I have a LOVE/HATE relationships with events… and it usually sways toward the “hate” side.  If it’s an event that revolves around a beloved band or a great new film – I’m better.  But shopping events typically pain me – which is ridiculous, because… not only do I LOVE shopping, but I, myself, host shopping events for Green With Glamour!  Go figure.

Anyway, this last Thursday was a full night… LACMA’s screening of Tom Ford’s A Single Man (stunning!) AND premier eco magazine (for which I’m a contributor in the current issue), Coco Eco holiday event at Fred Segal benefiting Toys For Tots.  And while there was a pitifully small amount of toys donated by the evening’s end (Seriously… shame on you, Party Goers), the event overall was relatively low-key and lovely!  Complete with celebrity guests like Rachel Leigh Cook and Rachelle Carson Begley… and Anna Getty with her book, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.

Rachel Leigh Cook (in Love Heals)                                           Rachelle Carson Begley

Coco Eco, in collaboration with incredibly environmentally thoughtful mother & son jewelry design team, Love Heals (10 trees planted per piece sold/320,000 trees planted thus far) hosted an evening of shopping, refreshments and hobnobbing that was simply divine!  I ran into and caught up with the lovely editor of Ecostiletto, Rachell Sarnoff and even found a Christmas gift for my oh-so-hard-to-shop-for Grandmother. I would say the evening was a resounding success (except for perhaps the Toys for Tots thing) and it was the perfect way to ramp up for a season’s worth of holiday events!  Stay tuned…

I have a LOVE/HATE relationships with events… and it usually sways toward the “hate” side.  If it’s an event that revolves around a beloved band or a great new film – I’m better.  But shopping events typically pain me – which is ridiculous, because… not only do I LOVE shopping, but I, myself, host shopping events for Green With Glamour!  Go figure.

Anyway, this last Thursday was a full night… LACMA’s screening of Tom Ford’s A Single Man (stunning!) AND premier eco magazine (for which I’m a contributor in the current issue), Coco Eco holiday event at Fred Segal benefiting Toys For Tots.  And while there was a pitifully small amount of toys donated by the evening’s end (Seriously… shame on you, Party Goers), the event overall was relatively low-key and lovely!  Complete with celebrity guests like Rachel Leigh Cook and Rachelle Carson Begley… and Anna Getty with her book, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.

Rachel Leigh Cook (in Love Heals)                                           Rachelle Carson Begley

Coco Eco, in collaboration with incredibly environmentally thoughtful mother & son jewelry design team, Love Heals (10 trees planted per piece sold/320,000 trees planted thus far) hosted an evening of shopping, refreshments and hobnobbing that was simply divine!  I ran into and caught up with the lovely editor of Ecostiletto, Rachell Sarnoff and even found a Christmas gift for my oh-so-hard-to-shop-for Grandmother. I would say the evening was a resounding success (except for perhaps the Toys for Tots thing) and it was the perfect way to ramp up for a season’s worth of holiday events!  Stay tuned…

I don’t know what you have planned for Saturday afternoon… but I know where I’ll be.  As a “guru” for The Green Girls, I’m always included on such great invite lists – and their events are always the perfect combination of fun, thoughtfulness and great information.

Join us on Saturday, December 12th for The Green Girls Holiday Spectacular Event at The Strawberry House in Encino Hills!
The Green Girls are celebrating the holidays with a spectacular event that gives back to our community. Join us for The Green Girls Holiday Spectacular Event & Food Drive for the local Los Angeles shelter. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the non profit organization, Green Wave

LIMITED TO 100 GUESTS

Lisa, the lovely & oh-so-stylish editor of powerhouse fashion blog, Racked LA, attended the POPOMOMO Trunk Show last night at the Green With Glamour Pop Up Shop (after attended a day’s worth of other sales around town).  She checked out the collections, we chatted about the highs & lows of being professional and passionate shoppers… and then she wrote her review.  And I quote:

“Now THAT’s how you do a Pop Up… What makes this popup exceptional is the uniqueness of it: It’s a thoughtfully-curated collection of merchandise that you can’t get at a store down the street (yeah, we’re talking to YOU, J. Crew at Ron Herman).”

