No, not topless. Ta-PAS.
“One of the rumors flying around when we first opened was that there was going to be a topless bar on North Street,” said Mission owner Jim Benson, chuckling to himself.

Located at 438 North Street, inside Whaling Properties’ Greystone Building, Mission is a 40-seat establishment where 20-and-30-somethings mix and mingle with folks seemingly their parents or even grandparents age, both indoors and at its sidewalk seating area.

“I love that Mission is a place where people from different walks of life and age groups feel comfortable socializing,” Benson said.

Perhaps the music is a diffusing factor?

Mission regularly welcomes live music acts from around the nation and the region to its front performance space referred to as “The Window.” Mission is also the host venue for the second annual Word x Word Festival, founded and directed by Benson.

This year’s festival runs Aug. 21 –29. Programming includes locally and nationally recognized artists on the cutting-edge of their craft, be it singer-songwriter, spoken word, or theater.

Seven venues in the downtown are in on this year’s festival including two dates at the Colonial Theatre. Word x Word kicks off with a super billing of Springsteen flavored rock, and rock flavored spoken word when Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers join Derrick Brown on stage at the Colonial one night only, August 22. Local faves, Mike and Ruthy (formerly of The Mammals) open the show touring their brand new CD, Million to One.

The final night of Word x Word, features one man tours de mots Rives as he unleashes the poem, “what he would do if…” followed by one of the most acclaimed bands working in the U.S. right now, Langhorne Slim. There’s also a special appearance by John Colvert and friends from the The New England Americana Festival.

“It’s gonna rock,” said Benson.

Back inside Mission, the art of locals Michael Boroneic and Michael Zelehoski adorn the space, cold Craft Beers are on tap and an ever-changing selection of Spanish wines - selected by manager Caitlin Harrison - are served.
Mission has a variety of traditional Spanish plates as well as larger bites – entrees, lunch and brunch items - cooked up by Chef James Burden to satisfy a range of appetites.

Hailing from Spain, tapas are small portions of food, which makes them ideal for trying several different things and sharing with a group. This type of gathering over food helps to cultivate a social scene.

And without a telephone, clock, television, Internet portal or other such worldly reminders or distractions, patrons might be more inclined to strike up a conversation with the person they are sharing one of the establishment’s communal tables with.

Among the most popular items on the menu are the bacon-wrapped dates. The BYPs own Amanda Rae Busch, also a Senior Editor at Berkshire Living, has dubbed them “sex-on-a-stick.” Stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon, broiled to marry the sweetness of the date and bacon, and rolled in crushed almonds … give them a taste and then find a server, they are happy to receive feedback on sexy-factor.

Prices at Mission range from $4 to $17. If you haven’t been yet, Wednesdays are a great opportunity to give it a go. That’s when the restaurant hosts “Take-it-off Wednesdays,” a nod to its “topless” roots, for which all tapas are ½ price to all Berkshire Young Professional card members.

Mission is open seven days, serving tapas, lunch, and dinner from noon until midnight. Sunday brunch is served from noon until 4 PM.

Follow Mission on Twitter, “Like” them on Facebook, and check out the latest performance in The Window at www.missionbarandtapas.com.