Posts Tagged ‘valencia’

Divisadero Streetscape Improvements Kick Off – Cafe Mojo Parklet Officially Christened

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Here’s the scene this morning at the official ceremony kicking off all the Divisadero Streetscape Improvements and the Cafe Mojo Parklet at 639 Divisadero betwixt Hayes and Grove.

BIKE NOPA has all the deets for the new parklet in front of popular Mojo Bicycle Cafe, where you are beseeched to “ride in – hang out – get your fix – ride on.”

Of course District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimiwas there* – he was working the crowd and expressing his appreciation for improved bicycle and pedestrian safety on the Divisadero Corridor. He also pointed out the success of the nearby Divisadero Farmer’s Market, which is no longer seasonal. It’s open every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM year-round these days.

Mayor Gavin Newsom addressing a large crowd on the tiny parklet:

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And all the while, the honking yellow Hummer of Main Contractor Synergy Project Management was discretely parked across the street, as discretely as possible given that it’s a honking yellow Hummer:

I’m on the record as not being a big fan of all the changes, but oh well.

SocketSite has more info about Divis and Curbed SF has all the history, as you’d expect.

Brand new median trees and old-school streetlamps for as far as the eye can see: 

These days, it’s Mojo a gogo. A fixie bike mounted outdoors as art:

Welcome to the New Divisidero.

*Wearing the same drip-dry suit he was wearing at the recent opening of the Hamilton Recreation Center and Pool.

All the deets, after the jump

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San Francisco’s Best Bike Store is the New Marin Bikes Outlet in the SoMA – Mega Turbo Awesome

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Now I heard from the Bluoz about Marin Bikes‘ new Factory Outlet in the South of Market Area, but I had to see it to believe it. Yes, the old Fregosi Paint store location at 1090 Folsom is now a huge bike shop.

Unfortunately, they don’t have any bikes going for $200 anymore but you’ll like the prices irregardless. The Yelpers seem to like this store, anyway.

They even have them expensive little folding bikes you can take on BART 24-7

Myself, I recently got me a mountain bike from the REI but you, if you wanted a cheap hybrid bike for $279, something akin to the one Mayor Gavin Newsom uses on Bike to Work Day (a Specialized Globe with his name on the top tube that went for $1000-something), well I don’t think an outfit like Valencia Cyclery could touch that kind of deal, specially considering all the money V.C. spends on advertising.

Just saying.

I’m betting the factory that produced a good portion of these bikes is way over in Red China (or the Other China), but oddly enough, Marin Bikes’ Factory Outlet is right here in San Francisco:

(The arrival of this new store more than makes up for losing our North Face Outlet to Berkeley.)

Get over to 7th and Folsom and tell them Billy sent you.

See you there.

Do Grown Men Beg for Money from Children in San Francisco’s Mission District? Yes.

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

As seen on 16th Street:

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(Or it could be a Crocs-wearing Woody Harrelson getting into character for his next film…)

The Famous Pikachu of Spork Restaurant on Valencia

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

Yelp-rated Spork restaurant on Valencia in the Mission keeps packing them in. Why’s that? 

In part, this joint’s success is due to its famous Pikachu.

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Keep a look out for them.

Parallel Parking in the Middle of Valencia – Your Right as a San Franciscan

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Valencia Street in the Mission used to have two lanes in both directions, but now it has Category II bike lanes and a center lane that’s supposed to be used for turns. The problem is that drivers view the turning lane as a 13-foot-wide, mile-and-half-long parking lot.

As here, where the driver of this black $100,000 Mercedes Benz Geländewagen is backing up the northbound lane to claim the prize he just passed by. Was the MUNI bus delayed by this maneuver of the G-Wagon? A little, but Parking Wherever The Hell You Want is Your Right as a San Franciscan, right?

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Do people get tickets for this? People do.

Occasionally.

Kryptonite Lock Scores a Pyrrhic Victory on Market Street – A Stripped Bike

Monday, May 25th, 2009

The owner of this Schwinn bicycle took a bit of care before locking it up for the last time ever. Note the $50 Kryptonite Evolution Mini (quite fashionable, non?avec cable for the wheels – that’s a perfectly cromulent way of a locking a bike on the mean streets of San Francisco. (A lesser lock would have succumbed like this.)

But the owner might have dared to leave it overnight, when the freaks come out.   

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The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has some thoughts on the issue of protecting your bike. Check it out, after the jump.

Good luck.

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American Apparel, Hated Out of the Mission, Embraced by the Haight

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

Upper Haight, that is. American-made tops on sale, $5 each – that will bring out the shoppers. Remember, Haight Ashbury is a just a short ride away from La Mission, where’s there’s no AA, none at all.  ]

Land office business today in teh 94117:

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American Apparel, is there anything you can’t do?

The 31st Annual Saint Stupid’s Day Parade in San Francisco

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

The First Church of the Last Laugh’s 31st Annual Saint Stupid’s Day Parade went off without a hitch today under sunny skies, as per usual

See what it looked like here and here, at the Laughing Squid.

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via Brian Brooks

Don’t forget about the after party tonight at Elbo Room, 9:00 PM.

See you next year.

Toshio Hirano, the Yodeling Cowboy Troubador, Plays the Rite Spot Cafe

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

Famous Toshio Hirano, sharing a drink and talking about music with some fans last night during Earth Hour 2009 before his regular appearance (last Saturday of the month at 9:00 PM, admission free) at the Rite Spot Cafe on 2099 Folsom near 17th Street.

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See a video of him playing here.

All Mission District Residents Get a 25% Discount at American Apparel in San Francisco!

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Oh, you people in the Mission District have been waiting for this. Just get some ID and something that has your name and address on it showing you live in the 94110 (or somewhere close enough to give you a colorable claim of Missionite status) and then hop on your polluting moped to get over to any of the three remaining American Apparels. Then demand your 25% discount on anything in the store until March 15, 2009

Forget the controversy, just get yourself some new clothes. Joaquin Phoenix would want you to, and plus, you’ve earned it, baby!

Another iconic advertisement. Don’t click to expand: 

 
Cow Hollow

 2174 Union

(415) 440-3220
 
Haight Ashbury

 1615 Haight

(415) 431-4028
 
Union Square

 363 Grant

(415) 986-0388

Just one issue remains – what to put into the empty space at 998 Valencia? How about a Starbucks? The Mission is currently under-served by Amerikkka’s favorite purveyor of caffeinated beverages. See?

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Anyway, AA is open to suggestions. Think about it.