Wow.  I’m speechless (well, not really)… to have a revered pro like Lisa write such praise is truly awesome!  For her entire review – and to check out the other great stories at Racked LA, click here.

Bess’ tunic by POPOMOMO… one of my personal faves.

Lisa, the lovely & oh-so-stylish editor of powerhouse fashion blog, Racked LA, attended the POPOMOMO Trunk Show last night at the Green With Glamour Pop Up Shop (after attended a day’s worth of other sales around town).  She checked out the collections, we chatted about the highs & lows of being professional and passionate shoppers… and then she wrote her review.  And I quote:

“Now THAT’s how you do a Pop Up… What makes this popup exceptional is the uniqueness of it: It’s a thoughtfully-curated collection of merchandise that you can’t get at a store down the street (yeah, we’re talking to YOU, J. Crew at Ron Herman).”

Wow.  I’m speechless (well, not really)… to have a revered pro like Lisa write such praise is truly awesome!  For her entire review – and to check out the other great stories at Racked LA, click here.

Bess’ tunic by POPOMOMO… one of my personal faves.

Come join in the festivities*… Vegan treats, libations, raffle, discounts, donations, sweet sweet music, easy-on-the-eyes party-goers and maybe a little shopping!

And for non-Los Angelenos… we’ll celebrate in spirit with 20% OFF the GWG site!

*not a private event.  please feel free to forward to whomever might enjoy.

2 of my dearest friends Leigh & Chandra – otherwise known as The Watson Twins -  just wrapped up a tour with the guys from Found Magazine and I was lucky enough to spend a couple of nights on the road with them.  It all started at the L.A. show last Wednesday (also attended by Seth Rogan, Fiona Apple, Mirand July…).   The performance opened me up to an approach to recycling I’d never before considered.  If you’re not familiar with Found, it’s what creator Davy Rothbart calls (I forget his exact wording, but you’ll get the gist) “a massive community art project”.  In a nutshell, the concept is to find, share and cherish love letters, interesting receipts (I swear… they actually have discussion-worthy receipts), hilarious hand-written contracts, etc… all that have been discarded or lost by their original owners and found  by people all over the world – and then sent in to & published by Found Magazine.  Out of context, these scraps of paper are almost always hilarious, sometimes touching and every once & awhile a bit nasty.

A recent find

 Well, the Rothbart Brothers are on the final leg of a break-neck, cross-country “Denim and Diamonds” tour and if you or anyone you know will be in one of the cities listed below… I strongly suggest you check out the show.  Davy (also of This American Life) reads and disects a well-edited selection of his favorite finds with a wonderfully comedic delivery, while his brother Peter sings sometimes laugh-out-loud, sometimes tear-provoking original songs inspired by the very pieces of paper that make up their magazine.

Peter (L) & Davy (R)

June 28, 2009
Denver, CO » Curious Theatre, 8 pm, 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524
[ Sponsored by The Onion and Decider; tickets are $8 ]

June 30, 2009
Salt Lake City, UT » Brewvies, 8 pm, 677 South 200 West, 801-355-5500
[ Tickets are $5 ]

July 01, 2009
Boise, ID » Visual Arts Collective, 8:30 pm, 3638 Osage St., 208-424-8297
[ Tickets are $5 ]

  If you can’t make one of their shows, pick up a Found Magazine or two… you’ll never look at a scrap of paper blowing down the street the same again!

A dear friend of mine has launched an exciting new venture – The Pharmacie.  It’s a roving, invite-only cocktail party that celebrates cocktail culture with music-drenched, spirit-themed evenings (ie. a bourbon only night or a vodka only evening… you get the idea) filled with fresh herbs from local farmer’s markets and fancy drink accoutrement like brandied cherries.  Read below to see what the LA Times has to say:

The Pharmacie, a series of roving, invite-only cocktail parties (more underground than even the Roger Room?), kicked off last Sunday evening. Each soiree focuses on a different spirit featured in a few cocktails. This time, after an aperitif of Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, a couple of bourbon tinctures were served – a New-Fashioned (bourbon, kumquat and cherry syrups, and bitters) and a Blackberry Julep (bourbon, blackberries and mint) – with one rye sour cocktail thrown into the mix. And that’s the one that slayed me. It’s called the Buster Brown, with rye whiskey, house-made sour mix, a few dashes of bitters and one (or two) of those Luxardo cherries slightly candied with Marasca syrup (which will cost you about $16 a jar – worth it as long as you don’t eat the whole jar at once).

