Spotlight: The Juicery

source image courtesy of Handbag

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and many of us are going to eat....A LOT. Luckily, there is a new way to get on track after Thanksgiving and stay feeling good during the holiday season. The Juicery just opened in the North End and offers lots of smoothies, juices and superfoods like chia pudding, quinoa salad, and Harmless Harvest coconut water. We all know that fruits and veggies are good for us, but eating a plant based diet is also better for the planet as the meat industry is behind a lot of methane emissions and water consumption. The Juicery makes it super easy - and delicious - to go vegan or vegetarian after Thanksgiving! I highly recommend the Pine Ango Beet Tango.

Spotlight: The Well Coffee

source image courtesy of Crimson Cup

WHAT: The Well Coffee House

WHERE: South Station

WHY: This new coffee shop is like no other. It is actually a non-profit organization that combines high quality espresso based drinks with love for community. Patrons get delicious coffee-for-a-cause because each month, all proceeds from coffee purchases are donated to a local non-profit (July is Bikes Not Bombs!). The coffee house is staffed by volunteers which keeps costs down and helps make a bigger impact!

Boston's Green Events Happening this Week

First and foremost, good luck to all of the Marathon runners today!!! We will be cheering you on!

MONDAY

• Help keep Boston clean during and after this year's marathon by properly disposing of waste and encouraging fellow race viewers to do the same.

TUESDAY

• Earth Day!
• EcoMotion Sustainability UnConference
• Greening Rozzie Spring Potluck
• USGBC MA Earth Day Gala
• Earth Day Meals at Restaurants affiliated with the Chef's Collaborative 

WEDNESDAY

• Remind yourself why spring is green

THURSDAY

• Fashion Revolution Day
• Monthly Planet Southie Meeting
• Project Blue Pride Lecture & Screening at NEAQ

FRIDAY

• April Walk/Ride Day

SATURDAY

• Investing in a Sustainable Future: Economic Growth and Environmental Constraints
• Dorchester Bike Festival

SUNDAY

• Doing yard work? Reduce your impact by gardening smart

Cocobeet brings organic juices to Government Center

Yep, I am super into the green smoothie craze. Smoothies packed with kale, spinach, carrots, and beets are a great way to get a full day's nutrition in one sitting. And now there are a bunch of juice shops around Boston that can make smoothies to order and also offer ready-made beverages. One such business is newly-opened Cocobeet in City Hall Plaza. Cocobeet serves "organic, locally sourced, pure food meals and juices of the highest nutritional power." Cocobeet’s juices are raw and fresh. No pesticides or GMOs - and all of their juices are vegan! The only downside to Cocobeet is its prices - juices are $8 - $10, but I have to admit, they are totally worth the occasional splurge!

The Eco Way to Use a Keurig

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Keurigs are great. They give you great coffee/tea/hot chocolate in a matter of seconds. The problem, of course, is that the little disposable K-cups create a lot of waste compared to a traditional filter-less coffee machine. But if you already own a Keurig or your office has one, here are some tips for using it a greener way.

• Use a reusable K-cup.
• Use only organic, fair trade products to fill your reusable K-cups.
• Keep using the same mug - no need to put it in the dishwasher after everyyyyy use.
• Unplug the Keurig when no one is using it. 
• Encourage your friends in co-workers to do the same. 

Have any other ideas about greening your Keurig use? Please share! 

Pencil it in: Sustainable Fashion Collaborative Clothing Swap

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WHEN: January 12, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

WHERE: Bella Luna Restaurant, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

WHY: Join the Sustainable Fashion Collaborative of Boston  for a night out of pizza and clothes swapping! Bring 5-10 gently worn pieces (clothing/accessories). You have the night to shop through other "pre-loved" items, have a drink and grab a bite. You'll leave the event with "new-to-you" pieces, revitalizing your wardrobe without spending money on new clothes! Register here. 

Spotlight: Sweetgreen

Founded in Washington DC in 2007, sweetgreen has become a favorite not only for its delicious and healthy fast food, but also for its commitment to local farmers, the community, and sustainability.

Each month, sweetgreen creates a special salad inspired by the season, using the freshest, local ingredients from nearby farms. And of course, the full menu also features locally sourced ingredients - all of which can be read about on the restaurant's blackboards.

