The Urban Cheapskate Goes to the Food Court
You may have heard of the Suburban Cheapskate. Well, long before that there was the Original Urban Cheapskate. Unfortunately, staff at this website misplaced the original UC column but managed to pirate the name. Now the Urban Cheapskate is back to correct the editorial oversight and advise:... READ MORE

The Suburban Cheapskate's Springtime Love Affair Blooms, With Cassava Chips
When you find yourself holding food up to the light like it’s a shard of medieval stained glass, you’re either at the peak of a high caused by your favorite illegal substance or you’re humbled by a sliver of the divine. We may find that the cassava chip will someday be hailed as a design icon,... READ MORE

Ostbo On Design: When Does Your Packaging Become PR
In the midst of designing a new package for a natural or organic product, most discussions revolve around that mystical word brand. So lets start with a definition, albeit an unconventional one, of branding as well as advertising and PR, too. I’d like to introduce you to my friend Bob.... READ MORE

Two Days to Detox Or Why You Might Want to Give Up Your Latte
Have you ever had a feeling that you have consumed way more food than what your body can really use? During the winter months is when we tend to hibernate and eat more rich and savory foods in larger quantities. If this sounds familiar, then maybe it is time for a short detox. A detox is... READ MORE

Introducing The Wine Guy
How excited am I to be writing this column? Pretty damn excited. Here's why: I'm the guy you know who knows something about wine. Actually, I'm the guy you know who knows something about EVERYTHING. What I LIKE knowing about and, of course, talking about is wine. I read about wine, I talk to... READ MORE

Londer Syrah Is Long, Like A Great Summer's Day
I’m signed up for a lot of e-mail offers and this wine from Londer Syrah Gabrielli Vineyard 2002 Redwood Valley really surprised me. I considered it just a throw-in on a special 3-pack from Londer. I really wanted to try the other two wines, but I couldn’t get the free shipping unless I took this... READ MORE

Ostbo On Design
Over the years we’ve seen it all too often. You know that good product in a package that looks so bad, you wonder if the marketing manager’s stepson was given the job as a last, desperate way to keep him from falling off the wagon again. A few years ago we saw a pet food line that left us... READ MORE

The Suburban Cheapskate
If you knew me personally, the first thing you’d ask when you heard that I’m writing for this site would be: “Why would they want YOU to write articles for THEM?” You might wonder what a guy who never buys organic is doing here. If you thought that I’m looking to be saved, for a messianic... READ MORE

Who Is Tom Collins?
Tom Collins probably isn't the love child of Andrew Weil and David Sedaris but sometimes it sure seems that way. Combining smart advice and quirky stories from his life, Collins' writing brings vitality with humor and grace. Tom's rules are simple. Don't take life too seriously, but take it... READ MORE

People We Love: About This Column
Retail, the final frontier. These are the voyages of leaders we love. To boldy go where no man or woman has gone before, ignoring all sane counsel, working long hours for often little profit, making quality goods and not selling out. SO let us explain. At first we were going to call this... READ MORE

Food As Medicine
Food as Medicine: Novel Concept or Ancient Wisdom? I just returned from the most wonderful conference called Food As Medicine, by the Center for Mind Body Medicine in Baltimore, MD. It was a week long, jam-packed, seminar filled with lectures on... READ MORE

People We Love: Redwood Hill Yogurt
I first saw Jennifer Lynn Bice at the California State Fair in Sacramento. She was, as you might expect, tending her goats. It was 1991, maybe a year later, perhaps even 1990. I don't recall if the blue ribbons displayed were from that year or ones gathered from previous competitions. But... READ MORE

Another Year, Another Resolution
With each January, many of us want better things for ourselves and our lives. Some call them goals, others resolutions. "I want to lose ten pounds", or "I am going to start exercising starting on January 1st." Whatever it may be, many people fail at getting what they really want. There are many... READ MORE

Tom Collins-Confessions of a Holiday Glutton
"HAVE ANOTHER SHRIMP, DEAR" or CONFESSIONS OF A GLUTTON 'Tis the season folks, the season of overindulgence and regret. Here are the gritty bloated details of my latest battle with a tasty holiday buffet, and some suggestions on ways to ease the stomach pains which plague folks who frequent... READ MORE

Tom Collins-Be Thankful For the Gravy
At 10pm on the Sunday after the Thursday every turkey fears the most, I'm drinking a bottle of Reed's Ginger Brew while a golden brown roasted turkey cools on top of the stove. I wasn't having turkey dinner at home this year but really wanted some holiday leftovers. Cold stuffing for... READ MORE

People We Love: Nell Newman
We've mentioned here before that we love children, as long as they aren't our own. Years ago, back in the mid 1980’s, I worked at a natural foods store in Westport, Connecticut—Paul Newman's hometown. A woman who worked for 'the family' would come in, gracious and quiet and also, a bit... READ MORE

Tom Collins-Plumbing Talk
Admit it. You claim to hate those people who talk incessantly about their bowel movements but secretly you’re curious. You and your friends all say, “what is it about Kathy, why is she such a freak about this?”, while secretly wondering, am I missing something? If you don’t know a Kathy... READ MORE

Tom Collins on Wellness: Wrinkles and Pimples and Laugh-Lines, Oh My!
Recently I wrote a market research report on skin treatments. Yes good old Tom doesn’t pay his bills writing these columns he loves, at least not yet. Well let’s just say this column is a reaction to that project. The whole ‘microdermabrasion this, skin-peel that, overnight miracle stuff’... READ MORE

Tom Collins-Confessions of a Holiday Glutton
"HAVE ANOTHER SHRIMP, DEAR" or CONFESSIONS OF A GLUTTON 'Tis the season folks, the season of overindulgence and regret. Here are the gritty bloated details of my latest battle with a tasty holiday buffet, and some suggestions on ways to ease the stomach pains which plague folks who frequent... READ MORE

People We Love: Laloo's Goat Milk Ice Cream
LALOO'S goat milk ice cream started in a yoga class. While I don't know the details I know that life can light up when you stretch the body and the breath deep. But if your yoga instructor told you to give up all cow dairy and only consume goat milk, what would you do about it? Well if... READ MORE

People We Love: Nature's Path
Once upon a time, organic foods weren't something you bought. You either grew them yourself, or bought them from the old lady down the street. You know, the one with the strong Italian accent, who did things the funny, slow way, and used to tell you how things were better way back when. ... READ MORE

People We Love: Annie's Naturals Salad Dressings
My first trade show I saw her, looking like my friend Byron Stookey’s mom, somewhat hippie, somewhat suburban, all combined to looking pretty cool. I think it was 1986, perhaps in Las Vegas at the Nutritional Foods Association Show or maybe it was Anaheim. (Note to self: time for more ginkgo!)... READ MORE