issue no. 1
eat
@
play
off the grid
@
musée mécanique
scavenger hunt party
@
@
graffiti and murals
kells irish pub
in this issue 4
eat @
11
play @
12
scavenger hunt @
22
party @
off the grid
muse mechanique
kells bar
clarion st.
from th
e editor
August th 28 , 20 06 was gression the first to adulth day of ood. It w lege. My as also m my slow promom an y first da d I woke Sacram y of colup early ento to th a nd drov e Bay A time. W e out fro rea to m hen we m ake my pulled u everywh 1 pm m p to cam ere. All ove-in p u d s , o there we wn the s belongin treet we re cars gs into p re familie iles and mom un s unpac heaps o loaded th king nto the e car an possess sidewalk d left m ions to g . My e o o n p the curb ark. I fe my child lt naked with my hood be . Hello, longings for every these are and the one to s all y are on ee. Afte down th the side r what fe e stairs, walk lt li k e e v e 5 rything w mom an 0 trips u d Ihad lu p and as finall y in the nch,and a brief h room. M I soon w ug and y hisked h a kiss go my life b er away odbye. I y my ow with w a s n re te ady to fi of sight, rms. As nally live I quickly I watche d the ca thought r drive o “now wh ut at?”. I count myself lu cky hav and sub ing been urban a raised in reas, bu in San F both urb t I still felt rancisco an a little u . The sh me une n prepare e e asy. But r idea o d f taking I was to in like m a bus m o determ y room ade ined to mate, w be her re n o t h be a sh o ’s cently m only com utade “be panion I wanted st friend seemed to get o ” to from Fre ut, but I where. I sno state didn’t kn tried all . ow how. the touri got old. I didn’t st stuff a There w know t first, b asn’t an Over the u t that soo y p la next yea c e n I c ould ca r, I slow lic trans ll “min ly got ov portatio e ”. e r n my fear and wa myself. lking aro of pubFour yea u n rs d in the later I n “sketchy city by ow live in ” parts of the c o n e of the ity and most I love e very min This ma gazine is ute. for those of the w who wan onderfu l city of t to get anything more ou San Fra tourist a n t c is c o. You w b out this to the b on’t find magazin est loca e l . fa It vorites. somethin is a guid My hope ebook g that yo s are th u can c have an at you fi all “your adventu nd place”. re. Get lost and Best Wis hes,
Loretta R
obinson
holeinthewall.com 3 may/june 2010
It’s been a month since San Francisco’s Off the Grid relaunched its Friday night
Quality Food On Wheels by Janny Hu
market at Fort Mason, and judging by the lengthy lines San Francisco’s street food scene has never been livelier rain or shine.
eat: off the grid
There’s now silog, Spam and samosas on wheels. There’s curry, onigiri and banh mi. There’s even cultural mashups like banh mi musubi. With new food trucks and tents seemingly launching every week - Off the Grid founder Matt Cohen says Thai, yakitori and pizza will be coming to a street corner near you - we’ve had our stomachs full scouting out the best in show. Here’s the short list of dishes we found to be off the charts while roaming the Friday night food fests. Many of these mobile vendors also make appearances at Bay Area farmers’ markets and other Off the Grid events, so check their websites or Twitter pages for schedules.
Happy eating.
holeinthewall.com 5 may/june 2010
“ The lines seem long at first, but they go quickly. The food is just too good to pass up. Come early to snag a table or bring your own fold up chairs.”
Snoop Dogg from Brass Knuckle As if a bacon-wrapped hot dog weren’t devilish enough, Shellie Kitchen has added toppings galore - pepper dressing, horseradish aioli, teriyaki mayo, sriracha ketchup, radish sprouts and bonito flakes - to make a truly divine dog. Each bite is salty, smoky and tart, and the chewy bonito flakes pull everything together. $6. www.brassknucklesf.com. Deconstructed chicken samosa from Curry Up Now Akash and Rana Kapoor believe the best part of a samosa is the shell, so they took an Indian classic and turned it inside out. The result is an exploded samosa, piled high with garbanzo beans, pico de gallo, chutney, chicken and mini-samosas. $6. www.curryupnow.com.
