Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Update 8:53 p.m.
This has been quite a day, and I've learned a lot! I just got back from A Local Option, a talk at the Chicago History Museum on eating local. Guest speakers included Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe and Dave Cleverdon, farmer and owner of Kinnickinnik Farm and Green City Market board member.

It was great to hear perspectives from three such different people. Bayless talked about his Frontera Farmer Foundation, which gives grants to local farmers looking to expand their businesses. Cleverdon spoke from the perspective of a farmer and emphasized cooking as the best way to support local farmers. Stegner helped start the Green City Market when looking for a way to bring more local produce into Chicago.

Overall, I have a much greater appreciation for local farmers--and the chefs that seek out local options in their restaurants. From what I heard tonight, getting the local food we have in Chicago today was the combined hard work of many people for many years.

I'm looking forward to this year's Localvore Challenge, put on by the Green City Market, and challenging myself to eat locally.

And now, it's time for this blogger to rest. I've biked about 25 miles today and my legs are TIRED. But I hope you enjoyed my Earth Day adventures.

If you have any questions, you know where to find me!

Update 6:42 p.m.

Another winner! I got the raw food plate, which included red pepper with a nut pate, sweet potato ravioli and a corn salad, among other things. My friend ordered the polenta with mushrooms, which was DELICIOUS. I've never had a gourmet vegan meal, but it was so good that I'll definitely be back. Karyn's also has a raw gourmet outpost on Halsted.

I even ordered a glass of mead--I'm still not completely sure what it is ... I did see a booth today at the Earth Day celebration downtown that touted mead as eco-friendly, so who knows. I'll check it out later and let you know.

My only complaint was that they offered bottled water that was sitting on each of the tables. But other than that, very yummy. I highly recommend it. Now I'm off to my lecture. More on that later.

Update: 5:06 p.m.
I'm in love! With the TreeTini, that is. We're at the W Hotel's Whiskey Blue, which has the TreeTini during the month of April. And today, they're $6. Even better.

The martini is a mix of vodka, lemon juice, Cointreau, basil and sugar--aren't they pretty? I love planting trees.

Alright, we're off to Karyn's for some organic vegan gourmet fare--yum!

Update: 3:46 p.m.
Alright, I'm heading out again. This time, I'm meeting a friend and we're going to Whiskey Blue to check out the TreeTini, which I blogged about earlier. Having a drink and planting a tree--what's not to feel good about. I think I'm going to risk riding my bike, even though thunderstorms are predicted. It's still sunny out, so hopefully it'll hold off.

On the agenda for the rest of the night: Dinner at Karyn's Cooked and a talk at the Chicago History Museum about eating local.

Update: 3:28 p.m.
Just got back from A Cooler Planet in Roscoe Village. I wasn't sure what to expect from an eco-friendly store, but this place certainly exceeded my expectations. Co-owners Heidi Bailey and Krista White have done a great job making their store interesting, informative and consumer-friendly. There are signs everywhere with little facts and information about issues that relate both to specific products and the environment.

They also have a great variety of products, from small composters to baby clothes to shoes. Speaking of shoes...I came home with a really cute pair of hemp sandals. And the bottoms of them are made of recycled tires. Plus, they're really, really comfortable.

I also have my eye on a small kitchen composter that doesn't seem like it'll stink up my kitchen, and won't produce so much compost that I'll have to create a garden to use all of it.

Owner Krista was really nice and a great source of information. She was more than happy to answer any questions I had, and was willing to find out the answers if she didn't know them.

Check it out if you get the chance. You won't regret it!

Update: 2:00 p.m.
Curious about what all those "green" terms, like black water and vampire appliances, mean? Check out this story for lots of helpful definitions.

I'm going to finish up my lunch (a salad and sandwich made with lots of yummy veggies from my CSA) and then head out to A Cooler Planet, an eco-friendly store in Roscoe Village.

Update 1:29 p.m.
I took the long way home on the lakefront path. I love running and biking on the path, and I think it's one of the things I love the most about Chicago. But there is one thing that gets me: Why do they leave some of the water fountains running all the time?

Update 12:42 p.m.
OK, time to head back home. If you're looking for more green stuff to read about, check out RedEye's story on green-collar jobs!

Update 12:28 p.m.
I had a great bike ride downtown--it's such a warm day out! Now, I'm at the Earth Day Celebration at Daley Plaza, and there are lots of people out to check it out--and get their free energy-saving light bulbs. It's going on till 3 p.m. if you want to head out there!

Among the booths were IDOT and CTA talking about their initiatives to go green. Well, the CTA's thing most was that it's public transportation, so it already is green. IDOT, however, handed out pamphlets (not on recycled paper) that explained different initiatives and projects, including where biofuels an be found in Illinois. I didn't know you could even get it here ...They also mention a study they're conducting about the feasibility of using wind power to at some rest areas in Illinois.

My favorite booth was the one with the Great Lakes Challenge, which called on the community to to recycle electronic waste and properly dispose of unwanted medicines. A great challenge, considering the trace amounts of pharmaceuticals being found in our drinking water. If you want to learn more or find out how you can participate, go to www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008.

Guess what else I saw. Sopraffina's new catering vehicle. Isn't it cute?

Update 11:09 a.m.
About an hour ago, Sopraffina Marketcaffe in the Loop unveiled a 100 percent electric-solar powered catering vehicle. Pretty cool, I think. Now, if only I had an event to cater ...

Next up for me is a trip to the Earth Day Celebration in Daley Plaza. I'm gonna hop on my bike (it's way faster than the "L") and head down there now. I'll let you know what's going on there in a little bit!

Update 10:29 a.m.
Back from Bleeding Heart Bakery. I got a scone--cranberry walnut I think--but unfortunately, it wasn't very good. Kinda dry and not a whole lot of flavor. I did, however, enjoy what I think were pieces of orange zest. And, of course, I love that they're organic and also offer vegan treats. I'll probably give them another shot sometime, and hope that their other stuff is better.

Scoop had a fabulous time, though. What dog doesn't love a long walk? (see the before and after walk Scoop, left) And for my public service announcement for the day, I'll like emphasize the benefits of using biodegradable waste bags. They're similar in price and won't mummify your dog's poop for thousands of years to come.

Update 9:26 a.m.
Man, those 3-minute showers are no fun at all. The things I do for the Earth :-P

9:11 a.m.: Earth Day begins (for me)!
Happy Earth Day, everyone! Get ready for a day-long adventure with me as I live-blog Earth Day in Chicago. I'll be going places, seeing things and telling you all about them. So check back often for updates!

It's a beautiful day outside, and I think the perfect way to start my day (after a very quick, eco-friendly shower) is a trip up to Bleeding Heart Bakery, an organic place that serves up all sorts of yummy things. And Scoop the dog will definitely appreciate the walk!

I'll be back soon with a treat. In the meantime, take this Earth Day quiz and find out how green you are. Hopefully you score better than I did!

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Ouch. I got a 55%

SUPRIYA'S REPLY: Me too! Yikes, I need to study up.

What a fun day you had! I like the looks of those sandals and you may have me curious enough to try this Locavore Challenge. My sister did it last year, but I was too chicken. I hope you tell more about that before it starts...

We have a new children's book, Go Green With Me, being released 3/26/09 that we would like to inform your readers about.
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The Little Environmentalists, LLC www.thelittleenvironmentalists.com

The Little Environmentalists, LLC is committed to developing and publishing children’s environmental education materials to promote environmental awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship. We believe that parents and educators want to teach children about nature and the environment, but may not have access to the tools and information to make learning about the environment exciting and simple. Everyone learns together with The Little Environmentalists!

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