Talladega Frights VS The Chamber ?

Talladega Frights VS The Chamber
Review: Two severed thumbs up! Talladega Frights takes top prize in Bako haunted attractions.

By Greg Goodsell, Bakotopia.com Contributor

gregoodsell@hotmail.com

When it comes to Bakersfield’s top haunted houses, Talladega Frights and The Chamber, there’s no question that Talladega Frights stands severed head and shoulders above the competition.

Having been involved in semi-professional haunted houses as a teenager, and as a faithful attendee of same for many years, this writer can vouch that Talladega Frights is the best local Halloween fest he’s ever seen.

Those who queue up for Talladega Frights, located at Fruitvale-Norris Park, have a long wait in front of them. This is abated by an impromptu performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by costumed ghouls in an outdoor graveyard setting. Once inside the attraction, attendees stumble through an impressive sepulchral crypt full of decaying mummies, straight from an Indiana Jones movie set.

READ ABOUT TALLADEGA FRIGHTS BY CLICKING PHOTO BELOW!

The sets and lighting are top flight and could pass muster for anything found at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean. A wide variety of rooms, ranging from the beautiful and bizarre to the downright horrifying, await visitors, and must be left to the hearty souls willing to enter its portals to discover and enjoy.

However, some rooms deserve special praise and merit. This hardened veteran of horror in both film and literature was ready to beat a hasty retreat when he entered the claustrophobia hallway, a billowing tarp that envelops people in what feels like a black intestine. This writer was set to cry, “Mommy, take my hand!” at this point. Especially disconcerting was a paneled room lit by strobe lights, as movie monster favorites Michael Myers and Freddie Krueger lunge from holes in the walls. The people I was with began to express real panic at trying to find an exit.

Especially dreadful was a section featuring wailing maniacs inside a hospital — a nursing home-like setting presided over by a mad doctor with an elongated grin, decorated with X-ray photos and lit with a sickly glow. This part of Talladega Frights crosses uncomfortably into real-life horror, and will malinger in the mind long afterwards.

Hands down among the most popular of the various rooms at Talladega Frights is “The Bridge,” a genuinely discombobulating experience that had me buckling at the ankles. The owner and operators insist that it’s all done with optical effects — but just see it for yourself.

READ ABOUT THE CHAMBER BY CLICKING LOGO BELOW!

In contrast, The Chamber, a longtime Bakersfield haunted house, pales in comparison. This year’s attraction features a traffic theme with signs such as “Don’t Enter" and “Wrong Way” decorating the walls. It’s a witty touch for local commuters, but The Chamber is otherwise sorely lacking in originality this year.

There’s long walks through darkened hallways, with visitors fearing what lies just around the corner, but on the night I visited all the character costumes and makeup seemed to be rushed, uninspired affairs.

The Chamber has previously been featured in several national and international entertainment magazines as being one of the top haunted houses. This year’s edition, located near the Sam Lynn Ballpark, is a definite letdown.

While not wanting to create an unfair sense of competition between the two events, this writer suggests that fear-hungry crowds should go out and support both The Chamber and Talladega Frights. While Frights is by far superior of the two, both are worth your time and money.

A friendly suggestion to the people behind the Chamber would be to regroup and come up with fresher ideas for next year.

VISIT THEM FOR YOURSELF - AND DECIDE WHICH ONE IS THE SCARIEST!
VISIT THEIR WEBSITES BELOW FOR SCHEDULE AND PRICING!

WWW.TALLADEGAFRIGHTS.COM

WWW.CHAMBERHAUNT.COM

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 40, 10-30-08

CONTEST IS OVER! THE B-52s at THE FOX ON NOV. 15!

CONTEST IS OVER!
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
CHECK YOUR E-MAIL TO SEE IF YOU WON!
WIN TIX TO SEE...
THE B-52S IN CONCERT!

BAKERSFIELD FOX THEATER
w/guests THE 88
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm

ALL WINNERS WILL RECIEVE: TWO (2) TICKETS TO THE CONCERT!

HERE'S HOW TO WIN!

-You must have a Bakotopia profile to enter. If you haven't got one, sign-up! It's EASY!

-Sign In to Bakotopia with your username. Don't forget to fill-in your profile!

-Post a public comment below to this post about what you miss about the '80s OR the '90s! Fashion? Music? Politics? or?????

-Make sure your username is public, so we know who you are.

** Winners will be drawn at random and contacted via e-mail by: 12:00pm on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13!
SO CHECK YOUR E-MAIL AT THIS TIME!

**Must be 18 or older to enter & win. Bakersfield & Kern County Residents Only! No employees or family of The Bakersfield Californian and it's affililiates may participate. One winner per household.

