VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE:
SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010 info@vivavegie.org….•….212-242-0011

• Eat healthier and tastier foods with more nutrients and vitamins.
• Avoid chemicals, hormones, artificial additives and genetically modified organisms.
• Help the environment by promoting better farming practices.
• Support organic farmers and enable them to continue farming in this environmentally safe manner.
• Organically raised animals are in conditions which limit stress and promote health. They are humanely treated and are fed naturally, without drugs.
• Organic farming reduces soil erosion and ground-water pollution, significantly reducing the impact on wildlife.
• Organic food production uses less energy than conventional food production.
• Organic farming practices maintain and enhance seed, crop and ecological biodiversity.
• Consuming organic products helps protect future generations.

Spread the organic word!

Green Products and Ideas on April 21 will offer Central New Yorkers a chance to look at and ride in a GM fuel cell vehicle, expert advice on green-living tax credits and incentives, and much more. The Sustainability Fair will run 4 to 8 p.m. April 21 in SUNY Oswego’s Campus Center arena. It is free and open to the public, and parking will be available.

The one-day exposition will feature exhibitors displaying, discussing and demonstrating green products and services to enhance sustainable solutions for home, property and life. The Sustainability Fair will run 4 to 8 p.m. April 21 in SUNY Oswego’s Campus Center arena. It is free and open to the public, and parking will be available.

Among the features:
- General Motors will provide a fuel cell vehicle. GM reported last fall that its Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen-to-electricity vehicles have passed a million miles in testing, emitting only wisps of water vapor from the tailpipe. A GM representative will be on hand to answer questions and give rides.
- Chris Carrick of the state Energy Research and Development Authority will promote a range of environmentally responsible initiatives NYSERDA has in the works, and will provide information about home energy efficiency and tax incentives.
- SUNY Oswego’s Office of Facilities will display information about the new apartment complex, The Village, rapidly rising next to Glimmerglass Lagoon on campus, and all the components qualifying it for LEED Gold, a top U.S. Green Building Council certification for building design and environmental sustainability.
- A variety of vendors will have exhibits and information on such green services and products as wind and solar contracting, community farming and gardening, green cleaning, and much more.

The event is sponsored by SUNY Oswego as a part of the Quest Day of Research and Creativity. Underwriting is provided by the American Chemical Society and SUNY-Oswego’s Auxiliary Services. For more information about the fair, visit http://www.oswego.edu/sustainabilityfair or contact Thad Mantaro at 312-3492 or thaddeus.mantaro@oswego.edu. For vendor registration information, contact Thad Mantaro.

Last night I had dinner at my favorite and perhaps one of the most well known vegan restaurants in New York City, Angelica’s Kitchen. When I dine there and I am by myself I like to sit at the “community table” where I have met some very curious and delightful individuals. Angelica’s has daily specials that are usually so enticing that I rarely order from their regular menu. As was the case last night- I had the Saag Paneer, healthy & delicious. Supporting a business like Angelica’s is a pleasure because they have a great product and a philosophy of kindness and sustainability. Angelica’s Kitchen is truly an example of a green restaurant on a mission to help our planet and promote mindful eating and organic foods.

Not only is Angelica’s devoted to serving clean fresh and local foods, but they maintain direct relationships with the farmers and customers who support their business. Angelica’s Kitchen believes in fair trade and makes sure that it’s ingredients are purchased from vendors who use renewable sources of energy. They are active participants in the food donation program City Harvest, which collects food from restaurants throughout the NYC area and redistributes it to the homeless.

Visit them at http://www.angelicakitchen.com/

“The striking new environmentally friendly library in Battery Park City is sure to quickly become a beacon for the community,” said Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library. “At a time when people are depending on libraries more then ever for free resources and job assistance the library is a crucial resource for the neighborhood. We are deeply grateful to our elected officials, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and City Council Member Margaret Chin for their support of the branch’s construction. We also greatly appreciate the generous private funding provided by Goldman Sachs & Co.

