Daily Loaf

Are you a technology obsessed person? Are you someone who has a lot of interest in reducing energy consumption and shrinking your carbon footprint? Perhaps you surround yourself with like-minded people and are hoping to find some cool, earth-friendly, and technology savvy gifts for your friends for the coming the holidays?

Well, there are a few innovative options available for those hoping to help the Earth by savvy gift-giving. Technology addicts will all appreciate receiving the Eco Button. This small USB device plugs into any active USB port on a computer and when it is triggered by the user it enters into an extreme energy saving mode. How much does it save? With a single click the average consumption drops from 80 Watts to roughly 2 Watts. To restart the system a user can tap any key on their keyboard and in just a few seconds their computer is back in action. The software included in the package also allows the user to view the total amount of energy they saved by simply triggering the device. This is a great way to help the planet while saving yourself and your friends a ton of money too.
Read the rest of this entry »

You’re buying more organic food these days, maybe for health reasons or just because it makes you feel like you’re making a difference. But did you know that most of the organic brands you find in the grocery store, like Cascadian Farm, Kashi, and Back to Nature, are owned by some of the biggest names in the food production business? That’s right, Cascadian Farm is owned by General Mills, Kashi is produced by Kellogg’s, and the number one food producer in the US, Kraft, owns Back to Nature. (Check out this chart from GOOD to see which organic brands belong to which big food company.)
Read the rest of this entry »

Halloween has and always will be one of my favorite holidays. It is the one day of the year that you can actually walk out of your house wearing just about anything and you get a ‘free pass’ on weird or strange looks from neighbors. Hey, anything goes on this day, right?  Not to mention the candy – oh, the candy.

So how can one ‘green‘ up the holiday a bit and teach the neighborhood kids a good lesson about recycling and reducing trash? The famous candy aspect that the kids know and love is a start. Realistically, it is hard to give out any fresh made organic goodies as it has long been taboo to do such a thing with rumors of poisoned candy and the like that has been circling for generations. So, instead, hand out pre-packaged organic candy like the ones found at endangered species chocolate.  Then use a pillow case to hand out the candy, it looks funky and scary and limits the use of the regular plastic containers. The kids will happily be surprised to try something new and tasty that is also better for the environment.
Read the rest of this entry »

The $500 billion beauty industry is embraces a message that tells women they must correct, conceal and camouflage. Peel away the glitz and glamour, says Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry, and you’ll expose the toxic truths lurking beneath the beauty industry’s seedy underbelly. Malkan shares five of the biggies that the major beauty purveyors would rather keep under wraps.

1. Many skincare products contain chemicals toxic to the skin

“A mind-boggling array of products contain chemicals that sensitize skin and trigger skin problems such as rashes, redness, acne, and other symptoms of contact dermatitis”, says Malkan, who notes that doctors often misdiagnose these problems as eczema and prescribe drugs such as steroids or immunosuppressants. Then, of course, there are the toxic chemicals that are known or suspected causes of long-term health effects such as asthma, infertility, learning disabilities, and cancer—ingredients that companies persist in including despite the fact that they “already know how to make great products without these hazardous chemicals,” she says.

2. Companies that donate to breast cancer research still use carcinogens in their products
Read the rest of this entry »

VINYL:

David Bazan – Curse Your Branches

Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown
Lou describes this as, “a cross between my later work with Folk Implosion and my earlier work with Sebadoh.”

Boston Spaceships – Zero To 99
Robert Pollard.

Califone – All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

The Clientele – Bonfires on the Health
The Clientele are cited as an influence by bands such as Spoon and the Fleet Foxes.

Feelies – Crazy Rhythms
Feelies – Good Earth
Each with downloadable bonus tracks.

The Jesus Lizard - Goat
The Jesus Lizard – Head
The Jesus Lizard – Liar
The Jesus Lizard – Down
HQ-120 vinyl editions have also been packaged in deluxe gatefold album jackets with 12” x 24” double-sided color inserts. All editions feature bonus tracks.