TIX ALSO AVAILABLE AT:
WWW.VALLITIX.COM

Gaming with Gil - Ep. 11

Gaming with Gil - Ep. 11
Video gaming news from Bakotopialand's resident expert!

By Gamestor Gil, Bakotopia.com contributor

The fall season has arrived folks! This is when the video game studios pour out buckets of video game titles.

We’re talking Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, Fable 2, Resistance 2, MotorStrom Pacific Rift, 007: Quantum Solace and who can forget the new Guitar Hero: World Tour (currently out, as you read this article). Suspiciously, I think they (the studios) do this for one reason: Christmas! However, Christmas, I know, will come early for many of you. Because I know you will not wait until Christmas, roughly 60 days from now, to play these games.

Wait a minute! I shouldn’t be talking about Christmas, when I’m supposed to be talking about Halloween’s scary video games this issue. I completely exhausted myself last issue with all I had for Halloween titles coming out. So this issue, let’s discuss somewhat of a couple of horror/scary video games (stretching) coming out these next two weeks: Gears of War 2 and Fallout 3.

Gear of War (the original title for Xbox360 exclusively) came out of the gates swinging on Nov. 7, 2006. Gears of War ended up being a smash hit, as many already of you can testify. Since its release, it sold over three million copies in just 10 short weeks and was the fastest-selling video game of 2006, and to top it off, it was the second most played game over Xbox Live during 2007.

Currently, there is a movie in the works too. Now, finally, we can see it on the horizon. Gears of War 2 (GOW2) is coming on Nov. 7, 2008. This will be a tactical third-person shooter video game. The game will use a heavily upgraded version of the Unreal Engine 3.

Now, it’s time for Fallout 3, which xboxmagazine.com gave a 10 out of 10 rating. It takes place in the year 2277 - 36 years after the setting of Fallout 2 and 200 years after the nuclear war that devastated the game's world. The player character is a member of Vault 101, a fallout shelter serving Washington, D.C. The player character lives with his/her widower father (voiced by actor Liam Neeson) until, one day, the player wakes up finding that the father has left the vault and ventured into the wasteland for unknown reasons.

The vault overseer becomes suspicious that the player had something to do with the father’s disappearance, and the character decides to go out into the Capital Wasteland in search of him. Along the way, the player will encounter organizations seen in the previous games, including the Brotherhood of Steel, a group of technology-coveting survivors, and the Enclave, the elitist and genocidal remnant of the U.S. government.
And don’t count 007: Quantum Solace and Resistance 2 out, either!

Now, for some top video game releases in the next two-weeks:

Week of Oct 26: Guitar Hero: World Tour (X360, PS3), Fallout 3 ( X360, PS3), Little Big Planet ( PS3), FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play (Wii), MotoGP ( X360, PS3, PS2), Motor Storm Pacific Rift (PS3), MySims Kingdom (Wii) and Pro Evolution 2009.

Week of Nov 2: 007: Quantum Solace (all formats), Resistance 2 (PS3), Tom Clancy's End War (most formats) and Nov. 7: GEARS OF WAR 2 ( Xbox360)

• Gamestor Gil can also be heard live Tuesday mornings on KRAB 106.1 FM with Meathead, Rocky Nash (?) and Francis at 9 a.m.

E-mail feedback, questions and comments to: gil@gamestor.com with“Bakotopia” in the subject line.

Gamestor (East Hills Mall) - 661-871-7900

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue, 40, 10-30-08

PFC 10: Travers and Cobb at Tachi

PFC 10: Travers and Cobb get belts for Bako
Local MMA fighters continue their winning streaks at Tachi Palace on 9/26/08!

By Jennifer Gilbraith, Bakotopia.com contributor

Tachi Palace in Lemoore is one of my favorite places to cover fights.

I have spent a great deal of time there, covering both women’s boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for local Bakersfield fighters. The life of a MMA/boxing journalist is not always so glamorous.

Boxing, of course, is in a ring, as is the Palace Fighting Championship (PFC) Mixed Martial Arts - there’s no cage involved in the “cage fighting” at PFC. Having the press privilege of ringside viewing involves standing close to the ring, hoping to get that great shot — which also means occasionally getting kicked in the face, spit on, landed on (fighters flying through the ropes, which happened to me on live TV) and pushed out of the way by anxious cornermen. But it’s always exciting.

<CHECK OUT EXCLUSIVE LIVE FIGHT PIX AT LEFT!

Sept. 26 proved to be not only exciting, but put Bakersfield on the map as local favorites Bryan Travers and Brian Cobb both came home with World Championship belts.

