Mission District

American Made Rainbow

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

La Copa Loca is one of the most often ignored ice cream places in the city despite its level of quality.  The fact it has never made it on any of the Chronicle’s “Sugar Rails” lists has always blew my mind.  Look, I know what you’re thinking: “Kevin, you’re just being a douchebag.  The salted-caramel goat testicle ice cream at Bi-Rite is clearly the best thing to ever happen to my mouth since braces and Uncle Ricky.”  But really, all I had growing up was bicycles, Big-Y grape soda, rivers, mountains, and fucking ice cream from the Village Green Greenhouse and Ice Cream.  So I know ice cream.  And chrysanthemums.

Anyways, I’ve always dug the fact that you can get two scoops of solid gelato (get the tiramisu!) for $3.25 without waiting in line.  The latest addition of draping waffle cones in paper flags is merely a bonus.

The Valencia Wall Refreshed, Peace Out Sharks

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Brad over at City Snaps recently noticed that the art wall at 1240 Valencia morphed from an orgy of sharks to a family scrapbook.  Normally I’d be all “fuck that” because, as a vegetarian, I have to live vicariously through animals that eat raw seal meat and inspired Jaws, but this particular collage features no less than two bicycles and a guy doing a five-star frog splash into a wrestling ring.  Approve.

(link)

Dolores Park to Close For the Entirety of Its Renovation

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Following up on our hard-hitting journalism from Friday, Nicolas King, an aide to Supervisor Dufty, has confirmed that Dolores Park will be “entirely closed during its renovation.”  While he was unable to provide a specific date for its closure, the most recent project report indicates construction could begin as soon as August 18th, 2011 or as late as December 18th, 2011 and would be completed in 17 months.  Regardless, plan on kicking it elsewhere for 2012.

Kinda feel bad for Bi-Rite Creamery, since they are expanding the size of their shop and most of their customer base will be off smoking DMT and watching bros skateboard.  At least we'll get to have a kick-ass Irish funeral for the park on August 17th?

Calls to the Recreation and Parks Department were unreturned.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

MISSION PHOTO WALK

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

One my my favorite segments on Mission Loc@l are their “Sunday Photo Walks” because 1) they don’t require me to know how to read and 2) it helps me affirm that being a blogger is doing God’s work.  Anyways, as a tribute:

 

$11.7M Dolores Park Renovation Process to Kick-off This Spring, Park Closure For Up to 2 Years Possible

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

via Headline Shirts

I was talking to some of the fine folks of Dolores Park Works this morning and they hipped me to this document outlining the city-approved $11.7 million Dolores Park Renovation project.  New bathrooms, better tennis courts, new playground, better grass for me to be cool on, and the clubhouse (that is currently full of asbestos) will be rebuilt and open for community events/soirees/romantic evenings gazing at the skyline/epic keggers.  This is about the best news to drop since the iPad.  But, of course, there is a catch: parts of the park (potentially the entire 14 acre eden) could be shut down for up to two years, starting as early as August 2011.  See you at Potrero del Sol.

From the January 11, 2010 Project Status Report:

The project scope will include the repair and/or renovation of the courts, field, and clubhouse; restoration of existing roads and pathways; upgrades to subsurface infrastructure, irrigation and lighting; modifications to the site to remove barriers and improve accessibility, and overall reconditioning of the park landscape. The renovation of the children's playground will be completed under a seperate project.

(At the time of publishing, no one from Supervisor Dufty's Office nor the Recreation and Parks Department was available for comment).

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Bender's Reborn, Weird Fish Implodes

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Mac n cheese, prior to being baked

Went to Bender’s Grill last night to try their new menu.  PRETTY SOLID.  They have a house made black bean vegan burger that is quite good (also tasty with cheddar cheese on top) and waffle fries.  Truthfully, this was the first time I had waffle fries since high school, which sort of brought me back a little bit.  For some reason those fries made me find an empty table so I could sit by myself.  Anyways, Justin also whipped up some awe-inspiring mac n cheese.  Additionally, a meat eater reports that the chicken parm was “only ok.”

The final verdict is that the new menu at Bender’s is good, but it isn’t nearly as memorable, or addictive, as the old Weird Fish menu.  Bender’s, you need to get serious.  This is bar food.  You need to get a deep fryer.

In other news, Weird Fish, the formerly awesome restaurant that made the Bender’s grill the best goddamn place in the city, has completely lost their shit and ruined their own business.  Closed for lunch everyday and closed ALL DAY on Sunday.  Plus all the good stuff on their menu is gone.  NIXED.  No more.  Larbage, a generally non-newsy blog, has the scoop on this.

 

Biker Down on Capp

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Shit is rough out there today.  I was riding down Valencia and saw a cop run a biker off the road (the cop pulled over without even looking behind him.  He realized his mistake, stopped, rolled down his window and apologized.  I would have flipped my shit but this cyclist seemed ‘cool’ with the situation).  Minutes later, I saw this on Capp. 

From Cobain to Biggie

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Remember when I called Debaser “a less fun version of emo night at Pop’s” and the internet exploded?  Well, apparently I owe them an apology because they are ‘branching out’.  Seriously, nothing sounds more fun than hitting the floor when “Shake That Monkey” blasts so I can start fucking some skinny white chick between three layers of clothing (I’m assuming she’s commando under those apple bottom jeans ‘cuz that’s how all the ‘nasty bitchaz’ do).  Plus, I can totally take that free pot I’ll score when I crush the sick kicks contest and “faze ya’ll.”

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