Mission Mission

I was in Hayes Valley last night (for some reason) and after getting kicked out of Biergarten at closing time (9pm), we walked past this ice cream place that was still positively hoppin’. One of my drinking companions commented, “Stupid fucking city.”

Okay, obviously there are reasons for this (noise restrictions on an open-air bar in a residential area) and we were able to keep drinking (Two Sisters was open and lively and they had a really interesting Fernet from Denver called Fernet Leopold), but still.

I assume some kids hopped the fence at a McDonald’s in the suburbs, used a big zipped-up sleeping bag to scoop balls out of the ball pit, loaded them into the back of a pickup with a camper shell, cruised around the region with a mobile ball pit of their own for a few weeks, occasionally chucking a ball or two at passing cars or cyclists, then dumped the evidence in this planter when they started to get mildewy. Right?

Can you imagine 17th and Mission without Thrift Town and the rest of this building?

[via Uptown Almanac] (Thanks, Thea!)

About 4,700 people temporarily lost power on Tuesday.

Just got a autocall from @pge4me on Mission / La Lengua power outage, ETA 6:15 for restoration.

— Burrito Justice (@burritojustice) April 23, 2013

Then a reader, Geoff, sent us this pic, saying:

I was on Valencia st when the power went out, so I went back home. On the way I saw this at 21st and Alabama. A Mylar balloon shorted out the wires, and it looks like it took out most of the district.

Thanks, Geoff!

The SF Appeal has the official story:

[PG&E spokesman] Molica said the balloon “caused extensive damage,” and he reminded people to keep metallic balloons weighed down and away from power lines.

Here’s a pic with the balloon highlighted, in case it wasn’t clear above.

Our pal Abby, who, believe me, has had her share of misadventures in the park, had some stories to tell after spending some of 4/20 in Dolores Park, so here she is telling them to me and Kat:

[Graphic by ashleyisachild] (Thanks, Mikey!)

P.S. Sorry, Jessica

@missionmission I just spent 60 seconds staring into space, trying to remember what I did on Thursday.

— Jessica Collier (@verbagetruck) April 18, 2013

We went to Sunday Streets to see the Dwarves play a rare acoustic set, and then we made a podcast about all the celebs we saw.

Discussed:

• Dandelion Chocolate
• Almanac Beer Co.
• Death & Taxes
• The Dwarves
• KOFY TV 20 Dance Party
• Coffee
• Blood, Guts and Pussy
• Rammstein
• Bad band names
• Being an insider
• Litquake/Literary Death Match
• The Mission by Jason Myers
• How to pronounce Chuck Palahniuk
• The Lower Haight
• John Dwyer/Thee Oh Sees
• Matt Jones/Master-Slave
• Misogyny
• Dr. Frank/The Mr. T Experience
• Sunday Streets
• Ross Mirkarimi
• Politicians
• Chris Brown

The Will Brown art collective spilled the beans on Facebook an hour ago:

Will Brown is excited to hear that Adobe Books is moving to our hood! Adobe Books signed their lease for their new home at 3130 24th Street between Folsom and Shotwell! They’re opening in June!

“Big news and hopefully true. 24th Street would be bookstore alley,” says reader Alissa who sent us the tip, “It would be excellent for Adobe and the neighborhood.” Agreed!

UPDATE: Yup, here’s an official announcement from Adobe:

We’ve got some very exciting news to share. Adobe Books has officially signed a lease for our new home at 3130 24thStreet between Folsom and Shotwell! We’re so happy to find a beautiful new space in the Mission District where the new Adobe Books and Arts Cooperative can thrive!

Though we won’t officially be moving until June, to get a head start on getting to know our neighbors, Adobe Books will be participating in this weekend’s Mission Sunday Streets. Please come and support our new store! We’ll be there between 11am – 4pm with a selection of used books, some friendly faces from the coop group, and Andrew with his camera.

Oh cool, yeah, Sunday Streets starts this weekend too!

(Thanks, Katie!)

[Photo by Google Maps]

[via @woolfshirt]

So reports the acclaimed Mills Baker, who’s currently out and about, taking in the sunshine. Watch your step, y’all!

UPDATE: Mills highlights that these are “perfectly normal” people, walking around barefoot, in the Mission.