Mission Mission

I don’t want to distract you from Buy Nothing Day (this Friday, as if you didn’t know), but I bought something that I think is worth mentioning. Dog Eared Books carries these little sketchbooks/journals made by a person called Doug, of Recover Your Thoughts. They’ve got hard covers taken from discarded library books, are spiral bound and contain blank paper discarded from print shops. Meaning, basically, that they’re mostly made of trash. They occasionally have a few pages from the original book scattered throughout.

Anyway, I think they’re a great idea. Here’s the one I got:

And, sorry, but here’s one more picture I took while I was at Dog Eared, looking through their cool window art:

westbymidwest peeped this street art the other day.  I always knew those damn penguins were an enemy of progress.

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Also, westbymidwest also snapped a great shot of some transvestite sticker art.

EPA has the scoop on some hot new sticker art in the Mission.

Walker Dukes is one of my new favorite serial contributors to the Mission District Flickr pool.  I could go on about why I like his stuff, but I’ll just let some of my favorites do the talking.

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Art car spotting! More pics after the jump. (I always wanted to write that!)
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The problem with working from home is that it is not often that I get to immerse myself beyond Capp/24th/Valencia/Dolores.  Sarah Palin’s “real Mission.”  I’ve started meandering around the side streets of the Mission these days (besides, the smell of Ritual makes me nauseous) and it turns out that there is some interesting shit street art graffiti going on out there.

This morning, MM had the distinct pleasure of receiving a note from Oren Jacob, Pixar CTO and Executive Producer of a documentary called “Ready, Set, Bag!“  Oren was hoping to get the word out about Thursday night’s SF premiere of  “Ready, Set, Bag!” at the Roxie, and offered to hook our crappy blog up with an advanced viewing.   Mere hours later, a DVD screener was hand-delivered to my front door.

Hand-delivered!  Who am I, Gene Siskel (may he rest in peace!)?

I just finished watching the film and let me tell you, it is a DELIGHT.  “Ready, Set, Bag!” is a documentary that follows eight state grocery bagging champions from across the United States as they prepare to compete in the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger competition in Las Vegas.  Contestants are judged by speed, weight distribution, packing prowess, etc.

“It’s similar to the American Idol,” says Frank DiPasquale, SVP of the National Grocers Association, in the film.  “You just never know where the stars are.”

Now readers, I would be lying to you if I didn’t wipe the single tear running down my cheek and say that this is a film about America.  Not shitty America, where people are fat jerks,  but awesome America, where people are huge sweethearts who work at grocery stores to overcome shyness, or to pursue the American Dream, and happen to get really good at a thing.  And in case earnestness makes you nervous (it does me!), rest assured that “Ready, Set, Bag!” doesn’t condescend to our protagonists, but puts their sizeable talents and quirks on display.  Basically, a bunch of sweethearts got together to make a movie about a bunch of sweethearts.

OOPS! Accidentally turned this blog into my livejournal!

This movie melted my cold, dead heart.  Here are your details for Thursday night:

Ready, Set, Bag!
Roxie Theater
Thursday, November 19th
7:00 p.m.
Tickets available online

The screening will benefit the San Francisco Food Bank, Mechanics Banks will donate $1 for every ticket sold, and if you bring two or more items of non-perishable food to donate, you get $1 off your ticket and 50 cents off popcorn.  Director Q&A with the audience to follow, and don’t forgot dem Twitta @readysetbag.  Phewf!

SPOILER ALERT: My favorite bagger wins the competition!

Sara spotted these two mannequins, likely victims of a sociopath-in-training, just chillin’ at Mission and 14th yesterday.

Previously: What’s Up with Art Students and Dismembered Bodies?

EPA has the scoop.

Scene at Paxton Gate, that amazing place next to 826 Valencia.  Please buy me Hamlet mouse.

From everyday photos.  Incredible.