Mission Mission

I mean, if this was Berlin, I’d be all about it, but this is not Berlin.

Anyway:

[polldaddy poll=3942209]

Photo by Dana.

(Presidio Bowl by Thomas Hawk)

A few weeks after hearing that some high end exclusive club (that also happens to let you bowl for a small fortune) plans on opening in SoMa* Paolo Lucchesi tells us that Brooklyn Bowl might be planning to open a new location on Mission Street. Unlike Berkeley Bowl**, Brooklyn Bowl actually has bowling.

Taking a look at the Brooklyn Bowl website, I’m  wondering how much less of scene this place is. I guess it’s unrealistic to just want some lanes and a pitcher of beer. The food looks good, realistically expensive. $25 bucks for half an hour of bowling. Not too bad, I guess, if you’ve got a bunch of friends. But is this place cool? Can you go there without spending a week’s paycheck? Can I wear a white t-shirt? Do you have to come straight from Medjool?

Anyone been there? Is this what people want to have on Mission Street?

*Seriously, no white t-shirts? You open a bowling alley and kick out the rockabillys and greasers? I get that you don’t want poor people, but someone has to actually throw some balls down some lanes at some point, right? Or is it really just decor? What if I come dressed in a bathrobe or a purple jumpsuit? No, you’d throw me out. I have to bowl in a dress jacket? But I bet it’s all right if I unbutton it enough to show most of my chest, as long as a white t-shirt isn’t covering my chest hair.

**That’s right, Berkeley Bowl, I haven’t forgiven you for kicking me out just for tossing frozen tofurkeys down the aisle at a row of soy milk bottles!

Vicki here had an epic stumble home from Dolores Park this evening. Luckily, her buddy Carlos Reyes was there to document some highlights.

Seriously, though. What’s more fun than a nice stumble through the neighborhood on a warm summer evening after a pleasant chill-out in the park with good friends?

Go Giants!

Photo by Christine Huang.

Soccer Karate tells us all about “a dugout prank to fill the catcher’s equipment with helium” here. Go Giants!

We’ve got a pennant race on our hands, people.  While the obvious place to catch the Giants in the playoffs is AT&T Park, this is also unfortunately the time when the bandwagon is overflowing with corporate sponsor types and other rich people who often price the true fans (who have been attending almost every regular season game, right guys?) right out of the ballpark.

So where does that leave you?  Well, probably watching the game in some bar with the rest of us plebeians.  The only question that remains is which bar.  The Phoenix is an obvious choice because of its plentiful, large TVs and well-priced, hardy food; but if the turnout for the World Cup earlier this summer was any indication, be prepared to stand up for 9 innings.  Benders also seems like it would be a no-brainer with their delicious kitchen and cheap drinks, but the televisions are at odd angles to watch for any formidable length of time. 

Interestingly, several seemingly knowledgable fans have informed me that Guerrero Street is the place to be for baseball.  Two bars within a block from each other, Elixir and the 500 Club, each have well-situated TVs in addition to that unique San Francisco vibe that makes you feel like you’re not in a sports bar.  Plus, if those places are too packed, the Kilowatt is also right down the street.

Remember, this is the time when San Franciscans need to band together and not worry that giving away the secret location of their favorite spot might cause it to be too crowded for their personal enjoyment.  Sooo, where’s your favorite spot to catch a game?

(Please be careful with the dugout pranks, though)

[Photo by The Tens]

“Ok, so we just chased away those pesky skater kids who were grinding this staircase and intimidating all the Conservatory of Flowers folks. . .”

“Should we get a donut?”

“I was thinking we show ‘em how it’s done!  Whoooooooooo!  Okay, your turn!”

“Umm, let’s just go get some cinnamon toast from Trouble instead.”

We were first hipped to this phenomenon last year when it was still a mostly guerrila operation, but it looks like they’ve gotten themselves fairly organized by now, as reader Janel shares:

A mix of tennis & volleyball with a yoga ball

They play every Sunday @ 8:30 pm on the tennis courts at Dolores Park (18th and Dolores). They are done when the lights go off @ 10:15. Join the mailing list by emailing at volleybonksf(at)gmail.com. Feel free to bring friends, dogs, drinks and mix cd’s.

And Pauly Shore.

Check out the helpful “promo” video that explains the rules and offers a glimpse into the tactical strategy needed to succeed in this blistering nascent sport.  I can’t see this going the way of SF Bike Polo (forced to relocate to 21st and Shotwell due to the fact that neighbors complained their bicycle tires scuffed up the tennis courts) unless it can be proven that a giant yellow yoga ball (or Pauly Shore) is somehow also bad for tennis.

Previously:

Volleybonk

Bike Polo

Dolores Park Bike Polo Crackdown