The Pharmacie was willing to part with the recipe. Please see the jump.

– Betty Hallock

Photo: Pornchai Mittongtare / For The Times

Buster Brown

Note: From the Pharmacie. To make simple syrup, combine equal amounts of sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Rittenhouse rye and Fee Bros. whiskey barrel-aged bitters are available at fine liquor stores. Luxardo cherries are available at Silverlake Wine and Bar Keeper in Silver Lake.

Sour mix

5 ounces fresh lemon juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
6 ounces simple syrup (use less if you like it a little more tangy)

In a small container, combine the lemon juice, lime juice and simple syrup. If not using right away, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a few days (with the sugar, it is more stable than pure juice). Makes enough for four cocktails.

Cocktail assembly (one cocktail)

2 ounces Rittenhouse rye
3 ounces sour mixture
4 dashes Fee Bros. whiskey barrel-aged bitters
2 Luxardo brandied cherries

Pour the rye and sour mixture over ice in a cocktail shaker. Give it a few vigorous shakes, then pour (with ice) into an old-fashioned glass. Add 4 dashes of bitters and stir. Garnish with brandied cherries.

A dear friend of mine has launched an exciting new venture – The Pharmacie.  It’s a roving, invite-only cocktail party that celebrates cocktail culture with music-drenched, spirit-themed evenings (ie. a bourbon only night or a vodka only evening… you get the idea) filled with fresh herbs from local farmer’s markets and fancy drink accoutrement like brandied cherries.  Read below to see what the LA Times has to say:

The Pharmacie, a series of roving, invite-only cocktail parties (more underground than even the Roger Room?), kicked off last Sunday evening. Each soiree focuses on a different spirit featured in a few cocktails. This time, after an aperitif of Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, a couple of bourbon tinctures were served – a New-Fashioned (bourbon, kumquat and cherry syrups, and bitters) and a Blackberry Julep (bourbon, blackberries and mint) – with one rye sour cocktail thrown into the mix. And that’s the one that slayed me. It’s called the Buster Brown, with rye whiskey, house-made sour mix, a few dashes of bitters and one (or two) of those Luxardo cherries slightly candied with Marasca syrup (which will cost you about $16 a jar – worth it as long as you don’t eat the whole jar at once).

The Pharmacie was willing to part with the recipe. Please see the jump.

– Betty Hallock

Photo: Pornchai Mittongtare / For The Times

Buster Brown

Note: From the Pharmacie. To make simple syrup, combine equal amounts of sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Rittenhouse rye and Fee Bros. whiskey barrel-aged bitters are available at fine liquor stores. Luxardo cherries are available at Silverlake Wine and Bar Keeper in Silver Lake.

Sour mix

5 ounces fresh lemon juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
6 ounces simple syrup (use less if you like it a little more tangy)

In a small container, combine the lemon juice, lime juice and simple syrup. If not using right away, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a few days (with the sugar, it is more stable than pure juice). Makes enough for four cocktails.

Cocktail assembly (one cocktail)

2 ounces Rittenhouse rye
3 ounces sour mixture
4 dashes Fee Bros. whiskey barrel-aged bitters
2 Luxardo brandied cherries

Pour the rye and sour mixture over ice in a cocktail shaker. Give it a few vigorous shakes, then pour (with ice) into an old-fashioned glass. Add 4 dashes of bitters and stir. Garnish with brandied cherries.

One of my favorite side projects is writing a weekly article on “green” home design for The Green Girls.  In fact, I’ve been named one of their “gurus”.  Totally flattering, right?  Well, on Saturday June 27th the 1 year anniversary party for this stellar blog goes down at the only LA “green” night club, Ecco Ultra Lounge… and you’re welcome to join us! Here’s the scoop:

Who: TheGreenGirls.com was launched June 28th 2008 by founder Apple Levy.  Inspired by the concept of bringing together people of all shades of green who are making a difference.

