Mission Mission

From Iron Davy Cole:

Overheard on the 14: “Now Obama is prez. When they gonna give ME a job? I’ma put the hurts on ‘em. I’ma open up a can of hurts on they ass.”

Link.

Last week we contacted American Apparel asking for their comments on the controversy, and the company responded with an open letter to the residents of the Mission. The letter talks about company history, business practices and intentions here in the neighborhood. Note that they preface everything with, “[I]f the community doesn’t want us there, we have no intention of forcing our way in.”

An excerpt:

Our first store was in Echo Park, a small artsy district of Los Angeles, which is a lot like the Mission. Since we opened the store in 2003, the neighborhood has flourished with new independent businesses. The City pays closer attention to the area, keeping it cleaner and safer than it ever was before without denting its original charm and flavor. Our store is a permanent fixture in the community now, just as much as Burrito King and the infamous tranny hairdressers are. Not every location is like Echo Park or Valencia St., but for the ones that are, we’re perfectionists about getting right.

So how can they get it right?

Statement in its entirety after the jump:

(more…)

Muni Diaries recently began running BART stories in addition to their bread and butter. Today’s gem from Beth W. takes place at the 16th Street station. An excerpt:

“I shit my pants!” shouted Poncho Guy. “GET ME A NAPKIN!” He was talking to Mop Dude. When Mop Dude didn’t respond right away, Poncho Guy came over to him and repeated the order. Not wanting to be near anyone who’d just lost control of his bodily functions, I opted to flee to the other side of the breezeway…

And that’s just the beginning. Link.

Related:

BART Police Are OKKK by Amor de Cosmos.

BART Swing on Mission Mission.

BART Boner on Mission Mission.

While Jameth was checking out at Foods Co (above), Sexpigeon was checking out at Rainbow Grocery (below). Luckily for all of us, both were moved to snap pictures of the parties ahead of them in line. Now please pick the winner, or debate the merits of the two markets. (And you may click either picture to link to its post of origin.)

In the street, scaring the nation with their drums and ammunition.

(Extra Action Marching Band and the SFPD a couple nights ago somewhere around Revolution Cafe or Doc’s Clock according to Twitter.)

Streetsblog last week published a nice feature on the Mission Greenbelt Project, an effort to line the above corridor with native plants, to the benefit of wildlife and citizenry alike. Link.

Jay Reatard is playing the Independent tonight. I’ll go, and I like that place, but it all really just makes me miss 12 Galaxies more. Please somebody let me know if the band is planning on playing some kind of secret show at the Knockout or something while in town.

Previously:

Really Engaging Jay Reatard Q&A on A.V. Club.

Jay Reatard Covering a Beck Song (wtf?) on YouTube.

Jay Reatard is Waaay Better Than the Black Keys on Mission Mission.

I Love 12 Galaxies on Mission Mission.

Spotted this over at Jenn de la Vega’s BLT/IDM? and thought it simple, resourceful and fun. Must remember to utilize this innovation in the park. Link.

This blog is on a roll today by the way. See also Jenn’s James Beard Burger (“with grated onion and heavy cream, pan fried in BUTTER”).

Previously on Mission Mission:

S-Hook as Grocery Bag Caddy on Muni

I asked Tony Pierce for his analysis of our American Apparel predicament, and here’s what he said:

ive spent a lot of time in the mission. i lived on folsom and 23rd, i lived on 24th and potrero, and i lived next door to the old yellow levis building on clinton park. that place had a dishwasher, a washer dryer, a fireplace, and… a garage. i have much love for the mission. especially around 16th and valencia of which you speak. and trust me, im not crazy about ben n jerrys or the gap on haight ashbury but i liked amoeba plenty when it was a bowling alley. therefore i believe that we should just let business happen the way its going to happen. noone would be complaining if they wanted to be on mission and 16th. therefore its not that they wanna come to the mish, its that they want to come into the funky part. control is an illusion. let there be socks.

Link. Thanks, Tony!

Meave at vegansaurus! declares Old Jerusalem the winner. Here she states her case:

It offers hands-down the best falafel in the Mission, the moistest and tastiest, plus they make two varieties: regular, and stuffed, which has fried onions, roasted pine nuts and sumac in the middle.

Read on for more about the rest of the menu and delivery options.

Meave makes a powerful case, and OJ certainly does a distinctive falafel, but for for sheer fun you can’t beat bringing some Ali Baba’s takeout over to the Nice Lady Store for a beer soda.

Photo by Aviad T.