In the first main event of the evening, Travers (10-1) defeated Strikeforce veteran Jeremiah Metcalf (9-5) by unanimous decision, capturing the vacant PFC Welterweight Championship. All three judges scored Travers 48-47. This was definitely the fight of the night — five rounds of nonstop, powerful shots, both Travers and Metcalf proving they had iron chins.

Both landed powerful shots throughout the fight, but after the second round, Metcalf appeared tired and Travers was the aggressor. Although Travers took a lot of powerful punches from Metcalf, his conditioning proved dominant in the final rounds as he kept control of the bout.

Cobb (13-4) fought David Gardener (14-10). In an pre-fight interview, Gardener said while referring to Cobb, “I haven’t heard much about Bakersfield College wrestling, so, whatever.” Apparently Gardener didn’t know how to defend against Cobb’s BC wrestling style, and offered little defense against a takedown or back control. It was five rounds of Cobb taking down Gardner, securing back control and owning the fight.

It kind of reminded me of the movie “Groundhog Day” as the same round was repeated five times.

The next PFC event is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2008.

For more information, visit: www.tachipalace.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 40, 10-30-08

Dead Aisling at Jerry’s on Nov. 9!

Dead Aisling at Jerry’s on Nov. 9!
Local band prepares big party to release its new CD

By Megan Trihey, Bakotopia.com contributor

It’s not every day Bakersfield hosts a CD release party for one of the industry’s most promising new sounds in cross-genre music.

But on Sunday, Nov. 9, Jerry’s Pizza, 1817 Chester Ave., will be the only place you can hear live new tunes from Dead Aisling. Though the band is native to Bakersfield, it prides itself on providing fans with music they’re not used to hearing in the Central Valley. For that reason, Dead Aisling decided to opt out of releasing its debut CD in Los Angeles where its fan base is substantial, but not familiar.

“I’m happy we’re doing it close to home because we do everything ourselves and all my friends can check us out without having to drive two hours,” said drummer Luke Richmond.

“There are a lot of reasons that led to the decision to do the show here,” said Adam Richmond, the band’s creator. “But at the end of the day, it’s closer and I wanted a laid-back environment for the show.”

The Richmond brothers make up the band’s only stationary members, with Luke on the drums and Adam belting out personally dark and honest lyrics that remain unmeasured in the area. The band recruited Bakersfield musician Tommy Duncan to play the guitar, and use a variety of moonlighting bass players.

But that’s not what you’ll hear if you pick up the self-titled album. Adam and Luke are the only musicians on the eight-track album. It was a recording process that took about four months, but the brothers are happy with the outcome.

“It sounds very organic even though there are a lot of layers,” Adam said in an interview back in August. “It was really inspired by a lot of the post-punk/Goth bands from 1982 on.”

But Dead Aisling’s success is mounted on more than the ability to write and play influential music. Adam’s entrepreneurial attitude and determination has helped the band carry out its full potential thus far. His fortitude also accounts for the uniqueness of the band’s debut album, both in content and presentation.

Above: Dead Aisling

“I could’ve just burned some CD-Rs and said, ‘Ok there’s the album, enjoy!’” Adam said in August. “But I spent a long time writing it and four more months recording it, and I wanted it to be represented in the best way possible.”

The band will also play two never-before-heard songs that are not on the album. Dead Aisling will share the stage with MPDQ, Tragic Bridge Accident, and Lucid Chaos starting at 7 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. All ages are encouraged to attend.

On the web: www.myspace.com/deadaisling

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 40, 10-30-08

COVER STORY: Kiss Me Kate!

Kiss Me Kate!
The B-52’s vocalist Kate Pierson makes perfect landing in Bakotopialand - appearing live at The Fox on Nov. 15!

Above: The B-52s in 2008 (l to r: Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson,Keith Strickland)

By Greg Goodsell, Bakotopia.com Contributor

The rest of the world knows The B-52’s from their still popular, karaoke favorite, “Love Shack” from the album “Cosmic Thing.”

Chances are if you knew The B-52’s - made up of Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson (Wilson’s brother, Ricky Wilson, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1985, was also an original band member) - from their first album way back in 1979, you probably took a lot of flack for your musical tastes.

Above: The B-52s circa '79, with the late Ricky Wilson (second to right).

In an era of dinosaur rock and angry punk rock polemics, this combo of Southern gentlemen and ladies - outfitted in their dated wigs and thrift shop attire - managed to rub a lot of people the wrong way. It took awhile for the rest of the world to catch up.

But soon enough, even the stodgiest killjoy would get up and do a turn on the dance floor to “Rock Lobster.”

