Mission District

Fabric8 is a Pretty Rad Space

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I never bothered to check out Fabric8 because it always struck me as a place people went to eat “revolutionary street food” and not dig art.  Despite the fact this place relies on some dude selling kebabs or some shit to do all its promotion, it’s a pretty rad space.  Epic designs from astroturfed floor to ceiling, cheap Sirron Norris prints, and, best of all, a bathtub-fishtank (pictured).  I easily spent more time in awe over the fish than I did looking at any given piece of work, which isn’t a diss towards the artists but more a compliment to the fish.  Also, you can take a poop in there.  Neat!

(photo by Jeff D., who laughed at my original iPhone pic and sent me this)

I was going to make a post making fun of people flocking to photograph the new Banksy piece but, ummm, yeah

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Don’t get me wrong, I got a chubby over this too, but do we really need a news van?  They took 4 takes of some not-fashionable (in Mission terms) walking out of the Curiosity Shoppe.  It was wicked intense.

Also, two hipsta chicas rolled up in a 90’s SUV (earth day DANG) and started taking pictures with no less than 5 different cameras.  One of them even looked like it used manual film.  I feel like if you are going to photograph Banksy, you shouldn’t be doing it with technology (excluding Hipstamatic and Razrs, of course), since that is ‘contrary to his ideals’ and ‘fucking lame.’

Anyways, go over and check it out.  It’s fantastic.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Delano's IGA Not Closing (It Just Looks Like it Is)

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I do a lot of my shopping at Delano’s because it’s a block from my house.  Because I know I’m only one of the 20 people who do, I’ll keep it brief.  I talked to a staff member and they said they will be in business until “at least October,” which is when their lease expires.  They said the landlord increased the rent by three times, so the owner is considering closing it because of the exorbitant increase.  The reason the store is empty is because as negotiations with the landlord broke down, they debated closing it and didn’t restock.  They claim that they reordered everything and the shelves will be stocked again by next week.

Bummer regardless.  One of the Mission’s best restaurants, Chili Lemon and Garlic on 24th closed a few years back for the exact same reason: the landlord saw the gold of gentrification and raised rent to a point that CLG couldn’t afford to stay open.  Then the soulless “China Fun Fast Food” moved into the spot and it’s virtually empty everyday.

Maybe the landlord is eyeing a Whole Foods or, you know, an American Apparel outlet store.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

The Signage at Ricos Tacos is Fucking Disturbing

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I’ve walked past this place countless times over the years but just today noticed how fucking creepy this piece is.  It starts off alright: some chef-pig elated with whatever he’s cooking up.  What’s he cooking up?  Other pigs, of course.  This Jabba the Hutt looking pig appears to have just received the best fuck of its life as it lays spread eagle on the grill.  Then this other pig is cutting up another pig with some gardening tools.

Look, I know not everyone in this world is blessed with the delicious diet of the vegetarian, but does swine cannibalism really make anyone hungry?

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