We came across this parenting doohickey while shopping at Whole Foods in SoMa. Just about lost our appetite, we did. See, this here is The Snotsucker from Sweden. Basically, as one of our less delicate friends put it, it's a nasal aspirator that turns your kid into a Capri Sun. Shudder. more ›

Next Wednesday, the former shopping sphincter formerly known as Cala Bell in the Upper Haight will be officially replaced with a brand new Whole Foods. While this may appear non-newsworthy to those of you lucky enough to live near a decent supermarket, those of us who lived year after year after year in the Haight know how special this moment will be, controversies be damned. more ›

After three years of meetings and discussion the Planning Commission has unanimously decided to move forward on construction of a Whole Foods location on Market Street at Dolores. Per the Examiner, the corner lot will be transformed into an 8-story building with 82 apartments and a slick storefront along Market where Greenpeace volunteers can ambush unsuspecting shoppers. more ›

The Whole Foods at Stanyan and Haight is set to open by December just in time for the holiday season. Joy. And while many young urban professionals complain that this could further a takeover by gentrifying yuppies, we say this: Fantastic. For those of you who have fond-free memories of the former market, Cala Foods and its onion shells-covered floors, the new digs will be an exciting, albeit pricey, treat. Also, they tend to hire sexually attractive cashiers. So, you know, there's that too.. [Socketsite, via SF Eater] more ›

The grand opening of San Francisco's fifth Whole Foods is happening right this very second over at 3950 24th Street in Noe Valley. Supervisor Bevan Dufty will be there to cut the tape. Protesters will also be there to make noise. As most of you know, a boycott is in place after WF CEO John Mackey's made (careless?) remarks about health care, much like your drivers license, being a privilege, not a right. Anyway, for those of you into snagging organic produce and carob-covered treats at relatively high prices, have at it. For those of you who refuse (or simply cannot afford) to shop at WF, Foods Co is a neighborhood away. (Really, you can get cheap staples there. Lots of other affordable stuff to be found there, too, folks.) more ›

We were reminded yesterday of the recent Whole Foods boycott that's been gaining steam in the past month. Whole Foods CEO John Mackey wrote a Wall Street Journal editorial last month opposing the single-payer option of health care reform and claiming health care is not a "right," further perpetuating myths propagated by the for-profit health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. more ›

Plug 1 of What I'm Seeing came across this scene at the Whole Foods located a block away from SFist HQ, over on Fourth Street and Harrison. He explains: more ›

The fine folks over at Curbed came across new, new renderings of the planned Upper Market Whole Foods. And it looks a lot like something you might find in the Mission Bay/South Beach neighborhood, only a lot less intriguing. The artisan market/PNP residential-unit spore will be "broken up into three sections, shortest at 45 feet along 14th Street, and higher at Market and Dolores at 85 feet each." Also, there will be lots of private outdoor seating at Market and Dolores, a living wall (which is just another name for potential spider infestations), and rooftop vegetation to "support endangered species such as the San Bruno Elfin and Mission Blue Butterflies." Look for nearby clubs and bars to get cited for making too much noise once the unit opens. Maybe. more ›

Finding peace in the Middle East, one Potrero Hill Whole Foods men's room diaper changing station at a time. more ›

The fine folks over at Curbed have an artistic rendering of what the new Castro Whole Foods will look like. It's scheduled to replace the old Ford dealership on Market and Dolores. Slated to open in 2011, this WF is much more than a place to buy overpriced produce and Greenless Best Cinnamon Bread. The development will be divided into three sections: "a 45-foot-tall section by 14th Street and 85-foot sections by Market and Dolores each. Also: a landscaped sidewalk along Dolores, and outdoor seating along Market with balconies above. Residences: studios, one- and two-bedrooms, with 15 percent affordable." Obligatory comment bait: We hope this project doesn't put Golden Produce, located at Church and Market, out of business. more ›

The Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council just gave the Whole Foods/(unaffordable) condo project - which would have nested at Haight and Stanyan streets, where the world's scariest Cala Foods used to reside - a thumbs down. Have the NIMBYs won? According to Curbed's Sarah Hromack, maybe so. No one, including the city as well as Supe Ross Mirkarimi, really got on-board with the idea. Oh noes! Read more about how you might not ever be able to savor 360 Organic products at 690 Stanyan here. more ›

We live just up the street from Haight and Stanyan, and the other day someone dropped off a flyer about how Whole Foods is eager to transform the former Cala Foods (now a vacant lot and boarded-up deathtrap) into a pleasant, overpriced gourmet food store with apartments on top. The design of the flyer reminded us of some incomprehensible posters that appeared briefly in the neighborhood two years ago -- could D.B.H. be back? (Hint: Probably not.) more ›