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you heard about the new eco-friendly yoga bags made from recycled items such as recycled juice boxes and feed sacks? If not, you’re missing out on some of the hottest new tote bags to hit the market. These bags are not only eco-friendly but they’re designed to be both fashionable and practical.

Yoga is practiced by thousands of people all over the world. It’s great for keeping the body in shape and the mind sharp. The main accessory you’ll need for yoga class is the mat to make it more comfortable when doing your poses. Carrying yoga mats from one location to another use to be a hassle but that’s not the case anymore.
Read the rest of this entry »

Accessories are a big part of any girl’s life. They help to dress up and enhance any outfit while giving you a chance to show off a little of your personality. What better way to do so than with unique eco friendly bracelets and cuffs? In the past, it was difficult to find accessories for the person that was trying to incorporate green living into their life but that is no longer the case.  GoGreenItems.com now offers many products that are both stylish and eco-friendly. Unique bracelets and cuffs made from old vinyl records are a great example of trendy eco-fashion.

Recycled record cuffs and bracelets are designed from using part of a recycled vinyl record. You’ll find a variety of styles available to choose from. Some of them are hand painted using acrylics that are sealed with a clear coat. Others are black, which match any outfit. They’re a great way to enhance your favorite outfit while showing your love for music and the environment all at the same time.
Read the rest of this entry »

When you go to your local pharmacy and see an array of beauty products, soaps and other toiletries labeled as ‘green’, it might be hard to determine which ones are legitimately organic or natural products and which ones might be exploiting their green efforts.

According to Women’s Health Magazine, most beauty products  that are legitimate green products should be produced with minimal energy, derived from renewable materials, and be a plant-based product.

The best thing to do to weed out these possible exploiters is to carefully read the ingredient label and also see if it has been stamped by a logo certifying its green status.

Some labels to look for include:
Read the rest of this entry »

As winter approaches and as America gently heaves itself out of economic implosion, the mainstay of our country’s ingenuity, the automobile, has finally reached the breaking point of “do or do not”.

With oil and gas prices still at an all-time high, Americans do want those vehicles of the future the car companies have been promising us for the last few decades. We do not want the same old song and dance routine previously touted to us by the big three (GM, Ford, Chrysler) rendering us dumbfounded as to when an oil-free salvation will come. General Motors appears to be at the forefront of this retooling thanks to their help from Uncle Sam.

Nevertheless, the public, for the most part, is still skeptical as to how the government’s intervention in bailing out General Motors will affect the automotive industry and the economy as a whole. The bailout came with a stipulation that GM must buy back the company from the government by the end of 2010. Politics aside, GM has unveiled a new marketing and ad campaign focusing on their biggest sellers. A new commercial starring the new chief of GM, Edward Whitacre Jr. (formerly of AT&T), made the offer that “if you’re not 100% happy, return it, we’ll take it back.” It is their new 60-day satisfaction guarantee on all four of the brands that survived the cut: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

Video after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

CDs:

7 Worlds Collide – Sun Came Out
New album from the project led by Neil Finn with contributions by Sharon and Liam Finn, members of Wilco, Johnny Marr, KT Tunstall, Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead, Lisa Germano, Bic Runga and others.

AFI – Crash Love

Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
Includes a special guest performance by Elton John on the album’s title track.

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Produced by Rick Rubin. Also available on vinyl.

Martin Belmont – Guest List
Features new and exclusive recordings with Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe, Carlene Carter, Graham Parker and others.

Black Cobra – Chronomega
A crushing mix of High On Fire-tinged stoner metal and Buzzov*en’s Southern fried sludge, with a heaping dash of Melvins-style drone to wash it all down.

