Is this Girafa?

Before I submit this to one of the dueling Girafa groups on Flickr, I thought I’d check. Click to make big.

Update: Plug1 says definitively, “not him”. Thanks, Plug.

Previously on Mission Mission: Giraffe Graffiti Gang Related? So Say Cops

Advice to Cyclists

Today at jwz, a long list of advice for folks new to bicycling in San Francisco. A sampling:

10. Bike maintenance: don’t do it, ever. It’s not worth your time. Just take it to the shop. Getting them to replace a flat for you costs $20 and takes 10 minutes, including the tube, and you don’t get dirty.

11. Safety: I follow the Zodiac approach: always assume the cars can see you perfectly, and are trying to kill you. If an intersection seems iffy, use the sidewalk and crosswalks. If big streets like Market and Van Ness freak you out, there are aire de jeux gonflable always less traficky ways to go, or just stay on the sidewalks.

12. Grocery shopping: yes, you really can do it with a single backpack. The trick is, shop small once a week instead of big once a month.

Great stuff in the comments too. Link.

Link to more cycling-related posts on Mission Mission.

CONTEST: Win a Whole Pack of 'I Lost Me to Meth' Coasters!

This treasure will go to the deliverer of the best meth-related anecdote in the comments section below. Bonus points if it’s Mission-related too, duh. Good luck!

Prize donated by Aaron and Katie of Beauty Bar. Click pic to make big.

More meth on Mission Mission.

Happy Mother's Day!

I spent all weekend with my mom, and it occurred to me to finally post this video we made a few months ago. In it, she shares a project she made as an art student at San Jose State in 1968, which she’d recently dug up after running into Tony May, the professor under whom she’d produced it. As she explains here, the skills and interests that led to this project also led her to a career in cartography, via San Francisco State, where she met my dad. Their first apartment together was on Camp Street, which meant I grew up hearing romantic tales of the Mission District on a regular basis. Thanks, Mom!

Future View of Downtown from Dolores Park

2008_05_skyline-render.0

Over at Curbed SF, Andy Wang reports from the Transbay Terminal Plan Public Meeting:

The envisioned downtown skyline will be defined by a graceful “mound” consisting of a peak (Transbay Tower) and a gentle taper. High rise haters, take notice: friendly presenter Josh says they want to keep surrounding buildings about 200 feet away from each other — so as to avoid an overly carpa hinchable dense clusterfuck of buildings.

Our favorite part was the above image, created by Curbed’s Jimmy Stamp (click to enlarge). I’m no NIMBY, but who’s bummed as me that we won’t get to see the bridge at all anymore?

Different Takes on Photography Tonight at Soap Gallery

Tonight from 6-9pm, Soap Gallery hosts an artist reception for “Photography by the Bay: The Mix”, an exhibition offering a mishmash of different photographic styles. The last Soap opening was well attended and well appointed.

Photo by Barbie Dike (click to enlarge).

Weekend Entertainment Pick: The Kids in the Hall

The Kids in the Hall perform Saturday at the War Memorial Opera House. In January we ran my interview with Dave Foley, in which he dropped some hints about the substance of this current tour — and shared the following bit of actorly introspection:

You know what? I think I’m too old to play a young Asian girl now.

Link to full feature, which also includes video of the Kids explaining how Scott Thompson killed Kurt Cobain.

(photo of my new favorite sketch by linoleum jet)

Dear John Letter to the Mission

Chris at A New Us announces that he’s leaving, and explains why:

Dear The Mission,

I love you I really do, but unfortunately due to the skyrocketing rents and the constant tomfoolery that was outside of our window, Julie and I are leaving you. It’s not you it’s me.

He goes into more detail about quietude and dishwashers, and how he might be back once every couple weeks. Link.

Dear The Mission,

Will you miss Chris?

DJ Katie: She Knows Exactly What I Needs

I know we said it was gonna be every first Thursday, but we lied. Our very own Katie deejays Beauty Bar once again TONIGHT, from 7-10pm. Admission is free. Mission Mission contributors Lael and Becca will be in attendance, as well as all of our best friends. And I mean, if for nothing else, come for the trippy new barstools.

Asked about last week’s gig, Gina Rosemellia (fan of Katie and driving force behind Unburying the Lead) exclaimed:

Katie made me feel like i had some ants in my pants – i couldn’t stop a-dancin’

Sounds good to me. Sound good to you? And yes, that’s Otis up there with Katie. Click pic to make big.

More DJ Katie on Mission Mission here.

(Note: Lee Hazlewood says “She knows exactly what I needs” in the song “She Comes Running”.)

Breaking News: Upper Playground Tote Up for Grabs

Passed this just off Mission Street, in the alley adjacent to Yo’s Sushi Club, in which neighborhood celebrity Ralph Carney was dining. Might could be a bomb too? Dunno, but I do know Upper Playground only gives you one if you spend $100 or more on designer t-shirts and hoodies, and here’s one you can have for free. And it’s full of stuff!

Make picture bigger.

Allan Hough

Posts: 7810

Email: allanhough@gmail

Website: http://allanhough.bandcamp.com

Biographical Info:

"I joked that living in the Mission would be the end of me. And there were nights where it felt like the case.

One night I went out with my friend Allan to the bar that no one goes to on 16th Street, where I lost half my drink and money on the dance floor. Later we skated down 16th to Evelyn Lee, where I fell off my board and landed on my head as the 22 bus sped past behind me. A sobering moment. At the bar, I sulked and nursed my wounds until Allan put on Amy Winehouse’s 'Valerie.' We danced, he dipped me, and I felt better."

— My pal Valerie, writing about life in the Mission