Today is the final day, folks. Have you finished your taxes yet? Yeah, neither have we. (Math is hard.) more ›

Organic aerosol pancake batter, folks, found at Whole Foods. Any good? more ›

Since we're reportedly under the breeziness of "hurricane"-like winds, can we name the storm? If so, can we name it "Mary-Kate," then? Great. more ›

Every year at Thanksgiving, you're bound to forget one or two critical items. A shallot, cooking twine, mushrooms, Ketel One -- something will slip your mind and you run the risk of having your Thanksgiving dinner collapse in on itself. And then you've ruined everything. Everything! But who can we prevent such yellow wallpapered hysteria? This is where you come in: do you know of any grocery stores that stay open late on Thanksgiving... more ›

With tomorrow's official switch from plastic bags to paper bags looming, news stations have their top cameramen (or the more PC "camera operators") hitting grocery stores across the city, sticking their cameras in your face at the checkout stands. We ourselves were just shot (without permission, BTW) at Whole Foods on 4th and Harrison. Thank goodness we remembered to bring our reusable frayed-green Whole Foods tote. more ›

On our way to Subway Whole Foods for lunch this afternoon, we noticed this headline in today's Examiner. And we must say: we love it. The paper is finally living up to its tabloid size and format via these risky (and dare we say, SFist-like) headlines. more ›

What would Batman and Robin think? With its chic industrial/gothic design, the new “market hall” style Whole Foods that opened recently near Lake Merritt in Oakland certainly could be used for a set on the next Batman flick. more ›

Today we found one of many of the following flyers posted on Stillman Street, a strip of eastern SOMA where overpass construction dominates, dangers lurks, and Giants and Shitty Nights fans use as a urinal. more ›

Free range, organic, hormone-free, but not self-sustaining. more ›

-- After 11 shootings and 3 deaths since yesterday -- since yesterday -- a Richmond gang war results in SWAT teams hitting the streets. [Chron, CBS5] more ›

Damnit. We love us some pre-washed spinach -- slightly wilted with bacon and cheese, especially. So this pains us: more ›

-- Sixth Street did not explode. [Chron] more ›

This week ended with the launch of the seventh and final Harry Potter installation. But while the world was consumed with Pottermania, it's important to remember that there were more serious things going on in the world, too - two of them in -Ist cities. more ›

-- Whole Foods might be in a whole mess of trouble. Federal regulators look over seven years worth of (not-so) anonymous, ethically-questionable financial site postings made by chief executive John Mackey, who apparently has never heard of an IP address. Dumbass. [AP via SF Gate] -- Elderly man shoots garbage truck because of the union lockout. But probably more so because of the sundry of shitty smells, senility. [KTVU] -- Tim Goodman talks about... more ›

Remember that couple we told you about that was stealing stuff from open houses? They got busted by the OnStar in their rental Hummer. Police won't reveal where they were, except to say they were "out of state." more ›

The East Bay Biz Times is reporting that Whole Foods is planning a major expansion throughout the East Bay. Yes, soon enough, Lafayette, Dublin, and Oakland will be able to experience the "whole paycheck" phenomenon. more ›

Comics 4 Comix: Have you ever been to the Cartoon Art Museum? Neither have we. Head there tonight for a great cause. An overlooked gem in San Francisco, the Cartoon Art Museum is having its annual fundraiser and silent art auction, starting tonight at 7 pm. Come bid on original comic strip art from both local and national cartoonists, including including Dan Piraro (Bizarro), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows), Phil Frank (Farley), Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha), and Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse). On the stage will be a slew of stand-up comics, including Michael Meehan and Kurt Weitzman. Thirsty Bear and True Sake provide the libations and Rainbow, Whole Foods, and Canton Dim Sum are among the suppliers of snacks. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds go to the museum. Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission St, SF. more ›

We went to see John Mackey, founder/CEO of Whole Foods speak Tuesday night with journalist Michael Pollan of The Omnivore’s Dilemma fame and golden child for all things foodie and farm-related. We haven’t read Pollan’s book (it’s on our list!) but in it he takes a few jabs at Mackey and Whole Foods and how maybe Whole Foods is not the green do-gooder it claims to be. Maybe Whole Foods distorts the truth about some of its own food suppliers, and hurts the small local farmer by supporting large industrialized organic farms. (Something like that.) more ›