Local Business Spotlight
The Leaf Lounge
Plant lovers, this one’s for you.
The Leaf Lounge is a Bakersfield houseplant shop offering plants, pots, soil, plant knowledge and more, both from its shop on Ashe Road and online.
This week, they’re bringing back Dirty Bingo, where plants are the prizes, ranging in value from $10 to $200. The event takes place Friday, September 18 at 6PM. Tickets are $25 and include 10 Dirty Rounds, one Wildcard Round, a bag of The Leaf Lounge’s custom soil blend and access to the complimentary Dirty Soda Bar. The first 25 people to sign up also receive a goody bag.
Can’t make it to the shop? The Leaf Lounge also hosts Live Plant Sales on Instagram every Thursday at 6PM and Sunday at 5PM. Viewers can shop plants, pots and soil while getting plant tips and knowledge from the team. Shipping and delivery are both available, so you can participate even if you can’t visit in person.
📍 4400 Ashe Rd #211
🌱 Live Plant Sales: @the.leaf.lounge on Instagram
🎟 Dirty Bingo tickets and online shop: TheLeafLounge.com
Community Spotlight
A Local Professor Needs Our Help
For years, Carolyn Brandenburg dedicated herself to teaching psychology and sociology, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a professor after returning to college as a full time student and earning her master’s degree.
The 58 year old mother and grandmother of four has called Bakersfield home since she was 38. Her daughter describes her as someone who has always put others first, opening her home to friends and family whenever they needed somewhere to stay and asking for nothing in return.
Now, Carolyn and her family are the ones asking their community for help.
After her health declined and she was placed on oxygen, Carolyn had to leave the career she loved. Her daughter says it took seven months for her disability benefits to begin, depleting Carolyn’s life savings during that time.
Carolyn is now pursuing a lung transplant. According to her family, she needs to demonstrate $12,000 in available funds before she can move forward in the transplant process. Following the procedure, she is expected to remain near UCLA for approximately three months while recovering and staying close to her medical team.
Outside of being a mom, grandmother and former professor, Carolyn enjoys trips to Solvang, going to the movies with friends and watching The Chosen. She is also a devout Catholic and attends St. Philip the Apostle Church in Bakersfield.
Her daughter Vanessa has organized a GoFundMe to help Carolyn meet the financial requirements and expenses surrounding her transplant and recovery.
If you have the means, please help this local the professor!
IN THE CITY
Uricchio’s Trattoria Closes After More Than 30 Years
Downtown Bakersfield is saying goodbye to Uricchio’s Trattoria, the longtime family run Italian restaurant at 1400 17th Street.
Nick Uricchio and his son Steve opened the restaurant in June 1995, and over the next three decades it became a downtown staple for birthdays, anniversaries, date nights, family dinners and countless other celebrations.
The restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary in June 2025 and initially planned to reopen following a summer break, but ultimately never got the opportunity to welcome customers back.
In announcing the closure, the Uricchio family said the past year brought hurdles they could not overcome and thanked Bakersfield for decades of support.
After more than 30 years of memories, Uricchio’s leaves behind a significant legacy in Downtown Bakersfield.
Ross Plans $500 Million Bakersfield Distribution Center
Ross Stores has selected Bakersfield for a massive new processing and distribution center, with plans to invest approximately $500 million in the project.
The 1.75 million square foot facility is planned near East Belle Terrace and Mount Vernon Avenue in Southeast Bakersfield. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, and once completed, the center is expected to create nearly 1,000 new jobs.
According to the City of Bakersfield, this will be Ross Stores’ 10th distribution center and represents the largest job generating project to locate in Bakersfield in decades.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BAKERSFIELD
September 18–23
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
• Boxing on the Bluffs @ Bluffs (5AM) Early-morning outdoor boxing session.
• Golden Spoon Bakersfield Grand Opening @ Golden Spoon Bakersfield (Starts 12PM) Grand opening celebration with the first 100 guests receiving a free mini frozen yogurt, plus giveaways and additional surprises.
