Forget Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Shop Small Business Saturday!
Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is another day, one dedicated to the businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country. It’s Small Business Saturday, and this year it’s happening on November 24th.
Shop Small this Nov 24th, and let’s make this the biggest day of the year for small business.
To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com
Find Local, Sustainably Grown Food at LocalHarvest
LocalHarvest is a wonderful resource for people who want to eat sustainably grown food in their area. You can have sustainable food delivered to your door on a weekly basis. This is great for people who are busy and don’t have time to shop locally. At LocalHarvest, find farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.
“People worldwide are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. It is fresher than anything in the supermarket and that means it is tastier and more nutritious. It is also good for your local economy–buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business.”
“The best organic food is what’s grown closest to you. Use the LocalHarvest website to find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Want to support this great web site? Shop their catalog for things you can’t find locally!”
Atwater Village Farm: A community farm-to-table shop
Last week, I went to Atwater Village Farm, and it felt like I stepped back in time. It is a very quaint corner store that you’d find in small town America. The idea is to have access to the farmers market experience every day of the week. Atwater Village Farm is funded and driven by the community. They want to give the community the opportunity to purchase fresh, organic local produce at an affordable price.
Atwater Village Farm carries breads, baked goods, and fresh prepared sandwiches from the Village Bakery in Atwater. The produce selection is great and beautifully displayed. The herbs are in wooden planters which adds a nice touch to let you know they are truly fresh. They also carry grains, cereals, jarred goods, and much more…
They recently opened their doors in Dec. 2011, and planning to expand the space in 2012. They plan to carry meats, prepared foods, and juices. They are also taking requests of items you would like to see in their store. Please support this local business, and help them grow.
Silver Lake Holiday Night Out 2011
Saturday, December 17th
3-8pm
Sunset Junction & Silver Lake Blvd
“We’re coordinating family-friendly activities on SLB, live music at the Living Room (Sunset) and Materials & Applications (SLB) and an Artist Bazaar to support all the great local artists in our neighborhood. Think live music or carolers! Eggnog, cider and cookies! Locally made products, special sales and giveaways! We want the whole neighborhood to be buzzing with locals shopping, eating, enjoying music and having a great time!”
Press release: December 10, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA) – The Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce announces its second annual “Silver Lake Holiday Night Out” – a holiday block party between local business and the community that encourages neighbors to mingle, shop and enjoy live musical acts, caroling and holiday treats on December 17th from 3-8pm.
Featuring two event hot spots in Sunset Junction and on Silver Lake Boulevard (between Berkeley and Effie), this year’s event features in-store specials and holiday treats at participating businesses (like Matrushka, Barkeeper, Stark Waxing Studio, Spice Station, Living Room, Yolk, Lamill and Lake), live music, caroling and family-friendly fun. Live bands will be featured in the parking lot at Living Room (3531 Sunset Blvd, 90026), with acoustic sets in the sculpture garden at Materials and Applications (1619 Silver Lake Blvd, 90026). Carolers from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music will stroll through Sunset Junction.
An Artist Bazaar featuring local artists (coordinated by the SLNC Arts & Culture Committee) and vendors, live music and family-friendly activities (face painting by Fairy Face Inc. and holiday activity tables by Wallaby) will be held in the parking lot at Satellite night club (1717 Silver Lake Blvd, 90026).
Complimentary Cheer Stations sponsored by SLCC members will offer hot chocolate, coffee and cider at the SLCC/SLNC pop-up tents located at Living Room and the Artist Bazaar, where the SLCC will also sell merchandise branded with its latest campaign, “I heart Silver Lake.”
A celebration of our great community, Silver Lake Holiday Night Out is a night for everyone to hit the streets, have a place to come together as a community and in the process, support local business. For artist/vendor application info, visit www.silverlakechamber.com. Event updates and added offerings will be posted on the SLCC blog: blog.silverlakechamber.com
Why look any further than Silver Lake for holiday cheer? Meet your neighbors, shop the sales, keep it local.
http://blog.silverlakechamber.com/news/2011-holiday-night-out
This Sat. is the final Silver Lake Art Craft & Vintage Market of 2011
This Saturday is the final Silver Lake Art Craft & Vintage Market of 2011 at the Micheltorena St. Elementary School.
“Get into the buy local holiday spirit as more than 40 DIY crafters, vintage clothes vendors, artists, food trucks and more gather for 2011′s final Silver Lake Art Craft & Vintage market 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. At the Micheltorena St. Elementary School. Proceeds from each market benefit the LAUSD school. The indie flea market (held the second Saturday of the month) is one of many alternate ways to shop and go beyond the mall this weekend on the Eastside. Tasty bites supplied by local food trucks. Volunteers are welcome at the Micheltorena St. School garden on Saturday as well.”
40 Sustainable Restaurants in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Update: This post now has its own page:
http://www.ecoenthusiast.com/?page_id=3147
Here is a list of 40 Sustainable Restaurants in the Greater Los Angeles Area. I’m sure there are more and they will be added to my list in the future. I’ve been to some of the restaurants on this list, but I would eventually like to try them all one day.
I chose the majority of my list from Greenopia. A few of the places are Greenopia’s list are out of businesses now, so I didn’t include them. I’ve added a few newer places that I’m pretty sure will make it on their list in the future.
This is how Greenopia chooses their restaurants.
“Although we looked at all sorts of ways a restaurant or café might demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, our primary focus was on the food, as we expect yours is. However, we also looked at other green aspects of the business-its composting, recycling, and energy efficiency programs-and whether or not available carryout containers were biodegradable, compostable, and/or were made with recycled, recyclable, and/or chlorine free materials. The restaurants and cafés in our guide have demonstrated an ongoing and concerted effort toward balancing the issues outlined above.”