In the beginning: The B-52's '79 debut featuring "Rock Lobster"

True survivors of the “new wave” era, these fine folk from Athens, Georgia - also home to Michael Stipe, R.E.M., and countless other bands - are promoting their first album in 16 years, “Funplex,” with a concert tour that will include a stop right here in B-Town next month.

Above: Kate Pierson

B-52’s vocalist Kate Pierson graciously granted a phone interview with Bakotopia to talk about the band, their music and their Nov. 15 show at Bakersfield’s Majestic Fox Theater:

Q: When your first album came out in 1979, it was kind of a political statement to play it at parties, because it was very different from what was around at the time, with the unconventional instrumentation and stark arrangements.

A: A lot of people felt like that (the debut album) was a badge or stamp that “I’m different, too.”

I think we’ve really embraced people who are different and feel alienated. (People who) felt that they were on the fringe, it was like (the first album was saying) it was OK to be different ... we’re not crazy, but we were very unique, and some people thought like: “Wow, from Athens, Georgia, where the hell is that?”

It was almost like we were from outer space! People thought: “How could this happen from Athens, Georgia?” We had the University of Georgia there, and we all grew up listening to really eclectic kinds of music, from Perez Prado to the Stones to the Beatles, Joni Mitchell to Yma Sumac, to the Ventures to whatever.

We really embraced world music. There was a great collection of music at the University. We played pygmy music - African music - before that was popular. We absorbed all of this and in the process of writing, which was jamming - and with three vocalists - it led to a very unusual, unique configuration that nobody could
figure out.

Above: Original promo shot for WB Records

Q: You came out at the same time that all of those punk or new wave bands were making the headlines. Did you fall into that niche at all?

A: I had a band in high school called the Sun Doughnuts, which was a folk protest band; Rick and Keith would play together; Fred Schneider wrote poetry and recite it; and Keith would play music. Cindy would play with Ricky and sing, so we all had some experience, but when we got together, we didn’t really have any plan - we didn’t even plan to be a band.

We just started jamming one night, and nobody ever said: “Let’s start a band” - you can play bass, you can play this. It started by spontaneous combustion. It started as this very unique thing … we were influenced by some degree by the punk bands that were out at the time. Patti Smith, when she first came out with her record “Piss Factory,” the Sex Pistols and Talking Heads, Blondie. We had heard them, but it wasn’t - “This is what is happening now, we can do it.” I think it was just a thing that started happening across the country and people just started reacting to the way that music was, and started getting back to a roots thing, and “We can play, we can write our own music.”

We just came out of this unique place, and we came with our special viewpoints. When we got together and jammed, we created this unique sound. I can’t say we were really influenced or patterned after any kind of band, or tried to form a punk or new wave band. In fact, that category “new wave” was not formed then.

Q: The B-52’s did have their roots in folk protest, correct?

A: No, I wouldn’t say that, although we did have an underlying, undulating message of “It’s OK to be different.” ... We were kind of bucking the system, and that we connect more with Venus than with Vegas.

Q: On your album “Whammy,” a lot of the songs took a more serious bent.

A: So many of the things that come out aren’t things that you would plan - we do this jamming process, and so a lot of it comes from our collective unconscious. ... So when we all come together and jam, it creates (something) very unique, odd and unexpected - even the subject matter. Then, we’ll hone in and listen to it ... and we’ll fine tune it.

ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX - CLICK PHOTO BELOW!

The band in 2008

Q: Are you still in touch with the other bands that were popular in Athens at the time you were, such as Pylon?

A: Of course! We’re friends with them.

They still play around every now and then. They played for us when we were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. They’re still on the scene. My favorite song of theirs is “Read a Book.” There’s still a music scene in Athens. Half of the new album, “Funplex” was recorded in Athens. We were in Athens for about a month, and it was fantastic.

We got to party down with everybody. We go back … Cindy lives in Atlanta, but this was an extended stay. We saw all the Pylon people, some people from Love Tractor, it was great! The main thing about Athens is you can walk down the street any night of the week and see 30 bands, any night of the week. It’s unbelievable, the music scene there.

Q: Bakersfield is often considered a one-horse town, but there's a lot of creativity going on here as well.

A: It’s pretty amazing. I saw this film at the Woodstock Film Festival, the movie, “Hello, My Name is Ryan.”

It’s about this one kid who is on the fringe of an amazing creative scene in Phoenix, Arizona. You never know. In small places like that, it breeds a lot of creativity. Because, what else is there to do? There’s not that much distraction, so you just create your own fun ….

