Mission Mission

Amid the American Apparel drama earlier this month, the demise of a true Valencia Street institution went somewhat unnoticed (by me anyway). Reader foon this week alerted us to the now old news that El Santo de Israel is no more.

It was a Spanish-language, pro-Jewish Pentecostal church in a little storefront on Valencia near 21st. On Friday nights the congregation gathered and worshiped by way of a gospel jam session courtesy of one downright badass church band.

Oftentimes the jangly tunes issuing from this place sounded a notch more soulful than the boring old indie rock on offer down the block. On my way to or from some show at Amnesia or the Make-Out Room, I’d pass by while this crew were in full swing and wish for a moment somebody’d be out front inviting me in.

El Santo de Israel, we hardly knew ye.

For more, Mission Loc@l runs us through the history of the place and its founders here.

P.S. Really the only problem — aside from the whole organized religion thing if that doesn’t really float your boat — was the harsh overhead lighting. Church people, take a cue from Mission Street Food and Lung Shan, dim those fluorescents, string up some mood lighting, strike up the band, and you could build yourself a young, hip congregation lickety split. The blogs’ll eat it up, people will be lined up around the block to come in and praise holy things!

Photo by judgmentalist.

Now it’s a single-family home with a six-car garage and a knave and everything. Who will move in?

[via Curbed SF]

Previously:

See Inside

Yell! got in touch to offer a counterpoint to An Ode to Garfield Square:

Yell!: I lived off Garfield Square. That place was a cesspool that made me feel less safe than the Tenderloin
me: haha
Yell!: it’s awful
i did laundry on the other side of the park from my house
and this homeless couple were banging on the folding table
me: banging?
like fucking?
Yell!: yes.
it was awful
it was raining outside
me: gawd
Yell!: i moved to 19th and valencia shortly thereafter

Hella Breezys has the behind-the-scenes scoop on the shooting of Mama Clothing’s latest look book. Link.

Note that post author La Moussy equates Dolores Park to Echo Park — further proof that the Mission and Los Angeles are two peas in a pod.

Photos by One Hit Wonder.

I don’t think this is in the Mission. Nevertheless, it’s a charming idea brought to our attention by Kit at Neighbors Project. Not quite as good as the Lexington disco ball, but pretty good. Link.

Previously on Mission Mission:

Neighbors Project Says Patronize Your Local Corner Store

This here is an outtake from Plug1‘s latest post Honey, I Shrunk The City, which looks at a new exhibition of miniatures at the Conservatory of Flowers. Mission Dolores sure is cute when rendered in cash register parts.

Amid all the street parties and other hubbub of the last few days, I neglected to mention a personal milestone I reached over the weekend. For years I’ve been walking down that really cute block of Lexington and reminding myself to someday have a dance party under the disco ball.

On Saturday, I did it, kind of. Really, I just played some music on my phone and cut the rug for a few minutes while my companions waited more or less patiently. But, it was fun.

I’m no NIMBY, but I liked how you used to be able to see all four Bay Bridge towers from the park. The westernmost tower is now obstructed by One Rincon Hill, as you can see here. Thankfully, Susie at Curbed says plans for Two Rincon Hill, which looks like it would have obstructed the next westernmost tower,  have been scrapped suspended, due to some kind of problem with the economy. Link (via SFist).

Update: Whoops. View of Bay Bridge from Dolores Park to remain somewhat unobstructed, for a while longer at least.

Photo by Moncrief Speaks.

Previously on Mission Mission:

Future View of Downtown from Dolores Park

I thought this was cool. Why aren’t there more cloth curtains in public restrooms? (More on the substance of the debate later.)

As recently as pretty recently, these huge windows were a big, sad, boarded-up mess. (As of right now, you can still see the old look on Street View.) Walking past this evening, we were struck by the stunning view up into the belfry and everything. Is that a transept or a flying buttress or something?