Walking into the Bakersfield Art Association felt like stepping into a colorful little world built…read moreby local creativity. Every wall was filled with beautiful art pieces from talented local artist. Honestly, it says so much about the hidden artistic talent we have in our town. From dreamy paintings to unique handmade pieces, there was something inspiring around every corner. Prices may vary! I also loved discovering that they offer art classes! Such a fun way to connect with your creative side. A few of the classes are BYOB... bring your own brush. They have many different artist offering art lessons at various levels. If you're looking for unique home decor, local art, or just want to spend time somewhere inspiring and creative, this is definitely a spot worth visiting. Next time I'm searching for something special for my home, I already know where I'm stopping first. :

Born in raised in Bakersfield, walking distance from Downtown. My best friend and I spend so many…read moresummer days watching movies at the Nile for a dollar. Skateboarding down the Bank of America parking garage. Hanging out at the GET Bus station just for fun. Best times of my life. I still prefer Downtown Bakersfield to any other part of town. Let's love our City. Let's invest in Downtown, make it beautiful, prosperous and the gem of our town. Plant more trees, don't litter, this is our City, show the love.

This place is so adorable! They had the most modern Christmas decor this year. After Christmas I…read morewent in and was able to get some great things for next year that were marked down. They have great hostess gifts as well as kid's gifts. They have lots of unique items that I've never seen anywhere else in town! The person assisting me was extremely helpful! They also have a wonderful selection of candles. All of them smelled so good. Their frames are beautiful and I am debating on using them for that service as well. If you are curious about what sort of gifts they carry, check out their instagram page (@icehouseframing)!

The Empty Space is one of my favorite places to be in Bakersfield.. Scratch that. The Empty Space…read moreis one of my favorite places to be period. I've caught at least a dozen shows here since finding out about this local gem in high school. From musicals to plays, every show has been amazing. They can make me crack up laughing, want to boogie on down with them during a dance break, and maybe even shed a tear. I can confidently say I would go to any show they put on. A friend could ask me if I wanted to go to the Empty Space tonight, and without knowing what was playing I would say yes. Consistently very talented casts! Phenomenal stage design! Great directing! Fun choreography! Lighting and audio teams always do a great job! It is always clear the whole team are fully invested in the material and bringing out the best in each other. Top tier local talent all around. The Empty Space is more than a place to catch amazing local theater. They also showcase art from local artists in their art gallery which acts as their lobby. I recommend getting there early to enjoy the artwork and grab their super affordable snacks. After being away for a while, I was excited to attend my first show at their new location, Dracula: A Comedy Of Terrors. And a bust out loud comedy it was. Phenomenal show as usual. I'm not sure I could've gotten a better welcome back to The Empty Space. Thank you to the whole cast and crew who made that show happen. Their new location is super nice and spacious. The old location had its charm, but their new location is much larger and the seating has extra leg room, which is always appreciated. Many longtime fans of the Empty Space will recall how the old building immersed the audience was in the show due to the close proximity to the performers, and how many of their productions would utilize the space in creative ways for stand out moments. I'm glad to say they do a great job utilizing the new space in a similar manner. When you walk into the theater you actually walk onto the stage initially which provides an all encompassing immediate immersion into whatever world you're about to enjoy an awesome story in. For those thinking of auditioning to be a cast member, I actually had the pleasure of being in their 2016 production of "In The Heights" which took place in their previous location and highly recommend it. It was a super fun experience. They're very kind and welcoming.

LOVE LOVE LOVE The Empty Space. I've only started going this year (2025) and so far have not been…read moredisappointed. The location is easy to get to and parking is plentiful. The lobby is nice and cozy and the staff is always super nice! The concession stand is reasonably priced with a good selection of snacks and drinks. I enjoy the custom cocktails they serve. The theater seating is good with good views no matter where you sit. The cast is always great and super talented. I highly support local theater and have been recommending The Empty Space to all my friends and family.

Small local craft vendors - lots of cute and niche items. Handmade goods and trinkets aplenty…read more Prices are fair for the handmade goods. Many of the artisans are here making items while enjoying the live music.

