How far is it: Trader Joe’s
Distance from the Compass: 1.3 Miles
Get there: By walking or via trolley (take any line to 22nd Street). If you go with some friends, a cab back is a lifesaver.
Listen to: Some cooking inspiration. The Splendid Table (http://www.splendidtable.org/) is an eclectic podcast about life’s appetites. The charming host sounds like the grandma you wish you had and she regularly takes questions from readers about their cooking dilemmas.
Avoid: Paper bags when rain is threatening (or if you care about the environment). Those things disintegrate far too easily. If you bring your own bag, you can enter their on-going raffle for a giftcard.
The reward: Food you want to eat, free samples, cheap staples and friendly staff. Stock up on canned goods, healthy basics and so many types of salsa. They also sell natural cleaning products without scary chemicals.
Protip: Skip Trader Joe’s on weekend afternoons when the whole store becomes an endless line. They’re open until 10 every night and there are rarely long lines after 8.