• Friday Night Cruizin’ @ Salty’s BBQ, White Lane (4–8PM) Friday Night Cruizin’ returns after its summer break with cars, trucks, hot rods, classics and customs, plus music, BBQ and DJ Richie Rich.
• Cantarito de Barro Painting Workshop @ Lamont Branch Library (4:30PM) Adult workshop where attendees can paint and decorate their own traditional cantarito de barro. Supplies are limited and available while they last.
• Bakersfield Golf Social – First Open Round @ Links at RiverLakes (4:30PM) Nine-hole social round open to all handicaps, followed by an optional social hour at Firehouse on Calloway at 7PM. No membership or organizer fee; participants cover their own golf, food and drinks.
• Cultural Fundraiser: Beauty, Resilience & Community @ The Monarch (5–8PM) 931 19th St. Live Resilient Life and Las Mariposas Del Valle host a cultural fundraiser featuring traditional Mexican hair braiding and a celebration of beauty, tradition, resilience and community. $25 minimum donation.
• The Comedy Mama Show @ BottleShock Wine + Brew (Doors 6PM | Show 7PM) Live comedy show featuring a lineup of comedians at BottleShock. Tickets available through the organizer.
• Dirty Bingo @ The Leaf Lounge (6PM) 4400 Ashe Rd #211. $25 plant-themed bingo night featuring 10 rounds plus a Wild Card round, with plant prizes valued from $10–$200. Admission includes a Dirty Soda, with adult beverages from the E.Z. Bar and a food cart available for additional purchase.
• Texas Headhunters – Rise and Shine Tour @ World Records (Doors 6PM | Show 7:30PM) 2815 F St. Texas Headhunters bring the Rise and Shine Tour to Bakersfield.
• Oathbound: The Dark Origins Tour @ Jerry’s Pizza (Doors 7PM) Oathbound brings The Dark Origins Tour to Bakersfield with Red Keep, Beauty Is Betrayal and special guests. All ages.
• AJ Wilkerson @ The Well Comedy Club (7PM) Stand-up comedian AJ Wilkerson performs at The Well. 18+.
• Karaoke Nites @ Bakersfield Community Theatre (7:30PM) Karaoke night where guests pick the song and BCT provides the stage. $10 admission.
• Machinal @ The Empty Space (7:30PM) 5417 Woodmere Dr. The Empty Space presents Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, directed by Ron Warren and inspired by the real-life story, conviction and execution of Ruth Snyder.
• Los Dos de Tamaulipas @ Paradise Palace Event Center (8PM) 1430 Weedpatch Hwy. Live regional Mexican music featuring Los Dos de Tamaulipas, Alta Cuadra, Los Poderosos de California, Banda Especial and guests. First 500 tickets advertised at $40.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
• IBProFun Run Club x Bakersfield Marathon Group Run @ Juice It Up, Allen Road (6:45–8AM) Community group run with 6-mile and 10-mile routes. Bakersfield Marathon discount codes and onsite giveaways available to participants.
• NJBA Fall Classic @ Lake Ming (Doors 8AM) National Jet Boat Association Fall Classic featuring two days of jet boat racing at Lake Ming.
• Pásala 661 Pickup Soccer @ Mondavi Park (8:30–10:45AM) Free community pickup soccer game hosted by Pásala 661.
• 10th Annual C10s & Tacos @ Pyles Boys Camp (Show starts 10AM) 13375 Lake Ming Rd. Free registration, free tacos while supplies last, trucks, cars, motorcycles, trophies, live music, vendors and raffles. Vehicle roll-in begins at 8:30AM.
• Streets of Bakersfield Doggy Day Out @ Kern County Animal Services (Pickup 10AM–12PM | Return by 3:30PM) Take a shelter dog out for a hike, park trip, coffee date or simply some time away from the shelter. Participants must be 18+. Weekend sleepovers are also available.
• The Light Market @ Bakersfield First Church (10AM–2PM) 2801 Hughes Ln. Faith-based market with local vendors, handmade goods, food, coffee, aguas frescas, shopping and a petting zoo.
• Temblor Fest @ Temblor Brewing (10AM) Annual mini-festival celebrating Temblor’s 11 years with local music, food specials and celebratory drinks. Multiple stages and for live music, competitions, specials and more!
