Driving a bargain It's a good time for City CarShare (www.citycarshare.org, 415-995-8588), an hourly car rental service founded in 2001 by San Francisco transportation activists, to expand its number of pickup sites. With ever-rising gas prices, Bay Area would-be drivers will appreciate the fixed rates the nonprofit offers. Noe Valley residents benefit most from the two newest locations, 555 Mission and 3865 24th Street, but four additional "pods" will open around the city in the next month. (Kristina Peterson)

Soles with soul Spanish clogs with recycled rubber bottoms, fair trade imported sandals from South Africa, and union-made No Sweat sneakers from Indonesia line the shelves at Feet of Dreams (396 Colusa, Berk. 510-558-8222). The boutique's socially conscious owner, Greymuira Miller, takes the shop's efforts one step further by teaming up with No Sweat to donate some of the manufacturer's "I can't believe they're not Converse" shoes to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. For each pair a customer purchases, the shop donates another to the relief effort, up to 40 pairs total. (Forrest Caskey)

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