Free Booze!

Mission Holiday Block Party is Tonight!

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

We're mere weeks away from Christmas and those other holidays, so that means it's time to load up on booze and presents.  If you didn't already do all your shopping at 7pm on Thanksgiving night (what's wrong with you?), the merchants in the Mission have you covered tonight (from 5-10pm) with sweet deals, free booze and food, and a sampling of music.  Some of the highlights:

  • Paxton Gate: Serving hot mulled cider spiked for those who’d like an extra kick
  • Ritual Roasters: Free beverage with purchase of any gift box
  • Viracocha: Music from 4-9pm, comedy from 9-11pm
  • Mission: Comics & Art: 25% off all comics and books. Open late!
  • Dijital Fix: Free photobooth, drinks and catered food
  • Benny Gold: 15% everything and “cold beersGood Vibrations”
  • Good Vibrations: 15% off rubber dongs and shit if you spend more than $50.

More details and deals at the Block Party's website.

Valencia Sidewalk Sale Returns Saturday!

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association is bringing back their annual sidewalk sale this weekend, promising a hot mess of cheap and free booze and food, music, art openings, discounted goods, and associated shenanigans.  There's even a “pop-up bar” by everyone love-it-or-hate-it bar Dear Mom.

From Weston Wear's Bridget Moore, who is helping put on the event:

We feel this to be a strong and well-received event, despite certain businesses suffering setbacks from the Valencia Street Riots that took place on April 30th. We are going to show everyone we can take a beating and still throw a party.

Okay!  So, everyone go support your local (vandalized) businesses by opening your wallets and getting some rad goods in return.  Below, a list of some of Saturday's highlights:

Room 4: Vintage toy trunk show with bargain prices. Featuring lots of Pee-Wee Herman, Simpsons, and Nightmare Before Christmas. 904 Valencia

Lost Weekend Video: All day sidewalk event featuring $5 DVDs and music. 1034 Valencia

Weston Wear: Inside: Pop-Up Bar hosted by Dear Mom Bartenders Outside: Matt Marcus of The Front Porch and fellow staff serving a bevy of hot sauces, fried chicken and whoopie pie samples outside 4 prize raffle as well as 15% off all of our new summer arrivals. 569 Valencia

Candystore Collective: Vintage Goodies Sidewalk Sale. Big Discounts on a bevy of vintage treasures from the vault. Noon to 5pm, 3153 16th (Btwn Valencia and Guerro)

Dema: Pop-up Vintage from Golden Collective on the sidewalk from noon to 5pm and 15% off the entire store! 1038 Valencia

Hangr 16: Live DJ 11-7pm and Mimosas served up till 2pm. 3128 16th (Btwn Valencia and Albion)

Venga Empanadas: Menu Specials and Food Samples. All day long, 443 Valencia

Good Vibrations: All day sale & giveaway! 603 Valencia [Free dildos???!!!!]

Five & Diamond: Music and all day sidewalk sale event! 510 Valencia

Silver Sprocket Bicycle Club: Sidewalk Event. 1057 Valencia

Curiosity Shoppe: Little Paper Planes book launch party and gallery opening. 855 Valencia

Carte Blanche Gallery: Live music and discount prices on a selection of framed collector prints and photo books. 973 Valencia

Dog Eared Books: Discounted Books and serving up treats from 10a-6pm. 900 Valencia

Casanova Lounge: Opening up early at 3pm! Live DJ set and $1 off drinks till 7pm. 527 Valencia

The Front Porch:  Executive Chef Matt Marcus and staff will be serving up a bevy of award winning hot sauces, new chiptole bbq sauce, fried chicken and whoopie pie samples 12-5 in front of Weston Wear (569 Valencia) Then all night long menu specials at their own spot. 5-11pm, 65A 29th Street

ArtZone 461 Gallery: Ryan M. Reynolds “Continuum” and Paul Morin “Modern Portraits”. 12-6pm, 461 Valencia

Community Thrift: 25% off all furniture! 623 Valencia

Belljar: Discount and and drinks all afternoon. 3187 16th (Btwn Valencia and Guerro)

Mira Mira: All day sale, in store event and serving up munchies. Noon to 7pm, 3292 22nd (at Valencia)

Hazel and Gerties: Sale and Adoption Event. 3385 22nd Street (Bwtn Valencia and Guerro) [Puppies!]