• National Dance Day @ Dignity Health Theater (DAT Krew Academy session 11–11:50AM) National Dance Day celebration featuring dance programming throughout the day, including a mixed-level hip-hop session from DAT Krew Academy.
• Outlets at Tejon 6th Annual Car Show @ Outlets at Tejon (11AM–3PM) Annual car show featuring vehicles from around the region, live music from Mento Buru, food trucks, vendors, shopping and raffles benefiting the Wounded Heroes Fund.
• Celebrando Nuestra Herencia @ Taco Mi Pa x Primo’s Smoke & Spirits (11AM–close) 1310 19th St. Hispanic Heritage Month celebration centered on culture, food, music and community.
• Read & Roots Mini Bookshelf Workshop @ Jerry’s Pizza & Pub (11:30AM–2:30PM) 1817 Chester Ave. Create and customize a miniature bookshelf with seven mini books, four accessories, a mini ladder and painting supplies. $45 per person.
• Women’s Squad Clinic @ Elev8 Fitness (12–3PM) Women-focused training clinic with an opportunity to learn and train.
• BarrelHouse Oktoberfest @ BarrelHouse Bakersfield (2–10PM) Oktoberfest celebration with multiple fest beers, steins, Sabor Taino BBQ, games and giveaways. Live music from Valley Fever 3–6PM and NSA Live 7–10PM.
• First Responders Night + Auto Soccer @ Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Gates 5PM | Pre-party 6:15PM | Main events 7PM) First Responders Night honoring local police, fire, EMS and their families with racing from Limited Lates, Crown Vics, Spec Racers and Super Moto, plus a destruction-themed Auto Soccer main event.
• R&B Night Out: MC Magic, Baby Bash & Amanda Perez @ Stramler Park (6–10PM) Outdoor R&B night featuring live entertainment and music.
• AJ Wilkerson @ The Well Comedy Club (7PM) Second night of stand-up comedy from AJ Wilkerson. 18+.
• La Vie Bohème: A Night at the Moulin Rouge @ The Basement at Woolworth’s (7–11PM) Met Gala-style fundraising event benefiting Art Heist with local fashion and art, immersive performances, DJs, food, drinks and a silent auction. 18+.
• Machinal @ The Empty Space (7:30PM) 5417 Woodmere Dr. The Empty Space presents Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, directed by Ron Warren and inspired by the real-life story of Ruth Snyder.
• Emo Night @ Rollerama (8–11PM) 1004 34th St. Emo-themed night featuring music from bands like Pierce the Veil. $12 admission.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
• NJBA Fall Classic @ Lake Ming (Doors 8AM) National Jet Boat Association Fall Classic featuring two days of jet boat racing at Lake Ming.
• Kern County Vintage Flea – $20 & Under Market @ 1601 21st St (8AM–2PM) Kern County Vintage Flea celebrates its third anniversary with a special market where merchandise is $20 and under. More than 60 vendors expected.
• Mom Walk @ Belcourt (9:30AM) Community walk for Bakersfield moms hosted by The Mom Walk Co. Bakersfield.
• Besties Brunch @ Ay Mi Pa Bakersfield (10AM–3PM) 2701 Ming Ave. Sunday brunch featuring a $25 buffet, NFL games and DJ Regulator from noon–4PM. Bottomless mimosas available for an additional $10.
• Barbie Watch Party + Junk Journal @ Jerry’s Pizza & Pub (11AM) 1817 Chester Ave. Barbie-themed watch party and junk-journal gathering with a craft kit and best-dressed component. $15 per person.
• Mimosas & Chismosas: Last Call for Summer @ Buena Vida Tapas & Lounge (11AM–2PM) 2500 New Stine Rd. Brunch event featuring mimosas, food, drinks and music from DJ Amarie.
• Brentwood Live @ Jerry’s Pizza (11:30AM–2:30PM) Free solo acoustic performance featuring country, gospel and folk music.
• Bingo Day @ Bakersfield Community Theatre (1PM) Friendly bingo competition with chances to win. $10 admission.
