Personally I wasn't as immersed in the dumpstering lifestyle as some of my friends but they had it down to a science. I would say they took it as seriously as some of us take looking for records. We actually had a master key that opened every dumpster in downtown Santa Cruz.
In my experience living in several cities around Cali and the south west, i have found Santa Cruz to be the best dumpstering. Big ups to Beckmans, TJs, ..oh man im slipping forgetting all the old spots. anyway, heat up in SC fo real on the free food tip
Personally I wasn't as immersed in the dumpstering lifestyle as some of my friends but they had it down to a science. I would say they took it as seriously as some of us take looking for records. We actually had a master key that opened every dumpster in downtown Santa Cruz.
In my experience living in several cities around Cali and the south west, i have found Santa Cruz to be the best dumpstering. Big ups to Beckmans, TJs, ..oh man im slipping forgetting all the old spots. anyway, heat up in SC fo real on the free food tip
Seriously though, you don't need to buy bread in this city. I haven't rocked any other spots but Beckmans puts out bread on such a regular basis that it's silly.
La Farine is the spot in the Bay to get the free day-old pastries. Friends who worked there used to bring trash bags of them to school and hand them out.
one of the 2-3 things i miss from nova/dc (the other is the eden center)
organic or natural style products cheaper than the mega chain stores regular stuff (soy milk, organic dairy,frozen seafood, poultry,cereals, nuts, dog food)
easier to say what i don't like there yes, many of the breads suck & always reach to the back of the rack for freshness most of their coffee's are very so so & i didn't dig their frozen entrys that involve carrots or rice & some of their prepared foods (soggy sandwich/wraps)
they buy close outs & over runs, lots of brand names in generic form & canuk & euro made
i saw my wife picked up a few big bags of dawg chow & sunflower seeds when she was in the city last week
now where is my durian bubble tea & fried tofu with onions at ?????
Yeah NYC has the same blue laws about selling wine at supermarkets. It's a racket for the liquor stores where you still have to pay 10-15 for a bottle that would cost 5-10 less in a place like TJs. That said there is a TJ "wine store" pretty much one door down from the main store so it's alright.
I miss Cali where I could buy a half-decent bottle of red at motherfucking LONGS DRUGS.
one of the 2-3 things i miss from nova/dc (the other is the eden center)
I've driven by the Eden Center multiple times, but haven't ventured inside. Any advice on where to go?
best eats = Four Sisters (amazing bang for yer buck) the same people own a deli a few spots down (similar viet name) killer subs & bubble drinks there is also a "tofu" specialist in that strip that is out of site these are all in the strip, viewable from the parking lot the 4 indoor malls are worth a peep too
also the bun/pastry bakery spot is great (in the newer strip) viet royal also is good dining (next to the 4 sisters)
Comments
In my experience living in several cities around Cali and the south west, i have found Santa Cruz to be the best dumpstering.
Big ups to Beckmans, TJs, ..oh man im slipping forgetting all the old spots.
anyway, heat up in SC fo real on the free food tip
Seriously though, you don't need to buy bread in this city. I haven't rocked any other spots but Beckmans puts out bread on such a regular basis that it's silly.
La Farine is the spot in the Bay to get the free day-old pastries. Friends who worked there used to bring trash bags of them to school and hand them out.
their bread sucks, hard as a rock and dry as vermouth.
their coffee is awful as well.
I dig on their snacks, nuts, canned and dried provisions.
The cream cheese, pesto, sun dried tomato dip is for real. Frozen foods generally good.
Fortune cookie flats are off the hook. Aloe vera juice?? Havent seen in a while there.
Cheapest place for Emergency packets in all flavors.
Love them around xmas and holidays and such.
Miss them in Cally where they sold booze too.
Great beer and Wine, soaps and cereals.
Cant forget about the pineapple salsa though I would always rather have it fresh.
and that black bean dip is unforgetable.
(the other is the eden center)
organic or natural style products cheaper than the mega chain stores regular stuff
(soy milk, organic dairy,frozen seafood, poultry,cereals, nuts, dog food)
easier to say what i don't like there
yes, many of the breads suck & always reach to the back of the rack for freshness
most of their coffee's are very so so
& i didn't dig their frozen entrys that involve carrots or rice
& some of their prepared foods (soggy sandwich/wraps)
they buy close outs & over runs, lots of brand names in generic form
& canuk & euro made
i saw my wife picked up a few big bags of dawg chow
& sunflower seeds when she was in the city last week
now where is my durian bubble tea & fried tofu with onions at ?????
I miss Cali where I could buy a half-decent bottle of red at motherfucking LONGS DRUGS.
"buy our 2 buck chuck, drink this kool aid..."
i had the opposite experience
NOVA TJ's employ many African students, some became good friends
but
this may be a geographic exception
I've driven by the Eden Center multiple times, but haven't ventured inside. Any advice on where to go?
best eats = Four Sisters (amazing bang for yer buck)
the same people own a deli a few spots down (similar viet name)
killer subs & bubble drinks
there is also a "tofu" specialist in that strip that is out of site
these are all in the strip, viewable from the parking lot
the 4 indoor malls are worth a peep too
also the bun/pastry bakery spot is great (in the newer strip)
viet royal also is good dining (next to the 4 sisters)
dive in & get aquanted !!