Please take a look at the list. If you know of any other restaurants to add to the list, then please comment below.
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| Akasha 9543 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 310-845-1700
1155 N. Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038 323-871-2666
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291 310-664-9787
1743 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041 323-982-9900
5406 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-939-3932
10100 Constellation Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90067 310-279-4180
1521 Griffith Park Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 323-667-1551
107 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105 626-440-0100
2135 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 213-484-6829
2301 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-392-9501
3818 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 323-953-0611
3823 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026-1529 323-663-6885
2122 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041 323-841-4866
Golden Bridge Yoga – Nite Moon Cafe 1357 N. Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90028 323-936-4172 |
Huckleberry Cafe 1014 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-451-2311
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Topanga, CA 90290 310-455-1311
(formerly Newsroom Café) 530 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-319-9100
2424 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 1310-581-9888
11938 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066 310-390-6005 (check site for other locations)
Helms Ave. Culver City, CA 90232 415-515-8084 (check site for other locations)
1507 Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 323-466-0927
2943 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 323-662-4740
7119 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 323-525-0588
18621 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, CA 91356 818-758-6971
350 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071 323-638-4885
2141 West Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 213-483-2337
1110 Gayley Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-209-1055 |
Natural Cafe, The 2667 Tapo Canyon Rd Simi Valley, CA 930631 805-527-2272(check site for other locations)
8593 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069 310-854-0234
7950 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90046 323-375-3390
609 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-587-1552
414 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048 310-289-9910 (check site for other locations)
333 S. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-617-0305
110 2nd St. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-376-2355
6290 Sunset Boulevard Hollywood, CA 90028 323-382-0380 (check site for other locations)
1710 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506 818-253-1710
8565 Melrose Ave. West Hollywood, CA 90069 (check site for other locations)
8000 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90046 (check site for other locations)
2454 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-586-1707
123 North Larchmont Los Angeles CA, 90004 323-466-6969 (check site for other locations) |
Kellygreen Home
I’ve been a fan of Kellygreen Home for a few years now. They are one of the few eco-friendly storefronts around. They are located in Silverlake and moving to a new location soon TBD. They also have an online store for those who aren’t in the area.
Kellygreen Home sells items for the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, garden, pets, living, furniture, jewelry, gifts, papergoods, children, apparel, and more. Please support this awesome store and spread the word. Become a fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Website: http://www.kellygreenhome.com
Facebook: KellygreenHome
Twitter: KellygreenHome
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Paddle the LA River – Summer 2011
Kayaks and Canoes on the Los Angeles River – FoLAR Friends of the LA River
Carmegeddon Weekend
This weekend, July 16 & 17th is called “Carmegeddon” in the Los Angeles area, because one of the largest freeways will be closed for 2 days. The 405 freeway is used by millions of people daily. It just goes to show how dependent people are of their cars. They are freaking out!
So, now what? Well, there are other forms of transportation such as walking, biking, and public transportation. The bus & subway are free all weekend. Amtrak offers a 50 percent discount for travel between Union Station and Bob Hope Airport during Carmegeddon.
Unfortunately, the Getty is forced to shut down during one of their busiest times of the year. I’m sure several businesses are going to suffer this weekend.
Well, this weekend will force everyone to shop local, eat local, and hangout in their own neighborhoods. Hmm… forcing everyone to be green? What a concept!
Silverlake Jubilee
This weekend I will be volunteering with students from Thomas Starr King Middle School at the Silverlake Jubilee. The students are raising money to buy reusable lunch trays instead of throwing away 1,400 Styrofoam trays every day. Learn more about their project at: http://farmkingblog.wordpress.com/
Silverlake Jubilee eco-commitment:
The Silver Lake Jubilee is a single-use bottled water free event. Bring your own vessel and pour your own water for FREE from the water fountains provided by the LADWP with the assistance of Take Back the Tap, SustainLA and the Silver Lake Jubilee!
- Free water provided by Take Back the Tap & LADWP
- No single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam or other non-recyclable containers at festival
- Food scrap recycling and training for food vendors
- Compostable food serviceware containers
- Recycling and composting during the festival at Eco-Stations
- Flyers and other paper literature at festival are discouraged
The Silver Lake Jubilee implements a Zero Waste initiative with the goal of 90% landfill diversion, water conservation and renewable power resources. We encourage attendees to bring their own cups and reusable bags. Free bike valet will be available and the festival encourages Metro ridership.
These initiatives echo the pledge of The City of Los Angeles and Council President Eric Garcetti to make LA the model for eco-friendly big cities in America. Through our partnership with SustainLA, the Los Angeles Arts and Athletics Alliance (Event Organizer) commits to ensuring that the Silver Lake Jubilee is a positive addition to the community. The festival promotes and educates the importance of preserving our natural resources, as well as the importance of Resource Recovery.
Last year the Silver Lake Jubilee achieved tremendous results with 80% landfill diversion and will continue to further our commitment to sustainability and Zero Waste. We hope you choose to adopt sustainable practices in your everyday life by making a conscious effort to reduce and reuse, then recycle and compost.
Results from 2010 Silver Lake Jubilee
- 80% Diversion Rate
- Diverted over 4,000 lbs. of trash from landfill
- Prevented consumption of over 30,000 plastic water bottles by providing free water stations
- Styrofoam and singles-use plastic bag free event
- 3-bin Eco-Stations (compost, recycle, landfill) throughout the festival
- Wood used for 3-bin frames was recovered from a landfill dumpster
- Think before you Toss (TM) training for all vendors
- Compostable To-Go Ware guidelines and resources for food vendors
Source: http://silverlakejubilee.com/event-info/eco-commitment/
