February 2010
7 posts
Goodbye Local
Today officially ends my “buy local” experiment—tomorrow, I can allow myself back into Starbucks, or Costco, or Chipotle. Mmm…Chipotle.
When I started all of this, I thought that a month would be difficult. I knew I could commit to the guidelines for a week without much discomfort or inconvenience, but I assumed a month would test my will. And to an extent, it has, but more than...
January 2010
23 posts
3 tags
Data shows recession leads to...spending less?
The Business Journal is reporting that taxable sales are down state-wide—$17.4M (or 12%) down, actually. In the Valley, city averages vary in comparison:
Fresno’s taxable sales fell by 13.5 percent while Clovis showed a 7.8 percent decline. Visalia dropped 10 percent, Madera fell 7.7 percent and Hanford was set back 7.6 percent.
I was going to comment on how this may or may not relate to...
4 tags
Let's watch cartoons (for the sake of "buying...
It’s Friday, and after a long, rainy week, that’s a perfect excuse to take a break from writing (and reading) to watch a little SouthPark. In Season 8’s Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes, the characters explore the pleasures and pitfalls of supporting big box retail (and growing it from within the community). Nothing I write can capture so many themes of consumerism in such an...
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Defining "local"
One of my initial criticisms of the Why I Buy Local campaign was its nebulous definition of “local.” According to campaign messages (which, to my knowledge, have only been communicated by a generic television commercial and the campaign’s site), buying local simply means not driving out of the area to shop—in San Francisco, for example—and not purchasing online items that can be...
2 tags
Shirt Poll
Perhaps it’s because I just helped to launch a site dedicated to t-shirts.
Perhaps I’m anxious for spring.
Perhaps I just hate wearing button-up shirts to work.
Whatever the reason, I’m making shirts for Paprika Studios (my day job). I have no design chops, so I recruited help from the experts. And since I have less fashion sense than design ability, I’m hoping...
6 tags
A *different* glimpse into Fresno's future
If it wasn’t clear in Wednesday’s post, I’m excited (if not a bit nervous) to be a part of a group that I believe to be the future face of Fresno—a group full of entrepreneurs and leaders of small businesses and forward-thinking nonprofit organizations.
But that excitement met reality this week, as I was reminded that Fresno still faces many challenges when it comes to...
3 tags
Buying Local: Tools of the trade
A few months back someone announced on MindHub that a new tool called Zippee was being tested in Fresno, noting that it could help local businesses compete with online retailers. From the Zippee site:
You tell us what you’re looking for and Zippee will deliver your request to all businesses in your area that might have it. If they make you an offer, Zippee will notify you via email or text...
6 tags
Buy Local: I eat a lot.
I was hoping to explore a few thoughts on what it means to buy local, but the last two days have been filled with too many great experiences. I’ll start with those, and get to the reflections later.
Ryan C. Jones Photography
Yesterday, I started out with a morning coffee before heading downtown to meet up with Ryan Jones. I’ve been stalking following Ryan’s photography business...
4 tags
A glimpse into Fresno's future
I’m a product of the over-nurtured “me” generation. (So I’m told.) From an early age, My father encouraged me to explore my talents and passions, insisting that I could be anything I want.
Anything?
Anything.
Last March I decided to test his advice, and I left a stable job to build my own business. I’ve survived year one (close enough), and as I look toward my...
5 tags
Day 13: Not-so-local
Alright, I’ve been doing soooo good, but today I just couldn’t resist Starbucks…
You see, I meet a couple of guys each Wednesday (except for last Wednesday, when I overslept), and we’ve met at the same Starbucks for a couple of years now. I could have skipped coffee and picked up a cup at Uncle Harry’s on my way in to the office, but I needed a third space and a...
2 tags
Buying local: Day ?
Wow, what a week.
(Wait. What do you mean it’s only Tuesday?!?) Yikes.
I’m posting twice today so that I can share a bit about the Citizen’s Academy—here’s a little recap of all the places my wallet has been over the last few days.
Starline: last night I attended my fourth consecutive Pecha Kucha which is hands-down one of my favorite events—the presentations highlight...
