Mission Mission

So I’m over at Thieves Tavern for “Fuckin’ Wednesdays” on Wednesday afternoon, and bartender Luke sets this bottle in front of me and says, “Have you seen this?” And I’m like, “‘Hophead’? Sounds dum– HOP VODKA???” Full disclosure: I myself am not a major hophead. I can appreciate the qualities of a fine IPA, but I usually prefer to drink beers that don’t make me sneezy and deaden my taste buds to other flavors. (I guess I could see an allergist or something.)

Hophead is basically like essence of hop. Real powerful. You have one sip and your mouth tastes like you’ve been drinking Blind Pig all afternoon. And some days, that’s exactly what you want to feel like you’ve been doing, am I right? Luke also mixed up a Hophead dirty martini, which worked pretty well, the salty and oily mingling with the hoppy nicely. It’s definitely weird. But it’s fun to drink.

So if Beer Week has you all beered out, but you still require a hop fix, Anchor Distilling‘s got you covered.

Drink of the week is brought to you by Poachedjobs.com.

If anybody knows romance, it’s DJ Purple. Just look at that golden jumpsuit! Here’s the deal:

It’s Valentine’s Day! Bring your Valentine to the best Dance Karaoke in town, or come find love on the dance floor and sing a duet or a love song with your new Valentine! No cover!

I’ve definitely fallen in love on DJ Purple’s dance floor a number of times. (Mostly it was with Candy, but there’ve been a few other babes too.) RSVP and invite your friends and lovers! And then peruse the songbook so you’ll be ready.

Yeah, I know, Valentine’s Day is dumb, blah blah blah. But, maybe it’s a good excuse for a scavenger hunt. Something to inspire you to look at the stuff you see every day in a new way. Where around the neighborhood do you see hidden VD or anti-VD messages?

Dude.

What will Ken Ken think of next? Here’s this weekend’s menu:

Sunday Brunch Set

Salmon Course Brunch  $13.00

Salmon Shioyaki / house cured salted salmon

Tamago Yaki – Japanese Traditional Egg Dish

Atsuage, Daikon Nimono // fried tofu, daikon

Miso Soup with wakame & tofu

Nori - seasoned sea weed

Tsukemono – Japanese pickles house made in 30 year old nukazuke

Side orders @ $5

Kabocha Nimono - Japanese pumkin nimono

Snow White Salad Yukke Style - daikon, jicama, nagaimo, raw quail egg yolk

For Vegetarians we also offer a beautiful Veggie Main consisting of  Grilled Eggplant in a miso / shoyu glaze

Can’t wait!

[via Ken Ken on Tumblr]

Dandelion is the new chocolate shop on Valencia. This Valentine’s Day, they’re doing something fun:

On Valentines day from 12pm to 5pm, Pam DeLuco from Shotwell Paper Mill (www.shotwellpapermill.com) will be offering free to the public the opportunity to letterpress print valentine cards on paper made from recycled Dandelion cacao sacks. Each person can add to the phrase: “I love it when….”

Dandelion will have Valentine boxes and treats inside the store.

Cute! More info here.

P.S. Valentine’s Day just happens to be Mission Mission’s anniversary too, so feel free to make us a Valentine

Noise Pop is basically just days away — time to get excited!

Today we’re giving away tickets to the YACHT show (also starring Tussle) on March 2nd at Slim’s. Here’s YACHT’s latest video:

If you’d like to win tickets, please come up with a brand-new explanation of what the acronym “YACHT” means and submit it in the comments section below. One entry per person please. Winner will be picked based on merit. Contest ends one week from right now.

Buy tickets here.

Another step in the long hike toward a completely upgraded Dolores. (Wherein the 20th and Church overlook becomes all fancy instead of all janky.) Dolores Park Works highlights some changes:

• The North Restroom is now closer to the playground.
• The steps to down to the abandoned 19th Street J Church stop are  now persevered.
• The South Restroom will not have a living roof.
• The 18th Street entrance to the maintenance yard is now closer to Church Street to preserve the flow of the 18th Street lawn.

Have a look:

Read on for more graphics and reporting.

Cocktails rule. Watch:

“Hey Winnie” is featured on their new EP, out today on Father/Daughter Records. Get it here.

Our pal Doc Pop is in the final week of his Kickstarter campaign to fund a zine project featuring lots and lots of gorgeous photography. Basically, if you donate, you’re pre-ordering the first issue (or more). It’s called “American Analog” and here’s Doc telling us all about it:

Read more or donate here.

And a ping pong table

(Thanks, LiJia!)