Breaking Benjamin – Dear Agony

Mariah Carey - Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

Elvis Costello & the Attractions – The Costello Show: Live at the El Mocambo
Live recording of The Attractions’ March 6, 1978 Toronto show. This show was broadcast live on a Canadian radio station and released in a very limited promotional pressing, which was subsequently bootlegged many times over.

Read the rest of this entry »

VINYL:

Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
Now available on HQ-180 gatefold double vinyl.

Fugazi – End Hits
Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing
Remastered reissues, with each containing a bonus download.

Mudhoney – Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge LP+MP3
Mudhoney – Mudhoney LP+MP3
Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff LP+MP3
Reissued on HQ-180 vinyl with MP3 download..

Willie Nelson – Phases and Stages
Nelson’s first “concept album,” the Jerry Wexler-produced (at Muscle Shoals) Phases and Stages, provides both a man and a woman’s viewpoints on a crumbling marriage.

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band – Between My Head and the Sky
Between My Head and the Sky is resplendent with mind-melting blend of styles and sharpening themes while, like its forward-thinking author, plunging into the always-mysterious future.

Pearl Jam – Backspacer
Available on deluxe double vinyl.

Various Artists – Wheedles Groove: Seattle Funk & Soul 1965-1975
On the quality Light in the Attic label.

CDs:

Basement Jaxx – Scars
They have remixed the likes of Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, N.E.R.D, Daft Punk, and are back with a new album.

Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
Digitally remastered. The CD includes a bonus disc of B-sides and rarities including seven never before released tracks. Read the rest of this entry »

CDs:

Big Star – Keep an Eye on the Sky 4xCD
This four-disc collection spanning 1968-1975 offers a trove of unreleased demos, unused mixes, alternate versions of songs, and a 1973 concert recorded in Memphis. The lavish packaging includes extensive liner notes, rare and never-before-seen photos, and insightful essays about the cult of Big Star and the band’s history.

Karl Denson – Brother’s Keeper
Denson is joined by an all-star line-up, including Meshell Ndegeocello (bass), Marc Ford (guitar, The Black Crowes, Ben Harper), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Kenneth Crouch (Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz), Zak Najor (drums, The Greyboy Allstars), Cochemea Gastelum (baritone sax, Dap Kings, Antibalas), and many others.

The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker – Burn It Down
Charles Walker doesn’t emulate or try to resuscitate a bygone nostalgic era. He is soul, the real deal, carrying the flaming torch of funk and soul originally lit in the late ’60s.

Mark Knopfler – Get Lucky
Recorded at Knopfler’s award-winning British Grove Studios in West London.

KRS One & Buckshot – Survival Skills
New album features guests Mary J. Blige, Slug (Atmosphere), K’NAAN, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Sean Price, Pharoahe Monch, and others.

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol/EMI has done little with the Beatles’ music since 1987, when it first re-released the foursome’s catalog and did little to ensure the sound quality stood up to the transfer from vinyl to disc; 2004’s The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 and the soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil’s Love revealed just how good the Beatles’ songs could sound when given the right treatment.

This Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09) is an important date for Fab Four fans – The Beatles: Rock Band hits the racks along with long-awaited, much-anticipated digitally-remastered versions of all of the Beatles’ studio albums. This re-release encompasses Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles for Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be, Yellow Submarine as well as Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters Vol. I and II packaged as a single collection. Each album features the songs and artwork as they were originally released in the U.K. and come with expanded booklets of rare photos and original and newly-inked liner notes. For a limited time, each of the 14 albums will also be “embedded” with a brief documentary about its making. There are all kinds of other tasty bonuses that I won’t go into here, but I will tell share some info with you about some special events being held all over town in honor of the re-release. Read the rest of this entry »

Look out for this week’s very special “Vinyl Saturday” releases, exclusive to indie music retailers.

VINYL:

Avett Brothers – “Slight Figure of Speech” 7″
Special Vinyl Saturday (September 5th) 7″ release with pic sleeve.

Big Star – “Feel” b/w “Mod Lang“ 7″
Special Vinyl Saturday (September 5th) 7″ release with pic sleeve.

