Caleb Pershan/SFist

Kitty-corner to an actual corner store, Food Hall (3100 16th Street) has all the sodas and booze and snacks of a typical "bodega" or "convenience store." But it's the presentation, the sourcing, and the pricing that elevates it to one of the bougiest new businesses to hit the 'hood in a while, and vive la difference.

Food Hall, which opened just days ago, also has coffee — the place does feel a little like Ritual, in fact — in addition to produce whose beauty is only rivaled by the items at Bi-Rite. Best to look, not to touch, so as not to trip any kind of alarm.

The store, as we learned in April, is operated by Yasmin Murtadha and Bilal Mannaa and aims to provide a "unique shopping experience for food and drink enthusiasts in San Francisco." Certainly it's an elegant one, the original Wells Fargo and then Val 16 grocery space redesigned by London-based architects William Tozer .

You'll also find education events from Food Hall's various departments, so think of it as an 18 Reasons mashup, too.

FoodHall - 3100 16th Street at Valencia - now open

Previously: Upscale 'FoodHall' Approaches At 16th And Valencia In Former Val 16 Market Space

Way back in 2010 things weren't looking that great for 16th Street stalwart Adobe Bookshop, and it's only gotten worse. We'd heard in January that owner Andrew McKinley was going to try to turn it into some kind of co-op, and there was an event there in which at least one reader sounded alarm bells about the Mission, and San Francisco in general, becoming "a suburb of Silicon Valley." Well, now the rumor is that Jack Spade, the men's line from Kate Spade, is dying to move into the space, and this week McKinley was served his final eviction notice.

The "Retail for Lease" sign has been up on the building for a few months now, and the Jack Spade deal remains unconfirmed.

It's a very, very sad thing for the Mission, and the loss of the eccentric, cozy 25-year-old used bookstore will be felt deeply through the local literary scene. McKinley cultivated an odd salon of sorts around the couch at the front, and businesses like this simply aren't easy to find anymore as San Francisco becomes ever more a nexus of artisan charcuterie and four-dollar coffee. But, alas, we're not sure anything can be done now, and McKinley perhaps should have gone the crowd-sourcing route a year or two ago, if he really wanted to save the place.

[Uptown Almanac]

Mission Mission has done an excellent job of keeping us abreast of the hand-wringing graffiti at 299 Valencia. While nothing new to the city's elite yet gritty neighborhood of choice, the condo complex stands front and center as something many locals and transplants don't like. (It's a harbinger of increasing rental prices, a surprisingly hot topic this week.)

The real issue, though, that no one wants to discuss (or understand) is that it is an intentionally uninspired structure; it's almost self-consciously dull. No wait, it is self-consciously dull. (If you recall, 8 Washington suffers from the exact same problem.) We are hardly Victorian purists, but 299 Valencia, you see, could have been a bizarre, towering, and wildly intricate piece of work. Some gorgeously horrific residential building one might find in Tokyo or the Netherlands. Instead it looks like Mission Bay shat out section 8 housing in order to fly under the radar. That's the real issue here, not the people who plan on inhabiting it or skyrocketing rents. Architectural structures wanting to go unnoticed. And that's too bad.

In the end we all want to look at pretty things, yes? This isn't one of them even. Not sure why some want to frame the argument with feel-good, lofty ideology about Willie Brown's buddies or socioeconomic factors. San Francisco begs for taller, outlandish design -- not Burning Man trifles, mind you, but actual obsessive works of urban-landscaping brilliance.

As for the graffiti artist(s), who is the "you" in "you're"? And how many people did said vandal(s) displace after arriving in the Mission? And what in the hell is an "artisan haircut"? Because when it comes to 299 Valencia, the only work of genius is its mission statement.

Live on the Valencia corridor. Where the restaurant scene thrives, every surface is covered with art, and the coffee houses, delis and bike shops are world famous but still locally owned. Grab a bite from a food truck, get an artisan haircut, and peruse racks of raw denim or brunch in a parklet. Enjoy the sunny days and the bustling nightlife.

Previously: Some Missionites Still Unhappy That Mission Has Gentrified

We're well into the second (some might say third) decade of gentrification in the Mission, but nevertheless there are still some residents in the vicinity who would like things to be more like they used to be — perhaps before they were born? The new condo complex at 299 Valencia got some pretty graffiti smeared on its front last night.

That would be an anarchy symbol and the phrases "Die Yuppie Scum" and "Fuck Off Yuppies."

