Living
Eyebrow:
High Five: Madiem Kawa
Leader of the Park
Submitted by dsimmons on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:00am. If you see Madiem Kawa with a gang of kiddos around Washington Park, give her a high five.What can Washington Park offer visitors in late fall?
Madiem: Our red oaks, sugar maples, and Catalpas are really colorful in fall. The American linden is gold right now, and pretty still in winter, when you can really see the reddish hue of its branches. We've also got painted turtles and winter birds like cardinals - and I recently saw a red-tailed hawk.
Have you found anything interesting in your park cleanups?
Madiem: Oh my gosh, if you go through my Facebook account, you'll see that last March was especially bad. I took a photo of the trash because there was so much, including a machete. Plus, the usual chairs, tables, clothes, and bottles. We find everything but the kitchen sink in there, especially after the snow melts.
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
Madiem: I guess Nature Woman, or just someone with an eco-friendly cape. [Laughs.] I'd like to teach people how to get back to nature. When I take kids on a nature walk, they just love it. I think it's an instinct for everyone.
Madiem: Our red oaks, sugar maples, and Catalpas are really colorful in fall. The American linden is gold right now, and pretty still in winter, when you can really see the reddish hue of its branches. We've also got painted turtles and winter birds like cardinals - and I recently saw a red-tailed hawk.
Have you found anything interesting in your park cleanups?
Madiem: Oh my gosh, if you go through my Facebook account, you'll see that last March was especially bad. I took a photo of the trash because there was so much, including a machete. Plus, the usual chairs, tables, clothes, and bottles. We find everything but the kitchen sink in there, especially after the snow melts.
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
Madiem: I guess Nature Woman, or just someone with an eco-friendly cape. [Laughs.] I'd like to teach people how to get back to nature. When I take kids on a nature walk, they just love it. I think it's an instinct for everyone.
Gimme Some Space
So, my boyfriend just decided to branch out on his own and work from home. Instead of seeing him for a mere 3 hours a day (he works in finance), I can see him all I want now. No more waiting until 10:30 pm to eat dinner, no more walking the dog solo, no more taking care of all the chores alone. Yah!
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Send to a FriendIs it 2005 Again?
The results are in on the latest Pew global warming survey, and it looks like the citizens of the United States just lost a bunch of Mensa points: 14% fewer Americans believe there's solid evidence of global warming than did a year and a half ago.Boxing Day
I really hate moving. It's a terrible, terrible chore. But going green did make one part of my recent move this past weekend a little more bearable.Eyebrow:
Staying Warm
Layer It on Thick
Submitted by tmeronek on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 12:00am.
Have a tendency to overdo it on the central heating? You could be tossing away hundreds of dollars - no exaggeration. Regulate your temp by wearing layers, and always keep a shawl or wrap (and a jacket) handy in case your outfit needs a little embellishing.
Eyebrow:
Eco Moving Services
It's Your Move: Make Life Easy Week
Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 11:00pm.
Moving to a new castle, er, house? Check, mate. Go for green movers, who transport your stuff with less pollution and waste. It's the better way, across the board.
Eyebrow:
High Five: BCV Architects
Raiders of the Lost Architects
Submitted by hsnavely on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:01pm. Jonesin' for sweet community markets? Give the guys at BCV Architects a high five.Can you tell us a little about what will make the JLM "green"?
Ken:Jack London Market will promote sustainable food systems through the support of the local network of farmers, artisans, and purveyors. The placement of the market is important because it has both a dense residential and working population within walking distance, and has fantastic access to public transportation including the ferry, BART, and Amtrak. Inside the Market Hall, recycled wood will be used in the construction of the tenant shops.
What is your preferred method of transportation?
Ken: I live in Marin. You can't beat taking the ferry to work, to the market, or to a ball game in the city. That experience rivals any lifestyle in the world.
What is your eco pet peeve?
