Mission Mission

Reader Jeff points us to this just-published SFGate piece about the fine line between edginess and bigotry at what may or may not be a popular Mission bar:

“ID and open your bag,” one of the two guys at the door muttered testily to Ryan. Ryan says he produced his ID, as usual, but was surprised by the bag check — he’d never been asked before. He swung his bag off his shoulder around for an inspection, and inquired whether this was a new policy.

[...]

“Just open your f—— bag, okay?”

“I am. I was just wondering.”

“Just open your f—— bag and don’t give us a hard time.”

“I am opening my bag. I was just asking a question.”

It’s at this point, Ryan says, that the two young men looked at each other, then looked Ryan up and down and proceeded to laugh derisively.

“Dude, look at your pants. Look at your bag,” one of them said. “Obviously this is not your kind of place.”

Link. Jeff says, “A couple of people in the comments section seem to be pointing the finger at Zeitgeist, but it’s hard to tell if that’s right.” Are they right?

More Mission Mission “Bars of the Mission” Coverage:

Zeitgeist Makes Esquire’s Best Bars in America

Dope New Furnishings at Beauty Bar

The Phonebooth Actually Very Pleasant Before Dark

The Attic: Refuge For Displaced Toronado Regulars

The Chronicle Discovers Bender’s

Doc’s Clock Smells Like Bathroom

From the official press release:

OUR NEW VIDEO HAS BEEN HELLA CONTOVERSIAL!!! SOME PEOpLE ARE LIKE, WHY DOES THAT GIRL HAVE A HITLER-stach, other people are like GOD THIS IS TOO PORNY and other people are just GOD THOSE ROOMS LOOK SO DIRTY. Judge for yourself.

Judge for yourself.

Link to the Passionistas on Wikipedia.

Due to poor drainage, leaded paint, and other public safety issues raised by concerned parents, the Dolores Park Playground is set to be renovated. Meetings have been held and there are more to come. They’re talking about fences and barriers and all kinds of safe stuff. Reports The Snitch:

It’s up to the community to decide how harmonious or isolating the new monkey bars will shape up to be. The third and final meeting is set for the end of August, with construction slated for spring 2009.

Link. So take pictures of the crusty old relic while you still can, and maybe try to get War Mongers Diner to work up a version of Don’t Fence Me In for the end of August.

Photo of Dolores Park Pool by Amy Hammond.

Elizabeth‘s latest post got us thinking. An acquaintance hipped her to a bygone era along everybody’s favorite Mission corridor:

[S]o haunting was the number of women-run, women-only businesses and projects she referred to, up and down Valencia Street. They are all gone now. Old Wives’ Tales bookstore, a woman-only bar where the Elbo Room is now [...] A women-only restaurant where Radio Valencia used to be. A women’s newspaper.

Link. How exactly does a women-only restaurant (or bar) work? Maybe this era is bygone because it’s not legal. Anybody remember any of this stuff?

Elbo Room photo by kewlio.

A couple weeks ago, there was some dispute as to whether Muni’s 67 (serving Bernal Heights from 24th and Mission) could be as entertaining as some of the other buses that run on Mission Street. On Friday, TK had an experience that just might further the controversy:

So there’s a 67 bus stopped there at the stop. Just as I get there, a cop car pulls up and the 2 cops get out and get on the bus. Then a Muni supervisor-type arrives and gets on too. Obvs. everyone standing around is staring at the bus trying to figure out what’s going on.

The cops come out with a little guy who’s wasted. I mean, he was fucked up. I love this – he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. WOO-HOO! LET’S PARTY!!

See how it all ends here.

Photo by Octoferret.

They look cute together, but what do you think they’re up to?

Previously on Mission Mission:

Bright-Green Blobs in Own Sticky Goo Discarded on Outbound 26-Valencia

Whippits Discarded on Outbound J-Church

Even if it doesn’t, I kind of like it.

Previously on Mission Mission:

Is This Girafa?

Dueling Girafas

Girafa Gang Related? So Say Cops

I forget where I was when I took this, but it might’ve been in the Mission. If not, sorry. In any case, is anyone taken aback by the notion that a diploma from the Academy of “Art” “University” might not be good for shit? Fuck.

Previously on Mission Mission:

Some Art Student Spent Forevs Drawing Cartoon Woman in Dalva Bathroom

More Boing Boing in Mission Bathrooms

Stone Got Glass Fucked By Your Mom With Love In The Men’s Room At 12 Galaxies

Fuck Your Blog

Garfield Variation in the Shitter at Pop’s Bar

Sorry for this detour, but it’s Friday and I’m feeling loose, and I like this. Seen yesterday in SoMa.

Travis at SFist reports that Potrero del Sol/La Raza Skatepark at 25th and Utah (seen here in an unfinished state) opens for real this weekend. Mission Skateboards will bring barbecue and freebies. Pop’s hosts the afterparty. Link.

Photo by unaesthetic.