The Black Crowes – Before the Frost… Until The Freeze
Before The Frost features 11 new unreleased Black Crowes studio songs. The bonus album Until the Freeze adds 8 new original Black Crowes studio songs plus a cover version of Stephen Stills’ “So Many Times”.

Mars Volta – Octahedron
Another special Vinyl Saturday (September 5th) release. 2LP set.

Queen – A Kind of Magic
Queen – Flash Gordon
Queen – News of the World
Queen – Queen
HQ-180 vinyl reissues — some include bonus tracks.

Various Artists – Ze 30: Ze Records 1979-2009
Ze remains one of the great cult labels of its time. With this new compilation, Strut takes a snapshot of the many weird and wonderful fusions that surfaced on its famous taxi cab-influenced yellow and black label. Highlights include one of the earliest outings by Was (Not Was) and a Larry Levan mix of Kid Creole’s biting parable about corruption in the Caribbean.  Other featured artists include Ze label regulars Cristina and Bill Laswell’s Material.

Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s recommended releases as well as a breakdown of other worthy albums available now.

Vinyl:

Arctic Monkeys – Humbug
The band’s third album is a set of songs both heavier and lush than in previous efforts but still full of the Monkeys’ punch and vitality.

Jeff Beck – Beck-Ola
Jeff Beck – Truth
Exact replicas now available on pristine HQ-180 vinyl. Taken from the original analog master tapes.

Chocolate Watch Band – No Way Out
Chocolate Watch Band – Inner Mystique
Hailing from San Jose, Calif., the Watch Band — featuring the pouting, Mick Jagger-influenced lead vocals of Dave Aguilar, the thrilling guitars of Sean Tolby and Mark Loomis, the solid bass of Bill Flores and the thumping drums of Gary Andrijasevich — made all the right scenes in San Jose, including appearances with the Syndicate of Sound and Count Five.

John Fogerty – Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
Among the special guests are Bruce Springsteen.

Fugazi – 3 Songs 7″
Remastered.

Woody Guthrie – Woody, Cisco And Sonny
Woody Guthrie – Woody The Agitator
Woody Guthrie – Woody’s Roots
Woody Guthrie – Woody’s Greatest Hits
Classic Guthrie vinyl reissues — now available.

Jet – Shaka Rock
bass, drums, guitars and vocals.

Willie Nelson – American Classic

Pearl Jam – The Fixer 7″
Two new tracks from their upcoming album on white vinyl with glow-in-the-dark ink on the label!

Chuck Ragan/Brian Fallon split 7″
They of Hot Water Music and Gaslight Anthem fame, respectively.

Reigning Sound – Love and Curses
New release — now available on vinyl.

The Smiths – The Smiths
The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
The Smiths – Queen is Dead
The Smiths – Strangeways Here We Come
180 gram vinyl reissues. Remastering supervised by Johnny Marr. Read the rest of this entry »

Play time with your dog is a special time. It’s when the two of you get to spend quality time together doing the things that you love. All dogs have a special toy that they play with the most such as a bone or a Frisbee. Many dogs enjoy playing ball with their owners.

If your pet loves chasing after a ball for hours on end then the Orbee-Tuff Ball toy is the perfect choice for your best friend. The Orbee-Tuff ball is eco-friendly dog toy and recyclable. It’s made in the US from non-toxic recyclable materials. Natural oils are used to create flexibility so it’s easy for your pet to hold onto it. They’re infused with natural mint oil that your dog will love and they’re extremely bouncy. Your beloved pet is sure to make it one of his favorite toys.
Read the rest of this entry »

CDs:

Joe Henry – Blood From Stars
With his work as both producer and a songwriter overlapping and informing one another, it’s only natural that the blues found their way onto Henry’s latest album after he most recently produced albums for Allen Toussaint and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. The album features veteran musicians including guitarist Marc Ribot and pianist Jason Moran.

