Bakersfield Museum of Art set to roll out its public art project with miniature Ford pickups painted by local artists, and Big Mike's Ragin BBQ is headed downtown to The Mark restaurant

 * ... TRUCK ART: One of the most interesting 'public art' projects is coming our way soon with the unveiling of a series of miniature fiberglass 1956 Ford pickup trucks painted by local artists.

Sponsored and coordinated by the Bakersfield Museum of Art via private funding, the project will celebrate our local blue collar roots with this series of whimsically painted fiberglass trucks that will be placed throughout the community. They will be previewed later this month at the museum. Visit bmoa.org for tickets.

 * ... BIG MIKE'S: Big Mike's Ragin BBQ is headed downtown in a partnership with The Mark restaurant on 19th Street. Up to this point Big Mike's (run by former Green Bay Packers lineman Mike Ariey) has been a catering business but now he will be running a lunch service at The Mark from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Entrees include baby back ribs (my favorite from Big Mike's), tri-tip and garlic chicken with sides and salad. The move comes on the heals of The Mark shutting down its weekday lunch service. Big Mike's will be featured in the outdoor eating area (branded The Park at The Mark) with the hope of creating an atmosphere similar to the patio dining at Luigi's Delicatessen.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: How long will it take before a rock band renames itself "Basket of Deplorables?"

* ... CENTRO: I finally made it over to Centro 18, the (relatively) new Mexican fusion restaurant on 18th Street next to the Chain Cohn building. If you are a fan of scallops, as I am, try the appetizer where the scallops are delicately prepared in a butter and garlic sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. The service was excellent and I am told the Sunday brunch is one of a kind.

* ... HAPPY JACKS: Congratulations to Happy Jacks and owners Frances and Ruben Rosales. The popular downtown eatery known for its burgers and pies recently celebrated its 54th year in business. I treated myself to a bacon cheeseburger and the eatery's outstanding home fries with cheese after a bike ride over White Wolf grade.

* ... BAD FORM: Kym Vliem shared this bit of bad form: "On Thursday in the time it took to pull in to a parking space on 17th by the City Building Department we saw two cars illegally U-turn;  one from a parking space on 17th to head back towards Chester and the other heading east on 17th who flipped a U mid-street to get a parking space facing west. I guess people consider DMV rules only as 'suggestions' anymore."

 * ...MORE BAD FORM: As long as we are talking about bad form, Judy Herndon had this to say: "I recently saw a newer-model white pickup in the parking lot of the Von's store at Coffee and Hageman with large white lettering on the back window, saying:  F*** CANCER.  People, I doubt that anyone hates cancer more than I. Cancer took my mother's life when I was just a child. But this language, displayed in public as it is, is so offensive on so many levels. Of course it does nothing to actually eradicate the disease, yet it is a sad example to set for children who view the vulgarity.  Instead of offending the public and lowering standards, why not help with fundraising efforts to fight the disease, or help those suffering from it, or help community members get screened so cancers can be found and battled earlier.  DO SOMETHING to help the situation instead of cursing it. "

Starting off the new year with some kindness from strangers, a new build-your-own burger joint heads to Bakersfield and some happy news for the owners of Happy Jacks downtown

* … NEW YEAR: I spent a week on the East coast with friends - a good time to refresh and get ready for a new year - but it doesn't take long for this homebody to yearn for familiar surroundings. Traveling these days can be tense, and it's always the small acts of kindness and compassion that we remember.

My thanks to the honest folks at US Airways for finding my cell phone that I mindlessly left on the plane, for my cat sitter who never failed to snap a daily picture of my tabby to remind me she was safe, for my hosts who so graciously shared their home for the holidays, and for all the friends who make coming home so special. Happy New Year!

 * … EATERY: If this new year is anything like 2014, we can expect yet more new restaurants opening around town. The first out of the blocks is a chain called PizzaRev, a build-your-own pizza concept that is popular in the Los Angeles area. The chain is opening two outlets in the Southwest, one in Gosford Village and the other at the Parks at Riverwalk. The group hopes to hire 70 local employees and promises to donate to charitable causes.

 * … BURGER: In my eternal quest to find the best burger in Bakersfield, Jon Crawford wrote to recommend one served by the NV Cafe on F Street. Said Crawford: "We have found that the NV Café, not too far out of your neighborhood, has several good burgers (with grilled onions is my favorite) and at a half pound allows me to take half home for another meal. They have great sweet potato fries – but, I think it is very difficult to ruin sweet potato fries. Unfortunately, they are open only for week-day breakfasts and lunches. Please don’t take my word, as I am a very poor judge of food goodness." I will take up the challenge, Jon, thanks for the recommendation.

 * … HAPPY ENDING: Frances Rosales, who along with her husband own the popular burger and pie eatery called Happy Jacks, recently enjoyed a happy ending when her lost dog of six months showed up. "Someone stole Romero, a pomeranean, out of your yard six months ago," she told me. "We had almost given up hope when we got a call from Visalia that he was found on the freeway. Thanks goodness he was microchipped." Romero, weighing half of what he did earlier, was reunited and is now back to running the household.

 * … FIAT: A keen-eyed friend was watching a Fiat commercial recently when he noticed some familiar locations in the shoot. It turns out Fiat filmed the commercial near the old Bakersfield train depot on Baker Street, but erected a sign saying "Palermo, North Dakota." Look for it.

 * … CRIME: I ran into former county supervisor and Bakersfield mayor Mary K. Shell the other day and she shared some news about the window of her neighbor's truck being smashed. "You just can't be careful enough." she said. Which is a reminder: if you park outside, never leave valuables or garage door openers in your car.

 * … ZINGER: A friend shared with me some of the famous zingers from the legendary Henny Youngman. Among them: "A wife says to her husband, 'You're always pushing me around and talking
behind my back.' He says, 'What do you expect? You're in a wheel chair.'"