Mission Mission

I was looking at the Mission Mission Facebook page for the first time in a while, and found that someone had posted a link to some photo sets on Flickr, one of which contained this. WTF?

Photo by potential past, from the set 20081025_mission.

Previously on Mission Mission:

Baby Heads

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=1,240.41308085390924,,0,-12.969018932874356&cbll=37.762601,-122.423&panoid=v3PMmWRs88HDLLGYmgtQPw&v=1&hl=en&gl=us&w=425&h=240]

A few weeks back, Lael wrote a post linking to a vintage New York Times profile of the Mission from 1989. The post in turn spawned a cavalcade of comments from longtime residents eager to share their recollections of the old days. Today, my parents finally got around to chiming in. They met at SF State about three decades ago and lived in apartments on Dearborn (pictured) and then Camp, and have a lot of good recollections of their own:

We’d hang out with friends at each other’s Mission apartments (smoking pot was more comfortable that way), and as geography students at SFSU we cooked each other world food. We didn’t frequent the bars (too sleazy) except for the Dovre Club–then on 18th and Dearborn–on St. Patrick’s Day. Dolores Park wasn’t inviting (though the only part of the park that felt unsafe was the streetcar stop in the middle of the park) but we remember the big turnout for a free Pete and Sheila Escovedo concert. The park and neighborhood sidewalks were riddled with dog poop.

Lots more, including their favorite breakfasts, burritos and pizzas, and why they had to go all the way to North Beach for nightlife, here.

Plug1 was over on Belden Place and saw this sign on some establishment. He sent it over on the spot with the following accompanying text: “This can’t be right.”

Well, experts, what’s right?

Previously on Mission Mission:

Obama’s Election Means Carnitas Burrito For Breakfast

Burrito Justice For High Schoolers

Haiku Reviews of Mission District Taquerias

Nice ensemble! (via Fashionist)

Remember a couple weeks ago I saw a sticker somewhere of the Gumball Baby Head in the top left quadrant of the above photograph? Turns out, it’s the work of an artist named Paul Insect, and he’s got a show up at Fifty24SF right now (pictured), and it’s pretty good. Lots more baby heads filled with interesting things. Plus some non-baby-head stuff for those of you not as enamored of these as me.

AND at the opening on Thursday I heard rumblings about the possibility of Upper Playground producing some exclusive Paul Insect baby head apparel! I’m crossing my fingers and holding my thumbs for an Eyeball Baby Head hoodie.

SF Art & Design Lover has show details and lots more here.

This here was (and might still be) lashed to a temporary chain-link fence around the construction site at Mission and Chavez. Calling the number is fun.

Update: Beware spoilers in the comments.

Gangs of San Francisco is a series of t-shirts celebrating the various “gangs” that tore shit up in San Francisco throughout history. Ohlone Chiefs apparently hailed from the Mission District, back before the Gang Injunction Zone. See rival gang t-shirts here, but, well, clearly the Ohlone Chiefs could kick the Fleishhacker Diving Club’s ass. (Thanks, Plug1!)

Previously on Mission Mission:

Homo Habilis Sweethearts Shirt

Fuck Cars Shirt

Titty City Shirt

Gillian says:

The election is over – come dig in the dirt!

Please join us to plant 300 plants in the middle of Guerrero Street, tomorrow (Saturday).
Enjoy the music of the Aaron Cohen Jazz trio. Sample delicious food from Boulangerie Bay Bread.
Organic juice boxes for kids. Friendly neighbors!

Even if you can’t volunteer, come take a stroll along Guerrero – where the Mission, Bernal and Noe Valley meet!

When: Saturday, November 8th, 9:30am to 2pm, rain or shine

Where: Guerrero Street, from 25th to 24th  Streets (one median)

Read: http://www.sanjoseguerrero.com/Greening/PlantingInstructions.php

Bring: Work gloves, a hand trowel and your neighbors and friends

Tonight at 5:30, everybody in town will meet at Civic Center, march down Market to Castro, and ultimately Dolores Park. SFist has further details and commentary, and the official poster art, here.

Map by Protest 8.

By Captain Stephen Tacchini

The past couple of weeks have been extremely busy in the Mission District.  Besides the everyday calls for police services, arrests, crime prevention programs, traffic safety and enforcements, community meetings, training, and crime enforcement operations, there have been several large events to plan for and facilitate. Despite the demand, the officers of Mission Station stepped up and delivered the necessary police services. The workload of these officers is often daunting, yet no challenge goes unmet.  Their work ethic and commitment to public safety and crime prevention is commendable and the pride they take in the performance of their duties is well deserved.

Over the past couple of months, the Mission District has hosted several large events involving thousands of attendees.  The last two weeks of October were very busy planning and organizing the Red Bull Soapbox Derby which drew approximately 100,000 persons, the “Milk” movie premier at the Castro Theater, Halloween, Dia de las Muertes Parade, and Election Day events.  It may seem as though there is not much involved in planning these events, but I assure you the process is often complex, involving multiple agencies, large personnel resources and logistical planning to assure all necessary equipment and personnel needs are accounted for.  An important ingredient in planning and working with organizers, community members, and merchants is diplomacy, respect, experience, and knowledge of what needs to be done.  Behind the scenes, organizing all aspects of these events is Sergeant Marta McDowell. The demand on police personnel to staff these events is significant and it takes flexible and creative distribution of resources by Sergeant McDowell and the Mission Station lieutenants to make sure sufficient patrol officers remain available to police the district. I want to publicly commend Sergeant McDowell for her outstanding and tireless efforts in planning and supervising all of the previously listed events.  Each and every one of them went off without a hitch and the level of public safety at the events and elsewhere in the district were exceptional.

Often times, and occasionally with appropriate reason, the media cites perceived shortcomings of the Police Department in the performance of its duties.  In the case of the events hosted in the Mission District, planned and supervised by Sergeant Marta McDowell, there is no room for criticism, but only praise.  Since the media reporting on these events was limited, I feel it is important to share with you the positive outcome of all of the events.  It is also important to recognize the efforts of the officers of Mission Station and from other units of the San Francisco Police Department in making all of the events happen safely, peacefully, and with a continuity of professional and respectful service.  A job well done by all!

I respect criticism provided for the goal of improvement.  I encourage suggestions made for the good of all. I welcome participation from those who care enough to share the burden of trying to make a difference.

Newsletter comes with a number of other features including a resource list, a day-by-day summary of criminal activity, and “Outstanding Arrest.” To subscribe, email Mirna_Melendez (at) sfgov (dot) sfgov (dot) org.