EARTH DAY
It’s easy to forget that we share this planet with so many other people. Too often we act selfishly, hoarding over land, possessions, and money that we never realize how much we take from the Earth and never give back. Being eco-friendly requires some sacrifices but here, in New York, partying will not be surrendered.
Last Week, one of the City’s only, and most popular eco-friendly nightclubs, Greenhouse, helped celebrate Earth Week by hosting their “Greenhouse Gives Back” campaign. Each night from April 16th to the 22nd, proceeds were given to Global Green, Cans for a Cure, Prospect Park Alliance, American Cancer Society, Riverkeeper, Green Festival, and Plant a Billion Trees, each an environmental or health-based charity.
Going all natural doesn't mean sacrificing your much loved makeup routine. It simply means that you are being socially responsible. There are several factors that make up an organic beauty product, some of which include being infused with botanicals, minerals, and vitamins, while others involve being made without parabens, synthetic dyes and/or fragrances, and petrochemicals. With just seven products all located in one place, Sephora: Natural, you can create a flawless face. Here's how to achieve an all natural day-to night look, complete with a matte finish, accentuated eyes, lashes, lips, and a sleek up-do.
Every year it seems that Earth Day gains even more importance. Caring about the environment has come a long way from the hippie, flower-child culture of the 70s to a growing way of life. In the last few years we've all started to look past the gas guzzling SUVs, toxic dumps, and pollution, and see the big picture--that we need to sustain our environment if we want to still be here in coming years--and that's the way it should be, according to Hassan Pierre, creative director of the stylish but sustainable clothing line, Way It Should Be (WISB*). We'll admit that buying a hybrid car isn't as easy as it sounds, and that your control over oil spills is minimal, but there's one excuse that can't be made--the synthetic clothes on your back. Your wardrobe is one of the only (and not to mention, easy) ways that you can make a direct impact on the environment. It's as simple as checking the tag before you make a purchase, and designers like Hassan Pierre are making it even easier for you, offering up beautiful garments that are 100 percent organic from start to finish.
I must confess that I’m the stereotypical foodie who only likes occasional simple salads and eats everything meat in sight. So when people suggest an organic, sustainable restaurant to me, I cringe as a boring raw vegan diet comes to mind. I’ll definitely go and try it but it probably won’t end up on my list of to-go restaurants at the end of the visit. But if someone told me that the menu of such said restaurant included bone marrow, duck breast, corn dogs, and a ‘fork +knife’ burger- no need for further convincing, you had me at marrow! This was exactly my surprise when I checked out Miami’s new hottest restaurant- Sustain Restaurant + Bar. I left the restaurant with only one word in mind, “fresh”!
It’s Earth Day today and I know some of us are scrambling to find Mother Nature a nice gift. After all, she’s done so much for us. The drug store doesn’t have a lot in the ways of planetary appreciation, though. There really aren’t any Earth Day cards, and honestly, they would be kind of a waste, so we’re here to save the day. Here are some really simple ways to be kind to the environment and your wallet:
- Draw your curtains. As the days start to get warmer, keep your curtains closed early in the morning to block out the sun and prevent your home from becoming too hot too early. It seems all too simple, but in daily practice it really stalls the need to turn on the air conditioner and saves you cash. To keep warmth in, close your curtains as the sun sets.
- Unplug your cell phone. It only takes a few hours to fully charge most cell phones, though many of us keep them charging over night out of habit. Unplugging your cell phone when it is fully charged saves a lot of energy and is usually better for the cell phone’s battery anyway.
- Invest in stock. Be smart about meals. Water you’ve boiled vegetables in makes great stock or flavorful bases for soup. Ditch the cans of instant! While shopping for produce, check if the numbered sticker on your fruits and vegetables start with a 9. This usually means your produce is organic and pesticide free and is really easy to spot. You don’t need to take a trip out to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s to buy organic. Taking a trip out to your local farmer’s market would be even better.
- Tap that. If you haven’t already: get a filter for your kitchen sink. Filters are cheaper and much easier to use now. The bulky containers of water in the refrigerator can be tossed out if you’ve got a filter on your sink’s tap.
- Get rid of the loofah. Plastic loofahs trap bacteria and are often a waste of cash. Read that carefully. Plastic loofahs become gross quickly and are a waste of money. That’s enough reason to replace them. A washcloth is a simple but effective alternative that’s even cheaper. Replace them and pick up the family sized container of shampoo and conditioner while you’re at it to save on packaging waste.
