Emerald Estates - Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield rose to economic prominence as a hub for the gold and oil booms of the 1800s. In the 1900s, the area became a vital center of the greater South Valley's agriculture industry.

Art patrons enjoy the exhibition of modern and historic California-based artists at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The museum's popular annual Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival celebrates local artists and the region's large Italian heritage.

Emerald Estates showcases Bakersfield's culinary diversity in a few small suburban blocks. The area caters to mostly family-oriented and casual dining, but don't let that fool you. Bakersfield residents find no shortage of enticing delights around Emerald Estates, and many restaurants have set up shop close to the intersection of Hageman and Coffee Roads in the far eastern portion of the neighborhood.

Don Perico captures the area's Mexican culture and packs it all into one bar and grill. The lively restaurant works great for large groups or family gatherings, and anyone looking for a slice of Bakersfield life after dark can enjoy the full bar until 10 p.m. Customers love the chicken fajitas, a prime example of Don Perico's hearty take on traditional Mexican cuisine, replete with generous servings of grilled onions and peppers.

Slice of Italy turns up the heat on the already intense competition for best pizza in the South Valley. The restaurant abandons some of Italian cuisine's conventions, but you cannot argue with the results on Slice's menu. The barbecue chicken pizza, a non-traditional take on the classic pie, grabs the heart of customers with layers of cheesy goodness and sweet, savory roasted chicken. Do not leave without trying a faithful rendition of a classic cannoli for dessert.

Steak and Grape mashes together two fine California agriculture exports, wine and beef, into a classy yet family-friendly affair sure to impress anyone interested in the South Valley's dining scene. Patrons rave over the New York Sizzle, a prime cut of beef served with a brandy sauce and mashed potatoes. Ask your waiter tp recommend a wine pairing from Steak and Grape's extensive list, stocked with numerous bottles from local vineyards.

While many establishments around Emerald Estates close their doors after dark, a few watering holes remain open for anyone hoping to burn the midnight oil around a pint or two. Lengthwise the Pub, a location of Bakersfield's micro-brewery, can be found on Calloway Drive serving their locally brewed ales and lagers until 11 p.m. on weekends. Trout's, located on the other side of Highway 99 from Emerald Estates, keeps bodies moving with regular live country music, honky-tonk dancing and a full bar. Anyone looking for more live entertainment selections can check the calendar at the Gaslight Melodrama Theater, home to many of Bakersfield's finest theater productions and musical acts.

Bakersfield citizens and visitors usually drive their own vehicles around the streets of Emerald Estates. Many of the smaller streets lack sidewalks, and the larger boulevards and highways lack crosswalks, making walking between points difficult. WalkScore.com rates Emerald Estates at a 10 out of 100, which classifies residents of the neighborhood as "car-dependent."

The South Valley's Golden Empire Transit system, known to locals as GET, serves a population of almost 500,000 with 16 different bus routes and 1,000 stops.

You should call ahead for any taxi service to Emerald Estates. Taxis seldom make it to distances this far from the city center. If you see a cab traveling out there, it most likely already has a fare awaiting. Uber, an online car service, offers rides in Bakersfield.

Bikers should exercise caution in the Emerald Estates area. The city does not mark off bike lanes on the streets, and many of the less major thoroughfares give room for a single, one-way lane of traffic, making sharing the road difficult.

Polo Community Park brings together the neighborhood with its eight multi-use fields, basketball court and turf volleyball court. Kids scramble all over the playground or frolic and beat the heat in the miniature water spray park during the summer. Dog owners can bring their scruffy friends, but all animals must stay on a leash. The polo fields cost nothing for regular use, or you can reserve the picnic shelter and fields for a fee.

At the Movies in the Park series held by the city every year, families can get a blanket and some snacks, then stroll down to the park to watch a movie under the moonlight. Check out the North of the River Recreation and Park District website for specific times and dates.

Emerald Estates costs more than the rest of Bakersfield, on average, for day-to-day utilities and necessities. An average one-bedroom residence in the neighborhood costs $1,035.00 per month. A beer runs about $3 for a pint, and gas in Bakersfield costs about 26 percent higher than the national average.

Shoppers looking for a home base in Bakersfield should stray no further than Calloway Road in the eastern portion of Emerald Estates. While Bakersfield's shopping generally veers towards the more utilitarian, catering to the large agricultural industry of the South Valley, you can find a few choice high-value spends and boutiques around Emerald Estates. Jane's Jewelers touts its diamond ring showroom as "where Bakersfield gets engaged."

Dewar's Candy Shop, located southeast of Emerald Estates, has a treat perfectly suited for every individual visitor's sweet tooth. Their storefront, modeled after old-time candy shops, stocks its shelves with a variety of locally made chews, truffles, lollipops, and more.

Silver Wolf Comics and Collectibles brings out the kid in every visitor by treating comics with the utmost seriousness. Several lifelong comic book collectors run the shop, stocking the shelves with mint action figures, vintage and new comics, and a host of trading card lines and supplies.

Vons, located east of the Calloway Canal from Emerald Estates, provides the neighborhood with the majority of its grocery needs. The Bakersfield Certified Farmers Market, located east of downtown Bakersfield, features local agricultural producers and other food vendors. You can visit the Certified Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.