People

Being a Bay Area Car Salesman is "The Most Difficult Job in the World With the Exception of One and That's Being President of the United States"

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Check out yet another amazing documentary from California is a place.  This time about about a 20-year-veteran car salesman from a non-defunct Alameda car-lot.

Big Vinny from California is a place. on Vimeo.

Once upon a time, he was a local celebrity. He earned his nickname after doing a tv commercial for a Round Table pizza named The Big Vinny. For over twenty years, he was the face and voice of a successful used car business in small town Alameda. He sold and he sold and he sold and Californians drove away happy. Today, everything has changed. The business is dead. The lots sit empty. Big Vinny is out of work. But he still remembers the good times.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

30 Rock on The Rock

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

That skinny blonde girl is dating a hipster?  Also, Ed, hipsters don't eat at Delfina.  I expected better from you.  A better guess would be Hamms at Pop's until midnight-thirty, followed by Farolito.

(link)

The Story Behind "Slangin' Strawberries"

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I have no idea if this story is 100% legit or not, but the tale told by commenter Rigoberto Hernandez is worth sharing:

That picture is too funny and nostalgic.

That is Javier (probably not his real name). He lives in a garage with five other people in San Jose, including his brother Hugo (probably not his real name either). He is originally from Puebla, Mexico where he was an artisan. He worked seven days a week selling his merchandise in a market. Then business started to slow down and he immigrated, crossing through Arizona, leaving his wife back home.

He played the role of Jesus Christ in the re-enactment of his final hours, in Puebla. He said the beatings were real, but he was honored nonetheless for being given the role. He liked the role so much that he was considering going through a surgery where they perforate holes in his hands where real nails would go through as he hung on the cross.

Nowadays he wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. to go to Salinas (except Monday or if it's raining) and buys fresh fruit from a farm off the Crazy Horse Canyon. He buys an entire box (double the size of what he is holding) for $6 to $8, depending on supply and sells them for $20.

He was my favorite “fresero.” I wish him well.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Pop's First Annual Slam Dunk Contest: A Photo Journal

— By Patric Fallon |

This past Saturday, amidst sunny skies and blistering winds, Pop's Bar on 24th and York St. held its first annual Slam Dunk Contest, and it was awesome. The contestants gathered at the local dive around 4 p.m. or so to properly lubricate themselves before taking part in bar game history. There were costumes, there was a shirtless man, there was a girl, there was an ecstatic crowd, there were embarrassing falls and flops, and there were plenty of authoritative slam-fucking-dunks. Below is a set of choice photos from the proceedings.

Michaelangelo had some issues.

Why is that guy dressed like a pizza?!

There's that girl I was talking about.

Sometimes less clothing means more air.

Friends were helping friends.

One-Eyed Ron fucking owned the game.

Free Pete looking like a basketball card.

Does this kid got style or what?!

Nicknamed “GQ” by the crowd, this dunker rose above his name to deliver some serious dunks.

Seriously! Why is that guy wearing a pizza costume?!

Damn! Pizza got hops.

Get it in there, Ron!

GQ from the free-throw line!

Pizza wins 1st, GQ wins 2nd, and One-Eyed Ron gets 3rd!

Bay to Breakers Walk of Shame

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Have we milked this topic enough?  I don’t think so.  From Angel:

I know it’s way late, but I’ve been a bit disappointed with the past B2B stuff I’ve seen on the blogs. I saw this guy sneaking in to the BART Monday morning hoping no one saw him. Actually I was surprised he was the only person I saw doing the walk of shame that morning. I don’t know what’s more shameful/prideful - spending the night passed out in the park or jail. Anyway, sorry, my pic is sucky - on my phone and I don’t practice taking pics of people doing goofy stuff all day long.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Awesome Drum Kit, Bro!

— By Laura B |

Worst/BEST Wedding DJ EVER. 

I can’t. I don’t even know. All I know is this is the current best thing on the internet and it’s about to go viral. Let’s help! Internet YAY!

Hayes Valley / Tenderloin is the New Mission District

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Continuing yesterday’s coverage of White Migration 2010, we bring you news of a New York Time’s article that is so good, I won’t even hate on it.  Turns out the NYT just figured out that most of the Mission has known for a while: the art is leaving the neighborhood:

But with wider recognition, street art in the Mission appears to have lost a bit of its edge, though much captivating work is still being produced there. Now some of the freshest and most thought-provoking pieces are turning up elsewhere, like the spray-painted and stenciled images found in neighborhoods like SoMa, the Tenderloin and Bayview-Hunters Point.
…
“In neighborhoods like SoMa, Bayview-Hunters Point and the Tenderloin, the work feels more expressive and free,” said Justin Giarla, owner of the White Walls gallery in the Tenderloin, which is presenting an exhibition of works by the graffitists Blek le Rat and Above. “The street art scene in the Mission is comparatively much more structured.”
(link)

Who do we make our pariah?!  I want to protest something!  Is it Precita Eyes?  Is it Mission Loc@l?  Is it David Campos?  Is it American Apparel?  Is it Banksy?  Is it that nasty bowl of Ramen I had last night? LET’S BREAK SHIT.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

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