eat: off the grid Peking duck musubi from Musubi Kings Middle school pals Aric Doo, Paul Chin and Stanley Lau are making over Hawaii’s beloved Spam musubi - rice and Spam wrapped in seaweed - with fillings inspired by other cuisines, like Vietnam’s banh mi sandwich and classic American bacon and eggs.But it’s their Peking Duck musubi that we adore: shredded Chinese-style barbecued duck slathered with hoisin aioli and scallions. $5. twitter.com/musubikings. Cochinita pibl taco from Chaac Mool This Mayan staple from Luis and Maria de la Luz Vazquez features pork marinated in achiote spices and roasted in a banana leaf. The pork is tender and juicy, the handmade tortillas delightfully thick. $3. www.lacocinasf.org. Steamed tofu bun from Chairman Bao Yes, the lines are epic, but they exist for a reason. There isn’t a bad bun to be found here, and we’re partial to the Crispy Garlic Tofu with Miso Greens on a soft, pillowy steamed bun. If you want more filling, though, go for the baked bun - it’s twice the size and functions more like a burger. $3.75-$6. twitter.com/chairmantruck.
Huitlacoche huarache from El Huarache Loco Veronica Salazar’s huaraches need no introduction, but one of her best toppings remains relatively unknown. Huitlacoche, sometimes referred to as Mexican truffles or corn smut, is a fungus that grows on maize.Sounds unappetizing, perhaps, but remember: its rich earthiness makes huitlacoche an inkyblack delicacy in Salazar’s hometown of Mexico City. $4-$6. huaracheloco.com. Double-down silog from the Wow Truck Rarely have we been so excited about fried rice, but Tim Luym, a former Chronicle Rising Star Chef, has outdone himself with the garlic fried rice in his silog plates. This is fried rice on steroids rice fried with garlic, granulated garlic and garlic salt. So good, it’s worth a double order. $6-$10. twitter.com/TheWOWTruck. Korean taco from Namu This oldie-but-goodie from Dennis Lee features marinated short ribs atop seasoned rice, dressed with kimchee salsa, kimchee remoulade and teriyaki sauce. The kicker? They’re served on nori sheets, which brighten all the ingredients inside. Just make sure to eat these right away, at the peak of nori crispness. $3, or two for $5. www.namusf.com.
holeinthewall.com 7 may/june 2010
Champinones empanada from El Porteno These savory pockets from Joseph Ahearne are a vegetarian’s dream: mushrooms from Far West Fungi, shallots, Parmesan cheese and creme fraiche - all in a flaky, buttery crust. Yum! $4. www.elportenosf.com Icon fried chicken from Iz It Grill Those who remember the old Kwong Shing Market in San Francisco’s Richmond District will be happy to know that its fried chicken lives on. Jeff Kong has resurrected his grandfather’s secret family recipe with the Icon - full-size, perfectly fried drumsticks. Crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, flavorful throughout. $4 for two drumsticks. www.iz-it.com.
“ They also contribute to a green San Francisco by providing recycling and compost bins”
eat: off the grid
Taco de Maui from the Taco Guys The fish might change, but the quality doesn’t. These hearty tacos from Jason Hoffman and Justin Close feature lightly battered fish fillets topped with shredded Little Gem lettuce, sriracha mayo and pickled radishes. $5. www.thetacoguys.com. Yes, Please from the Creme Brulee Cart What’s better than Nutella, that chocolate hazelnut spread? How about Nutella with balsamic strawberries? Curtis Kimball’s creamy concoction, called Yes, Please, has just the right amount of sweet and tart, torched to order, of course. $4. www.thecremebruleecart.com.
holeinthewall.com 9 may/june 2010
AD
play: musee mecanique
musée mécanique San Francisco’s Vintage Mechanical Museum Ok so we fibbed a little. We said we would show you the best non-tourist hole in the wall places in San Francisco, but this place is just too good to leave off the radar. What are we talking about? Musée Mécanique of course! Musée Mécanique is a fun place to take your date, kids, friends or out of town visitors. Tucked away at the end of Fisherman’s Wharf – away from the street performers and artists, souvenir shops and clam chowder bread bowls. Come here and discover what entertainment was like for those living many decades ago. The owner of Musée Mécanique, Edward Galland
Wrestling machine and earn the title as Welter. Find out what your sex appeal is with the Sex Appeal Meter. Check out the Toothpick Fantasy Ferris Wheel, an amazing sculpture built by a San Quentin inmate. Other antique machines such as Laughing Sal, Bimbo Box ( a band of monkeys), Hula Dancer and the peep shows makes you laugh and enjoy your time at this simple yet entertaining antique arcade. We took pictures in the photo booth which takes black and white pictures strips. For $3 it makes a great keepsake of the day to put in a scrapbook or to hang on your refrigerator door. I had so much fun here that I’ve been telling all of my friends about it. It’s a place for all Bay Area locals to check out at least once. I’ve been living in SF for almost ten years now and I just found out about this last week!
