TheseLeanTimes

Weigh-In Monday

I now have just six pounds to lose before Burning Man. Go farmers’ market diet!

$5 Wednesday.

Today, I did two healthy things for myself, and they each only cost five bucks.

First, I went for a lap swim at the Mission public pool, one of nine public pools in SF. Well, technically, only eight right now, as my neighborhood pool, Garfield, is closed indefinitely for renovation. But I digress. For just $5, you can get a serious workout during the laps swims that are scheduled throughout the day.

After my swim, I made my way over to Civic Center Plaza Farmers’ Market. It’s the “peak of growing season,” as the farmers like to say, and that translates into an abundance of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Everything tastes soooooo good. Your taste buds will smile.

$15 worth of yum. And then some.

Tonight is proof that you can get an amazing meal—with drinks—for under $20 in SF. You just have to follow @tablehopper to get wind of tasty events, like tonight’s Hop Dog Happy Hour, and get in while the gettin’s good. (Because she will sell out.) Tonight’s fare at the Ferry Building was a hot dogger’s delight, with the City’s finest restaurants turning out their meats. The drinks? Let’s not forget them. Refreshing little delights everywhere I turned. And if I wasn’t feeling glowy enough about the whole thing: all proceeds benefit CUESA. Thanks, TableHopper. 

On the Lamb.

If you’re wondering how far-reaching the trickle-down effect of this recession has become, ask my dog. Fewer nights out of fine dining for me equals fewer doggy bags coming in for him. But, he is nothing if not the eternal optimist, which coincided nicely with Sunday’s celebration of eternal salvation. It was a veritable Easter miracle when my friend and colleague rang me up asking if my canine would appreciate the remains of her 14-inch long Easter dinner lamb shank. “Hellz yeah,” said he. And so tonight I walked in with a doggy bag that brought him to a near religious fervor, and restored his faith in a higher power. Leftovers.

Frugal Fun.

My friend Michael A. (not to be confused with my friend Michael Z., or middle-of-the-alphabet friend Michael L.) rang me up and asked, “How’d you like to have some good, cheap fun?”

“Who wouldn’t?” I responded.

So off we went to 2223 restaurant for $12 Tuesdays with the added bonus of being filmed for an upcoming segment of KQED’s Check, Please! Being advertising professionals, we kept our table art directed for plenty of food and beverage close-ups. And, we kept ourselves animated for plenty of camera time.