Ken: Selling sustainability through guilt. At BCV Architects we promote sustainability through its joyful benefits. Throughout our designs, whether in a market hall, a winery, a restaurant, or a house, we integrate and emphasize the increased qualities that are possible through a holistic approach to a sustainable lifestyle.
Ken:Jack London Market will promote sustainable food systems through the support of the local network of farmers, artisans, and purveyors. The placement of the market is important because it has both a dense residential and working population within walking distance, and has fantastic access to public transportation including the ferry, BART, and Amtrak. Inside the Market Hall, recycled wood will be used in the construction of the tenant shops.
What is your preferred method of transportation?
Ken: I live in Marin. You can't beat taking the ferry to work, to the market, or to a ball game in the city. That experience rivals any lifestyle in the world.
What is your eco pet peeve?
Ken: Selling sustainability through guilt. At BCV Architects we promote sustainability through its joyful benefits. Throughout our designs, whether in a market hall, a winery, a restaurant, or a house, we integrate and emphasize the increased qualities that are possible through a holistic approach to a sustainable lifestyle.
Coming of Age Stories
Where were you ten years ago today? I was in faraway city, in a relationship that seemed destined for greatness but that was soon to fail, with no furry friends to purr in my lap while I read the Bridget Jones Diary...and I had bangs. In short, I was basically unrecognizable.Eyebrow Text:
Best Of: July - September 2009
Bite the Big Ones
Submitted by bdisylvester on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 11:00pm. Over the last 3 months we've filled you in on everything from electric cars to swanky vintage stores and even showed you how to make your ownThe Big One:
The One You Loved: A staycation in NYC topped your list. You got healthy outside with kayaking and yoga along the Hudson, then grubbed at Josie's West on the Upper West Side. Runner-up: The much-talked-about elevated park also on the West Side, the High Line. You can now head there every Tuesday at dusk for their new free stargazing with high-powered telescopes.
The One We Loved: We spent our last days of summer gobbling up this raw Pineapple Cucumber Gazpacho, which requires only a blender to make - our fave kitchen appliance. Runner-up: We decked our fingers with recycled gold and silver cocktail rings from October Anniversary…our fave, the conch.
The Best Reason to Get Caught in Rented Shoes: Brooklyn Brewery beer, sloppy joes from Blue Ribbon, and bowling in the LEED-certified Brooklyn Bowl building…'nuff said.
The One We Loved: We spent our last days of summer gobbling up this raw Pineapple Cucumber Gazpacho, which requires only a blender to make - our fave kitchen appliance. Runner-up: We decked our fingers with recycled gold and silver cocktail rings from October Anniversary…our fave, the conch.
The Best Reason to Get Caught in Rented Shoes: Brooklyn Brewery beer, sloppy joes from Blue Ribbon, and bowling in the LEED-certified Brooklyn Bowl building…'nuff said.
Eyebrow Text:
Best Of: July - September 2009
Bite the Big Ones
Submitted by hsnavely on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 11:00pm.Over the last 3 months, we've given play to everything from leather handbags made from vintage jackets to the perfect organic tequila cocktail recipe. You thought some were neat, others you deemed simply sweet.
The Big One:
The One You Loved:
Hiking up Mt. Tam to raise awareness for the preventable causes of breast cancer (correctly) sounded like a valuable way to spend your day. Runner-up:
No wonder we love you, Biters - you love to drink wine too, especially when it's crafted at Hall St. Helena Winery's cool LEED-certified digs.
The One We Loved:
Sometimes, our jobs are kinda rough, like when we have to scope out the new iteration of the Santa Cruz Dream Inn and Aquarius Restaurant to make sure it's up to par. Survey says: up to par. Runner-up: Once we get a little braver, we'll be signing up for beekeeping courses with Her Majesty - for now, its local honey is doing the trick.
Best SF Double Play:
We loved Josh Podoll's Cowl Neck Sweater so much that we couldn't bear to give it back; we bought and donned it for our video on eco-waxing at SF's International Orange.
