Mission Mission

Cheaper than a taco.

(2009)
Once again the fine residents of Fair Oaks Street open up their garages and heap their valuables upon the sidewalks. It’s been going on for more than 20 years, but if you haven’t been yet all you need to know is that the whole street from 21st to 26th becomes a neighborhood flea market. You can find collectibles (old Army medals, old comic books), personal items (old yearbooks, old clothes), household stuff (old glassware, old kitchen appliances), and new stuff. Also! Cute little kids will probably be selling baked goods, families will probably be selling tamales and bros will probably be selling sausages.

It’s fun, grab a friend and check it out.

Mission Local and Uptown Almanac have covered the mural conversation happening at 24th and Capp. Here’s Justin Beck‘s interpretation:

Glad to have some context. I wondered what small person was supposed to be yelling that.

(file photo)
Last Friday the San Francisco Guardian Angels did their first night patrol in The Mission. It was led by the New Generation of angels, who are still in their teens. As their chapter leader says “their code names speak for themselves”:
1. Scorpion, 2nd In Command
2. Apache, Sergeant
3. NEMO, Corporal
4. Matador
5. Sonic
6. Puma
7. Robo Cop
8. Breaker
9. Maverick

Read the details of how the youth-led patrol went and check out the pictures on their blog.

They’re usually covered up by overly affordable travel gear or something when this Mission Street business is open, but at night I got a peek at some new murals in progress. They’re not nearly done yet, as you can see, but it’s never too early to take some guesses as to the artistic intentions.

Some kind of folk icon? Anti-authoritarian, definitely.

Then you’ve got this next one, got some buildings in there. Looks like maybe a straightened Leaning Tower of Pisa in the middle. But it’s in the clouds? Probably Valhalla.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) McSweeney’s new book The Clock Without A Face will be released into the wild! Come to The Secret Alley at 7pm to catch authors Eli Horowitz and Mac Barnett present the book and the accompanying nation-wide treasure hunt. Exclusive clues to the whereabouts of the 12 emeralds will probably slip out.

Stick around for the magic of Christian Cagigal and the acoustic music of Hod Hulphers, Chris Klippel, The Gilded Rooks and Champion McConnell.

All this for the price of nothing! Free as the beautiful air around you!

More info about the amazing book can be found here.

The Secret Alley is at 180 Capp Street, between 16th and 17th, right near BART!

(disclosure: I am one of the bozos from The Secret Alley)

KayVee.INC caught a snap of some random, senseless vandalism carved into the very sidewalks of our city.

(link to photo)

UPDATE: Ben found a second bit of street art on this slab, this one uses words, and so is easier to understand: What Kimmy said.

I sat at one of those tables at Bender’s that has all those IDs in it and doodled a few of them. None of these look like the people they’re supposed to be. Who wants to jump in and help me get the rest? Especially if you draw women, I have a hard time with women. With drawing them.

Also, I like the way they used some kind of little hot poker to stick into the resin and obscure the ID numbers and some people’s personal details.

More doodles inside this post.

(more…)

Because the weekend’s not over yet. In Fisherman’s Wharf:

(photo, obviously, by Troy Holden)

UPDATE: Well, whatever this is, it’s been here since before 2010.

Well, this was here too.