Burnt toast black esb brewin up

Dear loyal readers, I haven't really posted much on tumblr lately. I took a life break. But if you're still following me, I'd like to contribute more to your tumbling experience again. Also, please check out my new Bay Area focused music blog, if that's your thing. The focus is to give you concert reviews from the perspective of your friend who went to the show you couldn't attend. I'll try to post more things to tastr as well. Elliot

San Francisco's love of Fernet has spread to even those so poor they can only afford tiny shooters.

Tech is not culture. Condos are not community!!! Point taken.

21 club

Is 20th Street. Running from Dolores Park to Potrero Avenue, this street is an emerging center of cafes, high end restaurants, galleries, and retail. 20th and Harrison is ground zero, with fancy Flour and Water and the forthcoming full service American Grilled Cheese Kitchen. One block towards Potrero has long time neighborhood staple and delicious food and coffee purveyor Atlas Cafe situated across the street from gallery and event center Southern Exposure. Two blocks in the other direction on Folsom is a trio of art galleries/studios across the street from German restaurant and beer hall (and they have veggie sausages now!) Schmidt's. I would be remiss to neglect mentioning El Faro and their supposedly best papusas in town at that corner, but it's usually mobbed with teenagers, and they smell bad. Go down to Shotwell Street and you have a great neighborhood bar, Shotwell's, known for their well thought out beer list. The owners, by the way, rule. Timbuktu does custom messenger bag manufacturing on that corner as well. In the same building is a custom bicycle manufacturer and some other light industry. One of my favorite spots to grab a tofu sandwich is at 20th at SVN, Mr. Pickles. I can't get enough of that place. Across the street is San Jalisco, another neighborhood staple that is just always delicious. Their cheladas are huge. The elephant in the room, though, is Central Kitchen at 20th and Florida. Responsible for more Über Cab calls than any other restaurant in this part of the Mission besides Flour and Water or Saison, I'll never eat at this restaurant. The reviews say its a $100 meal before wine pairing, and their staff is obnoxiously 'hipster,' their words, not mine. Pair that in the same building with the upcoming Parlour by Humphry Slocombe, a bakery and cafe that serves alcohol, and Trick Dog, a new fancy cocktail bar, and you've got a Mecca in just one building for all of the new condo dwellers in the Mission. At Bryant and 20th, shuttered Deli Up will be replaced with Rhea's cafe, which will supposedly have seating a full kitchen. That the extremely popular Valencia Street convenience store/to go sandwich spot would choose 20th street for their first expansion proves everything I've written. 20th Street is the new Valencia. And those are all places that are or will be located physically on 20th Steet. I could mention that Blowfish Sushi is next to tastemaker Noise Pop's HQ across the street from the new Rheas. Or the random vintage store that popped up between Treat and Folsom on 21st recently. Or Heirloom Cafe on 21st and Folsom. Or Universal Cafe on 21st and Florida. Or Mission Cliffs. Or the Bike Kitchen. Or Jay n Bee. Or Southen Pacific. Or the Homestead. Or Benders. Or any of the hair salons. Or Limon Rotisserie. Or Mutiny Radio Cafe. Or any of the killer Mexican places on 21st. As my uncle would ask after a rant like this: are you bragging or complaining? And I don't know the answer, but the truth is that 20th Street is the new Valencia Street.

See you there! Starts at 8!