Green Nightlife

This past weekend I found myself in New York and sweet mother is that place expensive. I tried to forget about the cash money and just have a good time, which I obviously did. I saw a whopping three shows for under $90 which is amazing and I saw PATTI ( and got her john hancock)!! Oh and then there was the Megan Mullally sighting were my firends and I ruined a perfectly good converstaion opportunity with her.

Here’s a sample:

(After sighting MM across the street and running over to get picture)

Us: Hi, Can we get a picture.

MM: Sure, so where are you all from?

Us: Boston.

MM: Oh that’s nice

Us: Yeah…

More awkwardness ensued but this is the story of my life…

Megan Mullally

WAH WAH.

Now back to the subject of my post… I began to wonder in this growing grren world if eco-friendly nightlife is emrging at all. After some googling, I found this post from back in January on gliving about the first eco-friendly nightclub in NYC!  

AAAH, SO COOL! Wish i could find a website for this place… someone let me know if one exists!

The coolest you can get to that In Boston (or the Allston Area) is buying the $2.50 Brubaker at Our House. reason the price is so cheap is because they reuse the bottles. Clever and environmentally sound– I like that.  

Not to jump around but speaking of things that are clever and environmentally sound, one thing that is not is the Fung Wah Bus from Boston to NYC. I took that this weekend and I’m not that big of a fan but hey at $15…. Not so sure how environmentally or mechanically sound this thing is…

Always look for new green things so let me know what you guys have stumbled upon!

Crying over spilt milk…the eco-bottle woes

First, I apologize for my my not so great attempts to keep posting regularly. Last week was a bit insane as family was visiting but I did bookmark an article from the NY Times that I wanted to comment on.

On June 30, an article ran about a new eco-friendly milk bottle that Walmart and Costco rolled out. This bottle is great because it eliminates plastic waste and the use of crates, drastically reduces the amount of water need to keep the cartons and crates clean. It also allows for the milk to be sold at a cheaper price while keeping it fresher longer.

However many consumers complain that it is more awkward and cumbersome, creating more spills especially for children.

You know what I say, suck it up. Pour your own children’s milk and look at the real benefits from this bottle. This design is new and sure, could probably use some tweaking but hopefully more companies will take the initiative to find solutions to growing environmental concerns.

Read the entire article here and see for yourself.

Also check out the accompanying slideshow…

New Milk Jug (Slideshow)

Plastic ain’t my bag…

While in London, I really became interested in the reusable bags trend. I had used them for shopping before but London really takes this eco-friendly trend to the fashion level.

The grocer Sainsburys always had fun bags such as the “Plastic Ain’t My Bag” Bag that I have also use as a purse, obviously. However the most famous has to be the Anya Hindmarch “I am not a plastic bag,” pictured below.

This bag became so popular, selling out within hours once hitting the US. Celebs are spotted carrying these bags around as handbags and countless numbers of knock-offs have been reproduced.

I do love the BYOB (bring your own bag) trend and its an hot topic in and out of the blogosphere. Check out this entry on Daytime Talk, which features a clip from GMA.

So, here’s my suggestion…

Take you reusable bags and maybe splurge on some organic and locally grown food. Buying foods that are sustainable are better for the environment and help reduce your carbon footprint! It may be a little more expensive for the organic strawberries but seriously, they do taste better. And you can tote your berries home in a berry cute bag!

So, that’s my bag. What’s yours??

Greener Commuting

Boston is great because it is such a walkable city and I tend to walk whenever I get the chance. Recently, however, I bought a bike to aide my city travels.

I was lucky enough to find a good used bike– also saving myself a few hundred bucks. Craigs list is a great place to check for bikes at cheaper prices, but I am so short that I went to the International Bike Center in Allston where the helpful staff steered me towards a good bike.

Biking is a really way to commute and get around a smaller city, like Boston. I am really excited to put my bike to good use but biking in the city still intimidates me a bit. Bike accidents happen way too often in the city, which is probably due to the lack of bike lanes. it amazes me that as Comm Ave gets a face lift, new bike lanes aren’t installed as well.

The hazards of city riding took a another bad blow when Mayor Menino got into a biking accident back in May. Talk about some bad PR…

It is always important to know the safety measures and rules for bike riding. Two great websites to check out are: MassBike and The City of Boston.
Despite the risks, biking is becoming the transport of choice due to the rising gas prices, as Paul Born points out in his blog with an article from the Star Ledger.

I love my bike and can’t wait to hit the road!

Tips for a Greener Apartment

I absolutely hate moving.

The packing. The unpacking. The lifting. The moving. All of it.

Moving into a new apartment is particularly challenging for college students.

I moved into my new apartment with about two boxes and two bags in tow and absolutely no furniture and thought of going out and buying all new furniture was not appealing to me, especially on my limited budget.

While my roommates and I did take a trip to get some low-budget essentials, we also utilized some other cheap and green options!

1) USE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN. The previous tenants of our apartment left behind a lot of furniture. This was sort of a pain in the ass because we expected the apartment to be clean. On the other hand, it also was helpful because we decided to keep some of the furniture. My roommate practically got all her furniture from what was left in her room; she just cleaned it up with a fresh coat of paint.

2) CRAIG’S LIST. Craig’s list is a great resource for furniture or whatever and it is super cheap. I bought a full bed with box spring and frame for $50 (the only pain was I had to find a way to pick it up, which I spent $45 on a U-Haul– so under $100)! Some people may think that is a bit sketchy, but it’s like sleeping in a hotel bed, maybe? Whatever, it was in my price range and I am very happy with my purchase.

3) THRIFT SHOPS. Another great source for second-hand knick-knacks and furniture. I bought to chairs for our kitchen table. Even though they don’t match, I think they give the place a bit of quirk and personality.

4) FRIENDS. I am a receptacle for friends who are looking to get rid of stuff. This way, you know where the stuff has been plus it usually comes at the right price.

Reusing furniture is a great way to be a little kinder to the earth and save money at the same time!

What I also find interesting is furniture MADE from reused items… Check out this post on Design Blog if you’re interested!

What things do you do in your apartment that are both budget-conscious and eco-friendly?? Let me know!

Oh Oh, We also use POM glasses as toothbrush holders.

tehee!