Mission Mission

I was one of the many people who were mortally crushed when our own goddamn city cracked down on the delicious nectar of Sparks.  Great memories, such as pounding back 3 of these bad boys between 7 stops on the Green Line in Boston before seeing Snakes on a Plane (result: I was constantly hissing for 90 minutes in the theater, which I guess is risk-taking behavior), seemed like they were being robbed from me and future generations of completely irresponsible 20-somethings.  Luckily SFoodie, the best blog of all time, has both delivered and reviewed a formula for “Bathtub Sparks.” The result? “This is the best day of my life.”

What are your favorite Sparks memories?  Don’t tell me in the comments, because I don’t give a fucking shit.

(link)

We Built This City peeped this bit of nonsense at 23rd and Guerrero.  What is it about sticking a pen into a sidewalk that makes people’s minds melt and put together two awesome yet completely unrelated words?

Photo and title by James.   We are what we eat, y’all!

I can’t stop looking at this image.  This, plus the negative NYT review of Jonathan Safran Foer’s Go Veg book (which changed Natalie Portman’s life, just like The Shins) I read mere minutes before receiving this photo has given me a lot to think about today.  I’d call it “food for thought,” but that’d be way too much of a mindfuck.

Steven Seagal: Both bro and Buddhist

Laurie forwards a note from the Director of the San Francisco Buddhist Center, in order to provide us with “another side of the story.”  Read on:

Dear friends of the San Francisco Buddhist Center,
The SFBC wants to let you know about a situation that will potentially have a big effect on our ability to practice at the Center in the future (and for residents, to live in the building.)

Some of you are familiar with cafe Medjool which is just behind the Center, on Mission street. A couple of years ago they opened an unpermited outdoor rooftop bar. The reason I know this is because of the nights I spent feeling like my apartment was vibrating with sound, even with both sound windows shut, a pillow over my head, ear plugs in my ears. The blasting music and shouting from the bar also disrupted meditation classes. Over a couple of years the city was inundated with complaints from the neighborhood so the rooftop bar was shut down (the rest of the business is still happening) so things have been quiet again for several months. There is a Board of Appeals hearing this Wednesday that will determine if they can open the bar again.

Medjool has launched a “Save Medjool” campaign, claiming that the city has gone mad trying to revoke their permit for the outdoor bar (they never had one) and that neighbors and the SFBC are “whiners” since Medjool paid for the sound windows in the building (also not true.) (And their noise is far beyond the level of sound windows anyway).

“Save Medjool” signs have been cropping up in the Mission, as if it’s some kind of ‘power to the people’ thing. My guess is that people who like the bar do not know what the real issues are, that is is illegal and a hazard to the neighbors and the Center which by law has precedence because it is a religious community established here for 10 years before Medjool came into the scene. But the Save Medjool Facebook page has almost 1700 members! The page invites people to the hearing, with Save Medjool buttons to wear, and offers free transportation! So I think the meeting may be packed out with Medjool supporters.

If you want to help try to “Save the SFBC meditation hall” (from seeming like it’s in the middle of a rave or raucous cocktail party), PLEASE COME TO THE APPEALS HEARING WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18 AT 5PM.
Wear an SFBC t-shirt (or if you don’t have one, something light blue? Or whatever!)
Location:
City Hall, Room 416, One Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Suvanna Cullen
Director, San Francisco Buddhist Center
suvanna@sfbuddhistcenter.org

Fair enough.  Don’t forget to attend if interested, it sounds like the Buddhists may be outnumbered by the Medjoolites and could likely use the manpower.

Should we get some “Team Bro” and “Team Buddha” t-shirts printed up?

A bold new sign from La Taqueria: “The Best Tacos & Burritos in the Whole World.”

The ENTIRE WORLD, you guys.  You would have to leave Earth to find better.

And finally, an end to The Big Burrito Battle.  Suck it, LA.  And the whole world, for that matter.

Thanks to Eric for sending in.

I googled this line from the bathroom wall at Cafe Petra (17th & Guerrero) to see if any lyrics came up.

They didn’t.  But this Quail Diary did.

Is someone in the Mission promoting this bird blog with a bathroom scrawl?  Probably not. But it’s nice to think about.

-Jen Gann

No waaaayyyyyyyy!  From the Humphry Slocombe Twitter:

Foie gras ice cream sandwiches!  Now I really have heard everything.  Seriously this time.

$10 says the ice cream’s made of the puke that comes out of the bird after it’s been force-fed.  You know, like the super pussy birds who can’t keep a meal down.

GROSS ME OUT, KAT!

You still owe me $10, though.

From the HMS Beekeeper twitternets: “A 6 y/o girl and her 13 y/o brother just sold me their Dolores park ‘honey from the hood.’”

Damn, I wish I had been badass enough to milk bees when I was 6.

From Rachel:

this is that place la rondalla on the corner of 21st and Val that has been closed for ages (but apparently had great Margs!), but they always have funny signs up to let you know that their still alive, sorta. funny thing is the Veterans day sign actually says November 11th 2008 in the corner. oopz

Heh.  I like to see business try to stay relevant.  I especially like their nod to Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.  He’ll likely smile when he walks by.

Sidenote:  Were their margaritas full of roofies?  The legend continues…

Bonjour!  Just so you know, I have no opinions to express in this post here.  Just the fact’s ma’am, letting you know about a French dude,  a food cart, and a deportation, all in the Mission district.  Perhaps you have already read the some background on the tale here on Mission Mission.

The Amuse Bouche newsletter included a note from Murat’s wife today:

Dear Friends,

It is now final: Murat will be leaving the country on Thursday, November 12th. Our request for deferred action was denied, and even though we filed our green card application it did not bring about a reversal in ICE’s decision to deport him. Murat and I considered delaying the process further to see if he could make his way in front of a judge but decided that the disadvantages (mostly his continuing internment and the suffering it has caused to ourselves and our families) is not worth the gamble. So, I bought his plane ticket today.

As you might imagine we are filled with mixed emotions. It is a shame that Murat is being treated like a criminal and that the life we have built in San Francisco is coming to such an abrupt end. At the same time, we are infinitely glad that he will have his freedom back and that our families, and a whole new life awaits us in France. We are also very thankful for ALL the love and support you have shown us during this difficult time. I will never forget the t-shirts, the good wishes, the many many offers of legal, financial and emotional assistance. I know that once Murat is back in France and reads all of his emails he will have things to say of his own, so I am leaving it at that.

Love and blessings to you all,

Pelin Celebi-Ariner

Take that as you will.  I’m not interested in telling you how to take that.  Would love to hear how you take it in the comments section, though.

[Source: CBS Eye on Blogs]