New Matt & Nat, Israel to Ban Fur, Pussies Eat Meat & Sparrow Media

Matt & Nat has unleashed it’s new website, along with a pretty rad spring/summer collection of vegan bags lined with 21 recycled bottled turned into faux-suede. If you’re in the NYC area, you can grab the men’s bags at Alter.

Phoenix Briefcase, Black $239.00, Kronos Bag, Black $175.00, Fujiya Bag, Black $170.00, at ALTER

Meat Is For Pussies book image

I am stoked about my tough-guy pal John Joseph‘s (Cro-Mags front man, Ironman Triathlete, all-around vegan badass) new book that does not beat around the bush (ha…) about meat and its affect on the earth, our health, and animals. Yes, the title is controversial. Feel free to rant about it in the comments section. Or just pre-order your copy.

John Joseph

Meat is For Pussies: The how-to guide for dudes who want to get fit, kick ass, and take names (Crush Publishing, 2010).

“In Meat is for Pussies, John Joseph makes sure you never look at meat the same way. After painting a sickening picture of how things really are, John outlines a plan for a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Do you want to continue living like a pussy, or are you ready to take back control of your life? It’s your call.”

Sparrow Media recently did an exclusive, in-depth interview with Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart (Vaute Couture). Sparrow Media’s work is pretty amazing in general, so we recommend checking it, and all their stuff out! Big-ups to Discerning Brute Andy Stepanian for spearheading so many cool and important projects.


Skin Trade MovieThe new film “Skin Trade”, by Shannon Keith (Behind the Mask) has been released and is shocking audiences  across the country. Gary Smith writes an excellent review of the documentary over at Elephant Journal. The film features Rory Freedman, John Feldmann, Todd Oldham, Alexandra Paul, James Cromwell, Jorja Fox, Peter Young, Joshua Katcher, Matt Rossell, Ingrid Newkirk and Dennis Kucinich.

“Skin Trade” covers the fur industry like no other film has ever done – from the history of the fur trade to consumer fraud to the environmental toll of tanneries to truth-in-labeling legislation… systematically debunks the most common myths around fur, such as warmth, fashion, and the Canadian Fur Council’s laughable “Fur is Green” campaign.

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Actions-Israel/IsraelFur021306.jpgSpeaking of fur… will Israel be the first country to ban fur, all together? Michal Lewin-Epstein’s article on Huffington Post:

“Ninety-five percent of Israel’s textile products are imported from China and real furred items are occasionally mislabeled as fake fur, deceiving both the retailers and the consumers. A survey, commissioned by the International Anti-Fur Coalition and Let the Animals Live, conducted immediately after the February 2009 media investigation, showed that 86% of Israelis believe killing animals for fur is immoral. Moreover, nearly 80% back a bill calling for ban of fur trade in Israel. This media exposure and public support, together with the long-standing joint efforts of the International Anti-Fur Coalition and the Israeli organization Let the Animals Live, recently pressured Israeli Members of Knesset to endorse a law that would limit or eliminate the fur trade in Israel.” Read the FULL ARTICLE.

Would You Be Mine?

Last year I did a Vday crafts segment with the legendary design king, Todd Oldham. Remember?

DBTV Valetine Special: TODD OLDHAM HEARTS YOU

Here’s the recipe for the vegan chocolate cake!

Jodi Taylor

Here’s some more romantic ideas and yummy treats to try (we’ll take any excuse to eat chocolate):

Farm Sanctuary Vegan Valentines Chocolate Heart

Order now and get your heart in time for Valentines Day. The Farm Sanctuary logo chocolate heart was created by Sjaak’s Organic Chocolates.

Warm Hearts and Save Lives by Sponsoring a Farm Animal in Needhttp://woodstocksanctuary.org/newsletter/2010-02/valentinenl.jpg

Sponsor a Farm Sanctuary or Woodstock FAS animal and share your Valentine’s Day spirit with one of these sweet animals.

pizans-in-box.jpgPinkBox.jpeg

Bluestocking Bonbons are perfect for the sweethearts in your life–particularly the lovely women you’re sweet on, since each one celebrates an inspirational woman.

Sweet & Sara, who was recently featured on Food Network’s ‘Unwrapped’ has some Vegan Marshmallow Hearts dipped in organic chocolate. Three-inch hearts, hand-cut and hand-dipped … for that special someone. Get 20% off with the code FN20!

http://www.ascentofscandal.com/causebannerpost.jpg

Don’t forget to set the mood with some naughty Vday candle scents! Or support a cause with the purchase of a candle.

Chocolate Cashew Brittle by Chocolate InspirationsLimited Edition Truffles Birdie Box By Sjaak's

See the Valentines Gift Ideas pages over at Vegan Essentials, The Vegan Store, and Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe.

DBTV Valentine Special: TODD OLDHAM HEARTS YOU

Don’t be jealous! Ever since I watched a green-haired Todd Oldham on “House of Style” back in the nineties, I knew that I had to get crafty with him one day. So, with Valentine’s Day around the corner, Todd and I got together at his downtown NYC studio to show you how to make some heart-shaped gifts that come from the heart. We both agree that this holiday is all about affordable, DIY craftiness.

