1. Getting All Huffy About It:
Photograph by Phillip Toledano – Vanity Fair ‘Green Issue’ 2008
Right before Earth Day, Todd Paglia, Executive Director of Forest Ethics, a forest protection organization, blogged about the hypocricies of Vanity Fair and other copycat magazines’ so-called ‘green’ issues in the Huffington Post. Vanity Fair is printed on paper from clearcut forests. None of its 12 issues per year are ‘green.’ In his editor’s letter, Graydon Carter laments the lack of stage time some of our largest looming challenges — global warming, the true costs of the US’s energy-ineptitude — have received in our current presidential race. While he goes on to say that those topics get their due in the subsequent pages, he conveniently neglects to mention another problem: the fact that every year, the magazine industry destroys an area the size of Rocky Mountain National Park — at an average of one tree per second — to print its 12 billion magazines. Read more…
Want an easy way to help protect endangered forests? Petition for a “Do Not Mail” Registry.
2. Gram Shoes
I wish these were organic, but at least they’re not leather! These hot shoes are as sophisticated as they are bad-ass. I spoke to their super-friendly and helpful US agent (BRNDNU, also associated with Good Society) to find out about their labor policies and ecological footprint. I was informed over the telephone that Gram is made in China by a Japanese owned and staffed factory. They are paid living wages, so no sweatshops. The fabrics are from England, and the design headquarters are in Sweden. Their new range is entirely nylon & denim, but in the past they’ve used leather, suede, and lambskin. Buy them at Mauve.
TheDiscerningBrute, April 30th 2008 |
Tags: brndnu, canvas shoes, endangered forests, forest Ethics, good society, gram shoes, Graydon Carter, green issue, leather, mauve, paper waste, Phillip Toledano, sweatshop, Todd Paglia, vanity fair, vegan shoes
Posted in Shoes, activism, environmental justice, fashion, green, social responsibility, vegan
Marinated Portobello-Steak with Sautéed Purple-Scallions & Steamed Baby Bok Choy with Beets
I prepared this dish with all local, organic farm produce and bread from the Union Square Farmer’s Market in New York City. The farmers markets in New York are amazing – there is no reason not to buy ALL your produce locally. If you live in the northeast, this is a great vegan meal that’s fresh, local, and organic!
What you’ll need for dinner for 2:
- 2 large potobello mushroom caps
- 2 cups of baby bok choy
- 4 purple scallion
- 2 medium beets
- 2 pieces of whole wheat sourdough bread
- Oil & Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons of Tahini
- 2 Tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar
- pinch of sea salt
- pinch of pepper
Directions:
- Gently remove the stem, and rinse the dirt from the mushroom caps.
- In a shallow bowl, marinate the mushroom caps in the balsamic, tahini, salt & pepper while you prepare the veggies (about 15 minutes).
- Rinse the beets thoroughly, and cut off any undesired parts, but leave the skin (it’s full of nutrients).
- Chop Beets into medium cubes. Steam for about 20 minutes (or until fork penetrates it easily).
- Rinse the bok choy, and steam for about 8-10 minutes. These should stay somewhat crisp and sweet. If you steam too long they will get mushy.
- Sauté the scallions and mushroom caps on medium heat until caps have become flat and throughly cooked, and scallions have caramelized – about 10 minutes. Flip the caps twice.
- Serve the mushrooms on a ripped piece of organic, local bread. Top it off with the caramelized scallions.
- Serve the beets and bok choy beside the mushrooms, and drizzle with a touch of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste
DB’s Etiquette Recommendation: I recommend serving this with a local, dry white wine. Be sure to tell you guest(s) about how your meal was prepared and where it came from. It makes for a more enjoyable food experience if people can understand how the food got from farm to table. Here is a list of all Greenmarkets in NYC
TheDiscerningBrute, April 29th 2008 |
Tags: beets, bok choy, farmers market, greenmarket, local, organic, portobello, recipe, Union Square, vegan, vegetarian
Posted in Health, activism, fair trade, food, green, organic, recipes, social responsibility, vegan, vegetarian
Dine at Candle 79 and Make Dreams Come True for Compassionate Kids!
It’s always a beautiful experience when city kids (some of whom have never seen a farm animal in person) can visit Farm Sanctuary. Students from the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York City are trying to raise funds to make their dream to meet the animals come true with a Fundraiser for Deaf Students at Candle 79 on Wednesday, April 30 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Simply make reservations for that evening at Candle 79, and a portion of your bill will go directly toward the children’s visit to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. Additional donations for the kids can also be made at the restaurant.
