Mission Mission

Reader Jesse N. points us in the direction of this interesting piece about the 2001 housing boom and fixtures of San Carlos St. at the time.  Definitely worth a listen.

I was listening to an old 2001 episode of This American Life and it devoted a whole third of the show to the Mission. Entertaining even if you didn’t know the neighborhood, but rings truer if you do, it’s a story about Mission life around the time of the end of the tech boom. Specifically, about a person who was a longtime fixture on his block but was getting pushed out of his apartment. The story is as comical as it is mildly depressing considering SF is going through similar economic times. Enjoy!

(link – Click “Full Episode.”  The piece on the Mission starts at 39:30.  Thanks Jesse!)

Last night, two individuals were spotted enjoying the view on top of Skechers’ tower.  In response to some shouting from street-level, one of the builderers was overheard exclaiming “can I check into Foursquare from up here?”

Queen Larbs recently relocated from a beloved apartment on Albion to new digs closer to the park:

Had you asked me three months ago, I would’ve sworn Albion is my jam and I would NEVER leave. Fast forward to now and I will admit that shit was foul. From the abundance of human dookies to the plethora of hooligans, I’m glad I’ve grown out of Al-beezy fo’ sheezy.

Read on.

Brolores Park has been “getting brocal” in the Mission since May but have only made 3 posts to date.  Hey bros, this is what we call a “comedy goldmine.”  Start posting more.

bro toast [via iphone]

bronus gaybros tanning in background

(link)

This has to be the nicest looking, best organized mobile home in the Mission.  It is even equipped with a stuffed frog, teddy bear, and troll!  Someone give this man a job.

This week NPR’s Latino USA highlighted the Mission Asset Fund‘s six-month-old program, Cestas Populares, that helps recent immigrants establish or improve their credit history by institutionalizing peer-lending circles.  Given that 44 percent of Mission households lack a credit history, it is interesting to see how a local non-profit is helping solve the problem.

(Link – Scroll down to the second article)

John Agoncillo nailed this shot on César Chávez Day at 24th and Mission.

(link)

Last week, The New America Media recently posted an illuminating interview with Lorenzo Armendariz, a 62-year-old street musician from Zacatecas, Mexico, who performs on Valencia St.  He tells his tales of obtaining fake documentation, paying taxes, missing amnesty in the 1980′s, how 9/11 effected tips and immigrant’s optimism surrounding Obama:

I think el negrito [Pres. Barack Obama] is going to help us. He’s going to give us amnesty before 2010 because la raza supported him and, if other black candidates want to run again, and he doesn’t fulfill his promises, well, we won’t vote for them again. In 2010, I will be turning 64, almost 65. And if I get my citizenship, well, the problem is solved.

(hat tip Mission Loc@l)

Woke up one mornin’
Had some skid mark on my porch
Empty bottle of Smirnoff
and some very happy flies

I love Fashionist but I just cannot resist:

(link)