Here's my completely biased, unscientific selections of some food, people and events about town that make this place called Bako home

 * ... THIS AND THAT: I will be off for a few days and I will leave you with my entirely unscientific views on some of the "best bets" about town. Enjoy.

 * ... BEST SOUNDS: There are two sounds that greet you if you work or live downtown: the beautiful hourly chimes from the First Presbyterian Church, and the frequent wail of a train horn that serves as the soundtrack of where you live.

 * ... BEST  SANDWICH: The only problem with Sequoia Sandwich Co. is its popularity, particularly the downtown store that serves as a magnet for jurors and other folks who work in the downtown courthouses. There isn't a bad sandwich in the place, and my favorite: the Sequoia tuna melt with a side of cole slaw.

 * ... BEST COMEBACK: When Rod and Julie Crawford bought the Pyrenees Cafe and Saloon, the best days for the east Bakersfield landmark were behind it. But they gave the old girl a makeover, introduced live music and now Pyrenees is one of "the" hot spots in town for Basque food and weekend cocktails. Check out its new outdoor seating area and new music venue.

 * ... CORNER BAR: There are few restaurants in town that match Uricchio's Trattoria in  terms of service and food. Hard day at work? Stop in at Uricchio's happy hour and catch up with your friends at its long bar, and don't forget the fabulous appetizers (fried clams being one of my favorites). This is one of the places I always take out of town guests to treat them to warm, friendly service and meals that never disappoint. The late Nick Uricchio would be proud of how his daughter Claire has carried on the family tradition.

 * ... BEST NEWCOMER: This is a tough category because of the explosion of new eateries about town, but newcomer Jin Sushi on 19th Street is off to a fast start with healthy and fresh offerings and friendly service. Today's tip: they occasionally have blue fin tuna on the menu. It is a can't miss selection.

 * ... BURGERS: There are too many to choose from that pass my taste test, but here are my local favorites: the 'Hudson' burger at Muertos, the 'Sonny' burger at Mexicali downtown, virtually any burger from Eureka!, and the bacon, cheese and mushroom burger from Pyrenees Cafe. (file photo of a Muertos burger)

 * ... FUND RAISERS: Our town lives and breathes fund raisers, but there are a few that stand out above the rest: West Rotary's annual Cioppino Feed is at the top of my list, followed by St. Francis Parish's Crabfest, and virtually anywhere where Gary Icardo is cooking Harris Ranch steaks (like this week's St. Vincent de Paul Center event).

 * ... HIKING: We take Hart Park for granted, but the undeveloped hills above the park provide a beautiful venue for weekend hikes and mountain bike rides. There are only a few things standing between you and enjoying these hills: a sturdy paid of hiking shoes and you own will.

 * ... PIE RUN: And finally, the annual Thanksgiving 'Pie Run' has always ranked among my favorite early morning activities. It all starts on Thanksgiving morning at Hart Park where a hundred or so walkers, hikers (with their dogs) show up in this annual pot luck event to kick off the long Thanksgiving Day feed. Stay tuned for more details.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy returns home in style, giving up his seat to a World War II veteran, and it was a weekend of events in Bakersfield

 * ... MCCARTHY: After a bruising week both politically and personally on Capitol Hill, Rep. Kevin McCarthy returned home in the style which has made him so popular: he flew

home with World War II members of the latest "Honor Flight." McCarthy, along with wife Judy and daughter Mehgan, gave up their first class seats to sit in coach with the veterans, yet another reminder that despite checking his own political ambitions, he remains deeply rooted in his community. And how nice it must be to return home without worrying about engaging in the weekly dance of the Sunday political talk shows.

 * ... OUR TOWN: So who said there's nothing to do in this town? This was a whirlwind of a weekend, starting with the Friday evening event downtown featuring Mento Buru and sponsored by the Bakersfield Young Professionals, as well as another Rick Kreiser sponsored "Guitar Series" concert. On Saturday there were a slew of events, beginning in the morning with Via Arte out at the Marketplace, an antique roadshow, the huge 99 Music Fest at CSUB, the Kern County Farm Bureau's annual sold-out dinner and class reunions for Shafter, Garces Memorial and Wasco high schools in various venues.