Photo: Tim Furzer

With light streaming through broad windows and glimpses of the Hudson River the $6.7 million Battery Park City Library provides a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for the public. The 88th branch of the New York Public Library will anchor the bottom two floors of the city’s greenest residential high-rise to date. Designed by the architecture firm 1100 Architects, the branch includes 24,000 items, 36 public access computers, and separate reading areas for children, young adults, and adults. A multipurpose programming room on the second floor is also featured, as well as two self-checkout machines for public use. The Library was constructed with a focus on environmental sustainability and will be the first GREEN Library in Manhattan. The branch is expected to receive LEED Gold certification from the U. S. Green Building Council. Some of the features contributing to the branch’s environmental efficiency include:
 

• an efficient technologically advanced low-energy heating/cooling system

• low-flow sanitary fixtures which reduce water consumption

• low-energy lighting system

• use of recycled and renewable building materials including a wood floor constructed with off-cuts from window frame manufacture, carpets constructed from old truck tires, millwork made from recycled cardboard composite, and terrazzo with recycled glass and mirror aggregate

• the inclusion of a dedicated area for the collection and storage of all recyclable materials accumulated during the day to day operations of the branch

• use of a large number of the products that are low emitting in order to help the overall indoor air quality.

“Libraries play an important role in communities throughout the city, serving as a place for people to gather, attend readings, access the internet and more,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The new environmentally-sustainable Battery Park City branch will be a model for future branch designs and an asset for the local community for decades to come.”

“Expanding literacy, arts and education to any neighborhood in New York City is an issue we at the City Council feel is one of the most vital for New Yorkers,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Having access to these materials is essential to the growth of our neighborhoods. Battery Park for so long did not know what it was to have these resources available to them down the street from their homes. Now, residents downtown and throughout the City will be able to enjoy this new branch and the new resources it brings to this beautiful area of our City.”

“The opening of the Battery Park City library is another big step in the continuing progress of the community as one of the great neighborhoods in our city,” said New York State Senator Daniel Squadron. “Public libraries are more important than ever in the 21st century, in which broad, democratic access to information–whether printed or digital–is more important than ever.”

“I am delighted to join Battery Park City residents in welcoming the newest branch of the New York Public Library to the neighborhood,” said United States Congressman Jerrold L. Nadler. “I am proud of this terrific New York institution and believe that it profoundly enriches the lives of those who use it. As a lifelong enthusiastic reader and library patron, I hope that residents will enjoy this library as much as I have always enjoyed my local libraries and read to their hearts’ content.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the New York Public Library and the residents of Battery Park City in opening this beautiful new library,” said Councilmember Margaret Chin. “To have a public facility like this, in a community like Battery Park City, is really wonderful, especially with the construction’s focus on environmental sustainability and what we hope will be a LEED Gold certification. It’s important that we teach our children about the environment as we instill in them a love of reading and learning, while providing a great place for our seniors and others in the community to read and gather. I also want to specifically recognize my predecessor, Councilmember Alan Gerson, without whose work this library simply would not exist, and also the work of Community Board 1 Battery Park City chair Linda Belfer, a tireless champion of all things Battery Park City.”

“As Chair of Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, I am ecstatic that this library has been finished,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “Any day that a library opens is a very good day for the community it serves. This library will enhance the educational and cultural life of the neighborhood.”

“The new Battery Park City library and the expansion of New York Public Library services means the promotion of literacy, education and technology for local residents,” said New York City Council Member Vincent Gentile. “Public libraries, particularly ones developed in an environmentally friendly way like this one, enrich the neighborhoods in which they’re placed; it’s a joy to see all the benefits that come along with a new public library being introduced to a neighborhood that didn’t have those resources at their fingertips before.”

Library Hours
The Battery Park City Library will be open: Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Grand Opening Celebration

Thursday, March 18, 2010
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public
175 North End Avenue

10 a.m.,
Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, with elected officials and special guests.

11 a.m.,
Architect’s tour and overview of environmental features

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Crafts with Linda DeCresenzo, program for children of all ages.

2:30 p.m.
Poetry Reading

3:30 p.m.
“Birds of Prey”, a program for the whole family that examines such birds of prey as hawks, owls, falcons or other species! Patrons will get to touch raptor artifacts and a lucky volunteer may get to help with some of the demonstrations. Presented by the New Canaan Nature Center.

Source: New York Public Library

American Canyon
Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa
http://gaianapavalleyhotel.com

LEED certified, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa bills itself as Napa Valley’s “first fully environmentally-sustainable hotel .” Named “Mother Earth” in Greek, the hotel provides waterless urinals, low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads. The emphasis on nature can also be found on their grounds, which consist of native and climate-adaptive plants, as well as a swan and Koi pond that uses only recycled  water.