Delbert McClinton – Acquired Taste
The 19th album in the career of a Texas roots music legend. He doesn’t change the musical formula on the album (a juke-joint blend of country, blues, soul, and rock & roll).

The Popes Featuring Shane MacGowan – Outlaw Heaven
The Popes are back with Shane MacGowan on three songs.

Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra – Live In Helsinki 1971
Sun Ra was a jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his “cosmic philosophy”, musical compositions and performances. Claiming that he was of the “Angel Race” and not from Earth, but from Saturn, Sun Ra developed a complex persona that made him a pioneer of afrofuturism as he preached awareness and peace above all. Read the rest of this entry »

The Costume Diva has arrived! On her new blog, creative costumer Kathy Buck answers your questions and

The Costume Diva created the wardrobe for Gorilla Theatre's performance of Elizabeth and Edward

concerns about the tricky clothing conundrums of local — often low-budget — theater productions. Feel free to test her skills — the Diva has yet to meet an ensemble enigma she can’t solve!

The first installment of her attire advice tackles a challenging wardrobe category: Shakespearean plays.

Dear Diva,
I have been given the task of costuming an upcoming production of The Tempest. There are 20 people in the cast. A few of the actors are playing multiple roles so I will need to construct a total of 26 costumes. I have a limited budget of $1000 and less than a month to complete the project. The director is placing this Shakespearean piece in the present. My task seems so overwhelming, I am not even sure where to begin. Can you give me some time and money saving tips?

Signed,
In Stitches

See what the Diva says after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Etsy is like eBay for artists: a highly interactive, visually appealing online market. Artisans, “vintage” collectors, designers, stay-at-home moms — all kinds of buyers (and sellers) frequent the site. Etsy’s a great place to buy one-of-a-kind items and gifts for those “hard-to-shop-fors.”

Shoppers can place requests on the “Alchemy” list, or search for items by color, materials used, location and recently listed. Etsy was developed in New York, and the team that runs it keeps it up to date and highlights various vendors, making sellers accessible as soon as you get to the homepage. It has a DIY heart and a entrepreneurial spirit.

Check out a few pieces from my favorite local artists after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

With many people breaking out into the green movement and things like ‘recycling’ and ‘conserving’ becoming second nature, why not get your pets (or ‘kids’, if you’re like me) into your same habits?

Eco-friendly pet food, litters, etc., are more readily available than in the past, so try these few simple steps to make your cat or dog the greenest animal on the block.
Read the rest of this entry »

There are many types of addictions that people face daily - from food to alcohol and drugs, to sex, shopping and gambling. Especially in difficult times, people tend to lean towards these behavior to comfort them through their perceived life challenges. Alternative methods such as energetic healing, visualizations and affirmations can be used to not only cope with such addictions, but also to understand the reason behind the addiction and let it go for good. These methods are a great addition to other standard methods such as AA (Alcoholic’s Anonymous) and counseling or alone depending on each individual’s needs.
Read the rest of this entry »

Father’s Day will be here sooner then you realize (June 21st) and picking up the perfect gift can be a little difficult, maybe even more so then for Mother’s Day in some cases.If your father is anything like mine, there doesn’t seem to be much that I haven’t gotten him. I have done the watch route, the tie, the Brooks Brothers gift card, the sports memorabilia and now that I am *cough* a smidge older than my teens and early 20’s, the ideas seem less and less original.

So why not try some fun, new green products for dad? Even though some of them are Father’s Day staples, you can explain (and impress) him about how it is organic and reasons to go eco-friendly. What better time then the beginning of the summer to try out some of these new products.
Read the rest of this entry »

Support one of the coolest theatres not only in Tampa, but across the whole United States this week by purchasing just about anything at Barnes and Noble from May 26th-May 31st 2009. At least 10 percent of your purchase will be donated to the historic Tampa Theatre.