Live DJ Performance by celebrity DJ: Rob Patterson from KORN

What: TheGreenGirls.com has experienced tremendous growth in the last year & the 1st year mark is cause for big, green celebration.  Join TheGreenGirls.com as they celebrate their first year anniversary.

When: Saturday, June 27th 2009 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

That’s right… that’s me lower, center.  Hi!

Where:
Ecco Ultra Lounge
1640 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 464-2065

How: ONLINE RSVP ONLY (Drink Tickets will NOT be available at the venue)

** Must be 21 & over

TheGreenGirls.com loves to party for a good cause & the 1st year bash is no exception!  A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause that Apple Levy is personally involved with.

 
Invite list includes the Green Girl Editors (Gurus), Green business professionals, network of greenies, celebrities, PR firms, TGG audience, readers & individuals interested in helping our environment.

This is a night to party and have fun. You must dress to impress!

Organic Filip Vodka, Reed’s Non alcoholic drinks & POM Wonderful 100% Juice are provided to The Green Girls guests! (Max 200 RSVP)

One of my favorite side projects is writing a weekly article on “green” home design for The Green Girls.  In fact, I’ve been named one of their “gurus”.  Totally flattering, right?  Well, on Saturday June 27th the 1 year anniversary party for this stellar blog goes down at the only LA “green” night club, Ecco Ultra Lounge… and you’re welcome to join us! Here’s the scoop:

Who: TheGreenGirls.com was launched June 28th 2008 by founder Apple Levy.  Inspired by the concept of bringing together people of all shades of green who are making a difference.

Live DJ Performance by celebrity DJ: Rob Patterson from KORN

What: TheGreenGirls.com has experienced tremendous growth in the last year & the 1st year mark is cause for big, green celebration.  Join TheGreenGirls.com as they celebrate their first year anniversary.

When: Saturday, June 27th 2009 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

That’s right… that’s me lower, center.  Hi!

Where:
Ecco Ultra Lounge
1640 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 464-2065

How: ONLINE RSVP ONLY (Drink Tickets will NOT be available at the venue)

** Must be 21 & over

TheGreenGirls.com loves to party for a good cause & the 1st year bash is no exception!  A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause that Apple Levy is personally involved with.

 
Invite list includes the Green Girl Editors (Gurus), Green business professionals, network of greenies, celebrities, PR firms, TGG audience, readers & individuals interested in helping our environment.

This is a night to party and have fun. You must dress to impress!

Organic Filip Vodka, Reed’s Non alcoholic drinks & POM Wonderful 100% Juice are provided to The Green Girls guests! (Max 200 RSVP)

This week’s Do-Gooder is a champion of the well-rounded sustainable lifestyle… architecture, arts, entertainment, transportation – you name it. You may know his documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?, a widely lauded look at politics, Big Oil and the future of transportation.  His latest pro-environment welfare project is his own homestead in Culver City, CA.  A 21st Century Case Study house for sustainable design, comfortable living, and hi-tech function.  Behold the Marrakesh House!

This place is completely tricked out with “green” features inside & out.  Click here for and impressive & extensive list of “eco” details.  And another majorly impressive stat about the house’s construction:

A typical 4,300 square foot home construction project creates over 12,000 lbs of trash. The Marrakesh House team was able to eliminate 75% of this potential waste from entering a landfill by reusing and recycling original materials like lumber and dirt.

 And beyond actively proving that living “green” is as comfortable and easy as living “mainstream”… and certainly proving that it’s infinitely better for the environment, it’s people and all our our futures… and not to mention SO much more chic, Chris Paine is also hellbent on making the Marrakesh House a hub for “eco” entertaining – a modern day roundtable salon of sorts.  To kick off this beautiful home’s long & mindful life, Chris is hosting an open house fete on June 6th.  If you’re in the LA area… Come party like it’s 2099!

Paine & design collaborator Shellie Collier amongst the solar panels.

