apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Dana, is that your artwork featured above? I totally love it.

Is it really considered local as long as the product is finished (in this case burnt and grounded) somewhere near you? I thought it had to be grown locally too? I noticed that delapaz sold Ethiopian coffee, so I'm curious about your definition.

(sorry about the bad grammar, it's really hot here...) :)

budino--Alas, no. The artwork is a photo I took of a mural in Colton Alley here in the Mission. If anyway knows who the artist is, please let me know. I would really like to credit them.
Marianna--Good question. Locavore has many definitions: the strictest would exclude coffee, unless you are living within 100 miles from where it was grown. Many people, however, do make exceptions for a few things like coffee, tea and even wheat (I doubt that Tartine uses locally grown wheat, for instance) as long as the final steps in manufacturing and packaging are local.
I personally feel that De La Paz's small, local operation and the fact that they keep their carbon footprint low by using bicycle delivery captures the spirit of locavorism and that's why I included them.

St. George's absinthe is good stuff but WOW, strong! If you go to the distillery, you can do tastings. It's kind of strange to drive onto the (mostly) deserted base and then behind this scruffy looking hanger marked Hangar 1, then walk in to a snazzy tasting room.

I suppose it has at least as many meanings as vegetarianism - it's highliy personal what you allow yourself :) Thanks for the explanation - and yes, their business philosophy sounds nice. Will check out the absinthe destillery if I'm anywhere near SF!

That Slow Food Nation looks great! Too bad it's sooo expensive- guess I'll just have to go to the ferry building farmer's market for free tastings instead.

Too bad Slow Food Nation decided to hold it's first international conference on the same weekend that 30,000 San Franciscans (in the liberal upper to middle income ranges) leave the city for Burningman.

I suppose they aren't trying too hard to increase awareness and membership.

I can't believe Vivace's coffee isn't on this list. The best I've ever had and nothing else has come close.

My sister got married here in Ann Arbor last weekend and we ate our way through some great food. The Produce Station did the rehearsal dinner. The Produce Station is a small locally owned market that has some of the best ready to eat food and Michigan grown fruits and vegetables. Another standout caterer did the wedding reception on Saturday - The Moveable Feast and for brunch on Sunday we had Ann Arbor's foodie destination - Zingerman's. Not to mention that the wine and champagne were excellent - the bride was beautiful, the groom charming and the music delightful.

The mural reminds me of a poster I have of New York hanging in my childhood bedroom. The style and flatness of the shapes are very similar, if not the same.