Mission Mission

Answer: 6! One to write the ticket and the other five to cork it in. It’s like a reverse Critical Mass that gives you tickets instead of running red lights.

Has anyone ever been pulled over by a bicycle cop? Unfortunately I missed the chase scene so the mechanics are murky at best – do they always work in packs?

As in a trash bin full of squash. Savvy dumpster divers would be wise not to squander the opportunity!

Duc Loi Market at 18th/Mission officially kicked off its brand new kitchen today, and the star of the show is the “Authentic Vietnamese” sandwich, which owner Amanda Ngo serves piled high with cured ham, pork belly, chicken liver pâté, and head cheese. How does it compare with the $3.50 banh mi’s you’ll find elsewhere in the city? The quality of ingredients, proximity to the Mission, generous portions, and overall flavor package make it well worth the extra buck and change.

The menu also has a good breadth of variety – including a fried chicken sandwich, a BBQ menu, and a veggie portobello tofu sandwich that can be made vegan if you ask for no mayo. According to Helen Tseng, “It’s as big as your head and contains about half an avocado”. Hit the jump for a closer look!

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5 Helens agree: Wise Sons running out of pastrami and corned beef at 1:30pm on a Friday hurts. Get there early folks!

Things you can buy for $3:

• Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits
• This zine
• A gallon of gas, and then some, sometime soon, maybe

Enticing options indeed, but none of these things will satisfy your stomach like two quick and dirty street-style tacos from Taqueria Vallarta. The 24th Street shop may be closed for pigeon debugging, but that hasn’t stopped the neighborhood establishment from opening a fresh new squab-free spot on Mission next to the 16th Street BART, and they’re slinging tasty $1.50 taco treats like nobody’s business.

The toppings are simple, straightforward, and to the point — all you get are two tortillas, a heap of meat, and all the cilantro, onions, and salsa you care to pile on top. Shown here are the al pastor and carnitas, but if you’re feeling adventurous go for the cabeza, lengua, or crispy deep fried tripitas — they’re all tasty as hell and worth a try.

It’s a lovely day for a thunder lizard to laze upon the lawn. Get thee to the park!

You might not know it, but Mr. Pickle has a sister restaurant all the way out in Livermore. Things are different there – the fresh air and open blocks of suburbs have emboldened our brined amigo to jump up and start shaking his can in three dimensions like nobody’s business. This rare photo captures the majestic beast at work, working it.

Also, how batshit crazy is their website?

YesYesYes is a ripping new SF arts and culture magazine that is throwing a benefit show tonight at The Knockout at 9pm to raise funds to roll out their latest issue. The set list includes Lilac, Lemon Pretend, Tint, and Dj’s Lariq, and William Keihn, and sliding scale admission starts at $5 with all funds going to benefit the magazine. This is a great chance to check out some cool bands while supporting a new local publisher — they’ve already earned 75% of their Kickstarter goal and the deadline is this Saturday, so check it out if you can!

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They’re pulling them out of the oven now during Sunday Streets! (Sunday Streets is right now!)

Last night the Magic Curry Kart debuted its latest creation, the Thai basil burger – and it may be the best cross-cultural food mash-up since Zante’s Indian pizza. $5 a pop nets you a patty piled high with Thai basil, Sriracha mayo, mushrooms and deep-fried shallots – flavors that fuse to form a taste trifecta that ranges from spicy to sweet and savory.

Sound good? He’s setting up shop at Fabric8 at 22nd and Valencia RIGHT NOW so stop on by!

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