- Do a barrel roll. Many of us have lawns or gardens to tend to. Not only will you save water by keeping a barrel around, but you will make your own life a lot easier. Leave a barrel out to catch water coming off of your home’s rain gutters when it rains. Use the water to feed that grass and your plants. It’s free water and it comes from the sky.
- Get moving. This one is one of the most touted pieces of environmental friendly advice—because it’s true. Walking or using a bicycle to travel smaller distances really is helpful to the environment. It saves people a lot of gas money. It’s great exercise at no gym cost and it keeps noxious fumes out of our air for a few more minutes.
- Get grilled. It’s spring! Barbecue season is on its way. Your outdoor grill uses so much less energy than your stove or microwave. It also keeps heat outside of your home. If you like delicious food, start making outdoors grilling one of your eco-friendly habits.
- Do Not Disturb. Those traveling for spring break can just hang up the Do Not Disturb sign on their hotel doors to limit how many times housekeeping vacuums the room and washes linen. Hotels are usually wonderful about keeping rooms clean and tidy for guests, but more tidying than you need is a waste. Try to hold back on the travel sized accessories while you’re at it. Tiny shampoo containers are adorable, but on a week long trip it’s safe to say you’ll get better mileage out of a normal sized container than five little babies.
- Measure. Measure out the amount of supplies you’ll be using, especially when it comes to food and drinks. Filling a pot full of hot water is a waste when all you’ll need is a cup for hot cocoa. When buying an ingredient or product you’ll only get one or two uses out of, resist the urge to buy in bulk “just in case” or for the advertised savings. If you really won’t need it more than once it will go to waste.
Food just doesn’t taste the same without a little seasoning to gives it that “Iron Chef” touch. Any cook knows the best ingredients are fresh, so instead of reaching for that old spice rack create your own herb garden. Follow these easy steps to a fresher yummier meal.
The Fundamentals
Growing a garden may seem as a no-brainer, but it actually takes a lot of time, nurturing patience, and effort. First, start by planning out and deciding on the size and location of your garden. Do you want to have an outdoor garden, on your window sill or in one large pot? Whatever you decide just keep in mind the fundamentals water, soil, and sun- the most critical factors involved. Look for an area where your plants will get at least six hours of light each day. Herbs react better to areas that receive indirect sunlight with neutral to alkaline soil. All herbs will appreciate soil that drains well, but make sure to water them regularly and add natural fertilizer.
Williamsburg tapas bar and restaurant Cadaquès will be honoring Earth Day April 22 by turning out the lights during dinner. Tthe entire restaurant will be lit by candlelight for the night and a special vegetarian menu will be offered.
Owner Mathieu Reboul is turning out the lights to highlight the need to conserve energy. Take part in the conservation by bringing your own candles and votives.
In addition, Executive Chef Guillaume Thivet will be crafting a three-course vegetarian feast, along with the regular menu, served with a glass of white or red wine for $35 to complement Cadaqués’ modern Spanish tapas menu.
You don’t have to be a vegetarian to appreciate the cuisine at Horizons. Located on South 7th Street, this vegan eatery does things with tofu one never thought possible. Even the most committed meat-eaters will be blown away. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by sitting down to a meal solely consisting of ingredients that have sprung from the soil?
Horizons is the brainchild of Chef Richard Landau; when it started in 1994, it was just a small counter at a health food store in the suburbs. Over time, as Chef Landau acquired a following, he opened a free-standing restaurant nearby. In 2006, Horizons closed up shop in the burbs and headed for the bustling streets of Center City. Rich, who was invited in 2009 to cook at the James Beard House in New York City, continues to oversee the kitchen while his wife, Kate Jacoby, manages the restaurant and makes the desserts.
Earth Day is celebrated globally by 175 countries every year on April 22nd. It's no surprise that many restaurants and bars in the nation's capital are joining in the effort to bring awareness to the need to preserve and appreciate Earth and its natural environment.
To help save the planet and eat well at the same time, you don't have to wait until April 22nd. Many of the following restaurants and bars are beginning their Earth Day celebrations as early as April 15th. Get yourself some Earth-friendly transportation and head on over to the following locations:
The basics of being environmentally-conscientious are easy: reduce, reuse, recycle. But if you're looking to do more than the basics, how about listening to chart-topping bands and enjoying delicious farm fresh food?
Head to the Sweetlife Festival in Columbia, Maryland on May 1st, 2011. Hosted by Sweetgreen, DC's go-to organic salad and frozen yogurt restaurant's and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, the festival will feature great musical acts, such as The Strokes, Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco, Ra-Ra Riot, and Cold War Kids and will include delicious food from local organic farmers.The festival's aim is to celebrate music, healthy food, and thoughtful living.
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