Mission Mission

In like 10 minutes. Sorry about the short notice. (Thanks, Eve!)

Says Pirate Cat‘s Yuri G.:

actually, it’s a CatWalk Sale. But whatever. Trying to bring back the spirit of the Mission Creek swap meet (but without the stolen CDs).

SF Gate this morning reported that some neighborhood group and some city agency came to an agreement on how to deal with the Dolores Park playground situation, and the agreement was kind of a benchmark or something. (Link.)

More importantly, Dolores Park View this morning published this sketch of the new playground said agreement will produce. (Link.)

Lael, this blog’s resident playground enthusiast, says, “It doesn’t look that different. The slide looks fun though.”

Related:

Crackdown on ‘Adult’ Behavior in Dolores Park

Dolores Park Playground Renovations Promises Fences, Safety

The clampdown is on. First they started denying us our God-given right to Tecate, and now this. SFPD yesterday deployed a mobile guard tower in Dolores Park, apparently in an effort to ward off those who would dare to have a little bit of wine with their hummus and pita.

In today’s Mission Station Newsletter, Captain Stephen Tacchini says, “It was not an easy decision, but weighing the rise in instances of vandalism and public drunkenness against the safety of neighborhood families, the call was made. As the weather gets nicer, the crowds get bigger — and rowdier.” He goes on to urge us to think of the tower not as a symbol of a move toward police state, but as a temporary and experimental solution to a pressing problem.

Author Stephen Elliott has started assembling a counterattack. His new blog, Free Dolores Park, is leading the charge with a letter-writing campaign, and already has statements up from prominent area business owners.

Now, I love Dolores Park. I love it madly even without a tallboy in my hand. But this is like something out of science fiction. Something must be done. As Elliott’s blog reminds us, “It’s YOUR Dolores Park.”

Photo by David Cole.

I hate to jump on Burrito Justice a third time today, but they just keep churning out such solid content. This time, it’s a proposal worthy of an emergency Planning Commission hearing at the very least.

As you can see in the above diagram, the plan is to facilitate a smarter St. Luke’s expansion by closing Valencia to auto traffic (between Chavez and Mission) and turning it into a park — Valencia Street Park — thereby creating an inviting plaza for hospital employees, neighborhood folk and everyone else to congregate.

See the whole meticulously outlined plan, as well as the other (boring) plans currently under consideration, right here.

Oh also, this might make for good reason to finally discontinue the 26-Valencia.

Tablehopper has the scoop:

Moving into the 12 Galaxies space in the Mission will be the ~BLUE MACAW~, a restaurant, bar, and club with a focus on international music. I will have more details in a few weeks, but the opening is slated for April or May.

Link (via Eater SF).

Also, what in god’s name is “international music”?

Moreover, what kind of comprehensive overhaul is going to be required to turn that crusty dive into a “restaurant”?

Furthermore, “Blue Macaw”? Sounds a little Rainforest Cafe to me. What do we think?

Previously:

HOLY SHIT PLEASE DON’T LET 12 GALAXIES CLOSE!!!1!!

Wait, people still use Facebook? The Snitch says people do.

Also, Newsom-related controversy, and the big question: Would Medjool go out of business if the city yanked their rooftop patio? Link (via Curbed SF).

Tonight, a unique lit event at Mission Pie:

Join elementary students and teachers from 826 Valencia Street’s writing program for the next reading in a series: The Organic Word: Students and Teachers Writing Together to be held at the Mission Pie Café at 2901 Mission Street at 25th Street in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 18th from 5:00-7:00. This month’s reading will feature elementary school students and teachers reading ghost stories that they wrote in conjunction with 826 Valencia Street.

Link.

Some friendly law firm is buying cab rides home tonight, because it’s Tuesday and people in San Francisco like to get fucked up on Tuesday.

SFist has all the pertinent details right here.

Our new favorite sandwich blog, breadxbread, reports a picklenapping:

whoever stole mr. pickle, you sicken me. i hope when the police finally corner you and lock you away for the rest of your miserable life, that your every waking moment is haunted by the look of innocent joy on mr. pickle’s face. a look that you have stolen from all of us.

Link.

Photo by aodland.

Update: Alex wrote in just as we were hitting publish on this thing: “I think you will agree with me that this is the worst thing that has happened in the history of humanity. right now there are two signs up in the window of mr. pickle’s, one says ‘did you see who took mr. pickle?’ and the other reads ‘mama pickle wants her mr. pickle back’ which smashes my heart into a million unfixable pieces.” Thanks, Alex.

Previously:

Who Stole Weezer?

Best Sandwich in the Mission