Friday, September 25, 2009

Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien: pleasing, gratifying and enjoyable. With many different locations throughout the Los Angeles area, a close friend of mine suggested we head to the West Hollywood location on the corner of Melrose and Westbourne Drive. Not only was I impressed by the taste of the food (in Sara-fashion I ordered an organic, egg-white omelet with tomatoes and avocado and a side salad – a meal that kept me full from morning to evening), but I was thrilled by the number of organic condiments they provided: the ketchup, the butter and even the salt and pepper were organic! Some of their food is brought in from a produce service company, while the rest of the foods labeled as “organic” on the menu are USDA certified.

The main dining room promotes community dining and welcomes all patrons to sit and chat with one another at their large, wooden, community table (although private tables are available as well). You also have the option of outdoor seating, which on a beautiful fall day (yes, it is now fall – unbelievable, I know) I highly recommend. The design of the restaurant reflects their dedication to eco-conscious dining, as they have used “reclaimed wood and recycled Gypsum in construction, energy-efficient lamps, and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and packaging.”

I highly recommend stopping by any one of the Le Pain Quotidien locations. Whether it is for a sit down lunch or to grab a pastry (gluten free pastries are available as well!), you absolutely cannot go wrong.

Located at: 8607 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069. http://www.lepainquotidien.com/

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Your Way To Become One Lean, Green, Recycling Machine!

Reduce! Reuse! RECYCLE! Ah, a phrase that will never get old. REDUCE: your consumption. REUSE: everything you can. And, RECYCLE: hmm…wait! What can be recycled? Feeling confused by what you can and can’t recycle? Don’t fret my pet! I am here to help you sort out (both literally and figuratively) just what you can and cannot put in those blue bins:

Paper
All Clean Dry Paper
Computer, ledger, wrapping, arts and craft paper; unwanted mail, flyers, telephone books, note cards, newspaper, blueprints, magazines, file folders, paper bags, Post-it notes, catalogs and all
envelopes including those with “windows”
All Cardboard Boxes and Chipboard
Cereal, tissue, dry food, frozen food, shoe, and detergent boxes; paper towel and toilet rolls; and boxes broken down and flattened

Metals
All Aluminum, Tin, Metal, and Bi-Metal Cans*
Soda, juice, soup, vegetables, and pet food cans; pie tins; clean aluminum foil; empty paint and aerosol cans with plastic caps removed; and wire hangers
*Please rinse if possible

Glass
All Glass Bottles and Jars*
Soda, wine, beer, spaghetti sauce, pickle jars, etc.
*Please rinse if possible

All Clean Plastics 1 Through 7:
Numbers can usually be found on the side or bottom of your item's packaging (however, some items, such as Styrofoam to-go containers, may not have any markings) to indicate how you should recycle the item
Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
This is the most common recycled plastic and includes, but is not limited to: soft drink bottles; water bottles; plastic peanut butter jars; and salad dressing bottles*
*Remember to remove all bottle tops before recycling
Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Plastic milk cartons, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, and liquid detergent containers
Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Vinyl (V)
Plastic pipes and outdoor furniture
Plastic #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners, food storage containers, bread and frozen food bags and plastic wrap
Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)
Bottle caps, drinking straws, ketchup bottles, and yogurt cups
Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene contributes to more than four billion pounds of trash per year and includes:
Styrofoam peanuts; Styrofoam containers; takeout food containers; and plastic cutlery
*Before recycling packaging materials, however, consider bringing them to a shipping/packaging store, as many will reuse them.
Plastic #7: Other (this includes Polycarbonate (PC) and Polyactide (PLA))
Plastics made from renewable sources (i.e. sugarcane, corn and potato starch)

Below is a list of Non-Recyclable items:
Contaminated Paper
All soiled papers or bags with oils and food waste
Broken Glass
Window glass, mirror glass, auto glass, light bulbs, fluorescent lights and ceramics
Other Plastic
Plastic hygienic items, any electric or battery operated toys
Miscellaneous Materials
Coated milk cartons, electrical cords, cloth/fabric, appliances, mini blinds, kitchen utensils, lawn furniture, garden hoses, rubber tires, construction materials, including asphalt or concrete, wood and wood products
Hazardous Materials
Syringes, all partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, all batteries (including car batteries, household batteries, rechargeable batteries), pesticides, oil based paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners
*To find the nearest location that accepts Hazardous Materials, go to http://earth911.com/hazardous/ and type in your zip code or go to http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/special/hhw/safe_centers/index.htm for different S.A.F.E. (Solvents/Automotive/Flammables/Electronics) locations set up by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation)

While blue bins are provided to homeowners in and around the Los Angeles area, not all apartment /multifamily residential buildings have access to recycling bins. To remedy this situation, you may email multifamily@lacity.org with your property manager’s contact information and the City will contact him/her to enroll their property at his/her request. Keep in mind: there is NO cost to tenants to enroll in this program, so don’t be a lazy daisy and send in that request!