Visit the new Back Bay location at 659 Boylston St. (and hopefully another location in the Seaport District will open soon!!!!)

To learn more about sweetgreen's mission (and to feel totally inspired) check out their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2MNNPX_x1I

Pencil it in: Local Craft Brewfest

WHEN: November 22, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

WHERE: 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, 02210

WHY: Join us for Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts' (SBN) 4th Annual Local Craft Brewfest at the Moakley U.S. Courthouse located on the Boston waterfront - where the city meets the sea. Come taste, explore, socialize, and network with local craft brewers, distillers, cideries, meaderies, artisan beverage brewers, and food producers. While celebrating local brews, you can savor live music by local musicians and enjoy one of Boston's finest harbor views. More than 80 local tastings and local food bites will be featured. It's a great opportunity to meet brewers, distillers, and local eateries that are as passionate about local food as you are! Buy tickets here.

Pencil it in: The Autumn Extravaganza is Next Week

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Come celebrate women's contribution to the energy and environmental fields in New England! The event is open to all and will be a great way to network and meet other local innovators. The event is open bar and will include heavy appetizers. See you at 6pm on Monday at Blu at The Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St.!

 Learn more and register here.

Green Tips for Watching the World Series

Wooohoo! Boston is in the 2013 World Series! While watching our boys crush the Cardinals, here are a few ways to green your baseball viewing:

1. Stay local. No need to trek to a bar across the city to watch the sox, the games sure to be showing in every bar and in every apartment in the city, so choose a venue near you.

2. Choose vegetarian snacks. Something about watching sports just makes ya hungry. Be green by ordering the veggie nachos instead the beef chili variety.

3. Choose organic and local beverages. Sam Adams just screams “Go Boston!” and bonus points if you go with an organic beer like Peak.

4. If you’re watching at home, check your energy vampires at the end of the night. See that red or green light on your dvd player? That means it is drawing energy from the outlet. Turn off power cords and unplug appliances once the game is over – and go celebrate!

Reminder: Register for NEWIEE Autumn Extravaganza

WHERE: Blu at The Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St., Boston, MA

WHEN: Monday, October 28, 2013 6:00PM-9:00PM

WHY: To celebrate women's contribution to the energy and environmental fields in New England! The event is open to all and will be a great way to network and meet other local innovators. The event is open bar and will include heavy appetizers. Learn more and register here.

Pencil it in: NEWIEE Autumn Extravaganza!

Sign up for the Extravaganza now! All are welcome - it should be a fabulous night!

And if you're a contributing member of NEWIEE, you should already have an invite to the annual meeting portion of the evening in your inbox this very moment!

Spotlight: Mother Juice Foodtruck

Food trucks have been all the rage over the past couple years in Boston. They offer a great opportunity to bring nutritious, sustainable food to the masses. Mother Juice is one such truck, serving delicious smoothies and fresh juices from local, organically grown ingredients. The menu varies based on what is in season and available (so fall is the perfect time to check it out!!!). 

My roommate (pictured above) and I had the pleasure of trying Mother Juice smoothies last weekend at SOWA. Mine was made with Kale - and despite my anxiety over drinking a green colored smoothie - it was fabulous! Find where Mother Juice will be next by following them on Facebook. 

Pencil it in: Boston Green Drinks July Meet Up

WHEN: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 

WHERE: Kingston Station, 25 Kingston Street, Boston, MA 02111

WHY: Join the conversation with sustainability professionals and hobbyists.  Enjoy a drink and build your connection with our green community! There is limited space, so make sure to sign up.

Spotlight: Boston Green Drinks

What happens on a when you mix Boston’s sustainability enthusiasts, cocktails, and free snacks? Boston Green Drinks! Boston Green Drinks is a monthly networking group open to anyone with an interest in green living, clean energy, or just meeting new people. The event, which is held on the last Tuesday of every month, draws a diverse range of professionals from both the private and public sectors. The meetings are informal and encourage people to discuss any and all green-related interests.