To avoid all the tourists, go later in the day from 5-7. Also, bring plenty of one dollar bills! Zelinsky, said “[his] collection consists of more than 300 items, ranging from orchestras, coin operated pianos, antique slot machines, and animations, down to small bird boxes. Most of the items are displayed at the Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 in San Francisco, although [he keeps] some of the more fragile and collectable items [at] home.” Admission is FREE and most of the antique machines are 25 cents; you’ll find some for a nickel too. There are recent video game machines to play with, but we came here to see what the antique machines are all about. We checked out the gypsy fortune teller and she gives you a card which holds your future and makes a great souvenir to take home. Duel it out with the Arm
Don’t come here if all you want to do is play modern video game arcade machines. You can go to Dave and Busters or Chuck E. Cheese for that. Do something out of the ordinary and discover what entertainment was like long before television and the radio was invented.
holeinthewall.com 11 may/june 2010
scavenger hunt @
art: grafitti/murals
grafitti and art I have always loved color… no matter what form it took. I was mesmerized by vibrant contrasting combinations the most. There is definitely so much to see in San Francisco, but most of us don’t have $25 to shell out for the Academy of Science, and sure, there is a free day once a month for all the museums, but who wants to go stand in line for an hour? Certainly not me.
holeinthewall.com 13 may/june 2010
There are plenty of smaller galleries to go to, but even better than that, there’s free public art everywhere in the city. What am I talking about? Murals and graffiti of course. I’m not talking about just the simple tagging you see everywhere. I mean the big colorful ones that actually take time and skill to make. Some people would argue that it is very illegal and therefore trash and I agree that doing graffiti on a store front or over important signage Is sketchy. That said, I do enjoy seeing an other wise bland concrete wall or abandoned lot decorated with some nice color and flair. But, to be clear, We do not consider murals to be on the same level as graffiti, but because both are generally done on outside surfaces, one being a commissioned project, and the other an act of
vandalism, we have mentioned them together. In this issue, we have compiled a few known places to see some great FREE art and have made a little “scavenger hunt” out of it. These are just a few of the many spots in San Francisco that have art on the exteriors. Some are harder to get to than others, some are a simple wall, while others are a whole alley way. The final destination is for the extra zealous who have a car and can drive across the golden gate bridge.
Lace up those shoes and go explore.
“It may be a little out of the way, but exploring the old bunkers tucked out of sight in the headlands is just the kind of adventure we love sharing.
art: grafitti/murals
Larkin and Turk
1
Larkin and Eddy (Little Saigon) I walk past this wall, marking the edge of the Pheonix hotel parking lot every day and sometimes to my pleasant surprise, something in the painting has been changed or added. This set is very tribal looking set of paintings. It’s got some hidden faces in there that are fun to pick out. I often think they protect me as I walk through the tender loin.
2
Larkin and Turk (Little Saigon) just across the street on larkin is McClarens an Irish pub. Before it was painted, it was just any old pub. Now it catches the eye and adds personality to the whole block. Other businesses have caught on and hired the same artist to bring a little flair to their store fronts. Hopefully this trend will catch on and our businesses will be colorful masterpieces.
Larkin and Turk
holeinthewall.com  15  may/june 2010
3
Clarion Alley Clarion alley between 17th and 18th ave. (Mission) Clarion alley is really a long alley off mission street with the walls covered top to bottom with beautiful murals. You could easily spend over an hour alone on that alley alone. But don’t stop there, if you feel extra curious, walk around the mission for a little and you are bound to find more beautiful paintings within a few blocks of Clarion Alley.
Don’t forget to look high and low at Clarion Alley. You never know what you will find two stories up.
Clarion Alley is a place to see all different kinds of styles of art from flat urban to soft and latin inspired.
art: grafitti/murals
Market @ 6th
4
Market Street between 6th and 7th st (Tenderloin) I make the walk through the tenderloin at least three times a week and near my favorite art store there’s a wall where someone took the liberty of drawing a few furry creatures. But it’s not all bright vibrant cutesy colors for this one. The color palate is mostly browns and whites, you know, realistic colors? It’s Refreshing isn’t it?
