We’ve had a friend from NYC staying with us the past few days. He was hoping to escape the heat wave that had been strangling the Northeast. I think our minor SF heat wave hasn’t bothered him (he’s not a delicate California coastal flower after all not used to temperatures above 75 or below 50) except for everyone constantly repeating to him he mantra that we never have weather like this. Which he might believe except he had already told us that every time he has ever visited San Francisco the weather has been like this.
Anyway the heat was oppressive enough that we all headed to Marshall Beach near the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday. In addition to the wildlife on the beach we observed sea lions swimming out just beyond the surf line and we also saw a killer whale which would occasionally surface for air before going back under. And the endless parade of cargo ships going in and out of the Golden Gate.
After the beach we went to the naked Yoga practice in the Mission to curl ourselves into pretzels in the coolest possible way. Not as weird as it sounds. Hungry after that, I had heard about a new restaurant on Mission at 18th called simply The Corner (a door down from Weird Fish) serving locally sourced food at very reasonable prices and having outdoor seating. Since it was still warm and sunny when we finished our yoga we walked there and had some delicious food on the 18th Street side of the sidewalk, where we could listen to the live music from a party at the tattoo parlor next door. Lots of locals hanging out listening as well, and someone was taping the event. Across 18th Street an artist from the tattoo parlor was airbrush painting a huge club-wielding Aztec gargoyle on a doorway-sized canvas that had been stretched over some windows of the 99¢ store, which looked vacant but might be in operation – it was hard to tell. The cameraman was taping that was well, and interviewing the occasional onlooker.
The food at The Corner was great. Happy Hour had ended at 6pm and no one in the neighborhood eats as early as 6:30pm because we had it pretty much to ourselves when we got there. By the time we left people were waiting and also nearby at Weird Fish. By that time it was cooling off and we headed back home.
The street art of the Mission has been infiltrating other parts of the City. Downtown of course gets sidewalk sprays – but I don’t count most of them because they seem to be attempts at viral advertising. I’m seeing sidewalk graffiti in Castro and Noe Valley these days – of the classic “Mission Type.” And for a while now murals have been seen more and more around Haight Street around Fillmore. Or maybe all over Haight Street but I get more to the Lower Haight – because of course of Memphis Minnies and Rosamunde Sausage Grill. Which – by the way – has leased a large restaurant space over on Mission past 24th Street now. I can’t wait to see what that turns out to be like!
Queeristan - everywhere you are 