ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 6th 2008

Nigel Barker And Friends Raise Money For Haiti During Birthday Celebration

Filed under: animals, campaigns, events, events: nyc, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 12:28 pm

If you’ve watched even one episode of America’s Next Top Model then you most certainly know “noted fashion photographer” Nigel Barker. But what you probably don’t know is that Nigel is involved with about about a bazillion great charities that span across the board, and most recently helped try to stop the brutal seal hunt in Canada.

Nigel recently held is 36th birthday in NYC — which was attended by friends and family, including some peeps from the HSUS, The Make A Wish Foundation, The Edeyo Foundation and other great organizations — and used the opportunity to help raise a little cash for the people of Haiti.

On Nigel’s blog he says:

As many of you know many in Haiti have been reduced to eating patties made of mud, oil and sugar to curb hunger pains brought on by surging food prices. I have a trip planned to Haiti with the Charity Edeyo where we plan to bring food and document in the form of photos and film the travesty that is unfolding 45 minutes flight off the US shores. Friends of mine donated over $1000.00 the night of my birthday for the people of Haiti. If you too would like to do something to help please go to Edeyo.org and make a donation.

So by all means, get thee to Edeyo.org and give a little dough. Also, don’t forget to check out Nigel’s blog!

May 5th 2008

Naomi Campbell Honored For Renewable Energy Activism? Are You Kidding Me?

Cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria.

Filed under: campaigns, events: nyc, honors — michael @ 1:23 pm

As most are aware, Naomi Campbell is a British supermodel with a penchant for cell-phone throwing and physical violence; most recently resulting in her being banned for life from British Airways. But did you also know that Campbell is passionately involved in renewable energy initiatives? So much so, that she was recently honored for her activism? We didn’t either — and because we cover this crazy world 24/7 — we’re shoveling through this massive pile of BS to figure out what in the world actually went down last week to result in such delirium.

Apparently, a fresh new organization that’s literally nowhere to be found online beyond their website, organized the gala at the United Nations last Friday. Called the International Renewable Energy Organization (IREO), their Diamond Awards for Renewable Energy event was meant as an introduction to the new org and an opportunity to honor those making strides in alternative energy.

Leonardo DiCaprio was listed as an attendee on the invite, but apparently he caught wind of the shady intentions of the honors and jumped ship. Other celebrities like Heidi Klum and Patrick Dempsey did manage to show, but we’re not sure exactly why. Joining Campbell in the honors was Petra N?mcová - but at least this is one famous fashion model that has actually helped address the issue of renewables.

The only thing we can remember Campbell doing is picking up trash as part of her community service (for assaulting an assistant), making plans to develop a casino and hotel on a coastal sanctuary for turtles in Kenya, and wearing animal fur and skins for nearly every photo opportunity. What a brilliant choice!

We wish IREO all the luck — they seem to hold promise as an organization with great intentions (even if they’re advisory board is still “Under Construction”) — but we sincerely hope they do a bit more homework before blindly throwing awards at people less than deserving. Better luck next year.

thefilmpanelnotetaker via innercity press

May 2nd 2008

Sting Holds Annual Benefit To Help Save The Rainforest

Filed under: campaigns, events, events: nyc, food & drink, green and famous, music, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 12:37 pm

I’ll tell you this: Sting loves him some rainforest. In fact, for almost two decades Sting has been an eco-champion for the environment, and will celebrate his 20 years with Some Kinda Legacy — a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall to raise money for the Rainforest Foundation.

The Rainforest Foundation was started in the late 80’s by Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler as an environmental crusade to protect the rainforest. However, like all longstanding organizations the foundation has grown and now Sting considers it, “a human rights organization more than anything else.”

In the last two decades the annual Rainforest Foundation benefits have raised 25.8 million dollars and this year they’re goal is to make at least 2 million dollars more. After the performance The Plaza Hotel will host a local and organic dinner along with a live auction to help take in even more dough.

The concert takes place on May 8th at 7pm and feature performances by Sting (duh), James Taylor, Billy Joel, Brian Wilson, and many other legendary musicians. Tickets are $175 to $400 and you can purchase them at CarnegieHall.org. So get your seat and help save the rainforest yo!!

thanks: bloomberg.com

May 1st 2008

Go Green Expo Conquers The Big Apple With Eco-tastic Weekend

Filed under: ecorazzi exclusive, events: nyc, fashion, honors — melissa @ 4:48 pm

The New York City-based Go Green Expo had its Big Apple debut this past weekend at the Hilton New York. The green weekend kicked off with an inaugural awards gala which included a runway fashion show featuring eco-wear by Maggie Norris, a former designer for Ralph Lauren. Host Nigel Barker of America ’s Next Top Model auctioned several couture pieces – topping at $7,000 - benefiting Riverkeeper’s Amazon Conservation Association. Award recipients included Congressman Steve Israel, Captain Planet Foundation’s Laura Turner Seydel, Live Earth Founder Kevin Wall and NYT best-selling author David Bach for their individual contributions to the green movement this year. Celebs in attendance included the always-stunning actress Sissy Spacek, model Lauren Bush, Playboy model Lindsey Vuolo and TV personality Pat Mitchell.

