History Lesson: 26th and Valencia

Burrito Justice, the Mission’s top historian, has done it again, this time with a full-scale expose on the storied history of business at the corner of 26th and Valencia.  He also comes up with the line of the decade so far:

“24th is certainly a hipster semipermeable membrane.”

Perhaps Capp Street is the voltage-gated ion channel in this scenario.

The Best Way to Transport a Mission Burrito to Somewhere as Far Away as Berlin

Our buddy Edward knows best:

I’ve worked out a pretty effective system for transporting burritos from the Bay to Berlin. Now if only I had a proper burrito with which to demonstrate this…

The trick is to keep the burrito upright and protected throughout your journey. So you need a tupperware that is half a super burrito tall and just wide enough to accommodate two burrito halves side by side. Great too if there’s room on top for salsa packs (3 oz or less). Line the tupperware with napkins and remove the foil, but not the paper from the burrito. Cut it in half and set the halves ends-down in the tupperware, then stow it upright in your carry-on, or underpants.

Even if you’re muling a saucy burrito, like La Calaca Loca’s super carnitas, it won’t turn soggy or slimy if you follow this method. Be sure to eat a burrito before leaving California, or it might not last the flight. When you arrive at your destination, crack a Tecate tall boy with your loved one, look at pictures of Dolores park on MM, and enjoy.

Read on for further discussion.

Photo by world of jan.

Valentine's Day Comes Early At K & D Market

Happy Valentine's Day From K&D Market

Mission Playboy Strikes Again

Every night, another woman.  We’ve all had him.  His gaze alone will knock you off your feet, leave you headless, sever your arms.

Fool me twice, shame on me.

Heart Wine Bar Opens…Arizmendi to Follow

I’ll admit I was a little skeptical when it first arrived in the mail.  Being a neighbor living within 500 feet of the new proposal, I received a letter from owner Jeff Segal about his ambitious plans to open a wine bar just around the corner, right next door to my landlord’s laundry place (damn–I knew there was  a reason why there’s no washer or dryer in my building!).

It was full of well-intentioned statements like (paraphrasing) “I live in the Mission, and I saw a really big need in the community for a place that brought wine and food to a place that makes it accessible,” and “I’ve been waiting my whole life to start a wine bar and restaurant like this.”  My roommates and I each rolled our collective eyes and thought “here we go again . . .“  Who needs another douche-and-yuppie magnet on Valencia Street?

Well, it’s finally here.  Furthermore, I think I might actually go check it out.  Perhaps Rosumunde and Pi Bar have softened me up to the idea of the casual eat-and-drink spot, but I find myself kind of rooting for this place a little bit.  The collaberation with Kitchenette might explain some of that, since so far every time I’ve biked out to the Dogpatch to try them out for lunch I’ve been greeted by an hour-long line.  Now maybe I’ll finally get to taste one of their beef & pork polpette sandwiches with amatriciana sauce (tomato, fatted calf bacon, chile flakes) and parmesan cheese or their sautéed chinese broccoli leaf and roasted butternut squash side salads with sultana raisins, slivered almond, chili oil.  They really know how to title entrees.

And it doesn’t look that bad in there!  I don’t know.  Am I misguided?  Do we really need a place like this on Valencia?  I do know one thing however:  the fact that co-op Arizmendi Bakery (whose mission is basically to bake delicious bread while training its staff how to own and operate their own bakery) is also opening a location right next door is a damn good thing for Valencia.

UPDATE:  MissionMission reader Mike Z. saw it go down:

i got a burrito at papalote yesterday and the crew that were putting up the sign on that place were punk/metalheads.  they had just finished and were drinking beers out of bags.  outside the wine bar.

[exterior photo from SFoodie]

[interior photo from Judy Parker]

Translink: 'BeepBoopBeepBeep…. KSSHHHHHHH'

Wow, this brings me back to the AOL days. It’s hard to imagine, but those Translink add-value kiosks are probably making these sounds somewhere behind the scenes. I wonder if it says “Goodbye!” after it’s done with your transaction.

MrEricSir might be able to clarify on this, but if it’s true, that’s OLD SCHOOL.

That being said, I guess if it aint broke don’t fix it. Oh wait, it is broke. On the bright side, when those kiosks go down, the bus drivers usually just wave me on when I flash my rendered-useless Translink card. Playing these odds probably works out in your favor when compared to the ever-inflating MUNI pass prices.

M.I.A. and the Mummies LIVE at the Rite Spot Cafe!

Plus: the late Jay Reatard!!! And actually, JUST KIDDING!! It’s just pictures of these and other rock ‘n’ roll greats performing live. But they’re epic pictures I’m sure, just like last time. Opening reception is this Saturday night!

Check out the event’s Facebook page for photographer bios and more.

Gamelan Girl

Write your own caption contest! GO! (No prizes, don’t be mean, Sexpigeon auto-disqualified)

Snapped at 16th St. BART. God we’re creepy.

Your New iPhone

Your New iPhone
If you’re like me you don’t have an iPhone and your iPod Touch is in a bag of rice on the kitchen table. What the hell sense does that make? So, don’t waste your time with that new iPad thing, get yourself to Thriftown and score a slightly used genuine iPhone for only $24.99.

Rated E for 'Extremely Awesome'

Many Machines just hipped us to Los Perdidos, a new short film by a group of 826 Valencia kids. It rules.