Mission Mission

Got an email from the rehab team last week:

I wanted to remind you that our next workshop is this Thursday, August 4th at 6:30. Please be sure to note that we have a new location: the Everett Middle School Cafeteria at 450 Church St. (enter on 17th St. through the parking lot, signs will point the way on Thursday night).

Please be sure to attend this critical session because Thursday night we will start making decisions about the location and character of key elements of the park–the bathrooms, the pathways, the central promenade, the entrances, the picnic areas and more.

As you can see in the above image (from Uptown Almanac’s big report published earlier this afternoon), it looks as though, among other things, we’re talking about running a pair of staircases right through the upper quadrant of the park. That’s a drastic change, folks. Lots more drastic changes are afoot as well. Be advised.

From Serious Eats, a notable New York City barkeep explains what’s up:

Once, I was working the bar on a Friday night when a gentleman walked in, briefly scanned my cocktail list, and asked for a Grey Goose with soda.

I have nothing against the vodka soda. When I’m three deep at the bar, a round of highballs can be a life-preserver. Your Manhattan will take three minutes, at a minimum. Your vodka soda will take thirty seconds. Cocktails might be what keeps people coming in the doors, but highballs fund those doors staying open in the first place.

That said, vodka-soda drinkers are like jilted lovers; they’ve often had brief relationships with other spirits in the past, and walked away feeling scarred and skittish. Reluctant to open old wounds, they have trained their palates to crave neutrality. The phrase I hear most often is, “I don’t want to taste the alcohol.” In effect, they want the punch but not the flavor.

The worst part is, the guy ended up being on a first date. The girl ordered a bourbon, neat. Read on to see how it all ends up.

(Thanks, Brittney!)

[Photo by Jenn]

The Secret Alley sure is great. If only we had a reason to hang out there more often.

American Tripps is tomorrow night! RSVP and invite your friends here!

Click here for showtimes and tickets. One day only!

(And click here for the behind-the-scenes story of the making of this pretty poster.)

Finally, a real sign for the Make-Out Room, and a sparkly sequined purple one, at that! Gone is the top marquee sign, with its friendly reminder to show some lovin’ to your sweetheart.

As shown above in animated GIF glory, the sequins’ slight movements in the wind produce an impressive kinetic shimmering effect. Reminds me of the installation inside the SFO BART station entrance:

Or the backs of Alhambra water trucks:

Previously:

• Dirty Thieves renamed Blind Cat because owner lost a bet
• Taqueria Vallarta gets snazzy new signage
• The new Amnesia sign

[via Corntard]

The Bold Italic‘s Margo Moritz reports:

Art enthusiasts have plenty of options for checking out the latest gallery exhibitions in San Francisco, but it’s in our local dive bars where we can see how our street culture permeates the art scene. The unique collections gracing the walls of our watering holes live with us in the debaucherous underbelly of the night and often reveal the bar owner’s secret obsessions.

As I looked around for the best dive bar art in town, I was struck most by the compelling and accessible stories behind the work on display. These aren’t just decorative wall hangings and sculptures, they have lives of their own. In every place I visited, there was an owner, bartender, or devoted regular willing to pass on their tales about the artwork surrounding us. San Franciscans are obsessed with good stories about one-of-a-kind finds and are usually happy to share them with you over a beer.

Read on for lots more naked babes (and other art pieces too) and the stories behind ‘em.

It’s part of the Thieves/Blind Cat empire, and will feature fancy but affordable bar food by Chez Spencer. Unfortunately, there won’t be live music like at the space’s previous incarnation, El Rincon, but presumably there will still be dancing and cock (see photo).

Uptown Almanac has a Q&A with one of the owners:

Q: Is it going to be more of a dive like the other Thieves bars or a bit nicer?  I ask because the menu is a little more pricey than other neighborhood bar and grills (namely Bender’s, Gestalt, Zeitgeist, former Ace Cafe)…

A: yes and no. the daily specials are more but the everyday food is all under $10 bucks and we want to keep it that way. What we really want is a place where you can get good food and get loose and act like a fool (the good kind of fool). Like, what’s the difference between a dive bar and a neighborhood bar? Clean bathrooms and napkins on the table. I really want to go to a bar where i can get a $6 plate of grilled asparagus and get drunk and have a spontaneous dance party to The Pointer Sisters. That’s what we’re going for.

Whoa. I usually like to have spontaneous dance parties to the Pointer Sisters at the Silver Crest, but Dear Mom will be much closer to home. Can’t wait!

Read on for menu details, capacity details, pool/pinball plans and more.

Oh and follow Dear Mom on Facebook for updates.

[Photo by Rick Audet]

Just as we were all getting used to the sticky trigger on the left-hand side of the machine, Bender’s went ahead and got a new pinball machine — Theatre of Magic.  It’s fast, it’s a little tricky, and the combos are aplenty. Also, no more complaining that you lost because of said sticky trigger (there goes my strategy).

Bonus: Benders is also now serving King Cobra for $3. Wednesdays will never be the same.