Thanksgiving is almost here and it’s time to start thinking about your celebration plans! If you’re sick of sitting around a table with a big dead bird, Farm Sanctuary has a couple celebrity-infused events that might interest you.

The first is a NYC celebration hosted by hip-hop mogul and Def Jam Founder Russell Simmons at Tavern on the Green. The event will include a yummy vegan gourmet brunch and a special reading by Jonathan Safran Foer from his red-hot new book “Eating Animals.” Oh yeah, and I’ll be there too!

Across the country in Orland, CA, actress/advocate Daniela Sea from “The L Word” will host a compassionate Thanksgiving celebration complete with a candlelit gourmet vegan dinner, a “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony and a performance by punk rock pioneer Jonathan Richman.

So if you’re looking for some fun Thanksgiving plans, stop by FarmSanctuary.org and see all the events happening in your area. Happy Holidays!

I’ll just say it: here at the Razz, we’re pretty massive fans of Global Green USA! A mighty force in the field, Global Green works hard to create a more sustainable planet and to honor Mother Earth each day.

On Monday, I had the chance to spend some time with the GG crew at their 10th Annual Sustainable Design Awards in New York City. The annual ceremony honors green businesses, schools, governments, and utilities for excellence in environmentally-friendly projects.

A slew of well-known faces came out to support the organization, including actors Brian Cox, Tate Donovan, Tony Plana and many more. President of Global Green Matt Petersen told us:

“Tonight is another sounding of the alarm bell about global warming telling us we all need to wake up and take action. The people we’re honoring tonight are really the leaders who are showing us the way. You know, it’s the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and one of the reason we started these awards was to recognize those who are breaking down the walls that stand between us and a sustainable future, so it’s a very poignant and exciting evening for us. ”

And exciting it was! With a slew of innovative individuals and companies being honored for their hard work, the Global Green Sustainable Design Awards proved just how many people out there are taking real action for the planet. To learn more about this groovy organization, visit GlobalGreen.org. You can also view more pictures from the event below.

photo credit: Ty Marcum

Alicia Silverstone and EMA’s Debbie Levin will be the keynote speakers at the invitation-only private launch of Green Lounge, an eco-luxury experience, on November 15th, at Loews Hotel in Santa Monica. Empowerment coach Jason Nelson will also be speaking and the event will be hosted by FOX 11’s Christine Devine and Planet Green’s Darren Moore.

Green Lounge founder and host of Celebrity Soul Nicole Sherwin says, “My vision and the goal of Green Lounge is to create a platform for the thought leaders of the world in the areas of environmentalism, wellness and philanthropy to share ideas and create proactive change in an eco-luxury setting.”

Green Lounge promises to be a luxury social and business-networking platform for celebrities, CEOs and others from the worlds of entertainment, environmentalism, philanthropy and wellness to create broader awareness, network and generate new ideas and contacts in an eco-conscious setting.  There will also be Green Suites for the charities highlighted by the speakers.

This is the first of several scheduled Green Lounge events in the US and abroad.

The Vikings’ cheerleaders and Miss Minnesota are getting their eco on this weekend at the Minneapolis Go Green Expo — the nation’s leading eco-focused, interactive, and educational showcase.

As part of their new environmental improvements, the Vikings’ cheerleaders will be giving away merchandise to fans, including an autographed Jared Allen jersey and numerous other prizes.  Miss Minnesota will also be on site to speak about the importance of sustainability and the many ways you can go green.

Earlier this year, I hosted an interview series with Mariel Hemingway at the Go Green Expo here in NYC and had a total blast!

The Minneapolis Go Green Expo runs until Sunday, November 8th and tickets are still available. To find out more information about this mean, green event visit GoGreenExpo.com.

On November 3, mayors, movie stars and mover and shakers in the California green community gathered for the launch of the “California Green Community Challenge”, the Environmental Media Association’s collaboration with Southern California Edison, Green Seal and the Institute for Local Government.

The state wide challenge is bringing together 10 California towns and their local governments to compete for Green Seal recognition as a “California Green Community” by 2012. The objective is to ignite a nationwide initiative to preserve our natural environment by awarding participating towns with silver, gold or platinum seals.

The press conference was held on the Sony Pictures back lot, one of the greenest studios in LA, highlighting the central role that Hollywood and the EMA will play in sponsoring this initiative.

EMA Board Members Amy Smart, Frances Fisher and Daryl Hannah were there to introduce several of the participating mayors and speak on their involvement with EMA and this initiative. All three seemed very enthusiastic and I will report that there were a few whoops and cheers from the duo of Frances and Daryl in the row behind me when they were particularly inspired. It’s great to hear people so excited for a municipal eco-challenge and their commitment to an initiative like this is proof that they are pretty true believers since this was less red carpet and more civic duty.

Amy Smart told Ecorazzi that she hopes this challenge will inspire other mayors across the country to go green. She also divulged that she’s been reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma as well as The Kind Diet right now. I’m not sure what recipes ‘Razzi readers are loving right now but Amy’s partial to Alicia’s mom’s granola and the squash and aduki beans.

Daryl Hannah had her veggie hat on, cracking a joke about a partially visible billboard for “Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs” that framed only the word “MEATBALLS” above the podium. “You can’t see it,” she said, “but behind that other building it says VEGGIE!” If only, Daryl…

Daryl Hannah presenting beneath a Meatball banner

On Friday, November 6th, the top 10 finalists for Project Green Search will make their way to ECCO Ultra Lounge in Hollywood to determine who will be the next Green “It” girl.

During the party, the finalists will be circulating amongst the guests sharing the looks, and sustainability stories of each item worn. The judges will evaluate the winners ability to represent the brands they are showcasing, get a measure on their speaking ability and charisma to help their decision. By the end of the evening, one girl will be crowned the winner and receive a slew of prizes including:

• A contract with Hollywood Model & Select Talent Management
• A compilation of professional images for her portfolio
• An eco-fashion wardrobe
• An organic & natural beauty care shopping spree at Future Natural
• A gift basket of cosmetics from Josie Maran Cosmetics
• A signed copy of Anna Getty’s new book, “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas”
• And cover shots and interior spreads in several print and online magazines

Who will be the lucky winner? View the contestants at ProjectGreenSearch.com and stayed tuned to Ecorazzi to find out!