For more information on the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation recycling program, check out http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/index.htm.

Happy recycling!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

September 2009

Local, Green Events Throughout L.A.

September is National Yoga Month!
Go to http://yogamonth.org/yogamonthcard/ for one free week of yoga with your “Yoga Month” card

Farmers’ Markets: 30 Years and Growing
Thursday, September 3
10am-2pm
1st & Spring, Downtown L.A
Celebrate 30 years of fresh, locally crafted L.A. Farmers’ Markets and all they have to offer! Featured guests include: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, chef Evan Kleiman, food critic Jonathan Gold, and L.A. County Ag Comissioner Kurt Floren.
http://locallygrownla.wordpress.com/

25th Annual Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier
Thursday, September 3
7pm-10pm
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
This will be the final Twilight Dance Series of the summer, featuring a performance by Patti Smith and her band. All concerts are held in the pier parking lot (on the pier).
http://www.santamonicapier.org/twilight.html

LA Green Drinks Westside & Santa Monica Baykeeper
Thursday, September 3
6pm-7pm
Rusty’s Surf Ranch - Back Patio
256 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Join LA Green Drinks Westside & Santa Monica Baykeeper at Rusty's Surf Ranch beforehand for drinks, socializing and featured speaker, Brian Meux of Santa Monica Baykeeper.
http://lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/
http://www.smbaykeeper.org/

LA Green Drinks – Pasadena
Wednesday, September 9th
7pm-10pm
Alternative Outfitters
408 S. Pasadena Ave, Suite 1
Pasadena, CA 91105
“ Alternative Outfitters: where eco-conscious cruelty-free fashionistas shop for trendy animal-friendly and eco-friendly shoes, accessories, beauty products and apparel.”
*$5 suggested donation
http://lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/

Sustainable Works Fundraiser: “Tomorrow Starts Today”
Thursday, September 10
6pm-11pm
Writer’s Boot Camp in Bergamot Station
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
The event will feature an “eco-fabulous” silent auction and drawing, a beer and wine bar, an educational green room and an artist’s gallery. Winners of the Eco Star Awards will be speaking and local organic cuisine will be served. The night will conclude with dancing and entertainment featuring KCRW DJ Michael Barnes.
http://www.sustainableworks.org/fundraiser.html

LA Green Drinks - South Bay
Thursday, September 10th
7pm-10pm
Twelve and Highland Restaurant & Bar
304 12th St.
Manhattan Beach, CA
(310) 545-1881
http://12andhighland.com/

The Sunset Strip Music Festival
Thursay, September 10 - Saturday, September 12
Full Street Closure, 40+ Bands, 2 Stages, all the clubs, food & fun.
The Sunset Strip Street Festival takes place on Saturday, September 12 from 2pm-9pm, between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard
For Details go to: http://www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com/index.htm

LA Green Drinks – WeHo/Silverlake
Thursday, September 17
7pm-10pm
TBD
http://lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/

The 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 19
9am-12pm
To locate a cleanup site near you and/or register, please visit http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html

Green Living Workshop
Wednesday, September 23
11:30am-12:30pm
Meetings occur every Wednesday, beginning September 23 – November 10
(9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, and 11/10)
http://sustainableworks.eventbrite.com/descriptionDiv8569135

LA Green Drinks – Downtown
Wednesday, September 23
7pm-10pm
TBD
http://lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/2008/07/la-green-drinks-downtown.html

Green Living 101
Thursday, September 24
6:30pm-9:30pm
2000 Main Street, Unit B
Santa Monica, CA 90405
This seminar provides you with an overview of Sustainable Works six-week Green Living Workshop, which will begin in October. The Green Living Workshop covers issues regarding: water, energy, waste, chemicals, transportation, shopping and food. Participants will discuss the problems revolving around the topics mentioned above on a global, national and local level as well as related solutions.
http://sustainableworks.eventbrite.com/descriptionDiv8569135

LA Green Drinks – Valley
Thursday, September 24
7pm-10pm
TBD
http://lagreendrinks.blogspot.com/

The 25th Annual Abbot Kinney Festival
Sunday, September 27
10am-6pm
Proceeds support “Venice-based organizations and efforts to improve the environment and quality of life for people from all walks, with an emphasis on support of youth and the Arts.”
http://www.abbotkinney.org/abbotkinneyfestival.html

Veggie Grill opens in West Hollywood
Tuesday, September 29
8000 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
“…specializes in healthful, vegan versions of California comfort food -- sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups and more -- at a price point of under $10 for every entree.”
http://www.veggiegrill.com/