Central Park – including a covered bridge, WiFi and a large
collection of Kern River river boulders.
-Mid-Century – Apparently
– there’s a neighborhood full of mid-century gems. I haven’t found it yet. Will check on my next visit!
Stay
-Hotel Padre – historic,
stylish and probably the cornerstone of the downtown renaissance – this swanky
boutique hotel has several food and cocktail options and pretty rooms. It’s a great home base if you’re making your
day trip and overnighter to allow for cocktailing!
Sup
-Muertos – Popcorn
Pork and margaritas – um – OK… Cool
lofty space on Wall Street.
-Smith’s Bakery – Local
favorite. Vintage. Yummy treats.
-Dagny’s Coffee Co. –
local fave. Local java spot. Nice.
-Belvedere Room –
really stylish dining room at the Padre.
A great menu and lots of peacock velvet button-tufting to boot!
Shop
-19th
Street Antique Shops – a whole slew of shops between Eye Street and Mill
Creek.
-Look for the Woolworth’s on 19th Street and
check it out – it’s an antique mall with an intact, operating LUNCHEONETTE! So neat and, well, tasty!
Sip
-The roof bar at the Hotel Padre [noted above] is a nifty,
stylish spot for a sip and chat – Prairie
Fire has cabanas and fire pits and is a comfy spot under the sun and stars.
-On historic Wall Street – a hidden alley full of surprises
- is a superb art deco bar called Guthrie’s
Alley Cat.
This hip, rough and
tumble tavern is home to an amazing celebrity caricature mural created by the
legendary Al Hirschfeld. Well-priced
cocktails and a chill vibe make it a great spot to hang (and play pool).
-The Mint is one
of Bakersfield’s true alternative spots – in the middle of the 19th
Street Antique shops. Cool bartenders, a
patio and reasonable sips – make it a comfortable, welcoming spot.
It’s not Big Sur or Barcelona and a little more conservative
than I’d like – but, at the end of the day, it was a surprise just how much
there was to see and do. And – we didn’t
even delve into the areas rich agricultural activity – with chances for both
shopping and touring. The Bakersfield
area is home to great natural beauty along the Kern River and abundant produce,
including: grapes, citrus,
almonds, carrots, alfalfa, cotton, and roses. Next time?
A trip to Dewar’s Soda Fountain and Fine Candies and a meal at one of
the city’s famous Basque restaurants…
So – while flying over or whizzing by on the freeway [on the
way to/from New York, LA or SF] it’s good to remember that there are lively,
intriguing little cities that very often fly way under the radar. Bakersfield is one of them.
