Mission Mission

Broke-Ass Stuart just wrote in with breaking news:

There’s a car on fire in front of Cafe La Taza on Mission btw 21st and 20th. Thought I’d let you know cuz you like to write about that kind of shit. Its very on fire.

(Emphasis mine.) Thanks, Stu!

Photo by Sally Kuchar. Thanks, Sally!

UPDATE: Another angle. Thanks, Davy!

I Live Here SF keeps getting better and better. This week, Mission Mission contributor Ariel Dovas makes the scene, and we learn that he is one wigged-out cat. Here he is on an artifical grassy knoll at his art space, The Secret Alley. For more pics and a wild flurry of San Francisco memories, read on.

Previously:

Plug1 Lives Here

Beth Lives Here

Brittney Lives Here

Allan Lives Here

I know this looks newsy, but feel free to pay attention anyway. Reader A. tonight forwarded along an internal email memo circulated by the group SafeCleanGreen Mission Dolores. The memo, titled “Dolores Park Progress Report,” updates members on progress made on each of a number of concerns and initiatives.

Most of what they’re talking about here sounds entirely positive: improved safety, improved sanitation and irrigation, improved signage.

The thing is, with improvement comes sacrifice apparently. They are down on dogs, big events, drinking and drugs — things that absolutely make Dolores Park the bastion of freedom and fun so many of us know and love. And maybe that’s fine. Change can be good.

But when a group angling for change lauds increased police presence for its ability to “dampen the spirits of those who are inclined to come to DP for unfettered drinking and carousing,” it gives us pause. We are wary of any organization so giddy about dampening the spirits of others.

The memo says, “Rec&Park recognizes the need to set a new tone in the park.” And maybe that’s true. Maybe somebody needs to remind people more forcefully to pick up their god damn trash.

But should that job be entrusted to a closed organization? The group’s website explains:

“SafeCleanGreen membership is by invitation or referral only. To join, please email and tell us a little bit about yourself and how you found out about us. Be sure to include your address and contact information. You’ll hear back shortly from our Yahoo Group Moderator.”

In any case, maybe it is the end of an era. Maybe it’s time for dogs to be on leashes and community events to be denied permits. Maybe this group is on the right track. Or, maybe they’re a mobilized minority trying to flip the script on a beloved national treasure behind everyone’s back. This is not for us to say. And this is not a call to action, as this is not a call-to-action type blog. But if citizens outside this closed organization have an opinion to voice too, the memo name drops Dolores Park Park Manager Bob Palacio ( bob.palacio@sfgov.org ) and Supervisor Bevan Dufty ( Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org ).

Full memo after the jump.

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Did anyone find the subject line funny?  No?  Okay, sorry.

(Found on Folsom by the awesome Don’t ask me, I just work here)

This photo published today by chartno3 (click to view photo page) calls to mind a fateful comment from several months back left on a Mission Mission post about mopeds by one Tad Benton:

I used to ride a moped back in, oh, 2003. It was fun. Even picked up a DUI on it. They’re a huge pain the butt maintenance-wise, and yeah, not much better than a bike when it comes down to it. I was never much for joining clubs, either, and didn’t like pestering from the moped kids to do so. Now it’s just sort of rotting away in my backyard. Can’t bring myself to sell it, can’t be bothered to ride it. That said, having a girl on your back is delightful and people will smile.

Poetry, I say!

[photo via Jonathan Percy]

This is the best thing on the internet today (besides news of Kevin Montgomery’s firing). What do you imagine when you think of your coffee brain?

[via I Don't You]

Tonight at 7pm is another edition of bike polo in Dolores Park with Oakland facing off with SF.  While this isn’t necessary news, I’m loving the bile/shit-talking coming out of the Oaktown Society of Recreation’s email list:

For those unfamiliar with public transit systems, the “BART” snake-carriage machine will drop you off at 16th and mission, and when you exit the underground passenger depository station tell a friendly san francisco-an “yo… im from Oaklan how da fuck i get to DOUGH-LORE-EHS park?” while making menacing body movements that invade their personal space. and dont worry – they’ll be more afraid of you than you are of them, the same way the sf whackers fear us on the courts of polo, ‘cuz we insane.

Previously:

Volleybonk

Bike Polo

And thus, the Mission Bicycle Company storefront, former bastion of nothing but custom-made track bikes, began selling clothing and accessories too. Buyer/Curator Jefferson explains:

“A lot of our customers are cyclists. They come in and they don’t need a brand-new single-speed bicycle. But they wanna buy something. People wanna buy stuff.”

Fresh off spending sprees at Paxton’s and 826, folks roaming the Valencia corridor happen in and find nothing to impulse buy. So Mission Bikes decided to start stocking an array of locally made and/or responsibly sourced products. A placard with Google Map and fact sheet accompanies each item.

“People wanna buy stuff.”

We asked the obvious: “Even in this economy?” We got a shrug. People wanna buy stuff.

More pretty pictures by Mollie C after the jump. And a full set (complete with hi-res versions) here.

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Somebody named Katie F. who we met at a party last weekend just spotted this handsome scene on Dolores between 19th and 20th. Sure there is no gun slinging going on, but you can tell by the look in his eyes: He’s a gun slinger.

Previously:

Yay Kittens!

Two Very Different Cats