Institute of Dress is an insanely brilliant clothing line by my dear friend Abby Lutz.  Each piece is superbly crafted, fashion forward and completely wearable.  When I talk about investing in heirlooms-to-be… this is what I’m talking about.  Risky without nearing ridiculous and made thoughtfully in Japan and and Vermont, Institute of Dress is one of the few non-”eco” lines (their fabrics aren’t terribly sustainable) I endorse.  But now it gets even better…

 Abby has approached me with a very exciting proposal… Institute of Dress is going to do an exclusive, abbreviated run of styles solely for Green with Glamour this Fall in all organic materials.  Ladies, get ready!

At the International Design Awards – where Institute of Dress won best in Pret-a-Porter, Abby is flanked by Popomomo designer, Lizz Wasserman (left) & little old me – wearing an Institute of Dress creation (right).

POST BY DEANA

Institute of Dress is an insanely brilliant clothing line by my dear friend Abby Lutz.  Each piece is superbly crafted, fashion forward and completely wearable.  When I talk about investing in heirlooms-to-be… this is what I’m talking about.  Risky without nearing ridiculous and made thoughtfully in Japan and and Vermont, Institute of Dress is one of the few non-”eco” lines (their fabrics aren’t terribly sustainable) I endorse.  But now it gets even better…

 Abby has approached me with a very exciting proposal… Institute of Dress is going to do an exclusive, abbreviated run of styles solely for Green with Glamour this Fall in all organic materials.  Ladies, get ready!

At the International Design Awards – where Institute of Dress won best in Pret-a-Porter, Abby is flanked by Popomomo designer, Lizz Wasserman (left) & little old me – wearing an Institute of Dress creation (right).

POST BY DEANA

In that very order.  I wanted to do some sort of twist on Ice Cube’s, “Today was a good day”, but I couldn’t seem to make it work.  ANYWAY, for those of us in LA & New York… you know how you always seem to run into the same 1 celebrity over & over (my husband went through a phase where he saw Giovani Ribisi so often it made him angry.  Who’s yours???).  I have the good luck of mine being the oh-so-gorgeous Ryan Philippe.  My friend Sara and I were on our way to the Style, Naturally book signing at Stella McCartney and we decided to pop into an old haunt for a pre-party drinkie.  There he was with his best gal, his darling kids and Breckin Meyer… we locked eyes, smiled, I secretly melted, and the exchange was over… but still.     I rarely swoon.  Mr.Philippe = swoon.

Moving on… Next was the actual party for Summer Rayne Oakes‘ book, Style, Naturally.  First, the location was brilliant – Stella McCartney’s shop here on Beverly is just lovely.  We mingled on the back patio, drinking organic Veev cocktails & eating delish vegan passed hors d’oeuvres by Akasha (fantastic blinis!),  while Summer – looking gorgeous, of course – did her thing and a dj played quite decent music. I have to say – it was absolutely one of the nicest “Eco” events (or maybe I should just say events) to which I’ve ever been!  The people were good-looking AND friendly, the atmosphere was perfect and vibe was easy (no paparazzi).  Total enjoyment!

To make the evening even more special, I met The Green Girls‘ very own, Apple Levy (pictured below)!  After she interviewed SRO, we both found ourselves waiting for the all female valet team, Valet of the Dolls (I kid you not).  She was vibrant, kind and complementary.

Last night was a good night.  Eck… it still didn’t work, but whatever.

In that very order.  I wanted to do some sort of twist on Ice Cube’s, “Today was a good day”, but I couldn’t seem to make it work.  ANYWAY, for those of us in LA & New York… you know how you always seem to run into the same 1 celebrity over & over (my husband went through a phase where he saw Giovani Ribisi so often it made him angry.  Who’s yours???).  I have the good luck of mine being the oh-so-gorgeous Ryan Philippe.  My friend Sara and I were on our way to the Style, Naturally book signing at Stella McCartney and we decided to pop into an old haunt for a pre-party drinkie.  There he was with his best gal, his darling kids and Breckin Meyer… we locked eyes, smiled, I secretly melted, and the exchange was over… but still.     I rarely swoon.  Mr.Philippe = swoon.

