Mission Mission

Brand New, the world’s best branding blog, today veers away from big global and national brands and takes a look at a little ol’ restaurant that started out in the Mission:

The previous logo, apart from being almost a non-logo, was somewhat confusing, highlighting “ED” above anything else and the old menus didn’t quite make justice to the $11-cocktails or $50-plus-wine bottles available. The new logo is an elegant, Lubalin-esque solution that, if not entirely perfect — the tracking feels a little tight and I wish the diagonal line connected in a smoother way with the “THE” on top — conveys a better sense of upscale dining and the uniqueness of the restaurant.

Read on to see how the new logo is applied to menus and and other stuff.

Our pal Beth stumbled upon this action late last night. Here’s more: “As I was turning right onto 25th from Capp Street I saw a man in handcuffs and neckbrace outside of an ambulance. Perhaps he was involved.”

OMG the Mish was on the scene too, and they spin a more colorful yarn:

At around 10:00pm tonight a trio of youngsters were spotted joyriding around the mission in a stolen car.  They tried to do donuts at 26th and Mission but ended up crashing right into Casa Guadalupe #3 where they only sell day old “pan”.  After the accident, the culprits ran into Lilac Alley and changed clothes. [link]

[Photos by Beth LaBerge]

At Cafe du Nord, it’s a show starring the Soft Pack, that band that used to be called the Muslims. They’re kind of surfy garage rock. Local faves Shannon and the Clams support, along with FIDLAR and Surf Club, who are also surfy garage rock. Tickets and details here.

Upstairs at the Swedish American Hall, it’s Mac McCaughan from Superchunk doing a solo thing, with Rachel Haden, who sang the lead on Weezer’s “I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams,” and a couple other acts opening. Tickets and details here.

Doesn’t it look delicious?  Except for that blue stuff–I don’t know what that’s supposed to be.  Nevertheless, the most precise super burrito ever assembled can be found at Z Space, but you’d already know that if you’ve been coming to ping pong!

I’m in New York this week visiting Mission expats and had to make a trip to vegan treats mecca BabyCakes NYC. For the uninitiated, BabyCakes has won lots of awards, notably New York magazine’s 2006 award for the best cupcake in New York. Just to confirm: not best vegan cupcake, just straight-up best cupcake. They’ve received countless other blue ribbons, trophies, and fan letters since then.

While I was buying my heavenly blueberry muffin and chewy oatmeal raisin cookie, pictured below, I asked the girl at the counter how long it would be before we got a BabyCakes of our very own. She said it would be awhile, since they are currently opening one in Chicago, but eventually we will get one, and IT WILL BE IN THE MISSION.

There you have it! Straight from the horse’s mouth. I motion we all start taking photos of empty storefronts and sending them to Erin McKenna so she has a new bakery to dream about while she works on her other new project (i.e. the baby she is growing in her belly). Until then, you can check out all their locations here and plan vacations accordingly.

It’s no surprise that Bernal Heights has a completely different class of theft problems. Stroller theft, to be exact. It’s said that a nice stroller can fetch up to $100 on the black market.

Nice try at security here pops, but anyone carrying a hex wrench could detach that handle in minutes, leaving you with a long walk home carrying a sobbing baby. Here are some time-tested tips:

1. Cover the stroller with stickers. A thief is less likely to want to deal with removing a bunch of stickers to make the item sellable.
2. Get a beater stroller. Sorry, but having nice things comes at a cost. Spare yourself the heartbreak of losing something extremely valuable. I hear www.strollersdirect.com has some decent rides that wont break the bank.
3. Leave an ugly decoy baby in the stroller while it is unattended. Nobody wants an ugly baby.

[Snapped in Bernal Heights, Sunday]

The Corner AND Weird Fish got sold to some Boogaloo’s guy or something. The Corner will become a European-style cafe called the Perch. Weird Fish is staying the same, but it’ll close for a bit for renovations. Eater SF reports:

Expect Weird Fish to close this Saturday, allowing time for a few interior tweaks and the necessary permits to come through. It should reopen in early to mid-March. The Perch’s debut will happen about two months thereafter, complete with minor decor refinements and the aforementioned totally new Euro small plates shtick.

Read on.

[Photo by Google Maps]

They’ll be at FIFTY24SF at 4pm apparently (before heading to their sold out headlining gig at the Regency later tonight). High on Gold reports:

The group will be presenting a special, one-night only installation to coincide with their tour stop in San Francisco in support of their newest LP, TEN$ION. In addition to the installation, Die Antwoord will be presenting and releasing a special collector’s vinyl sculpture of Evil Boy, made in collaboration with Good Smile Company. Select vinyl pieces will be hand-detailed on by Die Antwoord’s Ninja. [link]

They played Soft Bulletin in its entirety, fueled in part by at least one trip to Zeitgeist.

Rolling Stone was on the scene:

Before launching into it, [Flaming Lips frontman Wayne] Coyne invited Noise Pop’s producers onstage and presented them with a certificate that came directly from San Francisco Mayer Ed Lee, declaring February 21st- 26th Noise Pop Week. As if local music fans hadn’t known that already, for the past 20 years.

Read on for the full review.

[Photos by C'mon Pony and Drew Beck]

And there’s a cozy bench in front of it so’s you can put your feet up!

Noise Pop 2012 continues at Bottom of the Hill (and lots of other venues) through the weekend. Fresh & Onlys play there tonight, Thao and John Vanderslice tomorrow and Bob Mould Friday.