Bakersfield - Sight-seeing and Shopping

The Big Shoe

To me, vernacular architecture is like folk art.  We had many examples of this type of architecture in Los Angeles.  For example, a lemonade shop shaped like a lemon, a hot dog stand shaped like a huge hot dog, a piano shop shaped like a big piano.  A book called "California Crazy," by Jim Heimann is loaded with examples.  

We came upon a couple of fun buildings in downtown Bakersfield.

931 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA

Bail Bonds in a little red barn

Downtown Bakersfield is loaded with antique shops, music stores, quirky restaurants and used bookstores.  It's not exactly gentrified, but it's on it's way.  Yesterday, I blogged about The Padre Hotel.  One of the reasons we stayed at The Padre is because it's downtown and close to the vintage shops.

Our house is soooo full of stuff, that I tend to just take photos of the items I would have bought in the past.  We came across LOTS of good stuff at the antique malls of downtown B-Field!

This was the closest we came to the Wasco Clown

THIS is what you can do with all of that crochet cotton hanging around!

I love faces

Cooking?

Larry, checking out the vintage vinyl

Doily-Mania

This California Hankie was the ONLY thing I purchased

That Little Black Dress

It was almost like going through a museum!  After a few antique shops, we walked over to Front Porch Music.  This, of course, is Larry's favorite shop.  Due to the current ukulele craze, Front Porch has dedicated an entire room to this 4-stringed instrument!

The Zodiac Uke

Banjo Uke

After much thought and a trip to the ready-teller, Larry ended up purchasing a vintage Alamo Fiesta guitar.  It's raw, twangy and cool-sounding.  What a wacky shape!