Over the past few meetings, I've met folks from The Nature Conservancy, The New England Aquarium, The Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Ahold (the company that owns Stop & Shop), State Street Corporation, National Grid, and many more. We gab about the best ways to communicate the issue of climate change to the public, and about the environmental issues plaguing the U.S. food structure, and a variety of other sustainability-related topics. The conversations are engaging, well-rounded, and always inspire people to sign up for the next month’s meeting of Boston Green Drinks. It is inspiring to go to Boston Green Drinks and hear what other motivated Bostonians are doing to move our city towards sustainability. Click here to find out more information about upcoming BGD events.

Knudsen Vinyards: Small Wineries on the Rise

At the Trust for Public Land 40th Anniversary Party  back in April, I had a great conversation with their Chair, Page Knudsen Cowles, during which she mentioned that her family recently returned to wine making on their vineyard in Oregon. Knudsen Vineyards is a great example of the growing support for small, family-run wine production. Such support can also be seen through the success of organizations such as Small Vineyards which labels certain small-production wines from Italy, Spain, and Macedonia so that they are easy for consumers to identify at stores.

Knudsen is the definition of a small production. They will be releasing just 100 cases in 2014! The 127-acre vineyard is certified sustainable by L.I.V.E. and is planted using viticultural techniques. The mission of Knudsen is "to engage in enlightened and thoughtful viticulture and stewardship of the land." Now, it is our jobs as wine drinkers to purchase wines from them and similar small, sustainable sources!

Boston Green Drinks, Tonight!

The April Boston Green Drinks happy hour will be co-hosted with Young Professionals in Energy and New England Women in Energy and the Environment at GEM Restaurant and Lounge on Province St! I'm looking forward to mingling with people from all three networking groups. Unfortunately, tomorrow's event is completely book (good news: BGD is more popular than ever, bad news: if you haven't already signed up, you'll have to wait until May's event).

Hope to see you all there!

Restaurant Rave: The Fat Radish NYC

 image courtesy of  www.in-nycsite.com

While in New York City this past weekend, my hostess took me to a trendy dinner spot in the lower east side called The Fat Radish. I fell in love. The decor was cozy and simple and the menu was unique. The restaurant is very vegetarian friendly and specializes in healthy well-sourced food. Instead of serving bread before the meal, they serve radishes with a light drizzle of olive oil - delicious! What really intrigued me was that even in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the U.S., they are serving up lots of items from local farms. Many ingredients come from just outside the city - NY and New Jersey. My friend and I split the celery root pot pie and and the Montauk scallops. Both were incredible....we gobbled most of it up before I got a chance to snap a photo:

So next time you are in NYC, and looking to score points on your Practically Green account by eating at an eco-aware restaurant, check out The Fat Radish - it is now officially on my list of favorite restaurants!

Honest Tea Gets Fizzy

Honest Tea makes some of the most delicious, widely available, organic iced tea products. I especially love their orange mango ade which is slightly less sweet than competing brands. And now they are coming out with a line of sodas called Honest Fizz! Honest Fizz is a naturally sweetened, zero calorie soda that is also USDA organic. The varieties include: Lemon Limey, Orange Pop, Professor Fizz, and Root Beer.

I'm not usually a soda drinker, and I really don't like the taste of diet products. Honest Fizz still tastes a bit diety, but its a great alternative for when you have a soda craving. I'm planning to keep a stash of Honest Fizz in my fridge for just that reason, or for guests. For now, the sodas are sold exclusively at Whole Foods. If you love soda, give them a try. I'd love to hear what you think!

Green Blog Spotlight: The Green Life Online

The Green Life Online is one of my favorite Boston-based green living websites because it has a long-established history of bringing sustainability awareness to the masses. I first heard about the site after meeting their coordinator, Jeff, at Boston Green Drinks a few months ago. The Green Life was founded in 1990 and its mission is to "help the growing number of environmentally aware, health conscious Americans make informed lifestyle decisions. Through education, outreach and advocacy, we support a consumer-driven movement toward sustainable consumption, while guarding against corporate greenwashing." The blog focuses on consumer knowledge and informs people about scams that are associated with some "green" products. The blog also features some great editorial material, with current articles about eating locally in the winter months, organic cosmetics, and of course a guest post by yours truly about pina fiber. Definitely add The Green Life to your list of eco must-reads!