Perhaps this was the work of one of those Black Bloc anarchists who made a mess of several small businesses Valencia Street in the name of Occupy in late April? They hate gentrification, you see, and expensive coffee. And condos.

Let's forget for a moment that the term "yuppie" these days probably refers to someone who dresses a whole lot like said anarchists in their off time, though perhaps there are stripey socks and leather-soled shoes involved. Let's instead focus on the fact that when it comes to gentrification in the Mission, that ship has sailed. Fighting it now is like fighting a tsunami with tennis racket. There will be more condos. There are already a dozen new restaurants that just opened in the last four months. Perhaps they should consider getting ahead of the curve where gentrification has barely begun, like on that other street that's being called the New Valencia.

Update: An anarchist on Indybay has taken credit for the graffiti, noting that the windows were "permanently etched" and that this had something to do with some nonsensical protest about people "currently facing or who do face Grand Jury’s [sic] in the future" in the Pacific Northwest. But of course.

[JoeHuerta/Instagram via MissionMission]

Fitting for the Mission District, the Sycamore is serving up the Yuppie Burger today. And it sounds really top drawer. Via their Facebook page, the Sycamore boasts: "Today's Burger Special is the Yuppie Burger - sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, caramelized onions, and roasted garlic aioli - with fries and a PBR or soda for $12."

For $12? That's a steal, folks.

If hamburgers aren't your thing, you can also get pulled pork with sweet and spicy barbeque sauce or the homemade seitan. Or maybe just a basket of fries and a Cobb salad? Hell, who are we to tell you what to order? Check out the menu and you decide. Just get something. Look at you. You're so thin. Eat.

[via Mission Mission]

The Whole Foods at Stanyan and Haight is set to open by December just in time for the holiday season. Joy. And while many young urban professionals complain that this could further a takeover by gentrifying yuppies, we say this: Fantastic. For those of you who have fond-free memories of the former market, Cala Foods and its onion shells-covered floors, the new digs will be an exciting, albeit pricey, treat. Also, they tend to hire sexually attractive cashiers. So, you know, there's that too.. [Socketsite, via SF Eater]

"And, sometimes Berkeley just wants you to go home" by sfgirlbybay.

It's like two SFist Finds in one day, isn't it? Lucky you. And you all have been so clever and creative with the images you tag "SFist" as of late. Why, it almost makes us weep with appreciative joy. Thanks, you guys.

Anyway, we came across this here. If we had known that drugs were buried in planters across the city -- also, why does this happen? -- we would be walking around this fair city of ours more often, getting our hands a little more dirty. (It's like Easter morning for the bipolar!) Anyway, a feelings-based letter begging dealers out there not to destroy your greenery might not cut it. Wealthy yuppies or starving artist, it doesn't matter. For it is, as they used to say, all about the benjamins.

Image credit: Seven Morris' Flickr page

We've given up our dislike of this whole interleague baseball thing years ago when we realized that things like the Yankees coming to town for a series against the Gints is a pretty cool thing. The same with a set in Fenway also coming this summer. As for the yearly Melee by the Bay, we've sort of acquired a feeling of meh towards the whole thing. It's done every year so there's really not that much of a difference between this series and, say, a Giants/Phillies series or an A's/Indians series.

Well, maybe it’s a bit more exciting than that.

Part of it is because there's no real animosity between fans of the teams or an intense rivalry going on between them. Sure, the front offices probably throw spitballs at each other at league meetings and, sure, Giants fans may think A's fans are non-existent at best and habitués of Antioch at the worst while A's fans think Giants fans are fair weather corporate Yuppies out schmoozing clients at the site of a team that hasn't won anything on this side of the Mississippi River, but it's not that intense. But who cares about us? As the stadiums are packed on both sides of the Bay, the front offices have to pretty happy with these things.

Needless to say, this should be an interesting series because, as we said earlier, both teams are in a way similar and completely dissimilar at the same time. Similar because they both feature excellent starting pitching and rather weak offenses (both teams seem to play one run games everytime they step on the field). Opposite because the A's philosophy is to go with a bunch of young kids and "who the hell is that guy" players while the Giants' philosophy is to go with a bunch of old geezers and "does he still play?" players and throw them on the back of Barry Lamar.

The real question for this series is will anyone actually score any runs. Both teams have their aces going and these look like the kind of games managers call for bunts in the early innings because one run could be enough to win the game. Our prediction? Offense galore just because whenever everyone talks about the pitching, the hitters go nuts. The other thing of interest is that, yes, tonight's game will have Barry Zito facing his old mates for the first time since he switched sides.