Download this voucher for more information and/or mention Bookfair I.D. number 560714 when you check out. This offer is good at any Barnes and Noble across the United States, so be sure to mention it to family and friends.

Spread the word and support this local legendary movie palace!

With cell phone providers trying to one-up each other anyway they can these days, it seems Sprint has taken a higher road of one upping by launching a new green line of products and also an additional green website in conjunction with their traditional website. (All jokes aside, Sprint has been promoting cell phone recycling for eight years now.)

So what kind of funky new gadgets can we be expecting? One of the highly anticipated products that is generating buzz in the green scene is the new Sprint Solio Mono Hybrid charger which allows a user to recharge a battery from solar energy as well as through a wall unit. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are among the few remaining humans who still use postage stamps, then this is a no-brainer (d’oh!). I mean, why wouldn‘t you want stamps commemorating America’s First Family? No, not the Obamas, whose turn will undoubtedly come, but Homer, Marge, Maggie, Bart and Lisa.

The U.S. Postal Service officially released the new stamp designs on Thursday (though voting on America’s favorite Simpson stamp has been going on since April 9). The Simpson family’s godfather was understandably touched by the attention, reported the New York Times via Reuters: Read the rest of this entry »

Between free chicken at KFC and IKEA’s new grand opening near Ybor City, a lot of people are getting fried (no pun intended) by all the line waiting and excitement overload in Tampa this week.

Well, IKEA is having a fun, eco-friendly contest that you can create in the comfort of your own home but still get a little bit of that IKEA craving curbed for at least a few moments.

The new contest entitled, “Where has your blue bag been?” is an opportunity to share with the IKEA community photos, videos, or even blogs (me me me!) of how you may use or wish to use one of the IKEA blue bags. (Incidentally, for anyone who doesn’t know, the IKEA blue bags are the reusable shopping bags that you can carry throughout the store to put your super cool stuff in and can purchase for 59 cents.) Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Loafing interns Hannah Walk and Diana Ruiz visited the line outside IKEA Tampa 48 hours before its May 6 opening. Here’s their report — with video after the jump.

How long would you wait in line for a free chair? How about a chair from IKEA? If you’re the first people in line for IKEA’s grand opening, the 65-plus hours spent sleeping on cement and passing the time playing Apples to Apples are well worth it. IKEA officially opens Wednesday, May 6, but for these dedicated fans, the party started early.

Hagen Reams, 19, Shelby Gallo, 19, Justin Gallo, 21, and Ben Dziubek, 20, began their three-day escapade Sunday afternoon, but they’re not complaining. They’ve been passing the time reading Tucker Max’s I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, feasting on vending machine goodies, and attempting to sleep when news cameras aren’t in their faces. Read the rest of this entry »

On Wednesday I attended an exclusive photo preview of the new IKEA Tampa at 22nd & Adamo. I’m really impressed with this store, and its grand opening May 6 is likely to be a big event.

A few things about this IKEA make it different from many other retails, including other IKEA stores. First, this is the biggest IKEA in Florida. The walking tour, which lasted almost three hours, didn’t even cover the guts of the store. We literally danced from section to section and I ended up doing a lot of “walk and snap” photography, just trying to get it all in. Read the rest of this entry »

Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10th) is right around the corner and many wonder what they can do for their mom that will be different, special, and also show their love and appreciation. It is a difficult task as many people run around last minute trying to search for that something ‘just right’ for mom that shows you put some real thought and time into the gift.

Luckily, there are some fun and creative organic ideas that can be done that will make mom feel all warm and fuzzy, especially knowing her gift is environmentally friendly. Here is a quick list of some Organic Mother’s Day ideas that almost any mom would love! Read the rest of this entry »

Just in time for Earth Day, one of the most eco friendly vodka’s out there, 360 Vodka, can be be yours for free (after a mail in rebate).

