adventures in Berkeley

Yesterday after class I wandered through the Berkeley Earth Day Festival. It wasn't raining, although it threatened to. I met some nice folks and thought I'd make a few rare business plugs here.

First, I stopped at the Farmer's Market for my usual Saturday treat: an Octoberfeast croissant. They are wonderful, buttery, and addictive. It's hard to find a decent croissant in this country. These are slightly unorthodox (they used to call them "pretzel croissants," and they're dark brown on top), but the taste and texture are marvelous.

Then, a big bag of the very finest kiwis from Four Sisters Farm. I've started eating these with the skin on. Wash them thoroughly first, cut the ends out, and slice or cut into chunks. It's a little akin to eating a peach with the skin on, so if you have to peel your peaches, you probably won't like this. There doesn't seem to be any actual evidence that this is better for you, but I like it, and there's probably something healthy in there. The ones that get too soft go into a smoothie. There's something really lovely about eating kiwis that I know haven't traveled thousands of miles for who knows how long. And these are sweeeet!

I'm giving up coffee again this summer, but in the meantime, I pick up a half pound of Blue Bottle Coffee every week. It's fresh, it's superbly roasted, it's delicious. And people here are so programmed to think of Peet's as good coffee that they're astounded when they try some Blue Bottle. Peet's has sadly gone the way of the mass-produced product.

(While I'm on the subject of coffee, I must add that the VERY best latte I've ever had, at least since I used to make them behind the counter myself, was recently at Guerilla Cafe on Shattuck. And it wasn't a fluke! I've gone back again. They know how to steam milk! And they understand proportions. I won't bore you with my litany of complaints against other places. But I should add that Guerilla Cafe uses Blue Bottle coffee...)

Anyway, at the Earth Fair the extremely nice people at SunClean Carpet Care loaded me up with samples of the BioKleen products they use, and I promised that I'd call them as soon as I own carpets.

The woman at Earthly Arts Garden and Design also makes gorgeous blankets and baby sweaters- out of reworked old sweaters! Gorgeous! If I had landscape (and, um, dough), I'm sure I'd call her up.

I bought a little present for someone at 19 Moons Jewelry. If anyone needs any (*ahem*) birthday ideas, she has this one particular bracelet that was just lovely, and practically had my name on it.

Oh- and a brilliant bumper sticker:

"Invest in Your Country: Buy a Senator!"