Mission Mission

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.

On my way home from work today, I caught what is sure to be my last glimpse of a dying beast: the 26 Valencia.  It totally made that mraaawwwghhhh sound that dinosaurs make when you shoot ‘em as it lunged away from its stop.

Unlike KevMo, I’m a longtime Muni lover, Fast Pass collector, and old lady seat offerer, so am sad to see this piece of shit bus go.  I think it only proper I write up an homage of my own to add to Kevin’s post (I’m the nice one, he’s the mean one, haven’t you been paying attention?).

Riding the 26 always made me feel like I was taking public transit in Santa Barbara.  I saw it referred to as the “rich man’s 14″  somewhere online today, which I thought appropriate.  One time I was on the 26 and a Norwegian woman started telling me about how certain types of  hamburger meat paralyzes you for life and also that I have really good skin.  Yes, this bus is totally useless, but how awesome was it to conveniently bump into it and ride the 4 blocks down Valencia you were planning on walking?

RIP, 26 Valencia.  There will be tears in my beer and on my Fast Pass tonight.

I know you already read SFist, but I want to mention this anyway. Creativity Explored‘s Annual Holiday Sale starts tonight and runs weekends through 12/23. They’re at 3245 16th Street, between Dolores and Guerrero. So you can get a slice at Deja Vu afterwards. Anyway, check it out, it’s good stuff. I have a few pieces from years past.

Here are some images grabbed from Flickr to give you an idea of their artists’ work.

Michael Bernard Loggins by emwilska.

John Patrick McKenzie by boltron-. (Thanks, Tens)

Read here first.