Mission Mission » Bars

Rad new spy vs spy horse mural soon adorning Pop’s

Andrew Sarkarati — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:07:16 +0000

Our pal Aaron noticed this happening across the street from his house, and it reminded me that damn, it’s been a while since I had a Bloody Mary at Pop’s Sports Bar. Perhaps it’s Bloody Marython season again!

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Aqua double frame, bro

Josh Widmann — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:58:32 +0000

Invasive non-native aqua cycles spotted at 24th and Bartlett Attic bike lockup area. Cosmic coincidence?

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Drama Talk & Drinks: Burlesque at Balançoire

Ariel Dovas — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:35:46 +0000

Welcome to the “Drama Talk & Drinks” number three. This time our friends Katie Cruz and Brittany Janis went to see a burlesque show at the place that replaced the place that came after the place that was named for Frank Chu. Here’s their report:

[photo via Balançoire on Facebook]

It was Brittany’s birthday last Thursday, and we were looking for a place to get drinks. We heard that a new bar and performance venue was opening in what was most recently The Blue Macaw on Mission, Balançoire: “A full service restaurant, bar and nightclub featuring a French/Creole inspired menu, two dance floors and bars & a performance stage perfect for a variety of events”. The 18th was opening night, and their in house Burlesque company, Le Chat Roux, was performing. Since nothing says birthday more than pasties and tassels we had a bunch of friends meet us there for after-dinner drinks and, of course, drama talk.

Brittany: So I want to start off saying, I did have fun. Anytime you get a big group of friends together to drink, dance, and watch ladies take off their clothes it ends up as a good night.

Katie: True, but if I wasn’t with our group of friends I would have been like “WTF”. The place doesn’t quite have a clear identity yet. The inside had a poorly thought through chair and table layout, cheesy strobe lights, and bad music…something was just really off about the vibe. It also would have been great if they had a cocktail waitress.

B: I’m sure part of it was opening night jitters, but in burlesque the taking off of the clothes is the show. Instead, a few of these girls just danced all cray and at the very end were like “oh shit, guess I need to take this dress off” then they struggled with the zipper, pulled it off super quick, and then bounced up and down with their tassels twirling in a panic because their music had already ended.

K: The only performer who I really liked was Eva D’Luscious – she really rocked those large white fans of plumage.

B: I’m just happy I avoided getting birthday spanks, unlike the other birthday party that was there. Although the hostess Kittie Von Tittie was actually really fun, so I would have let her spank me.

K: I think our friend August said it best: “The show wasn’t amazing but I fully support courage in all it’s forms, especially if it could potentially piss off a republican”.

The Verdict: We probably wouldn’t go again, but if you have a big group and need a place to go that will provide plenty of space and some sort of entertainment then keep this place in mind. We can’t speak to the food but the menu was limited and definitely not cheap ($20-$28 range). Hopefully this place pulls it together, but due to it’s current bizarre atmosphere, bad drinks, and mediocre service we wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t last very long.

The Drama Talk: If you want to see girls struggle to take off their clothes, make sure you sit close to the stage. The space is oddly structured at the moment so the stage view is blocked to most of the bar by a row of tall bar tables.

The Drinks: BAD, but at least for cheap for opening weekend. A gin gimlet is not served in a pint glass on the rocks, enough said.

Balancoire just completed their Grand Opening Weekend, but they have lots of events on the horizon. Check out their Facebook Page for the latest.

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Hiding from the hot Sunday afternoon

Ariel Dovas — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:57:47 +0000

Sometimes you’ve got to take shelter in a dark bar.