Where: Candle 79, 154 East 79th St.(near Lexington Avenue), New York, NY 10021
Directions: Take the 6 train to 77th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Reservations: Call Candle 79 at 212-537-7179, or visit their Web site at candlecafe.com and select “Click here” to make your reservation. Be sure to indicate, “for Lexington Fundraiser,” when making your reservation.
For more information on the fundraiser, please contact Alyssa Banner at 718-350-3275 or abanner@lexnyc.org. If you can’t attend the fundraiser, donations for the kid’s trip can be sent directly to the school. Please make checks payable to Lexington School for the Deaf CORE Class of 2009 and mail to the address below.
Attention: Alyssa Banner
Lexington School for the Deaf
30th Avenue and 75th Street
Jackson Heights, NY 11370
Come to Candle 79 with friends, family and loved ones and support the students’ trip to the farm. A compassionate world begins with you!
TheDiscerningBrute, April 29th 2008 |
Tags: alyssa Banner, Candle 79, deaf students, farm sanctuary, fundraiser, lexington school for the deaf
Posted in activism, food, green, vegan, vegetarian
Thanks to Karen Dawn of Dawnwatch for alerting us Brutes to an addition to our gang… Yesterday in the New York Times, Prince Fielder dished on what it’s been like since switching to a vegetarian diet as a Major League, 265 lb., hot-shot, home-run slugging, first-baseman. And get this…while he doesn’t mind the increase in energy and loss of fat, he did it for ethical reasons.
“Fielder, 23, decided to make the switch over the winter after reading how cattle and chickens were treated and “was totally grossed out,” he said. His wife, Chanel, preferred a no-meat diet as it was, so he embraced a new approach…Fielder, a first baseman who walloped 50 home runs last season, has become more than the face of the young and improving Milwaukee Brewers — he has become a lightning rod for his off-season decision to spurn meat and fish, including the bratwurst that tailgating Milwaukee fans hold so dear. – NYT.com
For guys like me who still like to play ball, this spring I recommend Carpenter Trade’s vegan baseball glove. They are hand-made to order (and expensive, but well worth it). Scott Carpenter started making vegan gloves in 2001. Star players such as Roger Clemens, Chris Carpenter, and Johan Santana, are opting for synthetic backs.
If you need something cheaper, get a used glove.
TheDiscerningBrute, April 29th 2008 |
Tags: carpenter trade, dawnwatch, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Times, Prince Fielder, Pronce Fielder, veg baseball glove, vegan baseball, vegetarian baseball
Posted in food, green, sports, vegan, vegetarian
There are a couple of things you should check out if you’re in New York on Sunday April 27th!
1. Bust Magazine Craftacular!
At the last Bust Craftacular, I met my obsession, Amy Sedaris. The lovely ladies at BUST Mag are at it again, having a Craftacular at the Warsaw in Brooklyn tomorrow. Hop on the L – Train and make your way to Hipster-Disneyland; Williamsburg. This is the place to get handmade stuff from small-scale artisans and crafts(wo)men. In the past, I’ve gotten some pretty sick necklaces and some pretty hot dates.
DATE: Sunday, April 27 from 11 am to 9 pm
LOCATION: The Warsaw
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 261 Driggs Avenue.
2. Go Green Expo
Our friend Karl Addison of Partybots will have a table, along with other green vendors, at the Go Green Expo. “Go Green Expo will change not only the public’s perception of environmentalism but also how events like this are produced and managed. Inviting companies large and small to showcase what they are doing to reduce their respective carbon footprint, consumers will have
hands on experiences with “eco-friendly” alternatives to current everyday products and services.Even the event itself is environmentally friendly utilizing STETSON Convention Services ZERO Carbon footprint approach to event production. Biodegradable table coverings, recycled signs, compostable sponsor banners and more. Event waste will be separated and sorted to ensure the least amount of refuse going to the landfills.”
Time: 10am-6pm.
Location: The Hilton New York,
1335 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, New York, United States 10019 -
Contact: 212.586.7000.
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
(Click HERE to purchase tickets)
Adults – $10 one-day pass; $15 two-day pass
Children under the age of 12 – Free
Senior citizens (65+) – Free
TheDiscerningBrute, April 26th 2008 |
Tags: amy sedaris, Bust Magazine Craftacular, Go Green Expo, partybots
Posted in fashion, green, organic
