Mission Mission

Local historian Ticklefight posted this today. Don’t know quite what to say, but this “Turk & Hyde” microhood of old sure looks like a fun place to party. [link]

Looks kinda the same, except the street itself definitely needs some resurfacing. (When did that finally happen, 2009?)

Time sure flies.

UPDATE: They resurfaced that shit in 2010. Thanks, Andrew!

[via Kat]

On yesterday’s episode of Burrito Justice Radio, we were talking about burritos and burrito history and blogging and stuff, and I brought up how one of my first blog posts ever (back in 2007) was about how Taqueria Cancun had just gotten carnitas — finally!

I mean, can you imagine a world in which carnitas was not a meat option at Taqueria Cancun??? IT HAPPENED.

Here’s the photo I posted:

And here’s the copy I wrote:

Note the sheet of hot-pink printer paper in the upper-left corner of Can-Cún’s menu. It announces excitedly that carnitas is now available. We can’t even begin to recall how many times we’ve heard some first timer bemoaning the lack of carnitas here: “They’re voted Best Burrito and they don’t even have carnitas?! Wha!?”

Apparently they were tired of hearing same, so they rectified the situation (at both Mission locations). What gives anyway? Why did Can-Cún eschew carnitas for long? And why did they finally give in?

I don’t know who I thought was going to answer my questions, seeing as how this blog had zero readers back then. Maybe now I can finally get some closure? Anyone?

I forgot how small the TVs were. That bat is still there though.

[via Man Freckles]

I took this picture of a tap handle at Toronado way back when I had a phone that actually took photos this size. Dig that crazy typeface!

Nowadays the logo is all normal and boring:

While working on yesterday’s post about the new patio seating at Monk’s Kettle, I started reminiscing about Kelly’s Burger, which was housed in the same spot about a million years ago.

When I was a dirt-poor college student in 2003, a $6 Kelly’s burger was a major once-in-a-blue-moon splurge. And they knew it: On the back of the menu it said, “Not the Cheapest – Just the Best!” Different times. (A burger at Monk’s Kettle, if you add bacon, is $18.)

Here’s the beginning of a Chowhound thread about Kelly’s, started by Chuck McCall on May 14, 2002:

I checked out Kelly’s Burgers the other day, which just opened on 16th St between Valencia and Guerrero. Their menu consists of (drumroll please) mostly hamburgers (including a Texas burger which comes with a fried egg.) They also have chilidogs and sandwiches.

There were only a couple of other people in there (noon on Saturday). The staff was friendly. It’s an order at the counter and they bring it to your seat kind of place. That tall dude who used to work Truly Med. down the block was behind the grill and apparently owns the place.

Oh yeah, that guy! As for pricing:

My total for the cheeseburger, fries and coke was $7.75.

Daaaaamn! I think you could also get a draft beer for $2 at happy hour.

Here’s a pretty good Yelp review by Eggs M.:

I ended up here on a date with the biggest piece of shit asshole you would ever want to have sex with just because he’s got nice arms and laughs a lot. Why, you might ask, do I have sex with these people on the first date anyway??!!! I don’t fucking know. I’ve been doing that since I was sixteen years old, it didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now that I’m old but still lame enough to be taken out for dates to ‘Kelly’s Burgers’. Why does everything have to be such a goddamn fucking nightmare? Should I feel humiliated when I see this guy out with his girlfriend, or just laugh it off? Fuck. Oh, the burgers were good though.

Check out the rest of the menu (via MenuPix) after the jump: (more…)

The year is 1971. The photographer is Joseph Rosenthal. And this is yet another in a long line of great SF photos (and videos) taken while driving.

Ugh, why don’t we build any interesting buildings here anymore?

[via @OldSanFrancisco]

[via Baby Ghost]

I hope you finally got to take that road trip.

[via Capp Street Crap]

In the comments section of our post from last week about long-gone Mission rock club 12 Galaxies, reader Skyscraper offers another little remembrance:

I miss that place! I worked there from ’05-the end. We used to play pool and poker til the cleaners showed up and then go to clooney’s.

Oh the bad old days…

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Photo via Yelp]