Slow down and take time to smell the rosés.

That’s our highly recommended approach to the eco-sensual pairing of artisanal food and terroir-expressive wines at this Sunday’s Golden Glass Wine Event at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Pavilion.

It’s also the prevailing philosophy of sponsor Slow Food USA, an organization dedicated to advocating the importance of sustainable farming practices that respect traditional knowledge and taste.

Complementing more than 100 no-pesticide wines from around the globe will be exclusive sampling from some of the Bay Area’s top restaurants and artisanal producers, including: A16, Absinthe, Aquarelle, Heaven’s Dog, La Poggio Trattoria, SF Baking Institute, Slow Club, Stella Cadente and Trattoria Corso.

Whew! And you thought this coming Sunday was for popping the top off a Bud Light for dad as he basted ribs on the BBQ in celebration of Father’s Day. How “˜bout a radical departure? Treat him to a brave new world of pure, delicious food and fruity no-nonsense wines fast by the San Francisco Bay.

The best news about the Slow Food Movement – as on display in this event – is that it combines high-minded principles with unsurpassed gourmet pleasures.

A few bites and sips later, your dad just might be more than happy to trade in his brewski and back rib for a Bordeaux and brioche.

When: Sunday, June 21, 2009
General admission: 2:00 ““ 6:00 p.m.

Entrance fee: Advance purchase: $60 (Slow Food members: $55); at the door $70; Food only and under 21: $20 (all entry tickets include 5 food tasting tickets. Additional food tickets can be purchased in groups of 5 for $20).

Where: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
The Festival Pavilion

Images: Joe Budd Photography

Ease him off his battery dependency one step at a time with the solar radio from Uncommon Goods, which can be recharged by the sun or its built-in hand crank. Now, if only you could update his taste in music as well.

Who wouldn’t be fascinated by a gagdet that runs solely on H2O? The water-powered clock from Think Geek utilizes simple technology to transform electrons from water molecules into energy.

The solar shaver from the Ethical Superstore is small enough to fit in any tote, so whether your dad is camping or on a business trip, he can keep his face super smooth with a little help from the sun.

Call it bad luck, but the best of gadgets tend to die when you’re nowhere near an electrical outlet. Well, that’s not s problem with the portable solar charger from Think Geek. As long as the sun is shining, your pop will have endless power at his fingertips.

If gadgets aren’t really his thing, you could opt for yet another necktie. Or, you could get him these unique and eco-friendly recycled typewriter cufflinks from the talented artisans at EcoEtsy.

If we can swap party dresses and soccer shoes, why not club chairs, throw pillows and framed art prints, too?

You can probably convince a designer friend to work for food, trading services for a veggie burger and a smile. Even IKEA organized a swap at its Amsterdam store in February, advertising the husselmarkt as a way to get customers to think like designers by exploring the rearranging of vignettes in their own homes. Up to 250 people were invited to bring in unwanted pieces to shuffle around and swap.

Swapping and trading is a good alternative to shopping Craigslist for purveyors of bargain furniture and accents. When you shop Luanne’s list or Sara’s list, you can get it for free.

Here are 10 ways to freshen and color your space without spending a dime:

1. Hold an art swap in your backyard inviting friends to bring framed prints or unimportant paintings they no longer enjoy. Serve lots of wine so that everything looks extremely enticing and you leave the party feeling you plucked something great from the treasure chest.

2. See if you have a designer friend who will work for food. Offer to make him or her lunch or dinner for a design consultation. What do you say, Orlando? You do my dining room and I cook you an omelet. Deal? Things are so slow – designer buddies might take you up on it. If you need the designer to return for more free advice, offer a massage!

3. Form a design crew with your circle of friends and travel to each other’s homes to help with a quick-fix makeover. Often, simply rearranging the furniture can make a huge difference. Let’s face it; some of our friends just don’t have the talent but still desire a cool pad. It’s also a way to get a small room painted. Call it Extreme Makeover – the economic collapse home edition.

4. Pillow Talk: Changing out pillows is an easy way to make a big difference in reviving a sofa or bed. Flickrstream photos of pillows you no longer love and get friends to do the same thing. Hopefully, the bed pillows won’t tell tales.

5. Have a Father’s Day garden party for actually gardening, not just firing the BBQ and watching grandpa rock and sip bourbon. Turn on some lively tunes and get down to that urban gardening. Replant those pots and flower beds. Maybe someone has a bird house or feeder they don’t want that would attract feathered friends to your garden.

6. Roll out a fabric free-for-all with rolls of extra upholstery fabric from your past projects. I have several I’d be happy to part with that might be useful to someone. And I know my friend, Susanne, has some spare Ikat I wouldn’t mind using to cover a bench.