Their latest CD, 'Funplex'

Q: What do you think of the music scene nowadays?

A: I think it’s a lot harder for a new band, because it’s hard to sell records now. It’s hard to get signed because all the record companies are crashing. On the other hand, I think the Internet and YouTube have really opened up a “creative wormhole.” It's just amazing how you can communicate now with a wide range of people, and people can just find you. ... So I think that it’s an exciting time for bands.

Q: What bands in particular have done homage's to your style and music?

A: The group Chicks On Speed have done covers of a few of our songs, (including) “Song for a Future Generation.” It’s a good one. I’ve heard of a couple of B-52’s cover bands. A couple of bands have done versions of “Planet Claire.” There’s a video on YouTube right now called “Barack Lobster.” It’s great.

Q: One last question I ask of all survivors of this particular period in popular culture history - did you ever think we would have lived to see the 21st century?

A: Yes, I really didn’t doubt that. But getting to the next century, I kind of wonder (laughs).

On the web: www.myspace.com/theb52s

(click flier below to get ticket info, and order online!)

-The B-52's live w/guests The 88
-8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15
-Fox Theater on H Street, Bakersfield
-$72 & $55.50; special Bud Light balcony price, $28
-www.vallitix.com
-661-322-5200

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 40, 10-30-08

Time Warp: Bakotopia Newsletter 10 - 30 - 08

Can't see the graphics? Having trouble reading this e-mail? Read online version HERE!

We'll make love, underneath the strobe light...

It's thee

Newsletter...Rock of The '80s edition!

Some co-workers and I were having a conversation about bands from the ’80s and the ages at which they either debuted or “hit it big.”

Doing some research, we figured out that some of our favorite bands from the era, like Oingo Boingo and of course the fantabulous B-52’s, had members in their late 20s to early 30s when they released their first records. Nowadays, it seems you have to be barely out of diapers in order to be on the radio or have a CD out - but once you hit 21, you’re out! Sad, but if your music stinks, you probably deserve it.

I’m not saying there aren’t brilliant young musicians out there making good music, but there’s something noticeably missing. When was the last time you could actually hum a melody based on a current radio hit? Try it today, and you’ll most likely end up with a bunch of grunts. Young bands can learn a lot from The B-52’s, who grace this week’s cover. Originality, catchy hooks, “Rock Lobster,” “Love Shack,” I mean come on - you can’t deny that, people!

If history is any indication, what you hear on the radio now will most likely be forgotten within the next two years. However, you will still be hearing The B-52s, Blondie, Morrissey, etc … all ’80s legends still performing today.

Which brings us back to the “age” thing. Maybe record companies need to set an age limit on band signings? Check IDs, make sure they’ve experienced life and have some business sense of their own, and grill them on music history! So where am I going with all this? Catch The B-52’s Nov. 15 at The Fox and find out!

Thanks to all of our contributors, supporters, and advertisers who help keep us free for you and yours.

Shout out to my mom and sis Laura, good luck with the election, and VOTE Nov. 4! Go Obama!

(CLICK ON ANY PIC BELOW TO BE RE-DIRECTED AND READ NOW!)

NEW BAKOTOPIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 40 IS HERE!
THE B-52S ON THE COVER!
(CLICK ON COVER AND FIND A RACK WITH OUR COOL MAP!)

COVER STORY: "THE B-52S!"
INTERVIEW WITH THE LEGENDARY KATE PIERSON!
BOUNCE OF THE SATELLITES WITH THE WORLD'S GREATEST PARTY BAND!
APPEARING LIVE AT THE FOX ON NOVEMBER 15! ENTER TO WIN TIX!

2008 BAKERSFIELD HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS! UPDATED - BIGGER THAN BIGGUS!
THE BEST LOCAL LISTING WITH ALL THE BEST PARTIES AND SHOWS!

IN THE BOOM BOOM ROOM DANCES AWAY AT BCT IN NOV!

TALLADEGA FRIGHTS VS THE CHAMBER - WHO'S SCARIER?!

DEAD AISLING IS HAVING A CD RELEASE PARTY AT JERRY'S!

THANK YOU BAKERSFIELD! BAKERSFIELD COMIC-CON WAS A SUCCESS! LIVE PIX!

BAKOTOPIA'S 'DAY OF THE DEAD' PARTY ON NOVEMBER 1!

CHASE BROCKETT ANALYZES PROPOSITION 8!

PFC 10 AT TACHI PALACE - BAKO FIGHTERS WIN BIG!

GAMIN' WITH GIL VIDEO GAME NEWS - WAR GAMES GO BOOM!

