May 2, 2013
Voice your opinion - bike lanes on Polk Street

Take the Polk Street “SFTMA Radical Agenda” survey!

We’ve seen the proposals. We had debates at a local church. Neighborhood associations have backed their horse. We’ve seen surveys on the street and flyers in business windows. It’s now time to decide whether we want to “destroy the neighborhood” with “radical” agendas by coalitions that want to “force” people to ride bicycles. Oh, Lordy!

I think over-reactive businesses will, ultimately, get their way on this, but I truly hope we can convert Polk Street into a main biking thoroughfare for the neighborhood and the city.

2:40pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxk4CJdz
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May 2, 2013
Legs on Larkin. Random neighborhood photos. Worth posting or just annoying non-information?

Legs on Larkin.

Random neighborhood photos. Worth posting or just annoying non-information?

2:20am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxk27JvU
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(Notes: 3)
  
May 2, 2013
I might be the only one, but I love the attention R&W Cleaners gets from the street art community. Sadly though, the front of that building is now being torn off. I asked about the construction going on with it and a guy didn’t say anyone is planning on moving into the space just yet. Check out the cool sign that’s been hiding underneath the facade above. I haven’t lived here long enough to remember it as an auto-repair shop. Post and Hyde.

I might be the only one, but I love the attention R&W Cleaners gets from the street art community. Sadly though, the front of that building is now being torn off. I asked about the construction going on with it and a guy didn’t say anyone is planning on moving into the space just yet. Check out the cool sign that’s been hiding underneath the facade above. I haven’t lived here long enough to remember it as an auto-repair shop.
 Post and Hyde.

2:12am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxk26cPg
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April 28, 2013
Aroma Cafe is now open at a location that hasn’t had the best staying power, having replaced Prime Dip, which was previously a What’s Up Dog. Larkin, between Turk and Eddy.

Aroma Cafe is now open at a location that hasn’t had the best staying power, having replaced Prime Dip, which was previously a What’s Up Dog. Larkin, between Turk and Eddy.

6:54pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjnJnnG
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April 28, 2013
After a long, boring white hiatus, the wall on Eddy, between Polk and Larkin, is getting a new mural after the Ben Eine piece disappeared a while ago.

After a long, boring white hiatus, the wall on Eddy, between Polk and Larkin, is getting a new mural after the Ben Eine piece disappeared a while ago.

6:36pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjnDj4A
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(Notes: 8)
  
April 28, 2013
Word on the street is that the Fourth Wave’s temporary remodeling closing is actually permanent and we’re getting an Indian restaurant in its place. With Shalimar and Darbar so close to this location, we may need to rename this part of Polk Street, “Curry Corner.” Yum.

Word on the street is that the Fourth Wave’s temporary remodeling closing is actually permanent and we’re getting an Indian restaurant in its place. With Shalimar and Darbar so close to this location, we may need to rename this part of Polk Street, “Curry Corner.” Yum.

6:14pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjn6qUj
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(Notes: 1)
  
April 28, 2013
I neglected to post the finished mural on Turk and Hyde.

I neglected to post the finished mural on Turk and Hyde.

6:06pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjn4ArA
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April 28, 2013
Turtle Tower at the corner of a filthy alley and Larkin Street is all papered up and construction is ongoing at its new location just a couple store fronts up the street, where the tattoo and piercing shop used to be. Two stories of Turtle Tower! Larkin, between Eddy and Ellis.

Turtle Tower at the corner of a filthy alley and Larkin Street is all papered up and construction is ongoing at its new location just a couple store fronts up the street, where the tattoo and piercing shop used to be. Two stories of Turtle Tower! Larkin, between Eddy and Ellis.

6:02pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjn2w68
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April 28, 2013

Olive alley had a several writers hitting the wall today.

Bottom: I missed when Spencer Cunningham added the memorial to Carlos Villa to his piece.

5:55pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjn0ysl
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April 23, 2013
Soul Groove, the chicken and waffles shop that opened up in the past year on Larkin, between Turk and Golden Gate, stopped into Hemlock the other night to hand out some free sample sandwiches and let us know that they’re trying to get a service window so they can serve their food until wayyyyy late into the night for the hungry drinking crowd. I believe the owner said they were hoping to stay open ‘til 3am. That would be fantastic, because the late-late food options in this ‘hood are severely underwhelming, which, as one of my compadres pointed out, is likely intentional since a drunkard’s palate isn’t usually very discerning. This will likely serve the insane Noble club crowd (and the new bar from the Bender’s owner that will open up at the old Deco Lounge) more than the streaming shit show on Polk Street, but I wouldn’t mind the trek downhill to get something that tastes better than pizza made with plaster for the crust now and then.

Soul Groove, the chicken and waffles shop that opened up in the past year on Larkin, between Turk and Golden Gate, stopped into Hemlock the other night to hand out some free sample sandwiches and let us know that they’re trying to get a service window so they can serve their food until wayyyyy late into the night for the hungry drinking crowd. I believe the owner said they were hoping to stay open ‘til 3am. That would be fantastic, because the late-late food options in this ‘hood are severely underwhelming, which, as one of my compadres pointed out, is likely intentional since a drunkard’s palate isn’t usually very discerning.

This will likely serve the insane Noble club crowd (and the new bar from the Bender’s owner that will open up at the old Deco Lounge) more than the streaming shit show on Polk Street, but I wouldn’t mind the trek downhill to get something that tastes better than pizza made with plaster for the crust now and then.

8:02pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjPbbEh
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April 23, 2013

Just one last feather to go on this stunning piece on Star Market’s wall, as previously outlined in the Tenderlife. Check out the plumage at the corner of Geary and Leavenworth.

7:36pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxjPS-5Z
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April 18, 2013
Whiners are winners on Polk Street

So now there’s a bar moratorium on the Polk Street corridor. Reason in favor of this? “It’s getting to be a new Vegas.” See, when people use ludicrous statements like that, no matter what valid points they make after, it’s just hard to take them seriously. (Take note, anti-bike lane folks. “The radical agenda of the SFTMA” makes you look like a lunatic.)

This ban means bars that want to open up have to come into the neighborhood a bit more, off the strip. That makes containing problems harder and spreads the noise issue out. It doesn’t make sense to me. I can only assume the thinking is the moratorium would stop bars from opening up at all.

I’m not entirely clear, after reading the article, if it’s a ban on bars and the bar license or if the 47 license is still an option. We could see more restaurant openings (with a booze license, of course) as a result, which might not be a terrible thing. Since the Great Recession, just about every business that could get a beer and wine license did so. Blue Fog is applying for theirs now.

3:32am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxiz6nCu
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April 15, 2013
Lost in the Loin. Anyone seen Blaze?

Lost in the Loin. Anyone seen Blaze?

6:47pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxioINvw
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April 15, 2013
Abir Pizza became Rotana Schwerma became another empty space on Geary. It’s apparently tough business in this area of Geary. Geary, between Leavenworth and Hyde.

Abir Pizza became Rotana Schwerma became another empty space on Geary. It’s apparently tough business in this area of Geary. Geary, between Leavenworth and Hyde.

2:50am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxikwNxm
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April 14, 2013
Blue Fog market, the fancy corner store at Polk and Sacramento, is getting a 20 license so you can pair some wine with their stinky cheeses.

Blue Fog market, the fancy corner store at Polk and Sacramento, is getting a 20 license so you can pair some wine with their stinky cheeses.

3:09pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Zm9bIxiiSHot
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