David Chiu Commissions Psychedelic Mural of Himself
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
Rad mural, David, but I thought only self-aggrandizing dictators like Saddam Hussein and Ronald Reagan commissioned public art of themselves?
People
Drum Circle Participants Expand Their Turf
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
This dude was posted up outside Lucca on Valencia, banging his hands on a gutted speaker box and soliciting donations out of a repurposed weed jar. A harbinger of things to come, or merely a bold stand against sit/lie?
Dolores Park gets its own Mortal Kombat Character
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
He's basically a cross between an acid-crazed Hannibal Lecter fresh off a dubstep-filled Burning Man trip gone horribly wrong and a ninja warrior dead set on annihilating white-shirted dorks who perpetually stare at the ground.
Just check out his sick tiger pounce attack:
Brian Wilson Rides Fixie, Goes to Mission Thrift Store
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
This tip comes to us by way of a trustworthy bike messenger, who can reliably identify a fixie when he sees one. “Black frame, bullhorns, no brakes.” Seems like a reckless ride for our closer, but considering Coolstandings.com says the Giants only have a 7.7% chance of making the playoffs this year, perhaps Brian just said “fuck it” and decided to offload his collection of devalued Giants' memorabilia after 'crushing it' around town on 20 pounds of brakeless steal.
But was it really Brian? I can't count the times I've seen some jacked, black bearded kid rocking a pair of bitchin' shades and shit my pants thinking Brian was in the same late-night burrito queue as me, only to learn it was an imposter and an evening's worth of booze had blurred my vision. Which begs the question: why hasn't anyone started a “Brian Wilson or Hipster?” meme tumblr yet?
There's a book deal in there somewhere.
(Thanks John!)
Chad Hasegawa Hits Clarion Alley
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
Local photographer Bhautik Joshi caught up Chad Hasegawa painting his defining layer cake bear in Clarion Alley and shot him some questions about the process:
“If you don't mind me asking - how did you end up with wall space in Clarion Alley? Did you apply?”
“No way - they get in touch with you. It's awesome to get the chance to paint here - so many people come here to see this alley, is so busy.”
“And how does it work? Do you get a commission?”“Nah. Even if they offered something, I wouldn't take it - I'm just honored to be invited to paint here.”
Look Ma, No Hands!
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
I'm not quite sure what this has to do with the mayoral election, but human pandering machine John Avalos recently released a Cut Copy music video of himself biking around San Francisco. And quite the spread it is! He turns the anti-protest ride protest ride, SF Bike Party, into an impromptu campaign rally, shows off his chops as a bike mechanic, rides back-and-forth in front of Valencia Cyclery a half dozen times, and demonstrates that the decaying mess beneath his wheels on Market Street isn't enough to throw him off balance.
See for yourself:
Anthony Bourdain Slaps on Pair of Wayfarers, Blows Up Dolores Park and Toronado
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
What does one say about a silver fox trying to be cool in Dolores Park? That this signals the food cartification of Dolores Park? That Azalina's Malaysian Crepes (pictured) will be the Hot Street Food Treat of 2011? That self-ascribed “foodies” will start saying “I was into food trucks in Dolores Park before they were cool”? Is that even an acceptable joke anymore?
The reality is the food-centric TV host swung through Toronado, Rosamunde, Dolores Park, and Dolores Park Cafe yesterday—all four places leaders in their respective fields (slangin' beer, grilling sausages, public alcohol consumption, and being a bathroom) that probably don't need more international publicity to cement their status as San Francisco institutions. But this is a man famous for slamming rails and burning weed in walk-in refrigerators, so maybe, just maybe, these iconic drug havens will get their proper journalist due.
Lil Tuffy Debutes the Outside Lands 2011 Poster
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
Everyone's favorite Mission poster maker and Pop's bacon and Budweiser-monger, Lil Tuffy, is now showing off this year's official Outside Lands poster. And what a poster it is, highlighting the things that make San Francisco so great: Sutro Tower, baseball, food, booze, music, sea lions, Ray-Bans, and genital crabs.
No word how much it costs, but he'll be slangin' his wares on the Polo Fields during the festival.
[Link]
New Pop-Up Bar Coming to the Mission
— By Alan Fineberg |
Skinner's is a new, ultra-exclusive pop up bar that's made a couple of appearances in the Mission.
JD Read, pop-up visionary
The brainchild of fledging barowner JD Read, Skinner's strips the bar experience down to “its purest form.” Since there are legal gray areas involved, information about the bar is restricted. You'll need to request an invite here with the subject line: “Requesting Invite to Skinner's Box”.
Skinner's
Just thinking about this place makes me salivate.
Looks Like Chicken John Has a New Book Coming Out
— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
Everyone's favorite Mission District activist is apparently a new author, as he informed everyone in today's newsletter:
The Book of the Is arrived. I can't even fit them in the back of my truck, there are so many of them. 2,500 copies… 3 giant pallets.
The official release date is September 15th. It's a handsome book, if I might say so myself. Hardcover. Full color every page. Neat.
There are so many people to thank and this has been such a process… but I have authered my first book and I am slightly beaming with pride.220 pages of lies a propaganda. 60,000 words. 11 chapters. 247 photographs. One idea: no consequences.
One thing of interest is NYC-based street artist Swoon (a favorite of mine, you can still see her work on 24th and Hampshire) is doing a limited edition jacket for the book. No word where you can buy this read, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it in local stores come September.