San Francisco
The Orchard Garden Hotel
http://theorchardgardenhotel.com

Located just three blocks from San Francisco‘s Union Square and all the major department stores, this LEED certified boutique hotel is the sister property of the Orchard Hotel and stands green and proud. Inviting earth-toned rooms (all of which are deluxe) come with all-natural fabrics, ergonomically correct mattresses, feather pillows and 100 percent combed cotton bedding. Rooms have been constructed with low emission paint and carpet, and the hotel utilizes chemical-free cleaning solutions and organic bath products.                                                                                             

Chicago 
Hotel Allegro
http://allegrochicago.com 

The Allegro is part of Kimpton’s EarthCare program, promoting a sustainable planet. This downtown Chicago hotel features towel re-use, water recycling and non-toxic cleaning agents. All materials are printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper, and energy-efficient light bulbs are used. Indulge in a complimentary cup of organic, fair trade coffee in the lobby before heading out to the Chicago theatre scene or the shopping Mecca on Magnificent Mile.

Nantucket
Hotel Green
http://vanessanoelhotelgreen.com

Celebrated shoe designer and hotelier Vanessa Noel’s Hotel Green is Nantucket Island’s first environmentally conscious organic luxury hotel. It boasts nine individually decorated rooms and one two-bedroom suite incorporating high-end environmentally friendly and sustainable products. Frank-Gehry-designed recycled cardboard chairs and coffee tables sit on Gaiam hemp area rugs, which are complemented by natural bamboo window shades. You’ll also find hemp bathrobes and towels in your room as well as a selection of organic beverages and snacks.

Manhattan 
70 Park Avenue Hotel
www.70parkave.com
Another Kimpton property committed to sustainable practices, this boutique hotel even provides in-room spa services and has a yoga TV channel and complimentary yoga accessories. The hotel uses non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services, including in-room recycling bins and non-toxic cleaners. This is a hotel for discerning guests who seek a haven of quiet with the ambience of their very own Park Avenue pied-à-terre.

Washington D.C. 
The Fairmont Washington, D.C.
www.fairmont.com/washington
Did you know that if you park your hybrid car at this hotel in Washington’s fashionable West End, you’ll receive a free dessert? In addition to sweets, this hotel has a green procurement program, including the reduction of pre-packaging, ensuring that supplies, equipment, fixtures and furniture are environmentally sensitive. The hotel also donates soaps, amenities and food from buffet lines to shelters and soup kitchens. Being green never felt so good!

 Source:  www.gayot.com

2)    Lighting
Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).  They produce the same light level as regular bulbs, but use about a quarter of the energy and can last up to ten times longer. 

Unlike ordinary light bulbs, CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury in the glass tubing, so special clean-up and disposal methods are needed.  In case of breakage, have people and pets leave the room.  Open the window and shut off the central air heating/conditioning system, allowing the room to air out for 15 minutes.  Pick up the pieces of broken glass and put them in a jar with a metal lid or a plastic bag.  Use sticky tape to pick up any remaining glass shards or powder, and then wipe the area with a wet paper towel.  If a spill comes in contact with any absorbent surfaces, the items become contaminated and must be disposed of accordingly.  For further information: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm

You can also replace ordinary switches with dimmers or motion sensors.  Whenever a dimmer is not turned all the way up, you are saving energy.  Motion sensors will turn on a light and keep it on only if someone is in the room.  Utilize natural light as much as possible; try reading a book or doing your work during the day.

3)    Clothes
Instead of throwing away old clothes, recycle them!  By donating textiles, you can help reduce the number of unwanted textiles that end up in landfills and incinerators.  In New York City alone, over 193,000 tons of recoverable and recyclable textiles are disposed of every year.  GrowNYC’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (OROE) provides drop off locations at NYC Greenmarkets. Click here for locations.

4)    Fans
We all know that turning on a fan during the summer will cool down a room.  But turning one on in the winter can help improve heating efficiency.  As your radiator heats the room, the warmer air rises to the ceiling.  By turning on your ceiling fan to the lowest setting, the warm air is circulated around the room.  A fan uses much less electricity than a heating system, reducing energy use.

