Mel's Diner

Okay, here's a confession: I wait tables part-time. Here's another confession: I store pens in my hairdo and I chew a lot of gum. Basically, this is me.

If those behaviors are waitressy, than I'm a waitress even when I'm at my real job. I can chew half a pack a day, easy, and I was worried that it would be hard to find gum near my office. (The huge Lunds down the street was my pre-unchained supplier.) But, lo and behold, there's an independent grocer on the next block: Galapagos Market, at 420 East Hennepin. I had to speak Spanish to get my chicle, but I didn't mind. They also have boligrafos for sale. Que buena suerte!

Day 1 of 365: The First Non-Chain Purchase

My first act of non-chain consumerism wasn't much of a challenge. I bought a loaf of bread, a bag of cat food, a bottle of Gatorade, and a box of Cheez-Its at Third Avenue Food Market, just down the block from my building. I shop there all the time. To the novice Third Ave Marketeer, the place might seem a little shady: it's grimy, poorly-lit, and located just north of a corner where a person who was so inclined could probably find a crack whore, or some crack. But the staff is wonderful, and much-beloved by neighborhood association-types because they keep the sidewalk clean and contribute food for local events. In addition to selling groceries, Third Avenue Market also pedals gyros, has a copy machine, and rents out videos. I have to love it.