Mission Mission

Apparently a change is coming at . . . The  . . . um . . . Elbo . . . uh . . . I’m really thirsty for some reason.

Laughing Squid posted a delightful video of this cell phone getting down in front of the Mission St. MetroPCS:

He may be puffy, but he’s definitely not lazy. The person inside this inflatable cellphone suit posseses an incredible amount of energy, because he’s been observed dancing vigorously for hours on end in front of a MetroPCS cellphone shop on Mission Street in San Francisco. Work it, dude!

In other news, making an animated gif these days is a fucking pain in the ass.

What, is having free bicycle deliveries from local restaurants not enough for you? Still haven’t gotten over the anxiety of speaking to human beings on the phone?

7×7 reports on a new iPhone app called CityMint that allows you to place orders from your phone and receive deliveries to Dolores Park:

Beginning this Saturday, you’ll be able to order delivery from Rhea’s Deli…, Serrano’s Pizza, Rosamunde, Jay’s Cheesesteaks and Frjtz Gourmet Belgium Fries directly to the park. Orders are charged at regular menu price and the delivery is free through eco-friendly bike-delivery service TCB Courier.

So how do they find you once they get to the park? GPS signals from your phone, naturally. Throw in a nice tip and the delivery guy might even hand feed it to you while fanning you with a palm frond.

Sadly, I’m probably going to try this nonsense on Saturday (even though the bitchin’ weather is expected to nose dive 40 degrees by then).

[photo from Katy Raddatz, SFGate]

Ian H. shot us an email about this development: High Bridge Arms hopes to re-open by the end of the year making the Mission the home to the only gun store in SF.

While the authors of all those glowing Yelp reviews and consumers of “Law Enforcement Supplies” are totally stoked, the locals aren’t so crazy about the idea.

The Northwest Bernal Alliance kicked off this email campaign:

Friends and Neighbors,

Once before we asked that you write letters to SFPD Permit Office telling them to deny High Bridge Arms (3185 Mission Street) a permit to sell guns in our neighborhood. That hearing has been continued 5 times and is now due to be heard SEPTEMBER 8TH.

It’s become more urgent now.

There have been several robberies at gunpoint right in our neighborhood and one recent hold up with a gun,  at the Cancun restaurant right next to the High Bridge Arms Gun Store.

We’ve been successful in causing delays in the permit process by forcing the owner to comply with the SF Planning Code but the hearing is slated for Sept 8th and we believe unless there is a great outcry from the neighborhood, the permit will be granted and once again we’ll be home to the ONLY GUN STORE IN ALL OF SAN FRANCISCO.

No matter how you feel about guns, I think you’d agree that they should not be anywhere near our homes and/or schools.
PLEASE WE URGE YOU-  take the time to send an email to the SFPD Permit Office and let them know how you feel.
And if you can call the Sergeant directly   415.553.9550

Attached is a sample letter – re-arrange it – add to it – write your own - but please send it before Sept 7 to:
ATT: Permit Code/Enforcement Sergeant Coggan<William.Coggan@sfgov.org>
CC —Ingleside’s Permit/Code Enforcement Officer <William.M.McCarthy@sfgov.org>
CC—-Ingleside’s Captain Cassanego<Louis.Cassanego@sfgov.org>
CC—-us so we know it was sent – northwestbernal <northwestbernal@aol.com>;

The hearing takes place 9/8 at 1pm at the SFPD Permit Station on 850 Bryant. More over at Curbed SF.

Dragging it’s claws against the window . . .

Apparently, Jonathan Richman participated in a screening of There’s Something About Mary or something.  I think it’s safe to say that he has a lot of fans here in the Mission. 

Wow, that’s quite a line!  This was the scene in front of Lost Weekend Video on Valencia Street yesterday. 

Once inside, those who didn’t get one of the 30 or so seats either crowded in to stand in the back or sat down in the aisles. 

The place was definitely packed to capacity.  The always-friendly Lost Weekend staff was behind the counter serving homemade cookies and scrumptious popcorn balls (imagine a rice crispy treat made with popcorn instead of rice crispies) along with $1 Tecates, so everyone was happy despite the Twister-like multitude of stray limbs everywhere.  The staff even generously allowed guests to use their bathroom in the back, even though this left their entire movie collection vulnerable to people waiting in line.  I hope no one was a douchebag and stole anything.

