Big news in seitan: the bipolar chefs over at Weird Fish have once again taken their renowned Buffalo Girls off the menu.  Now before we all go over there and slap the shit outta them, let's remember that this is basically the third time they pulled this stunt this year.  First they pulled their satellite kitchen out of Bender's Bar, a move akin to renouncing one's religion and marrying a capybara, and completely gutted their old menu, ditching the B Girls, among other killer dishes.  Then a month later, they brought the menu back following a bunch of so-called “vegan outrage.”  Then it was gone again.  Then back again in June.  It all seemed good at this point, even a month ago I could still order their famed seitan dishes.  Well, they are up to their old antics again.  When I asked about getting Buffalo Girls, the waitress had a quick response, “We aren't making those anymore.”

“But they were so good.”

“They were, but we're moving onto other dishes.  We're trying to keep the menu experimental and weird.”

Mind you, Weird Fish might just be calling wolf again hoping to send the foodie blogs into a tailspin, but they seem way too committed to ditching their best dish this time around.  An hour after ordering food, a table sat down next to us, tried to order the Buffalo Girls, and was delivered the same, scripted response from the waitress.

Not really sure what it is with Mission chefs killing off some of their popular dishes.  Mission Burger did it in the fall of 2009 when they abandoned the vegan burger.  Mission Chinese Food ditched the chinito over the summer.  Now Buffalo Girls are gone.  Perhaps it is the same reason Radiohead refuses to play Creep at their shows: artists getting bored with the hit that made them popular.

I'm crying rivers for their plight.

(photo by Ray Everett)

This video is a tad on the long side, but if you can get past your internet ADHD, you'll have a solid look back on Mission skateboard culture of the mid-90s.  From the video description:

This footage is from 94. This is High8 footage from SF. I recieved the High8 tapes years later from a good friend: Marcos Nieves. The skating in this video is a good example of what you would find on the day to day in SF's Mission District. The LOS Crew consisted of many faces that where skateboarders, artists and people that were down for each other. Thank you for opening my eyes to some of the best times.

(via Mission Mission)

Reyhan over at The Bay Citizen hips us to the outdoor cardboard xmas tree lot on 24th:

A few weeks ago, I came upon an odd sight on 24th Street: a small Christmas tree lot, on the sidewalk, outside a clothing boutique. The trees were fanned out like any other lot, except there were no green branches. The trees were made of recycled cardboard and cut by machines relying on solar power.

It turned out they were the work of Hanna Sitzer, a local artist and set designer. At the time, she had mentioned that people keep sending her pictures of their fully decorated trees. The one sitting in my living room remains bare, but there's always next year.

Hanna leaves the trees intentionally blank so you can decorate them yourself (like hanging ornaments, only with art supplies that get you high!).  Unfortunately the tree lot is now closed, but you can still run into Wonderland (24th @ Alabama) to snag a tree for yourself.

(Interview and more pics of decorated trees/kids with fake mustaches over at The Bay Citizen)