* ... MUSIC FEST: And speaking of the 99 Music Fest, is there a more beautiful venue in town than the Cal State Bakersfield amphi-theater? Despite the heat, the area is blessed with small groves of trees, a smartly terraced lawn and enough space for two stages, food vendors and a VIP area. Hats off to Imbibe Wine and Spirits, Advance Beverage and other vendors including Cafe Med (they featured an incredible pita sandwich), Pyrenees Cafe (the lamb pops were delicious), Hungry Hunter, Michaelanglo Pizza, Curbside Kitchen,  Johnny Rockets, Champs BBQ, Brookside Deli and Market, Iron Horse Saloon and of course Advance Beverage.

* ... ROUGH DAY: I spotted this email circulating at The Californian: "Rough day for Bakersfield media darlings Kevin McCarthy and Cody Kessler. McCarthy pulls out of the race for Speaker of the House, throwing the COP into turmoil and Kessler's Heisman dreams are all but gone with his performance in USC's loss to unranked Washington. Let's hope they both get back on their feet and have better days!"

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket."

 * ... ANIMAL CONTROL: John and Teresa McKiearnan sent me this note that speaks for itself: "I called Bakersfield animal control during the work week to report a deceased dog on Union Avenue. After a day and a half and three phone calls a very friendly control officer called me back and informed me it was not in the city's jurisdiction. The real problem I have is when the officer told me she was the only officer on duty that day, Really! A city with 370,000 people and you have only one animal control officer on call. That is unacceptable Mr. Tandy."

* ... OLD TIMER: This note from reader Michael Clark: "If I may, I think one would be considered an "old timer" should they have dined (likely with their folks) at Ewing's (Jack and Hazel) Tam O' Shanter. Iceberg lettuce with real Roquefort cheese.

Kevin McCarthy's stunning decision to drop out of the race for House Speaker, it's time for the 99 Music Fest out at CSUB and Connie Perez considers a run against Rep. David Valadao

 * ... MCCARTHY: Politics, like aging, is not a game for sissies, but I couldn't help but feel for Rep. Kevin McCarthy and his family after he bowed out of the race to become the next Speaker of the House. McCarthy is an adult and can take the heat, but when he took questions from a swarm of reporters, flanked by his wife Judy and their children Meghan and Connor, it was painful to see the expression on Judy's face as her husband
fielded the inevitable queries under the glare of national scrutiny. No matter what you think of McCarthy and his politics, the emotional toll on his family is not something to celebrate or to take joy in.

* ... MUSIC FEST: Your best bet for entertainment this weekend is the 99 Music Festival out at the CSUB amphi-theater. There will be seven bands on two stages featuring pure 'Americana' music, a blend of folk, country and Bakersfield sounds that helped forge the unique music of our nation. Among the headliners will be James McMurtry, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sam Outlaw, Truxton Mile, the Roustabouts, the Canadian group The Sheepdogs and Bakersfield's own Monty Byrom. The gates open at noon and the first music starts at 12:30 p.m. There will be plenty of wine, beer and food. Tickets at 99musicfest.com and available for $50 at the door. This is a '21 and over' event. (file photos of Sam Outlaw, Monty Byron)

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of payments."

* ... OIL SUMMIT: Hats off to the West Kern Petroleum Summit that has sold out all 700 seats for its event next weekend at Taft College. Only in its second year, this summit has hit the sweet spot for a new event devoted to energy production. Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens will be the keynote speaker, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek will work as emcee and Rep. Kevin McCarthy will also address the crowd. If you missed out on tickets the event will be streamed live on bakersfield.com.

 * ... PEREZ: Folks who follow this stuff are scratching their heads over word that Connie Perez, a partner in the accounting firm Brown Armstrong, is considering challenging Rep. David Valadao in the 21st Congressional District. Perez is a virtual unknown, has never held elective office, works in Pasadena but nevertheless is known to be personally ambitious. While some local Democrats say Perez has a powerful story to tell (she grew up poor in Tulare County and overcame numerous obstacles to succeed), others see her candidacy as a misguided "hail Mary" to unseat the well entrenched Valadao.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember celebrating St. Patrick's Day at Lemucchi's Tam O'Shanter up on Alta Vista.

