Ecotainus

I just have to give a shout out to a new blog I found about while in LA and at the Global Green Pre-Oscar event at Avalon. Our new fave friend Heidi @VIE decked Lauren and I out in garb and gems to add a little glitz to our party wear for the big event. I guess it worked because our picture was snapped at the soiree allowing us to give a well-deserved plug to my new favorite eco-accessory line…Blank Verse. So, check out the cool cuff below and definitely log onto feelgoodstyle.com to read more about the event & the fashions.

April (me), Mike Flynn from Opportunity Green and Lauren Phillips.

Being in Los Angeles for the creme de la creme of the Hollywood Awards season is quite the scene but my favorite set so far was at Akasha Restaurant to shoot a few segments on ecoOscar party tips for KTLA’s Morning News. Reporter Allie MacKay broadcasted live on Friday’s show to give viewers at home my eye into how to whip up a star powered and sustainable soiree this Oscar Sunday. Special thanks to Akasha and Alan who not only allowed me to set up camp for the segments (while also pitching in to actually help me set it up) but Akasha whipped up delicious nominee-inspired ecoOscar fare that should be nominated for an award as well.

Click on KTLA logo to view video on ecoOscar food

Click on KTLA logo to view video on ecoOscar decor

Special thanks to Classic Party Rentals for the linens & chargers and Alandale’s for letting me borrow the adorable vintage suitcases for the Up in the Air cupcake display.

We wrapped at the OG 09 conference in LA last night and had a very inspiring time working with the various vendors helping to make the whole weekend come together. One of our particular faves, has been the guys who helped us plate it up, so to speak, for all of our breakfasts, breaks, lunches and parties. The generous folks at Verterra donated oodles and oodles of their super cool, eco-minded dinnerware. Their products are made from fallen palm leaves, steam, pressure and heat making it an all natural product, free of chemicals, lacquers and bonding agents. Their production is completely sustainable meaning no trees or plants are harmed in the making of these fabulous products and they are 100% biodegradable and BPI-certified compostable. Beyond the sustainable stats is just the pure style seen in their array of sizes, shapes and servingware options. Check them out at www.verterra.com and bug our pal Michael for even further info. He’s the best!

So, we’re about to travel to two conferences and, when in the conference setting, so many times food options can be beyond unhealthy…more like heart attacks waiting to happen. At both Opportunity Green and Greenbuild, attendees are treated to food options that are locally sourced, farm raised and certified organic where possible. Yes, you can demand that your conference centers go beyond their comfort (food) zone and get more creative and in tune with local cuisine.

In Los Angeles, we’ve connected with an inspiring company called Organics to Go who will be providing lunch to attendees offering a delicious (compostable) boxed lunch option of assorted salads, wraps and veggies. Their innovative catering company & cafes can now be found in LA, Seattle, San Diego and Washington, D.C. and they strive to walk the talk of sustainability from the farms they use to the floors their guests walk on to their way to their counters. For more on what I mean, check their committment at http://www.organictogo.com/AboutSustainability.html.

In Phoenix, we’re excited to be working with the Chefs and tireless staff at Levy Restaurants for the Opening event for Greenbuild at Chase Field. Everyone’s come together to produce a locally-focused & sourced, baseball-themed menu. We’ll be blogging more next week about this awesome event as we have so many folks to tout from the local producers to the pig farm we’re composting to…stay tuned.

So, one of my goals for 2010 is to get my local retailers that we frequent to convert their to-go ware to a more sustainable product. It kinda kills me when I go to get  my favorite chicken salad and it comes in plastic and their iced tea is served in Styrofoam. Ugh – painful! On the flip side, one of our go-to lunch places, Vickerys in Glenwood Park, is already ahead of the game and uses a compostable product that makes us want to go there every day. Believe me, I would – I’m a ridiculous creature of habit but the girls in the office might kill me if they had to eat the same thing every single day.

So back to my goal – we’ve been working with the great folks at repurposenow for the Opportunity Green conference in LA next week. Their products are made from 100% renewable sources – plants – and they’re 100% compostable. I’m setting a target for converting three food retailers by the end of 2009 to a compostable to-go ware option.

What’s your goal?