Has Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles heard of L.A. band World Wide Spies? - By N.L. Belardes

You'll get a full report of what this video is all about, what the festivities were, and why I saw Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles and L.A. band World Wide Spies. But for now, just watch...

Christopher Taylor hits the Empty Space to see Lettice and Lovage - By N.L. Belardes

Photo by Christopher Taylor

Lately I've had some great meetings with Bakersfield area photographer Christopher Taylor. Some of his work is going to appear in The Noveltown Review. The first time I met him was at Backstage. He was out in the scene snapping photos... But then we met up again at the 18th Street Art Gallery. That's where I discovered Christopher is a huge supporter of the scene.


Photo by Christopher Taylor

This is the first in what I hope is a long series of photo essay pieces out of Bakersfield's newest pro photog:

Last weekend I went to see Lettice and Lovage at the Empty Space. It was a pretty good show and I took some pictures. (Click for full photo gallery)


Photo by Christopher Taylor


Photo by Christopher Taylor


Photo by Christopher Taylor

More info:

Lettice and Lovage (www.esonline.org)
By Peter Shaffer
Feb. 9-24
8pm
FREE!

Big Anna Nicole Smith Bakersfield connection on Bakotopia: Smith's hairstylist reveals sadness to Matt Munoz - By N.L. Belardes

Looks like Matt Munoz over at Bakotopia got the big scoop. I remember being at the Montgomery World Plaza when Karmahitlist played their last show. I met Sandy Serrano briefly. Her then boyfriend, Seantastic talked to the crowd about my novel. I was flattered. But the relationship was falling apart with both the band and Seantastic and his girlfriend (More on Karmahitlist and more...)


Seantastic (Sean Starkey) used to date Anna Nicole Smith's hairdresser

I remember hearing at the time about an Anna Nicole Smith connection too. Word on the street was Seantastic was hanging out at Anna Nicole Smith's house. I had no idea his girlfriend was her hairdresser. At the time it was all about Seantastic being a rock and roll star. I considered trying to do a story on the connection. But you know how time flies. Now Matt Munoz has Bakotopia's biggest scoop yet. I thought my Fresno Famous/Modesto Famous scoop was big. Not even close. Read on...

It was in the wee hours of Jan. 10. Sandy Serrano needed to catch an early morning flight back to the U.S. from the Bahamas, but she would not board her plane without first saying goodbye to her friend and client, Anna Nicole Smith.

She went to Smith's bedroom where little Dannielynn Hope, then 4 months old, was already awake. And like so many other times over their two-year relationship, Serrano, a native Bakersfield resident who since moved to Southern California, becoming the personal hairstylist to the model/actress, bid Smith farewell with a kiss and a hug, also saying goodbye to Dannielynn, until the next time.

But there would be no next time, for that day would be the last Serrano would ever see Smith alive.

(Read the full article)

**There's also an audio clip with Serrano on the post.