Millennials give up on network and cable TV, disrupting yet another industry, a decorated Vietnam veteran responds to a columnist and another fall fund raiser for Saint Vincent de Paul center

 * ... CABLE: Big changes have come to traditional TV and cable programming, and not surprisingly the millennials are leading the way. The latest research shows the millennials (aged 18 to 34) are

abandoning cable, not watching traditional network television and instead "grazing" the internet and watching niche programming on their smartphones, computers and tablets. This, of course, has huge consequences for TV viewership and advertising, and it affirms what analysts have been saying: "Among viewers 14 to 25, TVs finally have lost out... Millennial households without children are the least likely to have cable - one quarter use the internet or antennas instead." Likewise, the New York Times reported that "time spent on smartphone based entertainment - music, videos, games (but not instant messaging or social media) - has doubled in just a little more than a year among those 18 to 34."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard."

 * ... GASPAR: Joe Drew, who recently retired from Tejon Ranch, served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and had this reaction to a recent column by Jose Gaspar in The Californian: "I read Jose Gaspar’s article on how Ben Carson’s comments about Muslims are demoralizing them. For me, the absolute lack of condemnation of ISIS from the Imam’s leading American Muslim religious communities is an import indicator of where the Muslim community stands on its commitments to our country. And this goes all the way back to 9/11." (file photo of Joe Drew)

 * ... STEAK: There are few better combinations in life than a Gary Icardo-cooked Harris Ranch New York steak and helping a cook cause. Add to that near perfect weather and you have the annual Fall BBQ at the Saint Vincent de Paul Center on Baker Street, where Gary and Adam Icardo will hold court to help the less fortunate in our community. The event is this Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. at 316 Baker Street. Cost is just $25 person.

 * ... ACHIEVER: Hats off to Hilary Gevondyan, a Bakersfield High School graduate who now works for First Republic Bank as vice president and associate general counsel. Some of her remarkable non-work activities include serving in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan, providing pro-bono legal counsel to immigrants seeking asylum and teaching a class at the Berkeley Law School.

 * ... MEA CULPA: I made a mistake in passing along a query from Darlyn Baker about the identity of a DJ who used to sit on a chimney to greet motorists downtown. The correct location was at 24th and Beech streets and the DJ used to sit up on the roof for days. If you remember who this was, or who sponsored it, let me know.

Sacramento Democrats fear how Kevin McCarthy might wield influence if he becomes Speaker of the House and Bakersfield begins losing some of its most majestic trees due to the drought

 * ... MCCARTHY: I spent some time in the Bay Area this weekend and had a lot of time to think about California issues and politics while driving Interstate 5 through the spine of our state. If Rep. Kevin McCarthy becomes Speaker of the House as expected, you have to wonder about how he

might influence some of the major issues facing California. He is opposed to the High Speed Rail project, is at odds with Democrats on how to help Valley farmers during the drought, and he has proposed revising (or eliminating) environmental regulations that he believes are weighed more in the favor of fish than humans. This makes Democrats in Sacramento extremely nervous, as it should be, but only time will tell how he uses his new clout to influence state policies.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "A woman saying 'I’m not mad at you' is like a dentist saying 'You won’t feel a thing.'"

 * … SPOTTED IN LA CRESTA: A homeowner near Garces Memorial High School planted this  sign in her yard: "Drive Like Your Children Live Here."

 * … DROUGHT: As I was reminded the other day, just because you allow your grass to die in the winter doesn't mean you can stop watering your trees. Some of our community's largest and most beautiful trees are dying because homeowners are not watering their deep roots.

 * … WEATHER BIRD: Stephen A. Montgomery responded to my earlier post about the old 'weather bird' sign that once stood on the Sill Building at 18th and Chester. Said Montgomery: "Oh, yes, I remember the Coca-Cola weather bird sign and, no, I don’t miss it. With its multi-colored neon lighting it was quite an elaborate affair and a rather discordant addition to the efficient lines of the sleek streamline moderne 1939 Sill building designed by Charles Henry Franklin and Ernest J. Kump, Jr. The real disappointment is that the building was never finished the way it was designed as a six-story structure with a louvered facade on the elevator structure on the roof."

 * ... ONE BOOK: There will be a lively discussion on the economic plight of the working poor in Kern County this week at Beale Memorial Library. The Tuesday evening event is sponsored by One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern and will be devoted to exploring ways to create positive change in our communities. One Book is a community wide reading project and the group is asking folks to read "The International Bank of Bob," a book by Bob Harris that looks at ways to make positive change in the world. The discussion is set for Tuesday, at 5 p.m.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Darlyn Baker is seeking answers to a question that has bugged her:  "Whenever I pass by the home on Beech and 22th Street, I smile as I still visualize the DJ who perched atop their chimney for a fund raiser. I would like to know if anyone remembers who he was, what radio station was sponsoring that cause, when it was and how long he was up there."

