Mission Mission

While we here at MM may not have the most professional photography equipment in the blogoshpere, we nonetheless must be constantly prepared to take advantage of whatever visual gold this captivating neighborhood throws our way.  To that end, it helps to have instant access to whichever device we feel would most appropriately capture the moment.  At the same time, it’s not always prudent to carry around an obvious camera bag, not so much because of the possibility of theft (albeit still an issue) but more so to not be all, “Oh hey, camera guy over here, smile, no don’t stop what you’re doing, wait come back!”  Worse yet, you might be mistaken for . . . a tourist!

Enter the Snoop Camera Messenger Bag from Timbuk2, which the local Mission company was gracious enough to allow us to field test in our own unique way.  As you can see, this versatile bag offers near limitless customization options, with a padded liner featuring several modular compartments to fit all the different shapes and sizes of your lenses and similar gadgets (or RAZR camera phones).  It’s rather entertaining to play a tactile Tetris mini-game before heading out on your bike (don’t forget, it’s a messenger bag too) for an all-day photography exploration adventure.  Also, if you don’t want to worry about your gear and just need a bag for something, the whole liner is completely removable, transforming the Snoop into a sturdy, dependable transport companion.

If you’re the real deal, like the tens for instance (who might be needing a new name in a few weeks if he wants to stay current), this bag will definitely be able to handle all your stuff.  On the other end of the spectrum, it can also hold THE ENTIRE PHOTOGRAPHIC CAPABILITY OF MISSION MISSION, so we decided to take a brief excursion.  Of course, every adventure requires sustenance, and once again the Snoop did not disappoint:

Check that out!  The modular compartments also allow for optimal sandwich protection in addition to banana crushing and apple bruising prevention.  Truly a worthwhile and reliable necessity for the modern Mission photog (and it makes a great Christmas present too)!

Last week we told you all about this new collaboration by two beloved local companies. You go into the shop, pick custom colors for pretty much every panel and piece of trim on the bag, and then you pick your map. They don’t have every street in the neighborhood (sorry, San Carlos), but they have most of the best ones. You can map your favorite intersection, or series of intersections, or have some parallels, or some parallels and some intersections. And then, you align them on a grid (diagonal or horizontal), and you’ve got your very own personalized map emblazoned on the back of your deluxe, locally fabricated messenger bag! And all for less than $100! Only at Mission Bicycle!

Or TOTALLY FREE if you win the following contest:

In the comments section below, tell us what colors and streets you’d customize your bag with and how and why. Get creative! Get emotional! The raddest plan (as judged by Mission Mission and maybe Mission Bicycle) wins a free bag.

This contest ends at 8pm on Wednesday so we can notify a winner by Thursday morning so that maybe they can stop by the shop that day, officially put their order in, and maybe pick up one of those colorful Mission Bicycle t-shirts as a placeholder Christmas present for whomever they’re maybe eventually going to give their customized bag to.

Somebody strung a shit-ton of floss between a pole and a tree or something at 19th and Valencia on Saturday. And they strung it tight, too. You could throw yourself into it and you’d bounce right off.

Moreover, that installation supported the weight of two full-grown adult humans! They climbed it! A bunch of floss! They climbed a bunch of floss — and chilled out for a while when they got to the top!

I love epic Saturdays in the Mission.

UPDATE: Climbers climbing!

It’s called “The Old Shoe,” it contains good rum, a couple other ingredients and but one giant-sized ice cube, and you can get it in that cute little back room at Dalva.

I don’t usually go for rum drinks unless I’m on an island or something, but this is my new favorite cocktail. It’s a bit of a puzzler. Not one bit tropical. Rather, it actually does taste like an old shoe, but in a good way. A great way. Noodle that for a minute.

Or just go try an Old Shoe.

Watch your ass!

The bunnies are cute, and their jokes are too.

Cartoonist Tika Hall is the master of these puppets, and you can see their latest adventure here.

Do you drop your beers and reach for your keys so you can get in out of the rain? Or do you sit tight and pray one of your neighbors happens by (at 2:20 in the morning) and offers a helping hand?

Wait, how the hell did you come to find yourself in this predicament in the first place?

Back in May, Burrito Justice imagined a world where we’d be docking our canoes on the shores of a Dolores Park Island Oasis on sunny weekends. Boy, I’d hate to be downstream from the river west of Dolores Park. The water probably runs yellow, if you catch my drift.

This  amazing SF islands map is now a poster for sale on Zazzle in three different sizes. He says you can get it in time to deliver to your San Francisco-loving friends for Christmas. It’s way better than socks!

23″ x 23″ for $25, 15″ x 15″ for $16. 11″ x 11″ for $11.

Also, here’s some visual aid, courtesy of Johnny0 (note that the treacherous conditions have had little effect on the brunch line at Boogaloos):

More cutting edge hipster humor! A bunch of SF stand-up comics made this swell parody of Gaston’s song from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Filmed largely in, you guessed it, the Mission. Thank goodness, because musical theater is so underrepresented here.

If you like it, you can vote it up at funny or die.

[thanks Nicole C.]

Photographer Dennis Kernohan was on the scene for the aftermath of what looks like an epic flip. Over on the photo page, he offers three guesses as to the cause of the crash. Squeaky Clean Dave was the first to respond:

1) SFPD pursuit?
2) Bridge & Tunnel morons?
3) Bay Area drivers can’t hack it in any sort of weather?

Try your luck.