Mission Mission

Around last call on Saturday morning, 28-year-old Benjamin Martinez was shot multiple times near the corner of 16th and Valencia Streets. He was taken to San Francisco General where he later succumbed to his injuries.

According to Bay City News, police responded to the scene around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The shooter fled the scene and SFPD has only described the suspect as “a male suspect with a gun.”

Bartender Derek Hypieper from Gestalt just down the street told Mission Local that his doorman heard multiple gunshots, but was unaware someone had been killed. SFPD also blocked off 16th Street and an ambulance was spotted by the 22-Fillmore stop outside Yoyo Restaurant.

Mission Local also noted that a memorial popped up in front of El Cafetazo late Saturday afternoon reading,”Rest in Paradise Benny.” Anyone else who may have spotted anything is encouraged to call SFPD directly at (415) 553-1145.

Back in 2012, a 20-person brawl broke out on the same corner around 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning and left local kitchen legend Caesar Chuc on life support. Chuc passed away a few days later at San Francisco General.

3D City is a year long stereoscopic photography project by Doctor Popular

Walking is for suckers. These folks know how to get around the neighborhood in style! Which reminds me, someday I’m-a get an exclusive 3D City photo shot with Segway-Poodle-Guy (Rocco and John, I believe). All shots taken in the Mission on my little Lumix 3D1.

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We asked our buddy Eric, who’s been spending a lot of time at the new spot, to tell us all about  it:

First off, the City of San Francisco started dialogue about this park, going back as far as 2008. It was a project to help “brighten up” the dismal setting that is the Mission/Duboce underpass. However, the economy tanked, and fun projects like this were left in limbo.

Fast forward to July 2014. The park is open, skateboarding fever is in the air, and everyone is looking good in their new Benny Gold hat.

The park was designed to be a “skate plaza” of sorts. Instead of an eyesore of brown ramps, steel quarter pipes, and oversized handrails, the designers of this park used old San Francisco spots as their muse. Any SF OG will notice the throwbacks, and maybe some of the new kids will notice the 3 up/3 down that famously lives right down the street (and is still skateable).

The park does have a bit of something for everyone, but honestly, if you don’t know how to skate, don’t go there at peak hours. Here are a few tips:

-New to skating? Go in the morning. The park opens up at 9, but you’ll find people hopping the fence as early as 7. It’s not that tall, and is worth getting a ticket.

-Veteran skater looking to get back into it? Go in the morning during the week, or the evenings on Saturday. Pretty much all of the evenings have been chill.

-Blind spots. At peak hours there are tons of blind spots. Prepare to run into someone. Just make sure and be hella polite.

-Cheer! When someone does something super sick, make sure you’re supporting.

-Need to piss? There aren’t any public port-0-johns in the area, but people are asking the City for them. Try Cash N’ Carry on Van Ness, Zeitgeist, or Rice Paper Scissors at Brick and Mortar Music Hall (make sure to order a banh mi!).

-How to get there? In the evenings there is ample parking all over the neighborhood. Just make sure that your shit isn’t visible in the car after you park. Also, the whole area is flat, just skate there!

-The local kids will fuck with you. Don’t be dumb, just skate. This is a skatepark, there will be fights, cops, etc. Just be prepared to run, no matter who you are, or how old.

-Lastly, if there are any people reading this who ride an electric skateboard and think it would be “neat” to ride around… Please stay far away from the skatepark. You will get harassed and your shit will get stolen. No lie.

I encourage anyone who has ever loved skateboarding to try this park out. It is beautiful, well designed, and conveniently located. My favorite thing in the world is to grab some brunch/lunch at Rice Paper Scissors (inside Brick and Mortar), skate over to the park, shred for a bit, then roll over to Zeitgeist. It’s like a match made in heaven. See you out there.

10/10 A+ Gold Star Yay!

Yay! Oh and here’s Eric’s bio:

*eric ehler is a has-been skater. after dedicating his ankles to pushing for 10 years, he decided to go to culinary school and become a chef. after a 6 year hiatus from skating, he’s been back at it for the past few years. when he’s not cooking, he’s skating 3rd and army, eating chinese food, or creeping around the new park.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Turns out it’s a big bummer when you hop the fence during off hours.

[Photo by Dale Thorn]

A new tag on Samy’s Liquors at 24th and Bryant makes some pretty clear threats to a couple broad swaths of people. It instructs to kill hipsters and yuppies, two hard to define groups that were often derided among taggers in the last decade, but makes no mention of techies, the neighborhood slur du jour.

This is my fair warning to the hipsters + the yuppies!!
Get the [fuck?] Up Out the MISSION!! Before this [shit?] starts getting UGLY!!
you got 6 Months, Keep it Kickin!! If you don’t, it won’t be funny!
I Guarantee my Soldiers will GLADLY Come Out GUNNIN!!

Graffiti in #SF warning #hipsters and yuppies to leave the Mission or risk being killed. #KTVU pic.twitter.com/zLAsqNiPbp

— Jacob Jimenez (@OneTakeJake2) July 18, 2014

The invite explains:

SINGIN’ & PINGIN’ happens at a lot of venues around SF and the region, but only Rickshaw Stop is a legit legendary concert venue. When you sing onstage at Rickshaw Stop, you’re gracing the very same stage as an ever-growing list of rock superstars. Check it out:

• M.I.A.
• Vampire Weekend
• Jonathan Richman
• Grimes
• Neon Indian
• The Dirtbombs
• YACHT
• Diplo
• Matthew Dear
• Jolie Holland

You get to perform on the same stage as M.I.A. for goodness’ sake! Let’s party!!

The Sonics too. The Sonics. The Sonics!! RSVP and invite your frens!

The New York Times Style Magazine reports:

In San Francisco, where tensions between established artist communities and Silicon Valley continue to rise, Luke Groesbeck, a former tech worker and the founder of the fledgling public art organization Art City, wants to help his hometown reinvest in the former. “This is a city with a major arts and cultural legacy,” he says. “How do we honor that? Then an idea came up and I got fixated on it: What happens when you turn an entire city into a gallery? Is it possible?”

From now until Aug. 17, San Franciscans will get to find out. As part of Art City’s Way Out West project, Groesbeck, along with his crew of curators and organizers, worked with advertising companies and the local creative community to coordinate his organization’s pilot urban art takeover.

This seems cool, displacing advertising in favor of local art and all. But I also really like that Coors Light ad.

Read on.

[via SF Weekly]

[via citybadger] [w/thanks to Capp Street Crap] [maybe check out the Coalition on Homelessness]

With Wing Dam visiting from Baltimore and featuring members of Dan Deacon’s recording outfit, as well as local bands Balms and Couches (fresh off their recent tour)!

Damn, with Last Nite returning and cool shows happening again, the Makeout Room is starting to make its case for best bar in the Mission!  Not to mention Primo holding down Tuesdays with Slow Jams for like FOREVER.

That tinsel ceiling seals it.

Neighbor Carrie just wrote in:

I’m a Mission resident living at 16th and Capp. I was walking my dog last night by the new giant residential place that’s opening up on the corner of Van Ness and 15th (giant gray horrible ugly building across the street from the artist’s billboard that reads: “Sell Your Hopes”) and saw the property owner showing another businessman around the building. As my dog was pooping on the sidewalk, I heard him say, “In the commercial space, we are either going to lease to a Starbucks or a pizza joint.”

My jaw dropped.

If a Starbucks opens here, I will probably commence looking for an apartment in another neighborhood.

Wowee.

[Photo by Google Maps]