Here is the deal after the jump…
Read the rest of this entry »

Being tired of all the down economy talk, I have decided to really go full steam with Go Green Items: eco friendly clothing, recycled handbags, recycled jewelry, green home environmental products including natural organic products, solar powered gadgets and much more. We are starting to get alot of notoriety in the Tampa Bay area.

On March 21st, I was fortunate enough to be involved in a event put on by The Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts called the Chalk Walk, which was a free event to support and link area artists with local businesses and the community. The local artists were amazing. The event also had a silent auction in which I donated a recycled juice box purse. I featured my recycled eco friendly purses in a 10 x 10 tent in beautiful Hyde Park, Tampa, and had a wonderful day.

Read the rest of this entry »

Home Depot is handing out a few freebies to help you go green for Earth Day (April 22nd):

According to the Home Depot website, you can stop in at your local store and pick up some items to help you make your home more green. The two items that caught my eye were the free CFL bulb and the free aerator insert for faucets. The aerator insert will help save water and is often overlooked as an easy way to conserve resources. There’s a limited supply to both these items but you don’t have to buy anything to get them. The website also says the CFL bulbs have been available since April 19, but it doesn’t specify if you’ll have to wait until the 22nd for the aerator.  You might want to call ahead to your closest store for details on the offer and verify if they have any left before you head out. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re now a few weeks into spring, so if you like plants and flowers this is your season. And if you really like plants and flowers, this is your weekend: The USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. near Fowler and 30th Street, is holding its Spring Plant Festival this Saturday and Sunday, April 11th and 12th.

The USF Botanical Gardens features more than 3,000 types of plants and 60 species of birds- we’re talking orchids, ferns, fruit trees and just about everything else that grows here. They even have weddings there. There’s a lot to see in the various gardens along the trail, especially if you don’t experience a lot of nature in your daily schedule.

At the Spring Plant Festival, more than 70 vendors will be selling plants and plant-related items. Want to know how to care for a cactus or bamboo? The various societies and growers will be happy to answer your most-obscure questions. They’ll even have workshops on Sunday and a free children’s activity area.

Admission is just $5 for adults, and it’s free for children under 12. This is their fund-raiser, so help support a great local collection of plants, insects and birds. The event is on Saturday, April 11th, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and on Sunday, April 12th, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call 974-2329 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden/.

Summer is coming up, and what better way to start it off than with a sneak peak at some new fashions? In addition to a killer photo shoot by Athena Torri, I have some exciting news about a new store opening in Tampa! Designer Raven Reda of Suspicious Package has wrangled in some great independent designers, artists and Tattoo..ers(?) to unite in a hip store on Howard Ave., called F.A.T. ink.

F.A.T. ink will have its soft opening May 1. We’ll get Raven in the studio later this month for a podcast to chat more about the specs and future of the store. Did I mention that Aleka Phoenix is finally going to have a steady place for people to buy clothing and accessories?

So to get you excited for all this news and the highly anticipated summer line from Aleka Phoenix check out the some shots from photoshoot”Electric” by Athena Torri with models Jojo & Jonathan Rosa, hair by our own Fusionista Tara at Salon 54 and makeup by Abra Molinari: Read the rest of this entry »

Off State Road 580 near downtown Dunedin, a mountain of beer joy lies in a rather unassuming strip mall. Luekens Liquors is rated by Beer Advocate as one of the best places to buy snobby brew in the Bay Area. A quick survey of the copious beer selection reveals that inventory is scattered everywhere, with no apparent organizational system whatsoever. Wild Blue is shelved between Christmas beer and Boon Gueuze; the same beer is displayed in five different locations. Browsing the shelves of this brew Wonderland is similar to digging for vinyl records. In order to find the good stuff, it is often necessary to look at every single item. In some ways, that aspect adds to the charm, at least for someone like me. Exploring in this manner is way more interactive than simply buying a six pack. Here’s what I found on my treasure hunt through Luekens. Read the rest of this entry »