The weekend continued with a three-floor, green-living and sustainability event including vendor booths, panels and film screenings. Goodies ranged from bamboo-clothing by Carole Wang to green printers, ride-share companies, bags, jewelry, cosmetics, to organic foods and beverages like Sobe. Many of the products featured boasted free-trade production.

One of the most notable extra-curriculars was the Fields of Fuel, film screening chronicling Josh Tickell’s U.S. road-trip in a “Veggie-Van” fueled by vegetable oil from fast-food eateries. He also breaks down green energy and major myths and misconceptions. Who knew (aside from Josh) that Rudolf Diesel, who created the first diesel engine, had designed it to run on vegetable oil, not petroleum?! To call this film eye-opening would be a great understatement. Despite its current grass-roots marketing effort I would confidently put all bets on this powerful, film as a shoe-in for the next Best Documentary Oscar. “Fields of Fuel” already won the Audience Choice Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The inspirational Josh Tickell took park in Q&A with expo-goers and has been working on this film for almost 10 years and has loved inspiring others. Check out a clip of the movie here or visit the official site at http://www.fieldsoffuel.com/.

For pictures from the fashion show and the gala, please click more below to view Ecorazzi’s gallery!

Read the rest of this entry »

April 30th 2008

Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids, Holds Easter Bonnet Competition

Filed under: campaigns, donations, events, events: nyc, honors — parrish @ 10:36 am

Here in New York we have this little thing called Broadway. You might have heard of it - big shows, big voices, big budgets, and well — luckily — also big hearts.

The Broadway community came out this week for the annual Easter Bonnet Competition to raise money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. Basically how the event works is that companies from various Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions offer skits, songs and/or dances as well as a bonnet created specially for the competition with all the proceeds going to BCEFA. I wasn’t able to make it out this year, but some friends of mine attended and said it was super great!

As always, the event was star-packed with famous faces like Megan Mullaly, Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, David Hyde Pearce and the dude with the biggest (and arguably craziest) fans I’ve ever seen, Clay Aiken.

Oh and the best part: this year those illustrious Broadway Belters earned a whopping 3.7 million dollars all for charity! Oh me oh my!

If you missed the event but still want to give a little pocket change, visit the Broadway Cares website and anti-up!

photo credit:Aubrey Reuben

April 25th 2008

Bette Midler And Others Come Out To Plant Trees In NYC For Arbor Day

Filed under: campaigns, events, events: nyc, green and famous, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 10:16 am

Happy Arbor Day everybody!

Right now — at this very minute — Bette Midler along with actress Marcia Gay Harden, the guys from the Blue Man Group, singer-songwriter Brendan James and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus are spending their Arbor Day at McCarren Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn along with 500 volunteers –including students from Children for Children’s youth programs, BNP Paribas and Greenpoint community residents – planting trees for Arbor Day and the MillionTreesNYC Month.

MillionTreesNYC Month, presented by BNP Paribas, coincides with the arrival of spring to raise public awareness for MillionTreesNYC, a public-private partnership between the Department of Parks & Recreation and the New York Restoration Project (which was founded by Midler) through which one million new trees will be planted and cared for throughout the five boroughs by 2017. As a New York City resident let me just say, “THANKS, THANKS, THANKS!!”

If you don’t know much about the holiday (cause quite honestly, I didn’t) take a trip over to ArborDay.org where you can gather information and learn about some pretty groovy Arbor Day projects. Happy Arbor Day, ya’ll.

April 22nd 2008

Lauren Bush Designs New Feed 1 Bag To Help End World Hunger

Filed under: campaigns, events, events: nyc, fashion, green and famous, products, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 3:40 pm

You know it’s a good thing I hide behind your screen everyday because the truth is I’m a pretty crappy dresser. I’m not bad like you can’t take me out, I’m more just a Casual Joe who prefers to live his life in jeans and a t-shirt. Anyway, I always get a nice chuckle when I find myself in the middle of a fashion event surrounded by clothes that hold powers far behind my capability of understanding. Such was so this Sunday when I attended an Earth Day event at Caravan in New York City.