Moving on… Next was the actual party for Summer Rayne Oakes‘ book, Style, Naturally.  First, the location was brilliant – Stella McCartney’s shop here on Beverly is just lovely.  We mingled on the back patio, drinking organic Veev cocktails & eating delish vegan passed hors d’oeuvres by Akasha (fantastic blinis!),  while Summer – looking gorgeous, of course – did her thing and a dj played quite decent music. I have to say – it was absolutely one of the nicest “Eco” events (or maybe I should just say events) to which I’ve ever been!  The people were good-looking AND friendly, the atmosphere was perfect and vibe was easy (no paparazzi).  Total enjoyment!

To make the evening even more special, I met The Green Girls‘ very own, Apple Levy (pictured below)!  After she interviewed SRO, we both found ourselves waiting for the all female valet team, Valet of the Dolls (I kid you not).  She was vibrant, kind and complementary.

Last night was a good night.  Eck… it still didn’t work, but whatever.

There was no way I wasn’t going to this party… Global Green is such a powerful organization doing some amazing & effective work around the world – from re-building New Orleans to “greening” schools to working with Green Cross to bring Clean Water to developing communities. That being said – there was also promise of a lot of celebs and the chance to dress in cocktail attire… Done (read an earlier post for celeb & party details)!

So I donned my best “eco” ensemble, my escorts (dear friends Matthew & Brandon) stunned in their suits and we headed to Hollywood (ugh… but what can you do). Let’s start with Neil Patrick Harris… you can’t not like NPH! He MC’d the event and was charming, funny & thoughtful (and gorge)! Gavin Rossdale was lovely and Sheryl Crow had a lot of energy, but I wasn’t really there for the music. Leonardo was there (with Kevin Connelly in tow) – so that was fun! And Gwen Stefani was there in “body”, but I barely saw her look up from her crackberry (even while her husband was performing) and she wore sunglasses all night in the already dimly lit room (yawn).

And though these big, flashy events aren’t really my speed, I did have a great evening – but honestly walked away from that night more interested in and inspired by Global Green’s President & CEO, Matt Petersen and the organization’s “Greening” of schools initiative. I got teary eyed during his brief speech & looping slide show. If you’re looking for a cause to support, Global Green is definitely worth a look!

There was no way I wasn’t going to this party… Global Green is such a powerful organization doing some amazing & effective work around the world – from re-building New Orleans to “greening” schools to working with Green Cross to bring Clean Water to developing communities. That being said – there was also promise of a lot of celebs and the chance to dress in cocktail attire… Done (read an earlier post for celeb & party details)!

So I donned my best “eco” ensemble, my escorts (dear friends Matthew & Brandon) stunned in their suits and we headed to Hollywood (ugh… but what can you do). Let’s start with Neil Patrick Harris… you can’t not like NPH! He MC’d the event and was charming, funny & thoughtful (and gorge)! Gavin Rossdale was lovely and Sheryl Crow had a lot of energy, but I wasn’t really there for the music. Leonardo was there (with Kevin Connelly in tow) – so that was fun! And Gwen Stefani was there in “body”, but I barely saw her look up from her crackberry (even while her husband was performing) and she wore sunglasses all night in the already dimly lit room (yawn).

And though these big, flashy events aren’t really my speed, I did have a great evening – but honestly walked away from that night more interested in and inspired by Global Green’s President & CEO, Matt Petersen and the organization’s “Greening” of schools initiative. I got teary eyed during his brief speech & looping slide show. If you’re looking for a cause to support, Global Green is definitely worth a look!

Yes – it’s me. I’m not typically one for huge parties at Hollywood venues, but Global Green is not only an organization I firmly support, but Green with Glamour (in collaboration with Lucky Magazine) proudly donated goodies to their #1 Holy Cross Project house back in 2008. AND check out the celeb list… how could I turn this down?

So, I’m breaking out my best bamboo, one-shoulder dress, my decade-old Pucci pumps and I’m borrowing a pair of the oh-so-stunning black onyx earrings by Dawes Design.

Norman Lear… here I come!