5)    Cleaning
Whether they are empty or full, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers use about the same amount of energy.  It is more efficient – and helps you save on your electric bill – to wait until these appliances are full before use.

When buying a washing machine, look for front-loaders.  These models use up to 25% less energy and water than a standard washer.  You can save an additional 10 cents a load by washing with cold water whenever possible.  Almost 90% of energy consumed by washing machines is used to heat the water.  Keep the lint filter in the dryer clean, since a clogged filter can increase energy use up to 30%.  During the spring and summer, another eco-friendly alternative is hanging your clothes up to dry!

6)    Colors
If you are painting a room, consider using a lighter color.  Dark colors absorb more light, requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect as a room with lighter walls.

7)    Insulate
Whether during the summer or the winter, insulating your home is an effective way to save energy.  An insulated home does not gain or lose heat as quickly as a non-insulated one, so it is easier to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors.  Close your windows and seal drafts around the window and doorframes to keep the hot or cold air out.  In the winter, you can also use clear plastic barrier film to cover window frames; the film traps cold air that might come into your house even if the windows are closed.  Up to 16% of your heat can be lost through unprotected windows.  Insulating lowers the demand on your air conditioner and heating system, reducing your electric bill and extending the life of the system.

Faucets
One way to conserve water is to seal leaks in plumbing fixtures.  Repairing the plumbing with replacement washers can easily stop leaks.  This is something that you can do on your own, though novices might ask a handy friend or a plumber.  Fixing a leak from a hot-water faucet is doubly beneficial; the leak makes the water heater work harder and wastes energy.  Another thing you could pick up at a hardware store is a faucet aerator.  These aerators add air to the water coming out of the sink, reducing the amount of water used but maintaining water pressure.

9) Plastic
Try to cut down on how much trash you generate in a normal day.  Instead of using disposable cups and utensils at delis and coffee shops, bring your own.  Instead of grabbing plastic cutlery along with your lunch, eat with metal ones from home.  Carry a reusable plastic or stainless steel mug with you for hot or cold drinks.  At the end of the day, bring your cups and cutlery home to wash them and be ready for tomorrow.  Bring cloth bags to the supermarket to carry groceries home in, and bring your own reusable plastic containers when you go to buy take-out.  Reusable containers and utensils help keep plastic and Styrofoam out of the landfills.

10) Driving
You don’t have to buy a new hybrid or electric car to be environment-friendly when you drive.  Follow the speed limit, regularly clean your air and oil filters, keep your tires inflated, and carefully step on the gas and brakes.  While pushing the pedal to the metal is fun, maintaining a cruising speed (e.g. 55 mph) uses less gas.  These simple tips can improve your fuel efficiency up to 25% on highways.

11) Plant a Tree
The MillionTreesNYC program, one of the 127 initiatives of PlaNYC, intends to plant one million trees across the city’s five boroughs within the next ten years.  Not only do the trees beautify our urban landscape, they enrich our environment and the quality of city life.  Trees capture atmospheric carbon dioxide in their tissue, alleviating the greenhouse effect.  Trees also help filter out air and water pollution, and capture and retain stormwater.  To make New York City a greener place, you can volunteer for MillionTreesNYC (http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/involved/get_involved.shtml) or plant a tree in your own back yard.

Programs:

ConEdison

•    The Power of Green – A list of 100 facts about conserving energy.
o    Visit http://www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/100tips.asp for more information.
•    PowerMove – Use PowerYourWay to shop for electricity and natural gas from a variety of suppliers and qualify for a 7% discount off the ConEd price of energy supply for two months.
o    Green Power – Purchase green power through ConEd.  The service will cost a little extra, but you will help make New York a cleaner, greener city.
o    PowerMove – Use PowerYourWay to shop for electricity and natural gas from a variety of suppliers and qualify for a 7% discount off the ConEd price of energy supply for two months.
o    Visit http://www.poweryourway.com/powermove_residential.asp for more information.
•    Green Power – Purchase green power through ConEd.  The service will cost a little extra, but you will help make New York a cleaner, greener city.
o    Visit http://www.poweryourway.com/greenpower.asp for more information.