From his features in ReadyMade & Dwell, to crafting Amy Sedaris’ interactive vaginal diagram on the Chelsea Lately Show, and with a line of vases for FTD,  a classic menswear-inspired carpet collection, and design book series called Place Space, Todd is a royal of the creative world. To top that, he is a photographer, filmmaker, interior designer, fashion designer, and can see through walls …well, maybe not the last part.

Mr. Oldham is no stranger to being ethically handsome, either. A vegetarian and environmentalist, he has worked with Peta on undercover investigations, encouraged the sales of plantable oak trees through FTD, and even raised money for the NRDC. He continues to find innovative ways to use eco-friendly, recyclable, and animal-friendly materials (from soy based inks, to un-coated, recycled cardboard) in his products, and one thing we agree on is that having mainstream skills along with aspirations for environmentalism, animal rights, and social justice, is a recipe for making change from the inside.

Chocolate Heart Cake

Jodi Taylor

Organic, Vegan, Cake by Joshua Katcher & Todd Oldham Photo: Jodi Taylor

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
• Two 9″ heart-shaped baking pan
• 3 cups organic all-purpose flour
• 2 cups organic, unrefined sugar
• 1.5 cups organic cocoa
• 2 tsp aluminum-free Baking Powder
• 1.5 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/4 cup organic canola oil
• 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup prepared egg-replacer (Energie or Brand)
• 1 Tbs vanilla
• 2 cups almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 2 cups cold coffee
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
Icing
• 1/2 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (not melted)
• 1/4 cup Earth Balance (or other non-hydrogenated margarine)
• 4 cups organic powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 cup soy creamer
(for pink, add 1/8 cup beet juice or 3 drops of red veg-based food coloring)
Marzipan
• 1 cup marzipan
• Natural veg-based food coloring
• Small cookie cutters

CAKE DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375º, and coat your pan with non-stick cooking spray or canola oil.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl: Flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, & salt.
3. In a separate bowl (or using a mixer) beat the coconut oil, canola oil, shortening, egg replacer, and vanilla until fluffy.
4. Pour the coffee and almond milk onto the dry mix, then add the whipped oil and egg-replacer, and stir in the chocolate chips until the mixture is smooth.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes (or until edges pull away from sides of pan).

FROSTING DIRECTIONS
1. Beat the shortening, coconut oil, and margarine until smooth.
2. slowly add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.
3. Finally, add vanilla and soy-creamer and beat for about 5 minutes until fluffy.

*Once cakes have cooled, take out of pan. If storing prior to decoration, line pan with wax-paper, then put cakes back in tins.
SEE VIDEO FOR DECORATING INSTRUCTIONS!

Jodi Taylor!

Alternate decorating idea! photo: Jodi Taylor!


Heart of Flowers

hearcarnation

Heart of Flowers by Todd Oldham & Joshua Katcher

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
• 20 carnations
• heart-shaped pan (at least 2″ deep)
• 2 – 4 bricks of floral foam
• water
• scissors

DIRECTIONS
See Video (above)

Wu Hoo! Vday Vid with Todd Oldham & Pizza Crust for the Gods

We love Todd Oldham, that crafty, veg, designer-genius! He’ll be featured in an EXCLUSIVE DB Video in the coming days! We’ll school you on some Valentines Day awesomeness, and talk about really macho stuff… So stay tuned!

Page Six Magazine

Photo: Page Six Magazine

Wu Hoo! for us. Boo Hoo, for Jason Wu.
picture-8According to Womens Wear Daily (WWD Issue 02/03/2009 ) Jason Wu, who we blogged about the other day, has decided to put his nasty fur collection on hold. An anonymous DB source linked Tim Gunn (Project Runway), who is very anti-fur, to being Jason Wu’s teacher at Parsons. Maybe he inked a letter? Or it could have been the huge uproar, the thousands of letters we wrote, and the realization that if you’re going to dress our liberal, animal-loving First Lady – your next move should probably not be an economically short-sighted horror-show of cruelty, supposed ‘luxury’, and excess.

After Michelle Obama sported a Jason Wu gown for the inaugural balls, the designer has been basking in all the attention. The overnight fame has made him shift gears slightly. Wu was scheduled to launch a fur collection with Sara Furs for fall but, according to him, it’s been put on the back burner until further notice. “As a result of increased interest and demand from our global retailers, we’ve decided to put our fur license on hold and concentrate on our growing ready-to-wear business,” Wu said.- (WWD Issue 02/03/2009 )

Una Pizza NapoletanaOne-fourth of their menu is vegan. 100% of it is vegetarian. This, of course, is incidental – but I’m not complaining. There are only four things on the menu, after all. The vegan “Marinara” pie is simply: San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, oregano, fresh garlic, fresh basil, sea salt. Definitely go check it out. but the magic is in the painstaking dough process, involving yeast that dates back 2000 years! You’ll believe it when you taste it.picture-11

Who in the their right mind would spend $20 on a personal pizza?” You ask.  Well, I was skeptical at first, until my friend Jodi convinced me to bite the bullet and bite into the most amazing pasta per pizza I’ve had in my life. At Una Pizza Napoletana in NYC’s East Village – you’ll find the art of Neapolitan pizza most excellently executed. If you are a lover of artisan pizza, this is it’s chapel. Plus, the owner, Anthony, has got some sick tatts.