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Going "Green" in New York--It's the New Black!
- by aliciak
- -
- September 16, 2009
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Going green is all the (eco-friendly) rage now, which means you must fill your house with sustainable goods, eat as many organic cookies as possible, and in general, consume, consume, consume! For the good of the environment, of course! Okay, enough with my tongue-in-cheek suggestions. Despite pollution and congestion levels, New York lends itself well to "green" living, because most of us inhabit small spaces, commute by public transportation, don't own cars, and have fewer possessions in general because of those small spaces. On the other hand, this is a consumption capital, with organic clothing boutiques and "recycled" restaurants popping up right and left, and even a bike-powered smoothie maker out in Brooklyn. Come on, let's shrink those carbon footprints! One designer organic hemp shoe at a time.
Green Eating
More and more of us citizens are learning about the complexities of the global economy, particularly regarding food and where it comes from. New York eating establishments are doing a lot to educate, and ultimately, feed us in more eco-friendly and sustainable ways. Whether it’s using solar power exclusively, counter tops made out of sunflower hulls, or a menu of locally grown foods, there are many fun green options out there.
Take a ride on the stationary bike that makes your smoothie possible!
Habana Outpost
755 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Biodegradable corn-starch utensils, bike-powered smoothie station, composting lessons, and solar power all make this Latin eatery an all-around green choice.
You order inside the restaurant, are handed a receipt, which you then hand to the guys in the food truck outside. The truck is so elevated, and I am short (5’3!), that I could barely reach the counter. It’s kind of a strange system. My steak quesadilla may have been haphazardly assembled, but the large, brightly colored outdoor garden alone made the trip worth it.
Biodegradable corn-starch utensils, bike-powered smoothie station, composting lessons, and solar power all make this Latin eatery an all-around green choice.
You order inside the restaurant, are handed a receipt, which you then hand to the guys in the food truck outside. The truck is so elevated, and I am short (5’3!), that I could barely reach the counter. It’s kind of a strange system. My steak quesadilla may have been haphazardly assembled, but the large, brightly colored outdoor garden alone made the trip worth it.
The wall o’ cookies at Birdbath
Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery
145 7th Avenue South, New York, NY 10014
Created by the folks at tasty City Bakery, Birdbath boasts walls made of wheat, reclaimed wood floors, wind power, only local, organic ingredients, and all baked goods made in the East Village location are transported by rickshaw to this West Village location.
The cookies I tasted here were a little too greasy, but maybe that is overcompensation for the fact that they are vegan. They have adorable little cut-out cookies in the shape of footprints, which are aptly called “carbon footprints.” But, the best perk of visiting Birdbath is the 25% discount for bikers, like myself! And then you can bike off the calories on your way home. Win-win!
Created by the folks at tasty City Bakery, Birdbath boasts walls made of wheat, reclaimed wood floors, wind power, only local, organic ingredients, and all baked goods made in the East Village location are transported by rickshaw to this West Village location.
The cookies I tasted here were a little too greasy, but maybe that is overcompensation for the fact that they are vegan. They have adorable little cut-out cookies in the shape of footprints, which are aptly called “carbon footprints.” But, the best perk of visiting Birdbath is the 25% discount for bikers, like myself! And then you can bike off the calories on your way home. Win-win!
Gusto Grilled Organics
519 6th Avenue New York, NY 10011
Gusto’s menu is 100% organic, and if you know anything about the measures taken to label food “organic,” you can assume this was no small feat. Gusto also supports the small-scale farmer and fair-trade practices, adding up to a feel-good kind of place.
Green Living
Apartment Therapy Re-Nest
Apartment Therapy Re-Nest is a frequently-updated blog that helps you work with the apartment you have, you know, rather than building that 20,000 square ft. “green” house. Learn how to plant a moss yard, how to build baby blocks from recycled packaging, and 10 things you can do for a greener bathroom.
Green Buildings
Check out which of New York’s buildings make the green cut, and expect this list to grow as the months go on, naturally.
Designed by Renzo Piano, The New York Times building maximizes natural light and has a more energy-efficient heating and cooling system. Now what to do about all those trees they cut down to make newspapers…
Green Fuel?
Rice Take Out Restaurant
81 Washington Street 2 A, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Rice is well-known for its curries, kabobs, and jerk chicken wings, but did you know that they will fill up your biodiesel car with leftover vegetable oil for free? Their delivery truck is outfitted for the “fuel”, but owner David Selig decided to extend the service to anyone interested. Just give him a call at 718-222-9880 and reserve a time slot.
Rice is well-known for its curries, kabobs, and jerk chicken wings, but did you know that they will fill up your biodiesel car with leftover vegetable oil for free? Their delivery truck is outfitted for the “fuel”, but owner David Selig decided to extend the service to anyone interested. Just give him a call at 718-222-9880 and reserve a time slot.
Green Restaurants and Shops
Green Shopping
Can any shopping truly be “green”? Well, I’m not going to tackle this philosophical question, so here are some stores that stock organic, sustainable clothing and products. To round out the experience, why not take the subway or ride your bike to these shops? And while you’re at it, bring some reusable cloth bags to carry the goods back home in. Those overflowing landfills will thank you!
Reusable Bags Online
I use these nylon puppies for all of my shopping, and as you can see, they fold up into a nice little compact pouch, so no excuses for not always having one on hand.
Go Green
485 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217
“If it’s not green, it’s not clean,” this environmentally-friendly cleaning products store declares! If you detest washing windows and the like, the staff will come to your residence and do the work for you. For a price, of course!
Organic Avenue
101 Stanton St Frnt, New York, NY 10002
Last summer, my tree-hugging, vegetarian boyfriend bought these $129 swim trunks, made out of organic cotton with cutesy little birds flying up one side. I fully supported this decision. Isn’t it great what you can justify for the sake of the environment?!?
Organic Avenue carries clothing, housewares, food, pharmaceutical products, and books, all of which cater to the organic, socially-conscious being inside of you. There is also an extensive series of events, including detox lessons and holistic healing.
Last summer, my tree-hugging, vegetarian boyfriend bought these $129 swim trunks, made out of organic cotton with cutesy little birds flying up one side. I fully supported this decision. Isn’t it great what you can justify for the sake of the environment?!?
Organic Avenue carries clothing, housewares, food, pharmaceutical products, and books, all of which cater to the organic, socially-conscious being inside of you. There is also an extensive series of events, including detox lessons and holistic healing.
Green Solutions
Your house is probably filled with a multitude of bottled cleaners and pungent chemicals, but there are only a few natural ingredients needed to make pretty much any surface or object spic and span, including baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. I’m listing a few simple “recipes” below, but this is one book I can’t live without, so better yet, click on the link and get a copy!
- Drain Cleaner and De-clogger: Boil a few cups of water, dissolve 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup distilled white vinegar in it, and pour down drain. Flush with hot water.
- Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket and get mopping!
- Natural Whitener: Add 1 cup of lemon juice to a half-filled bucket of water and soak clothes overnight.
A Few More Green Books
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