For those of you keeping score, here's the rotations for the series

Zito vs. Gaudin
Cain vs Haren
Morris vs. Kennedy

Let the games begin

Here comes the numbers: while the number of collisions are down, the number of pedestrian fatalities are up. So, in other words, drivers don't hit other cars anymore, they hit pedestrians. The number of collisions that cannot be explained, however, is up by over 50% and the police think there's a good chance those collisions are speed related. The most dangerous areas are the South of Market area, primarily because it's where a lot of people get on and off of 280, and 101 as well as the 19th Avenue. Another dangerous area is the Pac Heights, Marina area. Must be all those Yuppies in a rush to a Traina party that is the cause behind it. Actually, police think it's caused by people trying to get to the Golden Gate Bridge and Gough and Franklin streets.

The police are hoping to secure a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to buy twenty new radar guns. They are also hoping to start up an education program to alert drivers to the danger of fast driving.

"I had the most satisfying experience the other night...a huge-ass SUV with an over-sensitive car alarm that had been tormenting us for hours...GOT TOWED!! I'd never seen that before...so immensely gratifying! If these assholes with extra-loud alarms that go off when a truck or bus goes by begin to realize that their precious vehicle WILL GET DRAGGED OFF,
well maybe they'll start fixing their f------- alarms.

Fair Oaks is a beautiful little street between Guerrero & Dolores. When I'm with yuppies, I tell them I live in Noe Valley...with hipsters, it's Mission District...best of both worlds! So the wretched SUV starts going off around 6pm...by 9 it's covered with notes by me and other neighbors warning the owner that police would be called...and they were, several times. Finally, a two cops show up, look inside car & try to contact owner. After a brief discussion with a neighbor, miraculously, they call a tow truck!

Later, when I spoke with the neighbor, I found out he had to sign a "citizen's arrest" form. Yikes! That took some nerve, as this exposes him to possible retribution, I imagine. Nothing, however, has happened to him, although I saw the offending car pass our block the very next day, honking his revenge (I suppose). But that was the end of it. SO...the moral of the story: don't put up with this nuisance! Call the cops and get that sucker towed."

Great ingredients make great food, and all you have to do is get out of their way. Here's a casual summer meal we assembled for the test kitchen staff. This weekend, find your own inspiration, invite some friends over, and enjoy a casual meal outside or at least with the windows open (unless, like us, you have kamikaze kitties).

We went foraging at the Ferry Plaza market. Say what you will about this Emerald City of marketplaces (*cough* overpriced *cough* rampant yuppies *cough*), but it's hard to leave without overflowing arms of delicious produce.

Our story began last week when a mens softball team headed off to the Connecticut Yankee for some post-game celebratory drinks. As is softball players' wont as the Yankee is known as a sports bar and a good home for wayward New Englanders. So the group began to order and when the last person, a person who was most definitely wearing their baseball cap backwards, ordered, the bartender told him that they wouldn't serve him unless he turned his cap around. When the guy protested, the bartender announced to all of the backwards baseball cap wearers in the group that none of them would be served again unless they all turned their caps around. Some stayed (hey, they already paid for their drinks), some left in protest.

Afterwards, e-mails went a-flying as word was spread throughout the league about the Yankee's new baseball cap policy. An e-mail was sent to Ms. Garchik who called the Yankee to find out what the deal was. She was told, and we quote: "We're tired of stupid people coming in here with stupid hats...you need to be serious about your baseball and be serious about your hat.''

We here in San Francisco pride ourselves in our tolerance and our hatred of any sort of prejudice. And what we have here is a prejudice most foul-- the owners of the bar are clearly anti-backward-baseball-capites. If this doesn't call for some sort of San Francisco style protest, we don't know what would. Will some frat-dude Rosa Parks brave the bar and refuse to turn around their hat? Will a bunch of Yuppies get together and stage a sit in where they all wear their caps backwards in solidarity and sing "We Shall Overcome" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?" Where is Chris Daly when you need him? He's probably worn a baseball cap backwards a few times. And you can't tell me Gavin has never strayed from having his cap forward looking.

Oh, well, we kid, but this is like one of the stupidest things ever.

Anyways, more e-mails are circulating and a boycott is being called for. As is a challenge to the Yankee to play a game of softball to show who the serious baseball people are and who aren't. Others wonder why the Yankee doesn't say anything about the motorcycle gang that makes the bar it's home. Are the bar owners too scared to do something or do they just wear their caps to bar regulations?

Either way, developing....