Im here to see the venue . Im a professional recording…read moreartist from Los Angeles. Im very disappointed with the lack of talent.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art celebrating its 70th Anniversary was truly such an honor to attend;…read moreand what an unforgettable evening it turned out to be. From the moment you step inside, the space feels like pure magic: vibrant, lively, and brimming with creativity in every corner. The evening unfolded beautifully with a delicious dinner catered by Bord A Petite, an open bar flowing with ease, and a thoughtfully curated silent auction featuring artwork selected by curator of exhibitions and collections Victor Gonzales alongside executive director and chief curator Gilbert Vicario. And the décor? Absolutely dreamy. Thousands of balloons were transformed into whimsical sea creatures all floating jellyfish and playful octopuses that created an enchanting, underwater fantasy throughout the space. I was so wrapped up in the moment: laughing, exploring, and enjoying the evening with my sister and her friends that I barely took any photos of the artwork itself... which just means you'll have to experience it firsthand.

We are members so we love the bakersfield museum of art!!!…read more We most recently went on a Wednesday after having lunch at centro Cali brewery around the corner. It was lovely to be one of the only few people in the museum. They always have great bakersfield and kern county focused exhibits. This time we saw bakersfield standards exhibit which was such a lovely look at all the things that make the valley and its history and culture unique. It made me proud to be a valley girl.

Maybe this is the place to go if you have a photo or picture to frame as that seems to be their…read morecore business. I took an original canvas artwork that I wanted to be stretched to Frameworks though, and was not too impressed. It took them around a month to complete and the stretching job was so poor I took it to a different framer for a second opinion and had to have it re-stretched again. They charged me over $400 for the job, twice what I paid to have it redone properly and the canvas was wrapped so far round the back of the (poorly sized) stretcher bars that I lost over an inch of my painting round each edge. I suspect that they do not perform much of this type of work, I would have preferred to be informed that they were not too experienced so i could have avoided paying $400 to have my picture stretched poorly in the first place!

Great service and great selection. What a beautiful shop! Tons of custom framing options and very…read moreexperienced framers. I needed an extra large map of California framed for my office. They did a great job with fast turn around. They have TONS of really neat artwork on display, some home decor items and lots of really creative ways to frame your prints, painting and memories. Plus the service is friendly and welcoming. Thank you Frameworks!

Chris Vanderleis is much more than Oriental rugs. This is an art/antique gallery…read more Chris is knowledgeable and friendly. He knows his stuff when it comes to art and collectibles. Check out the paintings. And if you're into rocks, he's got a bunch. His prices are fair, too! Even if you're not in the market to buy, I guarantee you will enjoy walking through this historic building on 18th Street.

What a treat to take a walk through this lovely eclectic space from sought after mid century modern…read morefurniture to fine pieces of art and jewelry . If you are looking for something special and one of a kind you will find it here. It was a perfect place to visit with my family from out town after a lovely meal at Cafe Smitten . Walking through the garden in the back of the store we felt like we were transformed somewhere else . During our visit the cactus flowers were in full bloom ! There are many treasure waiting to be discovered both inside and outside this gallery . Enjoy !

Fun little museum in the heart of downtown where you can see some fossils and taxidermia…read more Plenty of street parking was available nearby. We spent about 2 hours here going between the different levels the main level you walk in is the middle area and then there's an upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs there are some more animals and then big dinosaur fossils. There a small Egyptian exhibit which was a cool addition. Then on the bottom level it's an area where everything is touchable so the kids can really have some fun. There was area that they're redoing so that was off limits. There is an elevator so if you have some mobility limitations that is helpful. There are fans on all the levels because it doesn't get the best circulation. Overall a great place to spend a few hours out of the house for a fun learning experience.

This museum is so neat! The docents (who are all volunteers btw!) are knowledgeable and funny, and…read morethey kept my Girl Scouts' interest with no issue. The exhibits are beautiful and interesting, and there are interactive elements to some displays. I was stunned by the Yokuts display, which had a full replica of a traditional Yokut home. An extraordinary, nearly-complete fossil found locally is on display. The bottom floor also has a fun exploratory area for kids! It's great! Highly recommend this museum to all ages.