ENTER TO WIN TIX TO SEE THE B-52S LIVE IN BAKERSFIELD ON 11/15!

NATIONAL VOTING ELECTIONS - NOVEMBER 4TH! FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE!

THE HIPPEST AND BEST EVENTS IN BAKERSFIELD!! GET YOURS LISTED FREE!

CHECK OUT OR ONLINE GALLERIES! ADD YOURS TODAY! IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! WE LOVE YOU ALL!
WANNA SEE YOURSELF IN OUR DELIGHTFUL, DELICIOUS MAG?
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VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4TH!
Matt Munoz
Editor

Theatre Preview: Project: Turkey Day

Project: Turkey Day at Empty Space

Helen Acosta, Bakotopia.com contributor

"Call me a pussy till the day I die. Write it on my tombstone. I don't care. I am not putting that in my mouth!"-Justin in "Aunt Smitty Salad", Project: Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is the single day when most of us actually go out of our way to sit down and share a meal with the people we love. Project: Turkey Day, opening at The Empty Space (TES) November 14, celebrates this holiday in all its silly, dysfunctional, messed up, yummy and loving glory.

Project: Turkey Day follows the Empty Space tradition begun a few years ago with Project: Ghost. The show's four writers - Helen Acosta, Enrique Acosta, Greg Goodsell and Lorenzo Dunning, built their pieces to follow a chronological story arc that begins with a panicked early morning call from a young soon-to-be-father to his mother in "Turkey Trauma Drama" and ends near midnight in "Black Friday" with a group of gamer geeks waiting in line for the newest video game. The vignettes run the gambit from gross-out comedy to over-the-top melodrama to breath-taking tenderness. Above all, the show highlights how much fun real families can be…especially when they do not fulfill the picket fence myth of family values.

As the director I have been blessed with a cast that leaves me in stitches every night we rehearse. But, they aren't just funny—they bring depth and reality to the many characters they each play.

The cast of 10 is a mix of well-known and new talent, many of whom have been seen recently at The Empty Space, among other local stages:

-Jared Cantrell, ("Rabbit Hole" and "Godmakers" at TES), returns to anchor the show in a search for a replacement turkey on the day he is supposed to host his first big holiday gathering.

-Jose Hernandez, ("Godmakers"), is viciously funny as a crack fiend, stalker and alcoholic father.

-Lindsey Smith, ("BARE" at TES), is adorably funny as a sweet mom and heart wrenching as woman whose relationship is in reconciliation.

-Desmond Blackstone and James Cutler ("Godmakers"), are wickedly funny as genetic geeks.

-Julia Foreman, (BCT's One Act Festival), brings her grace to a choreographed piece and brings the voice of authority to her radio program personality.

-Deva Wiloth ("BARE"), shines as an evil three year old singing her own dirty little song at the end of a long, frustrating family day.

-Julianna Paz, ("Babies Having Babies" at TES), brings equal parts humor and kindness to her starlet in rehab and a butch girl dealing with her Catholic family's rejection of her sexuality.

-fRed, ("Godmakers" and backstage in her directorial debut of "Babies Having Babies"), is exuberant and lost as a young woman who is dealing with the first realization that "all that unconditional love crap they[her family] spouted" might not have been true.

-Enrique Acosta, last seen in "Babies Having Babies" as well as his world premiere production of “Godmakers” at TES, couldn't get away with just running the sound board. One night in rehearsal he read the part of a sly, sweet talking con artist so well that I had to rope him in and push him out on stage as well!

Come see the show. If you have as much fun as an audience member as we've had in rehearsals you'll leave with a tear in your eye and an ache in your side.

-Project: Turkey Day
-Show dates: November 14, 15, 24, 25 & 26 at 11pm and November 28 & 29 (LGBTQ fundraiser night) at 8pm.
-The Empty Space Theatre, 706 Oak St. (next to Pizzaville.) 327-PLAY.
-Suggested donation: $15 adults, $10 students.

Living Green in the Kern River Valley

Living Green in the KRV webpage

This free event will include an information fair with tables full of information to pick up; tours of energy efficient houses, solar installations, water-wise/fire-safe gardens; a native plant sale; a farmers market, workshops on good land stewardship; energy and water saving tips; how to buy & cook organic produce.

The purpose of Living Green in the KRV is to help us learn about living responsibly, protecting our environment and conserving resources. This will enhance the quality of our lives, helping us live healthy and within our means - which is a pretty good idea considering these challenging economic times.