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Day 10: The prequel
Despite a few frustrations, I’m really enjoying the “buy local” experiment. Already, it’s generated several productive and enlightening discussions, and has exposed me to even more of what our community offers. Today’s highlight: chicken and waffles—more on that later.
In all of my updates, what I have yet to outline are my motivations for doing all of this, or the...
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Day 9 was a Saturday
I took the day off from blogging to get a little work done (at Revue, of course), and to celebrate the Beehive’s fifth birthday. What a party!
On that note, I really dug last night’s venue, Full Circle Brewery. It’s cold in winter, even when packed with a few hundred people, but it has a great vibe—and while the beer is too flat for my liking, I am now addicted to the root beer....
2 tags
Day 8: Cos-no's
The good:
Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry: probably one of my favorite ways to start the day—the coffee’s good, the bagels are better, and the staff is always friendly.
Wasabi: okay, we’ll just say it was good. Not great, but I have hopes that it will get better; a few opening jitters are to be expected.
Cigars Ltd.: I’ve recently learned that this is quite a business...
6 tags
The Kiel, Mike & James Show - Episode 1
Kiel, Mike and I came up with an idea a few weeks back. As heavy users of the web (each of us blogs, tweets and Facebooks…all day long), we tossed out concepts for a web show that could bring us all around the same table. Thus, The Kiel, Mike and James Show (soon to be hosted at KMJFresno.com).
I can promise that this is not the worst thing you can watch on the interwebs today, but...
2 tags
More "local" than you can handle
Alright, it’s the end of week one and I’m started to get into the spirit of buying local. I get that it’s not always convenient—I knew that going into this—but I’m really starting to enjoy it. A quick rundown of all the places I visited today:
Newsroom Cafe: it wasn’t my favorite cup of coffee, but I was able to leech the City’s wifi for a bit before heading...
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Random cuteness
We have a lot of dogs. When they look at me like this, I remember why.
PS: If you want someone looking at you like this when you leave to go to work, talk to my wife. She’ll take care of you.
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To eat, or not to eat (that really isn't a...
I’m on the hunt for a local market that goes beyond the convenience store basics. I’ve received several recommendations, so tonight I took a route from work that delivered me to Asia Supermarket at Tulare and Chestnut.
Actually, I visited this market several years ago; I was overwhelmed with the cultural influences, and had a difficult time finding the few ingredients I needed at the...
2 tags
Buying Local - Day 5
Okay, it’s time to come clean: I’ve been cheating. I had a meeting scheduled for Starbucks last night, and I ordered a coffee—it was scheduled prior to January 1, but I made no effort to move locations. (Mmm…Starbucks.)
Then, tonight I was asked to get toilet paper on my way home from Revue, but Tower Market and R-N Market were both closed, so I had to stop at SaveMart.
On the...
2 tags
Day 4: I'm hungry!
Four days in, and I think my “buy local” experiment can now be called a diet. Not that I’m eating healthy, but I’m definitely eating—okay, snacking—less.
I considered stocking the shelves at home prior to January 1, but I ran out of time. And that would have been cheating. But honestly, I ran out of time. Now, they’re empty, and neither Kim nor I have made the trip...
4 tags
Buying Local - Day 3 (Iron Bird Lofts edition)
My Sundays are rarely exciting: I usually sleep in an extra 30 minutes, and then sit on the couch with the laptop a bit before heading to Revue or Starbucks. Today didn’t start out much different.
But instead of spending the entire afternoon leeching wifi at a coffee shop, I met up with a couple of friends to record a “show” of sorts. We’re not sure what to call it, or...
4 tags
Day 2: Things are tasting better
I’ve temporarily named my “buy local” experiment Freslocal—not sure if it captures what I’m going for, but it’s good enough to get me going. Day 1 wasn’t what I had hoped it to be, but then it again, it was New Year’s day. I’m over it.
Over the month I hope to not only buy local, but to try local; to open myself up to new experiences. If...
2 tags
Buying Local: Day 1
I’m kicking off my “buy local” experiment with a lesson in the obvious: New Year’s is a silly time for feel-good pledges. That’s not what my commitment is about (more on what it is about later), but let’s just say I didn’t wake up this morning with my normal level of pep and enthusiasm.
Actually, I woke up with a slight headache and an empty stomach...