Mission Mission

Reader Steve wrote in with some pics and an explanation:

Hey, I’m sure you guys are aware of the black-bloc-looking Occupy-related (?) march that just ransacked Valencia.

Here are some shitty cell-phone photos of the immediate aftermath just in case.

Other notable casualties: SUV at 18th & Valencia smashed and maybe lightly smoking?, smashed and painted police station doors, most stores and restaurants with some yellow paint and broken glass.

Police weren’t with it at all. One cop got out of his car and literally just sort of yelled “HEY” at them at 18th & Guerrero as they were just getting started, then went and called it in. By the time the police were riot-geared up and locking down their station, the mob had moved on up Valencia.

UPDATE: I’m pretty sure this was not in fact Occupy-related. More on the origins of the demonstration here.

Hickey was a band from the Mission in the 90’s that was the primary inspiration for the whole Mission punk scene of the late 90’s and early 00’s. I pretty much missed them entirely – I was still getting into music and probably at a Suicide Machines show at Slim’s around the time they were playing their last show. I did get ahold of their album at some point as well as a burned copy of Various States of Disrepair that I ripped from the KALX library on my first generation iBook. At some point I saw Matty Luv and possibly another member of Hickey play at Mission Records in an acoustic band called Me, You, and the Boys. All I distinctly remember was the closing refrain of the best song they played, “I’m higher than youuuuu are, I’m higher than youuuuu are.” Sadly, Matty Luv died a year or two later.

I pre-ordered this album a few months ago when Corbett posted about it on Facebook. 1-2-3-4-Go records in Oakland put the reissue together, and they did a great job. It’s two LPs, Gatefold jacket, a larger than cd-sized stapled booklet that’s around 20 pages, free download, optional red vinyl, and an adorbs punk rock patch (people still make those?)

I’m surprised by how many songs I remember, since I probably haven’t listened to it in about 8 years. My teenage punk nostalgia has already been kicked into high gear since I discovered an awesome blog called Remote Outposts that is posting a bunch of old demos and DIY cds/tapes that came out around that time.

Anywayz, for those of you who are fans, I hope you are enjoying this reissue as much as I am. Is this the first time it’s ever been pressed as an LP? And for those of you who haven’t heard Hickey, they’re worth looking into if you like inspiring, passionate, weird, catchy, edgy rock music.

C’mon Pony, historically one of the sandwich’s most energetic proponents, reports:

They changed the spread to something more mayo-y (I guess I haven’t gotten it since before they updated their menu), but it’s not overwhelming so it’s still good!

Phewf! [link and link]

Our pal Walter Green, a designer and illustrator for McSweeney’s and the Believer, wrote in just now with a freaky tale:

My friend was walking down 21st and Valencia today at around noon when she was grabbed from behind by a crazy guy. The guy wrapped his arms around her and then tried to kiss her! She shoved him away and ran away. He followed for a bit, but she eventually lost him.

She’s really shaken up by it–is scared to go outside today!–and wouldn’t describe him beyond beyond a “fat, crazy guy.” I’ve attached my artist rendering based on what she’s told me about him.

Watch your backs! Thanks, Walter.

This helpful PSA popped up on the sidewalks surrounding Dolores Park recently, after Jeremy Novy allegedly vandalized the new Dolores Park playground. But I mean, we know it’s Jeremy Novy, since he appeared in a big SF Weekly article about himself and took full credit for the koi fish stencils all over town. Which people tend to like. But maybe people didn’t like that they showed up on the brand-new playground? Because it was so fresh and so clean? So they made a similar stencil and put his name on it, snitch-style? Actually maybe he didn’t do it. Maybe it’s a frame job! Maybe……. good grief, I’m gonna go to the beach.

I bet it’s way better at the Roxie than it was on PBS. Who even has a TV anymore, right?

Details and tickets here.

Looks like they’re expanding it and making it nicer looking and more useful. Mission Local reports:

Principle planner Rube Warren said he should have the finished designs by May, with construction done by October 2013. The station will remain open throughout construction.

A 2007 project report, authored by Warren and others, stated that “The plaza lacks basic infrastructure and amenities — a stage, vendor stalls, seating and sufficient bus shelters — to support healthy public life.”

Read on.

Sexpigeon explains:

Should probably be pitching my startup right now, but I’m from California so it’s all day-drinking and texting around to see if anyone wants to bike out to the beach. [link]

Dang. He’s got us pegged I think.

Those guys are gonna be in serious need of some tough-actin’ Tinactin:

[via AHSAH]