I'm working on an article right now about Greater Spokane Inc.'s "Buy Local" campaign.

No doubt you've seen storefronts displaying the signs with the boxy green shopping bag. The idea is to encourage shoppers to support local businesses, which in turn support the community by employing workers and donating to charities, among other benefits.

One way that the Greater Spokane campaign differs from buy-local campaigns in other communities is that national chains with outlets here--think Target, Shopko, etc.--are welcome to take part in it, too. I have yet to see a buy-local sign in the windows at Wal-Mart, but apparently they're more than welcome to post them.

More about all of that when I finish my article. Today I just wanted to share my very buy-local day.

It's my birthday, and I enjoyed a lovely, simple celebration at home with my husband and kids. But also present at our little party were several local businesses, in the form of food, wine and gifts.

For dinner, we ate a spread of meats from Cassano's Italian Grocery; bread from HearthBread BakeHouse (made from flour made from wheat grown by Shepherd's Grain); and olives and cheese from Saunder's Cheese Market. Hmm ... I should have checked to see where the cheese was made.

We drank Townsend Cellar's Red Table Wine and for dessert enjoyed slices of cakes made by the Rocket Bakery and Fery's Catering, which were purchased at the Rocket Market. To top everything off, for a gift I received a dress purchased at Lolo boutique.

Whew! I can't say I'm this good about shopping locally every day, but it made for a lovely birthday.

(Now don't kill my mood by telling me how much gas we consumed hopping around town like that to purchase everything.)

What are your favorite locally owned shops in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene? Do you go out of your way to buy from local businesses?

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