Archive for the 'Green Living' Category
Why Whole Foods Is a Giant In Customer Service
June 26th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Green Living
I just wanted to give a quick shout out to Whole Foods on Duke Street in Alexandria for FULLY embracing the idea of reusable grocery bags.
Some of you will remember my article about how hard I was trying with reusable grocery bags - although my biggest problem was just remembering to take them in the store?
Well, last night I dashed over to WF to get a big healthy bag of fresh salad greens and some of my favorite protein bars and - gold star for me - I grabbed a reusable grocery bag out of the trunk.
Shopping done I moved towards the check out lines, all of which were long since it was near closing.
Undaunted, I took my place and whipped out my cloth shopping bag. Minutes later, after receving my 5 cent rebate and feeling proudly green, I picked up my bag - my Giant Food Store bag - and walked out.
My point? The clerk at check out could have called my attention to the fact that I had grabbed (mistakenly) a Giant bag instead of a Whole Foods bag and/or refused me the recycling rebate. Instead he fully embraced the notion of customer service and recycling.
It was more important to serve his customer quickly and efficiently and rejoice in the use of a cloth bag than to be “right.” Good for him, good for the environment, good for Whole Foods.
Virginia
Thanks to my spouse and managing partner for this update on her continuing struggle to “live green.”
P.S. What kind of customer service is your real estate agent giving you?
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Alexandria Celebrates “Bike to Work” Day As Affordable, Efficient and Environmentally Friendly
May 15th, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Green Living
Just on the heels of being named as the top walking city in Virginia, Alexandria will recognize national Bike to Work day on Friday, May 16th. Thousands of cyclists across the area will celebrate bicycle commuting as an affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly way of getting to work. It will also demonstrate that the region’s transportation network makes cycling in Alexandria and the greater Washington metropolitan area a feasible and safe travel option.
More than 20 “pit stops” will be available to the commuter cyclists. In Alexandria, the pit stop will take place from 6:30am to 8:30am at Market Square in the heart of Old Town (301 King Street). Cyclists will receive free food, beverages and a variety of services from local businesses and sponsors. A Metrobus will be on hand for cyclists to practice loading and unloading their bikes. Bikes are also permitted on Metro trains.
Alexandria participants will have a chance to win several grand prizes as part of a raffle that will take place at 8:00am. Those prizes include:
- Jannis Commuter 3 bike, courtesy of Wheel Nuts Bike Shop
- Free weekend night stay at the new Hotel Monaco, courtesy of Hotel Monaco
- Complete Performance Overall tune up gift, courtesy of Wheel Nuts Bike Shop
- $100 dining gift certificate, courtesy of HSBC bank
So what are you waiting for? Shimmy into your riding shorts, strap on your cleats, grab your helmet and let’s get going!
Michael
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Bungalow is Newest Addition to Eclectic Shopping on Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Avenue
April 30th, 2008 Categories: Del Ray, Green Living
What started as a personal quest for “appropriately scaled and eco-friendly furniture” in his Rosemont bungalow, has turned into a sleek new home decor shop on Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Avenue for Daryl Wakeley. After years as a magazine designer, Daryl’s finely honed aesthetic is now focused on building a collection of decidedly interesting and luxurious home goods.
Located in the center bay of a long vacant commercial building renovated to accommodate three shops, Bungalow Homewares Gallery is a perfect addition to the neighborhood. Bungalow juxtaposes industrial chic with , among other things, sheets and towels made of organic cotton in sweat shop free conditions, Ethiopian bed covers made by a women’s cooperative; cork branch votive holders; and vintage rice winnowing baskets.
One of my favorite items was a set of tumblers made from the bottom half of recycled wine bottles. After the cut edge is polished to a rolling smoothness, each tumbler is filled with soy wax and topped with a paper collar embedded with wildflower seeds that can later be planted. There are a variety of scents but the lemon grass was special.
Most of the items have a “back story” and Daryl is happy to share the origins of both the product and the artisans. For instance, just inside the front door (and in front of a sofa I have my eye on) is a coffee table made from re-cycled iron and Honduran pine. As part of the coffee industry in Honduras, pine trees are planted to shade the young coffee plants. When the trees become too large they are harvested and recycled into furniture and other items.
Another story involves the blankets made from a woman-owned business in Ethiopia. The blankets are woven on traditional looms which are quite narrow, so for larger pieces - like the very American king size bed - the pieces have to be stitched together by hand. The stitching adds yet another dimension to these one of a kind pieces.
When asked about prices Daryl offered this considered reply: while indeed he has things that might be bought without hesitation, other pieces are what he calls “aspirational.” Water-based or soy emulsion paints in 12 colors are also part of Daryl’s design offerings and large, 18 x 18 panels are available as samples for interested customers.
Open just two weeks, Daryl is already in sync with the rhythm’s of Del Ray and will celebrate this year’s First Thursday with a reception for Jill Saxton Smith. Her exquisite woodblock prints are the first of what will be a series of rotating gallery exhibits. The exhibit runs from May 1 to July 31.
Now that you’ve read about Bungalow, go visit for yourself at 1901 Mt. Vernon Avenue. You’ll be glad you did.
Virginia
Thanks to my spouse and managing partner who does all our shopping. Michael
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