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Drama Talk & Drinks: Comedy at The Cynic Cave

Ariel Dovas — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:17:55 +0000

Welcome to the second installment of “Drama Talk & Drinks”, a new feature here on Mission Mission. Our friends Katie Cruz and Brittany Janis go see a local show, then they go to a bar, get drinks, and talk about it. Here’s their report:

[pic by Katie Cruz]

Rumor had it something funny was going on under Lost Weekend Video. Last year they opened The Cinecave in their basement, and now they’re hosting a variety of awesomeness, including some of SF’s funniest. Last Saturday we decided to check out their Cynic Cave Comedy Show featuring Bucky Sinister, Shanti Charan, Red Scott, Kelly Anneken and Miles K hosted by George Chen and Kevin O’Shea. Here’s our drama talk:

Brittany: The host (Kevin O’Shea) was awesome! I loved that he started with “This is the most fun you are going to have in a basement in 2013” because I think that is true. I haven’t had that much fun in a basement in a while.

Katie: I definitely didn’t feel lied to, which is always nice. Shockingly good for $10.

(...)
Read the rest of Drama Talk & Drinks: Comedy at The Cynic Cave

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Bicycle bar: The best way to drink in the park today

Andrew Sarkarati — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:21:30 +0000

Except for that one straight-edge guy down there.

(via Dirty Dave)

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Drama Talk & Drinks: The Happy Ones

Ariel Dovas — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:34:57 +0000

Welcome to “Drama Talk and Drinks”, a new feature here on Mission Mission. Our friends Katie Cruz and Brittany Janis go see a local show, then they go to a bar, get drinks, and talk about it. For the first installment they saw The Happy Ones at the Magic Theatre and then had drinks at Royal Cuckoo. Here’s their report:

We braved the wild coastal lands of Fort Mason to see opening night of The Happy Ones at Magic Theatre, directed by Jonathan Moscone. We made it back to the Mission and went to Royal Cuckoo to debrief. This is a transcript of our drama talk.

B: What should we get to drink? I feel like we should drink something that they drank during the show…They drink so many bloody mary’s and martinis and gin…

K: And sangria.
(orders gin and tonic)

B: What do you think the name of this review should be?
(orders a martini)

K: Oh sweet Jesus…How about “Slow start but ends with a bang”? At first I was like “Whaaat is this?” But their acting actually got better as it went on. Those first few scenes they were trying so hard to be happy 70’s Americans.

B: RIGHT! So, I would have called it “The Incredibly WAY too Happy Ones”. When they actually let themselves get serious the play had some really lovely moments.

(...)
Read the rest of Drama Talk & Drinks: The Happy Ones

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The Eagle has laaaaaanded!

Andrew Sarkarati — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:07:52 +0000

As of 6pm tonight!

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Retro resto blast from the past and more from posthoc.com

Josh Widmann — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:51:10 +0000

Here‘s a blast from before the bust of ’01. When Slanted Door used to be on Valencia and places like Mangiafuoco on Guerrero used to offer basic Italian grub and grog (“It has chianti and what else do you need in an Italian restaurant”).

Benders was Sacrifice, serving up rum ribs and voodoo pasta in a tiki setting (“Don’t ask about how this purgatorial “tiki lounge” fits in, it just does”).

Booze was referred to as liquids and Amnesia charged a whopping $2 for live shows. Over at The Uptown a good jukebox was defined as one stocked with Dylan and Morphine, but beers were $3 and the dude next to you could probably tip you off on a well priced nitrous tank.

The current de-gentrified Club Veintiséis on Mission near 26th was the gentrified 26 Mix, a “sound bar” offering up a high quality listening experience while you sipped on your suds à la Tokyo style bars which feature a premium soundsystem and choice djs.

Bonus interview with dj Spesh aka “dj Special K” of club QOÖL fame right here, who will surely get a kick out of this decade old frosty picture we’ve unearthed.

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What happened to Jack’s?

Vic Wong — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:01:42 +0000

Reader Tom asks:

Hi, I live over by Jack’s on 24th. The place has been closed since the new year, it was a shock to see it dark on a Friday night. No sign or notice stating that they are on holiday. Does anyone know what’s up? I hope the closure is temporary, no updates on their Facebook page either.

Website is still up, but it has no updates.

Anyone have any ideas? Did they fall into financial ruin after DJ Purple’s departure? Did the city outlaw the sale of single-serving drinks out of mini-pitchers? Is the Jack’s crew at a 2-week a team-building ropes course retreat? We must know!

