Mission Mission

What’s that? You’ve yet to have yourself an Arizmendi pizza party?

No excuses. Get on it.

[Photo by Mike Chino]

Previously:

Arizmendi Is Done

Eat This Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie

We’ve followed Aaron Sunshine’s unluckiness in love for a while now (surely you’ll recall the brutality of dating in SF and the mystery girl he never found), so we were pleased as punch to find this good news on his Facebook wall:

Congrats, Aaron! Treat her right!

In case you haven’t seen it yourself, Telstar Logistics today takes an in-depth look at Lost Weekend’s “Internet Killed the Video Store” window display:

Lost Weekend soldiers on, for now, but when we spoke to the store’s proprietors, they were candid: Times are tough, they said. As an indication of that, in the window of their shop they posted the lyrics to a sing-along remake of a familiar song about an earlier generation technological change, specially modified to suit today’s circumstances:

Read on for more pictures, a transcription of the full lyrics, some facts about Netflix and its effects on video stores, and some personal musings from Team Telstar.

Previously:

The Death of Video Stores in the Mission

Neutral Unpretentious Places (Like Lost Weekend)

From Missed Connections:

Me=leaving Arizmendi, 930am, you=locking up bike – w4m (mission district)

I’ve never done this before, but what the heck. Today is Thursday, 11/11 in the AM. I was leaving Arizmendi’s on Valencia and passed you as you were locking up your bike. I’m the tall blonde girl. Now, sitting on the bus, I imagine the scenario where it’s not totally absurd for me to have approached you and asked for your number. Instead, I write a pathetic cyber post you probably won’t ever see. But if you do, and you remember this occasion–reply and lets get coffee. Maybe you’re as interesting as you are superficially debonair.

So, guys, if you were locking up your bike this morning, and looked pretty slick, have at it.

[Photo by Van Looy]

Whoever is in charge of the artistic direction at Taqueria Vallarta needs to be poached immediately by one of those hotshot tech companies like Google or Twitter.  The guy (or gal) has repeatedly proven to be on the cusp of genius, as evinced by “batshit insane” 49ers tribute mural, as well as the various exterior drawings and aesthetically pleasing color scheme.

Now he’s outdone himself again with another game-changer:  this amazing lit-up pop-out sign that can be seen from blocks away by anyone walking on 24th St.  Depicting a serene ocean scene that reminds you of vacation, complete with lazy seagulls, it also manages to extol the virtues that make this one of the most popular taquerias in the neighborhood.

For instance, top billing goes to the Tacos al Vapor, which are the closest thing you’ll find to the tacos served in Tijuana.  Likewise, a keen sense of knowing your audience is demonstrated by the deft placement of (what appears to be) “Vegan Burritos,” always a popular choice in the Mission.  My only regret is that they don’t mention the champurrado (which makes a delicious treat on a cold night, of which you can be sure we’ll soon have plenty).

[Photo by Alissa]

Previously:

Four Loko Popular Among Elementary Schoolers

Today’s episode of Backseat Beat features local band Still Flyin’. They used to be a joke reggae band, and everybody loved it, but now they’re just a regular really good rock ‘n’ roll band. Hopefully everybody still loves it.

The video shows them playing some songs (at least one of which indeed sounds a bit like LCD Soundsystem) under a freeway, and then they ride around in the back of an old Volvo with the show’s host and sort of answer some questions. It’s fun. Watch it here.

I defy you to think of a more catastrophic location!  Before  you assume that I’m being a total wussy, why don’t you try to type with this messy business?  Don’t be surprised by a dearth of Y’s, N’s, and H’s in my posts for the next week or so.

*For all you astronomers out there, the planets in question are Venus and Uranus, obviously.

We’ve already been on top of a fire truck and on top of Muni.  Who cares if it’s a few weeks later; this city just can’t get enough of their first World Series victory!  These guys even went so far as to snag some Public Works vests so no one would suspect them.

All jokes aside, this looks like a pretty entertaining job.  You get to ride all over the neighborhood during beautiful days* and have hipsters on fixies take photos of you.  Someone has to make sure all those Muni lines are functioning properly, lest all hell break loose.  They really get around, too!  See, here they are stopping for some Arinell on Valencia:

*I would be seriously surprised if they had to do this in the rain.

Yum! And I thought the food at Coffee Bar was only good when Radio Africa was in the house.

Zoë Banks informs us that it’s quite weighty and takes forever to eat.