5
Bluxome 5th and 6th (SOMA) Down the street from the Academy of Art housing, there’s an alley way with some colorful graffiti. If you are lucky enough to see the gate open, you can take a quick peak. The alley is actually off limits, but most always deserted. After looking at this place, explore around for more areas. This area is rich with graffiti spots near abandoned buildings. Make sure to take a friend. SOMA is nice, but some parts are not. Bluxome
holeinthewall.com 17 may/june 2010
Turk and Market
6
Turk and Market This is one of the most detailed and layered pieces I’ve seen. Take a minute to really take this one in. As the labyrinth of line and color pulls you in, you start to wonder how they did that. What came first?
It may be a little out of the way, but exploring the old bunkers tucked out of sight in the headlands is just the kind of adventure we love
7
Headlands (Across the Bay) If you feel like getting out of the city for some fresh air, I suggest going up to the headlands and seeing the old bunkers embedded in the hill. They are scattered all over the area, so much in fact, every time I go, I find a new one.
Headlands
Haight Street
8
Haight Street (Haight Asbhury) If you walk on Haight anywhere between Masonic and Stanyan, you are bound to see a wide range of graffiti and murals from all different styles. I wouldn’t suggest going during the weekend because you’ll be overcome by tourists and college students. Going later in the day might be your best bet.
9
Larkin and Geary On my way to market on the side of a building is this interesting mural. The stile is unique to murals and graffiti art.; It features art that reminds me of the rules of pointillism
Larkin and Geary
holeinthewall.com 19 may/june 2010
10
Market Street at Brady tucked away on a side street off market headed toward Gough is an art studio with a very unique paint job. The vibrant contrast betwen the thick organic lines and the brightcolors caught my attention. The piece as a whole was beautiful, but even more remarkable is the interesting crops I got out the pieces. Definitely check this one out quick, the store front seems to change their artwork on the building every six months.
Market @ Brady
Keep a camera on you at all times and capture the art then and there. If you wait, you might come back with the piece defaced or painted over.
DUO CLEAN
holeinthewall.com 21 may/june 2010
www.duoclean.com
bar night @ kells San Francisco has a great night life; each district with it’s fair share of great bars. While wandering around the financial district with some friends, we came upon a small, out of the way place called Kell’s Bar. We happened upon it in the daytime around 4 or 5 on a Wednesday and the place was completely empty. We almost didn’t stop but after we took one look at the Irish style menu, we said “hell yes”.
party: kells bar Stacy D from yelp said, “Once you’re in, there’s no way to deny the energy of the bar. If it’s packed upstairs, scurry on downstairs where the music is always loud and the bartender is hot. Whether its Journey or GaGa or a bizarre Irish jig, the crowd is always having a good time.“(yelp.com)
statistics Name: Kell’s Bar Type: Irish Pub Location: 530 Jackson Street (Columbus and Jackson) FIDI
“The music is standard top 40” says Erin M. from Yelp, “all the drinks are moderately-priced, the crowd is decent, and the bartenders are friendly and fun. For the young single woman, this is the place you go when you’re not feeling so sexy, and you need the type of validation only a random drunk dude with slightlyabove average looks can provide.”
Service: walk in and seat yourself. Once you sit, the service is great.
Quality: Good specialty drinks. Always try the specials of the week. Ambiance: dimly lit, crowded on weekends, DJ and dance floor downstairs playing rock music
Price: $8-$12/plate, $7-10/mixed drink
“whether it’s journey, gaga, or a bizarre irish jig, the crowd is always having a good time.” Happy Hour stretches from 3 to 6 pm monday through thursday. Joe the Man from yelp said during “Happy Hour time, the Bartender was very nice and prompt about serving us, and the server was quite simply a breath of fresh air. She was very animated, funny, and knowledgeable. I Went back there on a Friday night, with no cover charge and there was a drink special, which I think was cool; you can get a beer and a shot for $7.00. With this recession period people will really appreciate that. I would really go back there. Drinks were good and $6 for a Guinness [is] not a bad deal..”
The service is great, and the food is amazing and the drinks are good quality. We now call this “our place”. Price range is in the middle, ranging from $8 to $12 a plate and the most expensive drink being a $10 cosmo, which is totally worth it.
order it! Enchiladas Three g ood-sized enchiladas that have a nice spicy kick, but not over the top. Cosmopolitan Well mixed, sweet, and will get any light weight such as my self drunk.
stay away! Chicken Tenders Tender? I think not. The chicken was over cooked, dry, and tough. Mojito This was my first mojito ever, but the forest of mojito leaves in my drink really ruined it for me.
holeinthewall.com 23 may/june 2010
Keep all your favorite issues with you at all time. www.holeinthewall.com/ipad