More layoffs hit the oil patch as the energy market struggles, remembering Steve Ruggenberg and George Martin brings the Bakersfield Business Conference back

 * ... LAYOFFS: There was yet another round of layoffs this week at California Resources Corp. (CRC), the

spin-off company from Occidental Petroleum that holds huge reserves here. One manager called this the deepest round of layoffs yet at CRC during the downtown in the energy market. Chevron has been undergoing similar cutbacks as have almost all of the local suppliers. And, for the first time, local Realtors tell me the bad times in the oil patch are now starting to impact sales in the local real estate market.

 * ... RUGGENBERG: The phrase 'life is short' may be a cliche, but it's one that Steve Ruggenberg took seriously when he walked away from his six-figure salary at Golden Empire Transit and moved to Napa Valley to pursue his love of baking. Ruggenberg died this week after battling leukemia, and I was among those lucky enough to call him a friend. A Vietnam War veteran and CSUB graduate, Ruggenberg had spirit, wit, drive and charm, as well as the courage to pursue his dreams. Ruggs, as he was known to friends, never seemed to waste a second on the trivial or the small, and instead chose to look on life as a grand adventure to be cherished and nourished. How many of us can say that? Keep his widow, Shana, and their family in your thoughts. I miss him already.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "The evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t."

 * ... BUSINESS CONFERENCE: It looks like George Martin is at it again, following through on his promise to bring back the hugely successful Bakersfield Business Conference. If you are new to town and never attended one of Martin's events, put the next one on your calendar because they are spectacular. For years the local attorney with Borton Petrini put on one of the best shows in the West, drawing speakers as diverse as Margaret Thatcher to Rich Little, George Bush and Jimmy Carter to a huge tent at CSUB. The conference eventually ran out of gas, and when it ended in 2010 Martin promised to bring it back every five years or so. It is now planned for Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, perfect for an election and Olympic year. (No word on where it will be held) His hints about speakers: a legendary NBA great, a former head of state, an Academy Award winning actress, a former governor and a business icon. Tickets for this event are never cheap, but they are worth it.

 * ... MUSIC FESTIVAL: And speaking of entertainment, the food vendor lineup for the 99 Music Festival has been released and it represents some of the best of Bakersfield. The '99Fest' is planned for Saturday, Oct. 10, at the CSUB amphi-theater. There will be two stages and some incredible talent featuring Americana music, all backed up by these food vendors: Pyrenee's Cafe, Cafe Med, Iron Horse Saloon, Champs BBQ, Michelangelo Pizza, Johnny Rockets, The Curbside Kitchen and Brookside Market and Food. For tickets go to 99musicfest.com.

 * ... MEMORIES: Navy and submarine veteran Gene M. Bonas reminded me that it was 70 years ago this month when Japan officially surrendered to the United States to end World War II. Said Bonas: "You know you're an old timer if you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the words: 'The war is over!' I was six years of age playing in the back yard by an old cottonwood tree when I heard my mom screaming 'The war is over, the war is over!' I remember mom flew out of the house, ran to where I was playing and lavished me with hugs and kisses. What a marvelous memory that is."

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy seeks to address the fears of the right wing of the GOP, expect strong Santa Ana winds this winter and beware of the latest scam making the rounds

 * ... MCCARTHY: Now that Rep. Kevin McCarthy has officially entered the campaign to become the next Speaker of the House, there is no shortage of experts offering him advice. One opinion

column in The Wall Street Journal summed it up nicely with this: "One of his strengths is that he is on good terms with much of the caucus, most of whose members see him as willing to listen. Mr. McCarthy's ties stem from another potential strength: he is a political animal ... (but) the worry about Mr. McCarthy is that he's too much the political animal... (and) the bigger question is whether the rump GOP caucus gives a new speaker a change. Mr. Boehner is leaving, but the rest of Washington remains." McCarthy has been quick to try to reassure the conservative wing that he has the "courage to lead the fight for our conservative principles and make our case to the American people."