The event was held to celebrate Earth Day and to promote Lauren Bush’s new Feed 1 Bag – which she designed in partnership with the World Food Program. The bag was on sale for 60 dollars and my source told me 20 dollars of that will provide school lunch for one child for a whole year. It’s not surprising that Lauren’s involved with the World Food Program, as she recently told New York Magazine, ““I’ve kind of stepped away from modeling to really focus on my company, on my nonprofit work.”

The event also featured a talk by Danny Seo and Sylvia Heisel which I wasn’t able to stay for due to an upper respiratory infection that was making me a definite party pooper. I also talked to a guest that’s about to open her own green business (which I’ll keep under raps…for now) and who just bought an apartment in Leonardo DiCaprio and Tyra Banks’ building. GROOVY!!

To find out more, or to purchase one of Lauren’s Feed 1 Bags, visit FeedProject.org!

April 18th 2008

Spend A Celebrity-Packed Evening At The Farm Sanctuary Gala 2008

Filed under: animals, events, events: nyc, food & drink, green and famous, honors, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 3:59 pm

What’s more fun than spending a fancy schmancy evening in downtown New York City eating classy vegan fare with some of today’s hottest celebrities? Um, nothing! 

On May 17th from 6pm-midnight Farm Sanctuary will hold it’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC — and trust me, you don’t want to miss it! Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 and aims to expose and stop cruel practices that take place in the “food animal” industry. They now have two shelters — one in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and the other in Orland, Calif. — where they provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals. 

This year the Farm Sanctuary Gala will be hosted by Heather Mills, emceed by Melissa Rivers and will feature a delicious three course vegan dinner, an awards ceremony, a silent auction and a musical performance by Shawn Colvin. And the guest list is just as exclusive with celebrities like Kristen Bell, Rachel Leigh Cook, Jennifer Coolidge, Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Swoosie Kurtz, Kevin Nealon, Loretta Swit, Persia White and Debra Wilson Skelton scheduled to attend, as well as many others.  

Tickets may sound a bit pricey at 400 dollars a pop, but save those pennies because this evening is totally worth it. Last time I went I heard an incredible speech by Loretta Swit, said hello to James Cromwell and pointed Alicia Silverstone to the restroom. 

To find out more visit FarmSanctuary.org and get those tickets before they run out! I’ll be covering the event this year so make sure you find me and say hello! 

April 14th 2008

Blythe Danner Gets Trashy In New York City

Filed under: campaigns, events, events: nyc, green and famous, thegreenpicture, transport — parrish @ 10:42 am

Last week Blythe Danner spent a little face time in New York City’s Union Square helping to promote Energy Vision - a national non-profit organization that studies and promotes the benefits of clean, renewable petroleum-free transportation fuels - as they unveiled two new natural gas garbage trucks.

Blythe said, “It is amazing that, for reducing air pollution, taking one old diesel truck off the streets is like removing 325 cars! Every child exposed to the new natural gas trucks will be a healthier child, and, by our becoming less oil dependent, every child will have a better chance for a secure future.”

And how much of a difference would replacing “traditional” garbage trucks for natural gas ones make? A report released by Energy Vision estimated that if half of the diesel collection and recycling trucks operating in New York City were traded in for natural gas models “more than 16,000 tons of pollutants would be eliminated a year, while reliance on a clean domestic fuel would eliminate the need for 23 million gallons a year of petroleum-based diesel fuel, which is getting more expensive by the day and relies on imported oil.”

Wow! I had no idea! Big thanks to Blythe Danner for lending her fame to such an important cause. Don’t forget to visit the Energy Vision website and read the entire “Fueling a Greener Future” report.

photo credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images

April 10th 2008

Tyra Banks and Bloomberg Plant A Tree On Ninth Avenue

Filed under: events, events: nyc, green and famous, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 1:46 pm

Tyra Banks is crazy ya’ll. But not like crazy in a bad way, just like…you know…crazy in a Tyra Banks kind of way. Like stripping off all her clothes on national television or dressing up like a homeless person and living on the street for a night. You can kind of always expect Tyra to be just a little out there.

Well yesterday Tyra got serious as she and previous America’s Next Top Model contestants Claire Unabia, Saliesha Cooper and Jaslene Gonzalez joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to plant an Oak tree on Ninth Avenue as part of the Million Tree Month and as a commemoration of the 600th episode of the The Tyra Banks Show.

And a tree wasn’t the only thing Tyra planted. Before the day was over she had planted a nice wet kiss right on cheek of Michael Bloomberg. Oh Tyra!

The event will air on an episode of The Tyra Banks Show sometime after Earth Day.

thanks: justjared.com