• Machinal @ The Empty Space (2PM) 5417 Woodmere Dr. Sunday matinee of Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal.
• FamFest Love & Wellness Tour @ The Camillas (3PM) 1760 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Free family wellness event from Power Moves 365 featuring free pizza, ice cream, hairstyles, water games and activities, wellness checkups, prayer and inspiration, community resources and books for kids.
• FREE CSUB Soccer vs. San Francisco @ CSUB (7PM) Free CSUB soccer game against San Francisco promoted alongside Behavioral Health Night. Free tickets are available through the event organizer.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
• Night Club Two-Step @ Fairfax Grange (4:30–5:30PM) 4 Fairfax Rd. Franco Peraza teaches basics, footwork and frame. $15 drop-in.
• Motown Mondays @ Jerry’s Pizza (6–10PM) Weekly Motown Monday with Kev King.
• Bingo & Beer @ Temblor Brewing (7PM) Weekly Monday bingo night at Temblor.
• Dungeons & Dragons Meetup @ Bakersfield Esports Center (7PM) Weekly Dungeons & Dragons meetup.
• Bakersfield Jazz Orchestra @ Crusader Brewing (They’re supposed to perform every 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, but this needs to be confirmed)(7–9PM) Free live jazz featuring the Bakersfield Jazz Orchestra with local musicians and vocalists. Family-friendly, with pizza, beer and other drinks available for purchase.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
• Fall Toddler Workshop @ Jerry’s Pizza (11AM) First-day-of-fall activity from Read & Roots featuring a mini terracotta pot and mini plant. $10 per child; food and drinks are separate.
• Bubbles, Boards & Bingo @ 3900 Coffee Rd #2 (6–8PM) 21+ event featuring a glass of bubbly, individual charcuterie board and three rounds of bingo. $35.
• 2026 Small Business Academy @ Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (6–8PM) 1601 H St Suite 201A. Free eight-week course covering business planning, loans, marketing and growth.
• Bakersfield Jazz Workshop @ Centro Cali Brewing (6:30–9:30PM) 1000 19th St. Weekly Bakersfield Jazz Workshop.
• Casa Sueño @ The Basement at Woolworth’s (Doors 6:30PM | Show 7PM) Live show featuring Mike Baggetta, John Herndon and Mike Watt, with support from Dancing Tommy and General Goop and the Grease Army.
• Pub Trivia @ Temblor Brewing (7PM) Weekly Tuesday trivia night at Temblor.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
• Watering Wednesday @ Wind Wolves Preserve (8–11:30AM) Volunteer habitat-restoration morning focused on watering native plants. Registration required and space is limited. requirements apply and advance signup is required.
• Family Game Night @ Temblor Brewing (4PM) Weekly family game night at Temblor.
• Cornhole Tournament @ Temblor Brewing (5:30PM) Weekly Wednesday cornhole tournament.
• Western Wednesdays @ Fairfax Grange (Doors 5:40PM | Lesson 6PM) Weekly two-step dance lesson covering etiquette, basics and drills.
• Bingo Night @ BarrelHouse Bakersfield (6PM) 4200 Resnik Ct. Free weekly bingo night.
• Trivia Night @ SLICED (Early dinner 5PM | Check-in 5:30PM | Trivia 6PM) 2543 F St. Trivia night with different categories, food and drinks, prizes and teams of four to six.
• Chef Lino’s PRIME Wine Night @ Chef Lino’s PRIME (6–8PM) 11350 Ming Ave. Wine night featuring Sculptterra Winery. $25 includes six wine samples and complimentary appetizers.
• MixxedFit Dance Fitness Class @ My Dance & Fitness Studio (7–8PM) 4001 Union Ave. High-energy dance fitness class led by Frank. $7 per class.
• Emo Karaoke @ Jerry’s Pizza & Pub (7PM–Midnight) Weekly Wednesday emo karaoke.
• Bingo Night + Live Music w/ Vince Galindo @ Rooster’s Honky Tonk (8PM) Weekly bingo night with live music from Vince Galindo.
That’s it for this week.
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