When it comes to the mayor's proposal to put a 20-cent-per-bag fee on paper or plastic, I'm with Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat, who says: "We Don't Need the Bag Police." Meanwhile, I've taken to carrying a trunkful of eco-friendly bags, though I can't tell you how many times I forget to bring them into the store with me:

My burning question to Mayor Nickels is this: Will you also propose a fee -- say, a dime -- on those little frozen-food plastic bags that keep the Dreyer's strawberry ice cream from melting onto my box of Product 19? And what about the plastic bags I use to wrap meat products -- keeping the Draper Valley chicken "juice" from seeping onto my fresh ears of corn? P.S. : What in the heck am I going to do without any of those paper bags with the easy-grab handles? I use those for conveniently recycling newspapers and magazines, and for gifting my son's outgrown clothes to friends' boys who can use them?

So, here's my question to you Eaters: What do you make of this "Paper? Plastic? NOT!" conversation? Have you started using eco-friendly bags while grocery shopping? If so, which ones do you like the best?

Too bad I've got other plans on Sunday. Otherwise, I'd reserve a ticket and attend what promises to be a carnivorous feast of dramatic proportion: Burning Beast. Brasa's Tamara Murphy is always up to something, and this weekend she's hosting a fire-centric festival of food and fun with help from some of her chef-buddies (Maria Hines, Matt Dillon and Gabe Claycamp among them) at the appropriately named Smoke Farm in Arlington. The event, which promise to segue into a Monday morning hangover (you're encouraged to bring camping gear and spend the night) involves lots of great eats, including spit-roasted lamb and goat, coal-roasted seafood, plus roaming musicians, storytelling and surely, at some point, a rousing chorus of "Kumbaya." Sounds like something you may not want to miss. Rebekah Denn dished more details on her blog earlier this week, and when I saw the Brasa newsletter in my e-mail box today, reminding me of what I'd be missing, I came thisclose to changing my Sunday plans. Hey Tamara! Do it again next year, OK?