Mission Mission

Squeal!  Eye on Blogs posted a video report about Muni street name mispronounciations.

The highlight?  Seeing the face of Ms. Muni Voice herself.  Feast your eyes on MS. DONNA REED:

Photo stolen from SF Chronicle

Swoon!  She’s just as friendly, authoritative, and subtly seductive as her voice implies.

Donna works for DRI, the company responsible for Muni’s digital announcements, in Houston, Texas.  Her thick Texan drawl is the reason you keep missing your bus stop.

I really love the way she says “Cabrillo.”  Kah-BRILL-ohhhh.  What’s your fave?

Mission Mission received an email  this morning from Kai Hsing, founder/writer/producer/editor of The Quotidian, an ongoing documentary project that aims to capture how people are finding new ways to create change in their communities.  From Kai:

I thought you should know about our latest story that goes behind the scenes of Mission Street Food, which I know you are familiar with by now. In the video, we not only try to capture what the MSF events are all about, but also visit a couple charitable organizations to see how money donated from the event is being used to benefit the community. Finally, we take a look at how MSF’s charitable model might be replicated in a neighborhood near you, or even elsewhere in the country.

Nice.  Now on with the show:

You can read more here, if so inclined.

San Francisco is awesome because things like Mission Street Food work.  I’m curious to hear about more of these springing up across the country, so if you know a thing, don’t forget to holler.

(Video form Memetic Field)

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can stay culturally relevant in 2010.  Facts: PBR/Tecate/Olympia are getting slutted, Mission Mission commenters tell me that Bender’s was just a 2009 meme, and fixies are a little too mainstream.

Luckily I just spotted this (spot on) video, hipsters discussing cyclocross, thus answering one of these questions.  Cyclocross (or “cross” for those obsessed with sparing syllables) bikes will replace color-coordinated fixies as the 20-something bar-bike of choice in 2010.  ’makes total sense.  A little known fact about ‘cross racers is that they already needlessly color coordinate their bikes, among other cool things.  Take my roommate’s bike:

His ride is so hip for many reasons*:

1. It’s almost completely white.  White is so euro right now.  White is the bleeding edge of cool.  Plus when you get hit by a Muni, your friends don’t have to paint your bike ghost.
2. Almost all the parts are made in Asia.  Asian bike parts are pretty hot in the cool kid community right now so the transfer of legitimacy will be easy.
3. His frame is handmade by Mike Ahrens, which means he paid more than $150 for it.  Being “limited” (via gringo economic superiority) is pretty important these days because it helps demonstrate your uniqueness (read: unfettered access to your trust fund).
4. He has to glue his tires onto his rims, thus giving him two ups over urban fixies: 1) he “accidentally” becomes “lightheaded” while fixing a flat tire and 2) he has just that much more connection to the ground.  He can feel his skid stop, the cycling equivalent of sex without a condom.  Reckless.  Feels so good.

(* none of these stereotypes apply to my roommate.  He actually works hard for his money and has a very nice haircut)

So, what about beer and bars?  The beer question is pretty easy.  I have no doubt that Colt 45 will become the beer of the year.  It’s pretty hard to find it in bars in the Mission, giving it the necessary level of rarity and exclusivity to become the next top brew.  I also watched a bunch of cool kids crushing Colts at the OTHERSIDE Cafe (vegan sandwiches until 2am, beer, bicycles, and website is a MySpace page) on a recently trip to Boston, indicating that the messenger community back East is embracing the malted goodness of Colt.  I even ordered some myself to fit in.  They’re pretty tasty.

I still have not figured out what the cool Mission bar of 2010 is.  When I figure it out, I’ll be sure to post about it once a week, minimum.

From Ben, via the email.  ”Is this this new lipdub?”

Copying:

Remaking:

Despite technically having nothing to do with the Mission, this video has everything to do with the Mission.

(link | hip tip Macaframa)

Skip past the first 45 seconds and rock out:

(link)

I thought it was really lame how there were more white people with cameras than actual participants at this year’s Dia de los Muertos celebration, but this video kinda makes up for it.

I know I’ve already gushed about TCB Courier, but their new commercial is killer.  Fixies, grabbing a pizza box while riding, diving into Bender’s to deliver said pizza and the whole production is topped off with some badass metal music.

(Must see Vimeo)

Manu from SF Vegan Tamales recently shot this cool tandem-cycling vid around the city.  Nice to watch any day, great to watch if you are feeling emo.

(link)