Our goal is to involve many groups & individuals in creating and putting on this event. There are many residents in this valley that have a wealth of knowledge about this topic. We'd like to gather them together over one weekend in late March so we all can share and learn. The hope is for the valley to come together to explore Living Green in the KRV.
Living Green in the KRV Fact Sheet

FREE SHOW TICKETS for BCT PLAYHOUSE production of In the Boom Boom Room

                              FREE SHOW TICKETS
for BCT PLAYHOUSE production of In the Boom Boom Room
to benefit Alliance Against Family Violence & Sexual Abuse

The November 14, 15, and 16th performances of In the Boom Boom Room at BCT Playhouse will be benefit performances for The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Abuse. Fifty Free Tickets good at any of these three performances, are available at the Alliance’s Outreach Center, located at 1921 19th St. in Bakersfield. There are also 10 Free Tickets available at BCTFREETIX@GMAIL.COM, on a first come first served basis.
    Playwright David Rabe’s surreal drama, In the Boom Boom Room, focuses on the affects of sexual abuse and family violence on the psyche, relationships and fate of a go-go dancer struggling for self-survival in the mid 1960’s. BCT PLAYHOUSE is the oldest continuing community theatre in California, now in it’s 82 year of operation. The Alliance, provides shelters, counseling, support groups and classes for victims of Family Violence and Sexual Abuse.
    Holders of the free tickets can present the special tickets at the Box Office on any of the three performance dates and be admitted for a voluntary donation of any amount. All donations will go to The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Abuse.. General Admission tickets will also be available at the box office on these 3 performance nights of November, 14th, 15th and 16th. Friday and Saturday show times are at 8 PM, Sunday performances are at 2 PM. For reservations, call the theatre at (661) 831-8114 or ValliTix at (661) 322-5200. Regular Ticket Prices are $12 and $10 for seniors, students with ID and active military.
    The Tony Award nominated play is set in the mean streets Philadelphia. It is here, in a go-go dance bar, where dancer Chrissy becomes involved with an assortment of dysfunctional and sordid characters that negatively impact the life of this naïve and confused young woman who dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
    The play received its first commercial production at Lincoln Center in New York City where it was nominated for a Tony Award. Newsweek Magazine, described the play as a portrayal of “Compassion for anguished people leavened by a black wit and a powerful sense of the surreal nature of modern life.” The theatre critic for WINS News Radio in New York hailed the drama as “A superior play. Perhaps a masterpiece.” “It’s full of dramatic fury,” said the N.Y. Times.
    Boom Boom Room’s director, Ron Bastone, is directing this piece for the second time, having previously produced and directed the play at Hollywood Actors Theatre in Los Angeles, where it was selected one of the top ten Equity-waiver productions of 1982. Music and go-go dancing of the mid sixties is also featured throughout the production. Due to adult language and situations the play is recommended for adult audiences.

How to Win A Halloween Costume Contest

With Halloween right around the corner, costumes are on every ones mind right now. Everyone wants to have a unique costume that blows people away, however, most people fall short. Well grab a drink, take notes and relax because whether you're competing at a friend's party, or at a night club costume contest we've got the inside secrets for you on what the judges are looking for.

Rule number one:
Forget the idea of going to your local party store for the latest Halloween costume like Cat Woman, Iron Man or any such nonsense. Now this is not to say the party store or local costume shop is completely worthless, use it for ideas to the start of your costume. Not only do the costumes sold there look cheap and you look cheesy wearing them, but they are completely unoriginal and boring. Focus more on finding an idea from the combination of their costumes that's new and exciting.

Rule number two:
Pick a costume that fits your personality AND your body. You may want to dress up as a stripper nun, but there's nothing more displeasing than seeing a person who spent more time getting into their costume than they did making it. There are plenty of wonderful ideas for the people who don't fit the Barbie mold, don't stress over it, accept reality, and spend your time finding the right costume for you. (like thinking of costumes that can mock the Barbie mold).

Rule number three:
Avoid dressing up like unknown characters/people or making your costume hard to "get".

Rule number four:
Run your costume by at least 5 people before the big event. No, not your mother she doesn't count. Get the opinions of at least 3 to 5 people who will not lie to you. If they don't get it, think its stupid, or just too cliché, take their advice and try mixing it up.

Rule number five:
Cute only works for kids. Grown up costume contests don't have to be all serious, but stay away from "cute" ideas. A five year old in pig tails dressed up like a baby is adorable, a grown up doing the same is just lame. Know when you're too mature to pull it off.

Rule number six:
This one is for all the couples out there picking out Halloween Costumes. Couples costumes are probably the hardest of all to make unique. Please avoid the popular yet utterly unoriginal ideas of going as things such as Romeo and Juliet or a pimp and a hooker. Try for something that is not usually a "couples" theme. You don't have to be a man and a woman or even something that people would normally associate of going together.

