Which Bar Is This?

Reader Jeff points us to this just-published SFGate piece about the fine line between edginess and bigotry at what may or may not be a popular Mission bar:

“ID and open your bag,” one of the two guys at the door muttered testily to Ryan. Ryan says he produced his ID, as usual, but was surprised by the bag check — he’d never been asked before. He swung his bag off his shoulder around for an inspection, and inquired whether this was a new policy.

[...]

“Just open your f—— bag, okay?”

“I am. I was just wondering.”

“Just open your f—— bag and don’t give us a hard time.”

“I am opening my bag. I was just asking a question.”

It’s at this point, Ryan says, that the two young men looked at each other, then looked Ryan up and down and proceeded to laugh derisively.

“Dude, look at your pants. Look at your bag,” one of them said. “Obviously this is not your kind of place.”

Link. Jeff says, “A couple of people in the comments section seem to be pointing the finger at Zeitgeist, but it’s hard to tell if that’s right.” Are they right?

More Mission Mission “Bars of the Mission” Coverage:

Zeitgeist Makes Esquire’s Best Bars in America

Dope New Furnishings at Beauty Bar

The Phonebooth Actually Very Pleasant Before Dark

The Attic: Refuge For Displaced Toronado Regulars

The Chronicle Discovers Bender’s

Doc’s Clock Smells Like Bathroom

8 Responses to “Which Bar Is This?”

  1. Katie Ann says:

    somewhere in the marina maybe?

  2. FWIW, Zeitgeist has checked my bag and asked if I had a camera in it.

  3. Jesse! says:

    I’m thinking Medjool. Always a bunch of asshole doorman there.. charging a cover for ipod top 40 hits.

  4. tk says:

    I seriously doubt it’s Zeitgeist. The idea that Zeitgeist has “employees’ files” to put notes in is laughable.

    I’ve taken my messenger-type bag into Zeitgeist many times and no one’s ever said a word. Of course, that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen this time. But it just doesn’t sound like Zeitgeist. I’ve also never seen 2 people working the door there before.

    Now, on the other hand, I heard a story about a girl getting kicked out of Zeitgeist for wearing patchouli. That’s the kind of discrimination we need more of, though.

  5. Rhiannon says:

    I once had my bag checked at Zeitgeist, but for the record, I was dressed like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikl/307012306/in/set-72157594393272160/

  6. villagebicycle says:

    Totally and completely Zeitgeist. The guys at the door can be the biggest assholes at the most random times and to the sweetest people.

  7. BernalScott says:

    Not Medjool (not “gruff by design” as per the full SFGate article), maybe Zeitgeist. I met some friends there one time and a friend of a friend got hassled by “Are you wearing Patchouli?” “Yes” “You can’t come in.” They let her in after hassling her awhile more, but she was a bit flustered…

  8. Definitely Zeitgeist. They have to make sure that no one is bringing in booze (which I do anyway, all the time). It’s no big deal, it’s just super hard to keep an eye on everyone in their immense back yard. My bag is searched almost every time. Who cares?