NYSERDA

•    BeCool – Replace your old air conditioner with an ENEGY STAR qualified model to be to save money and conserve energy.
o    Turn in your old, functional through-the-wall air conditioner to be eligible for a $100 BeCool incentive.
o    Turn in your old, functional window air conditioner to be eligible for a $35 BeCool incentive.
o    Contact GetEnergySmart.org or 1-877-NY-SMART for more information, and a list of locations to turn in old units and participating retailers.

How do you picture a wonderfully unique dining experience in the city of New York? A place to unwind at an organic juice bar, where you can casually read your papers and sip on a cool glass of freshly prepared fruit smoothie. Become infused with raw energy. Take pleasure in a conversation with friends or neighbors at the community table over delectable morsels of quick bites. Relax and take in the scents of exotic food and spices. Watch an open kitchen come to life as invigorating music and warmth surround you. Celebrate the joy of eating with a nutritious meal from the innovative vegetarian menu, complemented by a fine glass of organic wine. Hear the sounds of laughter and delight as you are being treated like family.

     Intrigued? These sensuous adventures and more are waiting for you at GOBO where everyone is brought together in a cozy setting, reminiscent of a country kitchen that embodies big city life. It is a country kitchen with flair. From the eclectic West Village, the doors of GOBO restaurant open into a stylish, comfortable and vibrant space serving exciting vegetarian global cuisine that conveys the diversity of the neighborhood. An extension of New York in which your five senses enjoy constant stimulation, GOBO is an inviting scene for all people to share in the spiritual experience of healthy vegetarian dining. Take a journey to the GOBO country kitchen to discover “food for the five senses”. Leave with an awakening of both your body and mind!

Off The Hook: Why Local Seafood is Sustainable

Saturday, March 13th from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm at 92 Y Tribeca

Do you want to know what fish are sustainable to eat? Are you confused by pocket seafood guides and competing certification labels? Do you wonder if any fish sold at farmer’s markets are overfished? Greenmarket will bring together fishermen, a regulatory agent, a marine advocate, and a chef to help untangle these questions and talk about what’s being done to promote sustainable fishing practices and why it’s important to support our local fishing families and communities.

Panelists include, Alex and Stephanie Villani from Blue Moon Fish in Mattituck, NY; Christopher M. Moore Chief of the Partnerships and Communications Division in the office of Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA Fisheries Service; Niaz Dorry, Director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA); and Colin Alevras Chef of the former acclaimed restaurant Tasting Room and now Sommelier at DBGB Kitchen & Bar.

Light local seafood snacks and New York State wine will be served.

Tickets are $10 and available at 92 Y Tribeca  or through the box office at 212-601-1000.

92Y Tribeca is located at 200 Hudson Street, at Canal.

OZU Restaurant Japanese Kosher Natural Food
566 Amsterdam Avenue
( Between 87th and 88th Streets )
New York, NY

This macrobiotic restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan is a favorite for locals in the neighborhood who visit daily for the lunch special. The lunch specials start at are $13.00 and include a hearty bowl of soup, your choice of miso, carrot ginger or a daily bean soup medley and your choice of a main dish. Another crowd pleaser is the “Almost Perfect” which consists of a magnificent greens selection with tofu, seaweed and carrots. It comes in an adorable bento box and also includes your choice of soup and you can also choose two appetizers from the menu. The restaurant serves no dairy products, no meat, no refined sugar, no sushi, no shellfish, no soft drinks, and no hard booze. What they do, however, they do very, very well. Vegan entrées like Asian-oriented grains, noodles, and flavorful vegetables, such as shredded carrots inside a dumpling wrapper, are prefaced by spring rolls stuffed with basil, julienned cucumber, and soft tofu, with a peanut dipping sauce on the side. Cooked fish, like buttery sea bass or wild or farmed salmon, also makes the Ozu list. Kabocha, tender steamed Hokkaido pumpkin, fragrant with sesame seeds, is particularly simple and good. Another great find are coconut curries, Korean nabe pots—heated stone bowls filled with vegetables, rice, or soup—and, in a welcome twist, decidedly un-Asian pastas like kabocha gnocchi. All in all lunch at Ozu is always filling so go on an empty stomach and wear comfortable fitting pants: But to fill up here is not a guilty pleasure because all of the food is healthy, nutritious and most of all delicious!