Shop only from independent shops for 14 days

though I never managed to do it for 14 days straight.

Which is the local music and video store that is always playing cool music. The guy who runs Maxwell’s (somewhat famous Hoboken music club) was buying stuff when I was there….

At a place in the village called Porto Rico Coffee…French roast, from Costa Rica. Delish!

which is part of a group that raises money for housing for AIDS patients. It’s a gorgeous store, and I felt great buying books there…

I ate at a Subway yesterday, which is, of course, a chain, but it’s run by people I know and like.

On the other hand, I bought meat from our local butcher. I feel more committed to shopping from him since the fish store closed up shop on the same block—real estate is crazy in our town, and I’m sure the fish guy made a killing. The pressure to sell out must be enormous.

I also bought bread from the local bakery across the street, and breakfast this morning from our corner deli, which, though it is run by a cool guy from Ecuador, is called “Luca Brasi’s” (the name of a character in “The Godfather).

We really, really, really need a document shredder in our house. Will y’all forgive me if I buy it from Target?

Shopping for indy media (books, CDs), I’m good to go. Shopping for food indy—pretty easy.

Shopping for office supplies, software…harder, much harder. I look forward to this challenge.

Meanwhile, here’s a modern/cool twist on a swap meet coming up in NYC…you swap and you make stuff!

http://www.swaporamarama.org/