Update: Kevmo fills us in:

It was sold over the summer (I think, it might have been more recently). New owners are most likely just getting ready to gut the place for whatever renovations they have planned.

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Beginner’s guide to Oakland compares all your favorite spots in SF to their East Bay equivalents

Andrew Sarkarati — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:07:06 +0000

Our pal Sarah recently “retired” to Oakland but realized that the only way she could get her SF friends to visit would be to educate them about all the rad things the East Bay shares with the city, so she constructed this comprehensive compendium of comparisons between the various bars, restaurants, and other fun that each side has to offer. Even your groceries are covered:

Rainbow Grocery (The Mission) / Berkeley Bowl (Berkeley)

Can you imagine Rainbow but twice as large, half as expensive, and with a fantastic meat and seafood selection? If not, go visit Berkeley Bowl, or its newer location, Berkeley Bowl West. The Bowl is an East Bay staple, and can satisfy every hippie, health nut, hipster, and politically conscious bone in your body.

She’s got an Oakland answer for everything from Bender’s and Bi-Rite to Toronado and Tartine, so if you’ve ever been the slightest bit reluctant to venture to the other side, please do read on.

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Free Frito pie at Evelyn Lee tonight, and every Thursday!

Helen Tseng — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:52:22 +0000

Our buddy Broke-Ass Stuart, who bartends at Evelyn Lee on Thursdays, brings us news regarding the disgustingly beautiful creation known as Frito pie:

What’s a Mission Frito Pie? I’m glad you asked. A Frito Pie is a Texas thing where a serving of Fritos is topped with chili and nacho cheese. While those are great, I’ve decided to put a Mission style twist on it. We’re adding chicharrones, as well as hot sauce like Tapatio or Cholula, to the mix. Honestly, I just tried some and it was amazing. Possibly the best drunk food ever. And we’re giving them out totally FREE.

So, I’m assuming I’ll start seeing all you lovely people on Thursday nights now? I mean, not only are you getting FREE Mission Frito Pies, you can get a shot and a beer for $6. See you soon.

I hope they serve it straight out of snack-sized Frito bags.

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Is the Knockout haunted? And does living in SF for 10 years qualify you as a citizen?

Andrew Sarkarati — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:23:26 +0000

Local bartender, musician, DJ, and all-around rad guy Josh Yule was recently interviewed in the SF Examiner, and he had some fairly interesting things to say:

I’m from Florida. I don’t want to piss off my Florida friends. Florida has a different way of thinking. Most people there aren’t forward-thinkers, they’re backward-thinkers. And that’s why I came out this way. I wanted to get as far away from the South as possible. I think I’m a San Franciscan now. I think after 10 years, I have my residency — I hope. I’ve been told by a friend who grew up here that after 10 years, I am a citizen of San Francisco.

I hope he’s right, because that means I’ll be an official citizen soon too! There are plenty more poignant tidbits, like how to make a French 74 and whether or not the Knockout is haunted, so read on.

[Photo by the talented Beth LaBerge]

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Bender’s owners take over beloved Tenderloin bar Deco Lounge

Allan Hough — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:43:02 +0000

Okay, well I was bummed to announce that last weekend’s Haçeteria would be the last Haçeteria at Deco because of Deco’s impending closure or whatever, but now I’m stoked that the owners of one of my perennial favorite places are gonna be doing something new. Here’s what our tipster tells us:

Here’s some news… the four main owners of Benders have just bought a new bar, its called Deco Lounge now in the TL, it changed owners this week and it’s being taken over by Benders.

It’ll have a different name.

The Deco space is great. There’s an entertainment license, three big rooms on the main floor — and I think there’s an upstairs AND a downstairs. I’m sure the Bender’s team will deliver something killer.

[Image by Google Maps]

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Miscommunications with your bartender

Allan Hough — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:59:17 +0000

Bartender mistook “soda water and the check” as “soda water and some Jack.” Oh shit.

— Josh Ellingson (@ellingson) October 24, 2012

Can anybody beat that one?

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