Mission Mission

If I was a real journalist, I’d probably do a little research behind how these started popping up around the Mission.  Oh well.

Found in Berkeley but too awesome to ignore.

I’ve been watching Union SF building project lately because it seems like this building in particular attracts people that don’t get the neighborhood.  Reader Mission Mistaken once described prospective buyers as “the most vapid, frazzled and unfriendly looking group of Marina moms one could imagine.”  Well, looks like she was right.  On Friday, Curbed SF mentioned that 29 “homes” units have been sold over the last 3 weeks.  Best of all, one buyer said they moved in because it’s the “right location in an up-and-coming neighborhood.” Really?  Didn’t the Mission up-and-come years ago?

Pack your bags kids, cool has left the neighborhood.

Has this existed for months?  I’ve never noticed.  Today was the first time I came across LEOS HOTDOGS, an enterprise of CESAR ASCARRUNZ’s, in front of 24th St. BART.  Brand new? Has anyone tried this shit?

This situation, plus the  incoming Rosamunde situation, means many tubes of meat in the Mission come 2k10.  Prepare yourselves for the thrill ride of your lives.

The Wall Street Journal actually produced an interesting piece on how “yupsters” and capitalists made a shitty part of Oakland cool and profitable.  Choice quotes:

Over the past five years, Temescal has become Oakland’s answer to San Francisco’s Mission District and the city of Berkeley, drawing a mix of yuppies and plaid-wearing hipsters. The changing demographics and new businesses have brought results: From fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2008, the latest year for which data are available, Oakland’s sales-tax receipts from the Temescal area rose 18% from $294,735 to $348,917, said Keira Williams, retail specialist for the city of Oakland.

The neighborhood still has its lingering troubles. On a recent evening, as young couples parked their strollers outside the Lanesplitter Pub to wait for a table, a panhandler stumbled by, muttering about heroin. Residents say they must be especially wary around Lower Temescal, near 40th Street and the BART station, where empty storefronts and vacant lots dot the avenue.

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(photo by unaesthetic)

A not very subtle follow up to the last post.

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One of the things I love about Valencia is how it accidentally became the best street in the city.  It was a 4 lane highway with narrow sidewalks until 1999, yet commerce and culture still happened.  15 ft sidewalks with trees were not required.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not down on trees or outdoor seating, but I wonder if ditching the the grungy newspaper boxes and shitty sidewalks covered in stencil art will lead to more blight like this building.  Valencia was always the little street that could.  I cannot help but feel that city planners are over-engineering a great thing.

(photo sfhaps)

Ben sent us the above photo – a scene outside the Latino Culinary Academy on Florida/19th.  Four pairs of boots in all.  Three contracted black lung in the coal mines and died.

Ooh!  Pic from everyday photos:

500 Club claims it opens at 6 a.m., but it’s not true.  Don’t try.

This photo makes me feel like I’m in a community swimming pool at 8 a.m. Wow.  Well done.

I went to Doc’s Clock tonight and there was some serious B&T action going on.  What’s the story with that place?  I’ve always loved it, but tonight, it seemed as though everyone had on tank tops and jeans and no one was drinking.  Buzzkill.