I was thrilled to discover, while waiting in line at the downtown Safeway, that it's a city ordinance in San Jose, California that customers be charged for using store bags at checkout.


Take a look at all of San Jose's green goals here. According to the city website, "San Jose is the largest city in California to ban plastic carryout bags." The city continues, explaining that groceries, drugstores, and retailers are not allowed to provide ANY plastics bags for items at checkout. Paper bags made of 40% post-consumer recycled material are available, but cost $0.10 per bag.


Whether at home or on the road, I always bring my own bags to the store. Honestly, bringing your own bags to the store is really the best way to get groceries while traveling (especially when without a car), and here's why:

• My bags won't break and spill when it's snowing out and I have a mile walk from the store back to the hotel.
• I have a good visual on how much food/drink I actually need to buy when at the store. I make a rule of only filling two "brought-bags." Not only does this keep me from throwing away money on junk that is tempting to just toss into a cart (when I can save that money for trips!), but it also keeps me from buying too much and having to throw it out at the end of our stay. Although it took me about six months on tour to figure this one out (embarrassing!), you can start saving money, time and your gut by doing this from the beginning of your travels.
• I get a mini work-out from carrying my bags!
• It's great for the environment.
• It's great for my hotel room--no garbage or packaging all over the room.
• I can re-use my own bags (which carry up to 50 lb. each!) when bringing things to the venue, on tourist trips, etc.

Invest in some quality, durable, compact, and easy-to-travel/easy-to-clean bags before your trip. I personally love Baggu Bags. You can get them in just about any color, they're super affordable and often on sale, and they come in a variety of sizes to meet your needs. Get them on Amazon or on the Baggu website.

I began this season's tour with rehearsals in Lakeland, Florida; and, although it was wonderful to steal some lasting summer heat while my family and friends back home began unpacking sweaters for fall, there was little to do in Lakeland but rehearse. Granted, our schedule while in town was packed tightly, but the late afternoons and evenings spent looking for what to do "downtown" proved disappointingly uneventful.

Tour rule for uneventful destinations: make an event! In Lakeland, this meant frequenting a local bar to learn about the area from the mouths, hearts and empty pint glasses of the locals.

The bar in question: Molly McHugh's Irish Pub. Much more than a local dive, Molly's feels like a traditional Irish pub: which, being from Boston, is a tough standard to meet in my book. We were lucky enough to stop by when there was an incredibly talented performer belting out classic Irish gigs, playing a variety of instruments, and providing a bit of comedy between numbers. The tune of "Seven Drunken Nights" reverberated against the wooden walls and circulated around the long tables of patrons, bringing everyone happily together in a way unfound in the empty, dusty streets of Lakeland.

For a relatively young place (Molly's opened in 1996), the Pub gave off the aura that it had been around since Seven Drunken Nights was first coined. A fascinating combination of patrons heightened the sense of community, as grumpy old men, tattoed youngsters, giggling couples, businesspeople, and ladies both dressed up and in sweats all joined together in song and laughter.

There are games in the back, lots of Irish beer on tap and no televisions inside (to keep the music and conversation lively, according to the bartender).

Without a car, your options in Lakeland are limited. I could have attended the reptile convention at the Lakeland Center (insert sarcasm), but I'm glad I visited Molly McHugh's instead.

Cheers!