Of course, the main attraction was Jonathan Richman and his acoustic guitar.  He lovingly strummed his guitar along to parts where he appeared in the movie, all the while offering behind-the-scenes commentary of the onscreen action.  Little snippets like, “We decided on using an accordion here.  We felt it added a whole European touch” to which everyone busted up laughing.

His most revealing commentary had to do with why Mary (Cameron Diaz’s character, just in case) seemed like such the prototypical bro fantasy girlfriend.  Basically (paraphrased):

The director was an overgrown manchild and this is his conception of what an ideal girlfriend would be like.  Essentially, a chick whose favorite things are baseball, hotdogs, and beer. 

Hmmm, just what we always suspected.  More movie nights please Lost Weekend!

It’s easy to demonize Craig Yates for causing the closure of Chile Lindo on 16th, one of the neighborhood’s favorite empanada spots.  After all, he and his attorney have been on a rampage around the area recently, suing over 30 local businesses for ADA violations (he’s even suing Turtle Tower).  Furthermore, Paula Tejada and her empanadas have plenty of fans and supporters (who refer to her affectionately as “the Girl from Empanada”), owing to the deliciousness of her specialty and her friendly demeanor.

However, as SFoodie points out, wasn’t the Americans with Disabilities Act instituted in order to protect a certain (under-represented) group of people from discrimination?  Yates obviously feels that he is being discriminated against by not being allowed to fit inside a restaurant like other customers.  Just because he’s being a jerk about it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s wrong.  He views himself as a crusader for disabled rights.  Tejada sees him as an opportunistic nuisance out to make a quick buck on the backs of small business owners.

It’s a much trickier issue than anyone initially anticipated.  I don’t even know what to think anymore.  I just wish she had installed a ramp at her place before this whole thing got out of control.

[Photo by Melody Wong]

Previously:

It’s Always Sunny in the Mission: Chile Lindo Empanadas

Chile Lindo Moves to 16th and Capp

(Miranda July at Modern Times by the omnipresent Steve Rhodes)

Since 1971 Modern Times Bookstore has provided the people of the neighborhood with quality reading material. They’re an independent collective which has held its own against the rise of the major book chains and even the creation of the virtual bookosphere. But they’ve been struggling for a while, (they recently added used books to their shelves) yet they continue to stock the latest in progressive, alternative, LGBT and main stream product, as well as hold reading events in the back of the shop. If they don’t have something you want they’ll order it and call you for no extra charge.

They’re a rad store and they need help to stay open. So stop by, buy a book or three, or donate some cold hard cash if you’re so inclined. They’ll definitely appreciate it.

Found at Curbed, read more at Mission Local.

Looks like the now open Commonwealth decided to keep the unearthed Hunt’s Quality Donuts sign for the time being. The El Herradero sign was not so fortunate.

Wanna bet that they’ll have a tribute donut dish on the menu? I can’t go there yet because they politely asked us early donor certificate holders to chill for a few weeks while they get off the ground.

Our business manager would like me to add: “As you know, cash management is a challenge for new businesses. We’d really like Commonwealth to be around for the long term, and these first few weeks are key. Ask them to wait a little bit, maybe a month, before using the gift certificates.”

[Photo by David Gallagher]

Previously:

Adios, El Herradero

Unmasking the Past

I think Steve Jobs took this photo when he stopped by

San Francisco’s finest pizza and porn, together at last.  Kind of like a frat party.  So far, the Kink crew has hit up the Knockout and, allegedly, the Kilowatt.  Where will they be next?  Smart money’s on Benders.

(Thanks to, ummm, Robert for the tip–yeah, that’s the ticket)

[Photos and Video from Kink.com, both probably NSFW]

Just don’t try from an iPad.

Previously:

Kink at the Knockout (NSFW)

The Tens Takes You Inside The Armory

Anti-Porn Bias Costs Kink Cash

Pre-Internet Kink.com Armory

Breaking Pizza News at Arinell