7. Pass on kids’ furniture that your little ones have outgrown. There is nothing like getting a used rocker or desk set that your child will view as special and new. It’s absurd to have to buy a lot of furnishings for children’s rooms when so many of our friends also have children and can share the wealth ““ especially pieces that aren’t marred with permanent marker graffiti or dented from raucous play.

8. Media rooms are simply spare spaces with televisions and lots of good DVD’s. But we all know they get pretty tired. Have a Hollywood night and let everyone bring movies they can’t watch again, no matter how sentimental the scene of George picking out a Cracker Jack ring for Audrey at Tiffany’s. I’ve even given away large-screen televisions to people who wanted them. Electronics are another good thing to swap. Anyone got an iPod for Sydney? I’ll give you a Hello Kitty CD player for it.

9. Register for serving items again (with your friends), after the divorce or when you have decided you never use that china in the spare closet or that giant salad bowl in the attic. Tell everyone what you need, and offer to swap with what you no longer want. I could use a can opener that actually opens the entire dog food can.

10. Call area hotels and department stores and find out if they have spare furniture they want to get rid of. You’d be surprised how much of their stuff is headed for the heap. I’d take anything from Hotel Vitale. You might be able to score a nice headboard or set of chairs. Say you will return the favor by telling all of your guests to stay there. Hospitality, indeed!

Image: Jeff Kubina

1. Eco Endurance tee: For the weekend golfer with a conscience (he abandons you but cares deeply about the planet), these tees are sold to hundreds of courses worldwide and outlast a wood tee by at least 10:1. Benefits: manufactured with corn-fed biodegradable materials that can breakdown over time; no splintering and causing damage to mowing equipment and golf cart tires; come in custom colors.

2. Reware Attache: A brief case for the eco-exec or gadget geek on the move, it holds a 15″ laptop and other business and travel materials and is fabricated from recycled soda bottle fibers rewoven with super strength, water resistance and durability. $100.

3. Home Game, An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood: This memoir by Michael Lewis recounts his hands-off fathering to his three kids with former MTV host Tabitha Soren. If nothing else, his failings at aiding in the delivery room, diapering (only seven of his son’s first 600 changes), and coming up with appropriate punishments reveal the enormous challenges of parenting while making the dad in your house chuckle. Odds are, your green hubby will  also feel superior in a good way. Hey, my husband diapered and swaddled like a dula and even wore a sling! $23.95 for the hard copy.

4. A Bottle of Organic Whiskey:

Order dad a bottle of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, $57, made by two experienced distillers using Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. When he has a shot after a hard day’s work, he will enjoy taking in the rich and mellow, fruity flavor with malty tones and a hint of smoke. Just bring him his organic wool slippers and a few EcoSalon articles and he’ll be in green heaven.

5.  A 100% Recycled EcoGirâ„¢ Suit: Discarded PET bottles are spared from the landfill thanks to this handsome suit from the Israeli company Bagir. Using 100% post consumer material (up to 30 plastic bottles to build one suit) the company strives to maximize the quality of the fabric and lining while minimizing our carbon footprint. We all know the fashion industry leaves a big footprint. According to Treehugger, you can buy the jacket and pants for about $200 through the Sears catalog (Covington line). As Green Prophet puts it, the garment gives new meaning to the term Euro Trash.

6. Recycled pewter typewriter Cufflinks: Let him wear his initials on his sleeve, that is if he’s a guy who still wears French cuffs, which are major swank. Made from real typewriter keys, they spell love for $50 at the Inhabitat shop.

7. Do-it-Yourself Salsa Garden Kit: Sure, he can mix some killer margaritas but the man who can grow his own salsa is mucho macho. All you need is included in this packet from Herb Kit, from the tomatoes and onions to the bell peppers and jalapeno. $30 to get started. Ole, papa! Pass the chips. Details available at the Do-It-Yourself Network.

8. Billabong Sonic Swim Trunks: DUDE! Catch some buttery waves, Daddy-O, in these 100% recycled poly eco-supereme suede board trunks, available for $31.43 at  Sundanski.

9. Benjamin Button DVD: Buy this or rent this odyssey to enjoy with your husband and dad and witness together how a man can be an adoring parent and partner. Brad Pitt gives a tender performance as a spirit who cycles through life in reverse, arriving as an infant-size old man and growing into a hottie who meticulously keeps a journal tracking his life and thoughts for the woman who outgrows him and the daughter he must leave behind. Dad, it’s okay to cry. Now $16.91 at Overstock.

10. Plan a Suprise Outdoor Adventure with Nature Rocks: Pack his hiking shoes or water sandals and lead your green guy to a fun day kayaking, hiking, picnicking or simply exploring a great park, using the new Nature Rocks site as your guide. It’s a great way to bond as a family and a gift with memories that will truly last. It can even be free – letting you set aside your gift money for a great organic veggie meal after.

Main image: MShades