Mission Mission

Yesterday, I stopped by The Curiosity Shoppe to see the Jason Polan show, and happened to catch Emily at the register making these tiny packages and letters! I was so stunned by cuteness that I forgot to take a photo.

Luckily, the good folks at The Curiosity Shoppe had me covered. And it turns out there’s a party involved:

For the past couple of years The Curiosity Shoppe has been the happy host of The World’s Smallest Post Service. Once a month artist Lea Redmond sets up her portable letter-writing station and proceeds to dazzle and delight customers with her miniature letter-writing skills. Now the fine folks at Chronicle Books have teamed up with Lea to create an amazing kit so that you too can create and send the most darling diminuitive missives you’ve ever seen.

We’ll be celebrating Lea and The World’s Smallest Post Service Kit this Saturday from 6-8pm at the Shoppe. Come on down and meet Lea and get your hands on one of her fantastic kits! There will be snacks!!

WHAT: World’s Smallest Post Service Party
WHEN: Saturday, May 28th, 6-8pm
WHERE: The Curiosity Shoppe (855 Valencia St. btwn 19th & 20th Sts.)

Local bag makers Chrome have relaunched their newly expanded  in-store custom bag program, and it is RADICAL. Not only do you get to design the Chrome bag of your dreams, you get to watch Michael (bag sewer extraordinaire) put it together and make your dreams a reality right in front of your eyes. With loads of new colors, fabrics, and accouterments to chose from, you could literally spend hours picking out your new bag.

We were lucky enough to check out the process for ourselves, and got to create what could possibly be the COOLEST BAG in the history of bags. Check it out after the jump:

(more…)

Clothes Contact on Valencia sells clothes. And none of this other stuff. All Of Them Witches explains:

Sarah recently sent me this list of items that customers/crack heads have come into the store and asked for. She has one of the coolest jobs in the Mission & gets to play her own records all day long, what a babe!

Seriously though, where can I get a ring toss thing around here?

[link]

Mr. Eric Sir has the scoop:

First Ti Couz, now Bangkok 16? This stretch of 16th is starting to look a bit sparse.

Personally, I’m devastated. Where will we all order General Tso’s meatless chicken now?! Read on.

[via Eater SF]

“Fresh ingredients, no MSG or lard, no preservatives, no bull?” Are you saying you only serve the meat of female cows here? What kind of establishment flat out admits they not only just serve lady cows, but proudly displays it on their menu?! For shame. You’ll be hearing from my something or other about this atrocity.

But in all seriousness, their bro-less cow dishes taste really good. Just sayin’.

The details:

Sidewalk sale with dollar books
All books inside the shop 25% off
All day, rain or shine

The sale is on! Now! RSVP and invite your friends here.

[Photo by superdillettante]

These have been popping up around the ‘hood. Looks like Bombay Ice Creamery is reopening on South Van Ness.

In other news, South Van Ness is the new Valencia.

[via Mr. Eric Sir]

La Vallarta tacos just got a 17% price increase. That means 25 cents, non-math-dude. Up to $1.75 from $1.50.

The title of best tacos in town, in my humble opinion, goes to Taqueria la Vallarta. I have sung praises about these tacos and even admired their surrealist psychedelic mural here before. But last week I walked up to the register with a trio of meat-topped, lard-dipped tortillas and the total came to $5.25. All seven stages of grief occurred in a flash:

1. Shock – WTF? The five dollar bill in my hand can’t cover this!

2. Pain – Is this the end of an era? Has the economy finally caught up with the Mission’s last cheap meal? Is California, indeed, a failed state?

3. Anger & Bargaining – Señor, I assure you this is the first I have heard of this. This is unfair. You should have a sign up, or something. How about I skip the grilled onion, take one less radish and lime wedge, give you $5, and we call it even.

5. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness – Will this be my last taco? Maybe I need to eat more healthy. Say, I haven’t been on a date in a while. I think I have an overbearing mother.

6. The Upward Turn – Hey, looks like I have an extra quarter in my pocket that I was saving for my laundry change jar.

7. Acceptance & Hope – You know what? You guys deserve it. I have dreams about these tacos. I hope my humble contribution brings you riches, sir. ¡Viva la Vallarta!

Seriously, though. They deserve it. But, bummer.

[photo by mioi]

New sign now up. Just in case you hadn’t seen it yet.