* ... SANTA ANA WINDS: Fall is here and winter is coming, and that means we are all looking forward to the expected El Nino and the strong rains it will bring. But fall also ushers in the Santa Ana winds, and that means the likelihood of even more fires across the state. According to The Los Angeles Times, "climatologists say there is evidence that this Santa Ana's season could be serious: They have seen a higher frequency of high pressure systems over Southern California this spring and summer." That means we can expect the Santa Anas to blow in by November and December, followed by rains from El Nino in January and February.

 * ... AIR QUALITY: All those winds and fires can really damage our air quality, and more and more folks around town have taken to wearing surgical masks to help filter out pollutants. But experts say there is little evidence these masks work. Said The New York Times: "Gases can penetrate masks, but certain highly rated masks divert a significant share of particles from the air." So save your money on those surgical masks and instead spend time outdoors when the pollution levels are lower.

 * ... SCAM: Here's yet another scam that the Bakersfield Police Department says is making the rounds about town. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from BPD who says there is a warrant out for you for missing jury duty, hang up. The first thing they ask for is your Social Security Number and credit card information. Beware.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: From the comedian Albert Brooks: "I’m trying to get excited by the discovery of water on Mars. I wish they found it in California."

 * ... KUDOS: Hats off to Kate (McWhorter) Carlson, a 2005 Stockade High School graduate who has been elected to the University of Massachusetts at Boston Hall of Fame for volleyball. While at Stockdale she helped the Mustangs win two Valley Championships.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old-timer if you remember the huge "weather bird" poster that sat on top of the Sill Building off Chester Avenue. Under the "weather bird" was a Coca-Cola sign that read: "Thirst Knows No Season."

The nation turns its attention to Rep. Kevin McCarthy as he maneuvers to become the next House Speaker, looking for common sense on the 'kiss cam' and Rotarians pitch in to clean the streets

 * ... MCCARTHY: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy started the week posing with Pope Francis and ended with him the odds-on favorite to replace John Boehner as Speaker of the U.S.

House of Representatives. This is enough to give anyone a healthy case of vertigo, and it is just beginning. To say McCarthy's rise to power has been quick is an understatement, and the national press (and public) have a renewed interest in understanding just what makes this Bakersfield Republican tick. The Kevin McCarthy we know is now under intense scrutiny by people with their own agendas, and no doubt he will have to have some thick skin to endure the inevitable arrows thrown his way.

* ... KISS CAM: Whatever happened to common sense? Consider this story about the familiar
"kiss cam" in sporting arenas, which often features couples on a Jumbotron kissing during breaks. It's an innocent and often sweet way to show an open display of affection, but it is now under attack. During a recent football game between Syracuse and Wake Forest, a man named Steve Port said he witnessed "two incidences on the kiss cam in which women indicated they didn’t want to be kissed. Yet, the men nearby kissed them anyway to cheers from the crowd." So he wrote a letter to the university and it now looks like the "kiss cam" has seen its last days at Syracuse. Said his letter: “The instances I witnessed at the game encourage and condone sexual assault and a sense of male entitlement, at best. And they are an actual instance of assault, at worst."

* ... SPOTTED: Spotted on the placard of a panhandler, who was standing atop a freeway offramp: "Ugly, Broke, and Stupid."

 * ... GOOD FORM: If the streets of downtown Bakersfield look a little cleaner today, you can think the Rotary clubs of Bakersfield whose members hit the streets this week to prepare for next week's District Conference. Rotarians throughout Kern County and the Central Coast will be coming to the Marriott and surrounding area for the conference (the first we've had in Bakersfield in 25 years), so local Rotarians pitched in to clean the streets. The clubs are also asking downtown businesses to please sustain our efforts by keeping the sidewalks, gutters, and streets in front of their establishments free of debris.

 * ... BAD FORM: On Sunday morning, at two different intersections downtown, motorists stopped at a red light simply blew through it and took a left against the red. I understand things are slow on a Sunday morning, but this is beyond reckless.

 * ... BARBECUE: Fall means barbecue fundraising season in Bakersfield. Among the biggest, and most worthwhile: the annual St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Center BBQ. Mark your calendars for this year's event - Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the center, 316 Baker Street. Chefs Gary and Adam Icardo will be grilling Harris Ranch New York steaks served with all the trimmings. Tickets are available at the Thrift Store on Baker or the night of the BBQ.  For more information, call (661) 323-2942.