Adding a rich layer atop of 'Californian Radio'

The Californian recently launched live video streams of "Californian Radio," and Tuesday's episode is a good example of how a traditional radio show can take on a new dimension. 

Host Robert Price talked with reporter Steven Mayer about this past weekend's excellent series on the 1952 earthquakes that damaged Bakersfield and Tehachapi. Mayer is a great storyteller on his own, but the video layer of the show allowed Louis Amestoy, The Californian's digital convergence manager, to layer historic audio clips, photos and videos into the conversation. 

Outside of a few instances in the first segment where the audio cuts out, the production is slick and the segments move quickly. A few interesting calls from survivors rounded out a nice complement to an already great bit of journalism. 

Summer beer roundup

I've been on a kick recently -- moreso than normal -- to dive into new beers, and I've got notes on a half-dozen that have recently caught my attention: 

• Double Nut Brown Porter from Mammoth Brewing Co.: I first got a taste of this on tap straight from the brewery and ordered a growler on the spot. I've since started to see it showing up in bottles in Central California, and I highly recommend it. Porter afficionados might say it's a bit too sugary and its 5.5 percent alcohol content is on the lower end of the genre, but I find the overflow of coffee, chocolate and nut flavors a perfect blend. It's a dark beer that drinks well on a hot day.
• Vanilla Doubledog: I first tasted this 25th anniversary brew from Abita Brewing while sitting in the legendary Napoleon House in New Orleans. It was fantastic then -- paired

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Recalling the massive quakes that changed the face of Bakersfield

Here's a nice bit of video storytelling from The Californian's Louis Amestoy that's part of a two-day Californian series marking the 60th anniversary of the massive earthquakes that forever changed Bakersfield and Tehachapi. 

I'm sharing the video here to highlight some of the increasing video we're doing, but recommend you read Day 1 of reporter Steven Mayer's series. 

I've always thought Bakersfield had a cool downtown before the quakes hit in 1952. Sadly, the interesting architecture damaged in the quake was replaced by visual blight, saddling the city with a lack of character at its core.

The city's downtown is undergoing a nice transformation as nice restaurants, galleries and botiques spread downtown but watching this video makes you wonder what coulda been.