Mission Mission

The Bold Italic this morning takes a look at the history of Berlin-style ping pong in San Francisco. Here’s a taste:

One of the great things about Berlin-style ping-pong is how social it is. You find yourself next to strangers in the circle, and you have this common sports drama to bond over. Somebody makes a wild shot, and you’re all cheering and exchanging critiques together. You recognize players of similar skill levels to your own, and you root for them. Pretty soon you’re friends.

That’s how it’s been at American Tripps. It’s a real scene.

Read on for the full story.

And don’t forget, American Tripps returns to the Secret Alley TONIGHT!! Start your Halloween weekend off right!

Our pals over at Ice Tubes broke this story a couple days ago. We casually posted it on our Tumblr and it got like a MILLION notes, so we figured we’d better put it here too for those of you not hip to the Tumb.

“SFPD runs on Dunkin!”

Frog was saving this spot for someone else but was tragically crushed by a mysterious maniacal motorist who yelled, “No savesies!”

Spotted on Valencha.

The former Slanted Door opens in just days on Valencia Street near 17th. I couldn’t afford to eat there before, but the new menu promises to be more affordable. I got to sample a few items and I can say that the food is incredible. Seriously, try the shrimp. They’re fried and salted, with all the juice left inside. Everything I tried was really flavorful.

The interior is nice and fancy-feeling. The bar is made out of planks from a bowling alley and the upstairs is walled in with reclaimed Muni shelter glass. (They’ve definitely cleaned it since bringing it indoors)

Eater SF has more (better) descriptions of the place here.

I hear third prize is one of those kickass Alite sleeping bags. Best of luck, gals!

First they lip synced and did some synchronized dance moves. Then they sashayed down the sidewalk, vamping and lip syncing some more:

I got kind of a South African Rod Stewart or Dutch Wham! vibe from the whole thing. In other words, it was the highlight of my day.

I’m gonna miss that little clubhouse when it’s gone. Click the pic to make it big.

[via Castle Numbskull]

From their Kickstarter page (which also contains an entertaining video filled with lots more salient info):

Killing My Lobster has finally found the perfect location to build a premier  theater space. A project which brings to an end 15 years of wandering from theater rental to theater rental. The space resides in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission district on 24th and Mission St.

The new venue would be a creative hub to hundreds of artists including actors, writers, choreographers, musicians, stand-up comedians and whoever else requires a theater for their production. Killing My Lobster also needs a versatile work space to allow them to expand the classes they make available to the community.

But the clock is ticking, as KML must acquire enough funds to secure the lease and move-in overhead in the next 2 months. And our goal is to have the theater operational by February of 2012 for a show celebrating our 15th birthday (February 14th, 1997).

There are eight days left in this initial campaign, and they’ve only got a few hundred dollars left to go, but they’ll need all the help they can get as this initial campaign is only gonna raise a fraction of the total amount they’ll need to open in early 2012 as planned. If you donate to the cause, you get to choose from a variety of rewards. Have a look.

It’s called Old World, and it sounds pretty good:

Hey friends and anyone interested in some great east European and Jewish soul food! We’ve got an awesome menu for this Wednesday packed full of can’t miss items: three pierogies; chicken soup with liver dumpling; our transcendant borscht and more.

View the  full menu, RSVP and invite your friends here!

This is so much better than BART boner!

[via Storts]