Rule number seven:
Making fun of popular culture is a gold mine. The more hilarious your costume is and the more it mocks a famous person that has been in the spot light recently the better. Just make sure it's someone and something lots of people know about. Do not however make fun of people's horrible misfortune like a disease or handicap for some good ideas watch this video from knots scary farm Halloween haunt the hanging (Knots Berry Farm)

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Rule number eight:
Popular costumes that seem unoriginal can be a success. You just have to know how to put a new twist on them. The favorites can be a good thing when used correctly; you just have to come up with your own unique concept of them.

Rule number nine:
Be the character you're portraying. If you don't like your costume no one else will either. This rule especially applies to horror costumes; they are the hardest to pull off. In order to fully win people over with your costume they have to believe it. Anyone can dress up like Freddy Kruger but don't try unless you can seriously scare someone by doing it.

And last but certainly not least...
Rule number ten: HAVE FUN! All in all, costumes are supposed to be fun and exciting. It is a chance for you break out of yourself and put on someone else persona for a while. No one likes a spoil sport and even if you don't win, you'll still be happy if you had a blast doing it!

karaoke

The Ultimate Bridal Event

You are cordially invited to an upscale Bridal Event with beautiful ideas and designes for the sophiscated Bride and Groom. Meet with over 100 vendors to help plan your dream wedding. Bring pre-printed lables to enter each booth's prizes. A Groom lounge will be provided for interest of the grooms. Every Bride receives a bag but, the first 200 Brides receives a special goody bag.

Please visit www.ultimatebridalevent.com for the official form to enter a $25,000 Wedding Giveaway! The official form must be in our office by January 1, 2009, 12 midnight. We are looking for "The Most Romantic Couple" and the winners will be announced after the Fashion Show, January 4th, 2009! Win honeymoons and many other great prizes!

Pre-register and purchase tickets on line www.ultimatebridalevent.com We are looking forward to seeing you there! Plan to have a great time! For more information, please call 661-835-1305.

6th Annual Holiday Lights

HolidayLights at CALM returns for its sixth season in Bakersfield from Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, exciting families with more than two million lights in dazzling night time displays. The nonprofit California Living Museum (CALM) offers $2 off admission prices Monday--Thursday nights, free train rides on the Candy Cane Express and carousel and free parking. Event hours are 5:30-9 p.m. each night except Dec. 24-25, when CALM will be closed, re-opening from Dec. 26-30. Admission prices are $6 for children ages 3-12. Children ages 13-17 and senior citizens pay the same price, $10. The regular adult price is $12. HolidayLights at CALM is the seasonal attraction families look forward to each year. New to visitors will be battling pirate ships in a tranquil pond, a synchronized symphony of multi-colored tree lights and music, plus the traditional family-friendly displays of resplendent animals and Kern County landscapes. It is all in the great outdoors at CALM, home to 250 injured or abandoned animals native to California. Proceeds from HolidayLights benefit the non-profit CALM Foundation, providing funding for developing new and exciting animal exhibits at CALM.

Event Hours:
5:30-9 p.m.

ADMISSION PRICES:
Mon-Thurs $2 off all admissions

$6 for children ages 3-12
$10 for children ages 13-17 & seniors above age 60
$12 for adults

Free parking, Carousel and Train Rides. Tickets can be purchased through Vallitix at (661) 322-5200 or they can be purchased each night at the gate.

Directions to CALM: Northbound from Southern California - take I-5 to Hwy 99 in Kern County. Use the 24th Street/Rosedale Hwy exit in Bakersfield, turning right at the end of the off ramp onto 24th St. After a short time, 24th St, turns into Hwy 178 past M Street. Stay on Hwy 178 to the traffic light at Alfred Harrell Highway. Turn left and continue until you see the HolidayLights at CALM.

Southbound from Northern California - take Hwy 99 to Kern County. Take the 24th Street/Rosedale Hwy exit in Bakersfield, turning left at the end of the off ramp onto 24th St. After a short time, 24th St. turns into Hwy 178 past M Street. Stay on Hwy 178 to the traffic light at Alfred Harrell Highway. Turn left and continue until you see the HolidayLights at CALM.

For more information, check CALM's Web site, www.calmzoo.org, or call CALM at (661) 872-2256.

Calling all Reindeer

Please come and join us in delivering gifts to members of our community. This is a wonderful Christmas project for families or groups. We will be delivering Dec 16- Dec 18th from 9 am until 4:30pm. We will also be delivering on Saturday, Dec 20th from 9am until 12pm. For more infromation please call (661) 321-3235.

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