Mission Mission

Blake E. sends us this:

Seen on Friday. I asked someone in Blue Plate what the deal was and he seemed pretty sure the sign had been hacked. Nice.

I’ve gotta admit, even though it’s just petty vandalism, the geek in me thinks this is pretty damn cool. If absurd 90s tech thrillers are true, the hacker behind this could be a smokin’ hot philanthropic babe, too.

Too bad these h4x0rs always use their talents just to throw up nonsense “greetz” to their comrades. Hey guys, here’s a suggestion for next time: “BIKES ONLY”. Kick off the Sunday streets early this year.

Update: Apparently, this is not too difficult to do. Check out some other examples. Hack responsibly, dudes.

Janee_ just pointed out that the music video for Third Eye Blind’s 90′s hit Semi-Charmed Life was shot in the Mission:

This is almost as cool as that Chumbawumba video shot in Hayes Valley. (On second thought, maybe I dreamt that)

Cast member Joey “Electric Boogajew” Price sent us VentureTek™’s latest video, “The Search 4Douglas“.

"I just can't stop looking at these puppies"

“VentureTek™” is a new sketch comedy troupe from the Mission, not to be confused with a couple of existing completely vague tech companies (or domain squatters). Luckily, judging from their 1997-style websites neither has the budget to take legal action against our local boys.

Warning: these guys are weird. The way I see it, there are two camps of sketch these days: the play-it-safe SNL/MadTV type, and the iMovie-meets-public-access-TV-nacho-fever-dream type. VentureTek™ definitely falls in the latter camp. The first episode reminds me of Stella, and the second one reminds me of Tim and Eric, but with more beards. If that’s not your style, you’ll probably hate these guys. That’s cool, though. I hear Best Buy is having a sale on Family Guy DVD box sets.

Full episodes after the jump.

(more…)

Thanks for being honest, MUNI.

(16th and Mission, via reader Chris K)

Saw a fashionable young lady sporting this backpack the other day on BART. I instinctually wanted to jump on her head to dispatch her, but realized that doing so would cause me to lose my fireflower. Where’s a Kuribo’s Shoe when you need one?

Jorge P. sent us a note about the inaugural event for a cool dance/BBQ party he’s throwing at El Rio:

The idea behind the event is that we want to modernize, takeover, revamp, trick out, revive, do up, the Outdoor Afternoon Dance Party Scene in the Mission… We want a party for everyone, a party, where drag queens mingle with lesbians, leather daddy’s soul dance with cholas, sharps share hot dogs with activists, jocks make out with twinks, brown meets white meets purple meets gay guy meets ladies meets q and everyone leaves with excited feelings for the next party.

The party is being Dj’d by Resident DJ newcomers and soul music wizards Dj Carnitas and DJ Brown Amy. They along with the rest of the Hard French crew are our music curators and throughout the summer, promise to bring it! with live bands, guest dj’s, performers and the like. All in the spirit of the maximum that is Mission SOUL Afternoon Dance and Food.

BBQ and Soul music! A bunch of subcultures which I’m not familiar with!! Sounds like a cool way to spend a Saturday. See the flyer for details.

Only thing is, I don’t know what the French have to do with it. Some say that the term “barbecue” comes from the French “barbe à queue, meaning “beard to tail” which sounds like how you would grill a hipster furry. That’s right, I made a crack about cannibalism, hipsters, and furries! If you were offended by all three simultaneously, we’d like to hear from you.

Seth Augustus is playing two record release shows at Porto Franco Art Parlor this weekend, on Thursday 3/4 and Friday 3/5 at 8pm.

If you don’t know about Seth, he’s a mission-based bluesman who incorporates Tuvan throat singing techniques into his songs. It’s pretty much impossible to describe what this sounds like, so you’re just going to have to click this link to see the current world master droping jaws on the Letterman show.

You may have seen the incredible documentary on San Francisco’s late/great Paul Pena, Genghis Blues who was the first American to self-teach himself the Tuvan way and even went on compete in the annual throat singing festival in Tuva. Seth was a great friend and caretaker to Mr. Pena in his later years.

Check out this video I shot of him freaking out the normals at Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley with an old Tuvan classic: “Eki A’Ttar” (Good Horses).

Seth’s new album, “To The Pouring Rain” will be on sale. Pre order tix here.

Local sketch comedy troupe Kasper Hauser was commissioned to do an [adultswim] commercial for Cartoon Network.

True to their roots, the commercial features some iconic San Francisco scenes: the F line coming up Market St., a dude fixing his expensive bike (with tape on his face), and a construction worker squeezing out the contents of a burrito onto the floor. Indeed, it’s a proud day for San Franciscans!

Check it out:

Just caught wind of this gorgeous video of Mission singer/songwriter Sean Hayes. His new album drops on March 2. The video was produced by clean white lines, a video blog that has been doing some amazing work for local bands.

While you’re on a Sean Hayes kick, check out this tune he wrote inspired by stories of the Mission area during 1906 earthquake, “Dolores Guerrero”:

Mission National Bank on 16th and Julian. Looks like they were banking on a better economy, but had to bail out. Or maybe they’re just renovating? Someone should check.

Picture sent by Zoe Banks (real name)

Update: MrEricSir says:

I walk by here every day, they’ve been remolding for a while. The bank still seems to be operating, in spite of the fact that their website is out of date.

Update 2: racycarr has a better explanation:

This building is not being torn down, it is getting a safety improvement: the cladding was begining to separate from the walls, and is being lovingly and historically accurately reattached. The building is also getting a bit of a history checkup: the original 1906 sign over the door, which likely reads “MISSION BANK” will hopefully soon be revealed.

Previously:

Car Vs. Bank

Bank Bears Brunt of Mysterious Protest