ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

June 9th 2009

New York’s High Line Park Above The City Finally Opens!

Filed under: events: nyc, green and famous, healthy living — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 3:44 pm

As many other green sites are noting today, New York City’s newest park is celebrating its grand opening today. But this isn’t your normal piece of green set aside for public use — the High Line Park is actually set in the sky on top of the bones of an abandoned old rail line. What was once thought an impossible task has become a reality as the old rail line, when fully completely transformed, will end up being a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park; running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. Right now, Section 1, which runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, is available to the public.

Naturally, many green-conscious celebrities flocked to help support the project over the past five years including Edward Norton Steve Carell, Kevin Bacon, Harvey Keitel, Glenn Close and designer Diane von Furstenberg.

If you’re in NYC, consider stopping by the park for the grand opening and taking in some of the beautiful designs courtesy of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations and architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

For a map of the project — including access points, jump here. Inhabitat has some fantastic images as well of the project over the years. The official site can be found here.

May 22nd 2009

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke Hits Us With His Tricked-Out Green Crib

That compost pile is off da hook!

Filed under: healthy living, video, web — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 11:10 am

If MTV ever decides to do a green version of their ostentatious MTV Cribs series, we hope they’ll consider comedian Marcus Brigstocke as a writer. In a well-played knock-off of the series that takes you into the lavish homes of musicians and rockstars, Brigstocke shows us just how cool going green at home can look. As he says; “Climate change can be a difficult subject for comedy, but like anything else it can be made funny and in the face of too much earnestness it’s important that it is. There’s a lot of apathy around personal responsibility; we need to talk about climate change but not for too long, the important thing is to take action and the easiest and best place to start is in the home.” Check it out below:

Treehugger via Autobloggreen

May 19th 2009

David Duchovny Spotted At Vegan-Friendly Restaurant - We Think That’s Neat!

Filed under: food & drink, healthy living — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 10:05 am

Rumor has it that David Duchovny was spotted getting his chow on at a vegan-friendly restaurant in Cali this past weekend.

According to E Online:

“David Duchovny, totally solo (like, duh)hitting up Brentwood eatery A Votre Sante for brunch to go this past weekend. Double D opted not to let onlookers stare at him while he ate alone at the vegan-friendly place, so he waited outside for his takeaway meal.”

I’m still waiting to hear if David is rocking the vegan diet (he was at one point), but it sure looks like he might be.

What’s your best veggie celebrity sighting story? Chime in and share your tale!

May 6th 2009

Michelle Obama Promotes Healthy Living With Sesame Street PSA

Filed under: film-tv, food & drink, healthy living, television — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 2:34 pm

While addressing a crowd at the United Nations in New York yesterday, Michelle Obama let drop that she had just appeared on Sesame Street. And she was absolutely giddy from the experience. “I’m thrilled to be here, but I was just at ‘Sesame Street’ — I’m sorry,” the First Lady said. “And I never thought I’d be on ‘Sesame Street’ with Elmo and Big Bird and I was thrilled. I’m still thrilled. I’m on a high.”

Michelle taped the PSA as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life Initiative. Mrs. Obama and longtime Sesame Street resident Elmo chatted about the importance of eating right, exercising regularly, and being a healthy and positive role model for kids.

“I think it’s probably the best thing I’ve done so far in the White House. But we were there talking about nutrition and healthy eating, and it’s just been a thrill.”

Look for the PSA to come out soon.

May 4th 2009

Wyntergrace Williams Records New Healthy School Lunch Video For PCRM

Filed under: food & drink, healthy living, video — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 11:03 am

Earlier this year, Ecorazzi told you that Wyntergrace Williams, Montel Williams’ daughter, had teamed up with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine to help change the way school does lunch!

We all have our own cafeteria horror stories (see also: mystery meat) and Wyntergrace is trying to end those lunch nightmares for good!

Williams recently recorded a new video encouraging everyone to sign PCRM’S petition urging school cafeterias to make healthier meals for students. 

Check out the video below and then visit HealthySchoolLunches.org. Let’s put an end to meatloaf surprise!

April 16th 2009

Twitter Thursday: Six Awesome Green Prizes From Delight.com

It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.

Filed under: contests, healthy living — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 9:48 am

It’s Twitter Thursday! Woo Hoo! Time once more to giveaway some groovy green swag through the Twitterverse. This week, we’ve got the oh-so-fine peeps behind Delight.com hooking us up with an impressive six green prizes to giveaway. That’s three times our usual amount — which means you’ve got a greater chance of winning and hitting the weekend in high spirits! Want to see what’s being handed out? Click the jump below to browse — get details on how to enter!

Click here to learn more about the contest…

April 13th 2009

Rachel McAdams Dreams Of Farm Life For Her Future Family

Filed under: cars-houses, green and famous, healthy living — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 1:54 pm

Rachel McAdams has revealed to Marie Claire magazine that her future children will have a deep connection to nature. The 30-year-old actress, who is currently dating Josh Lucas, has dreams to raise her family on a farm so they can better understand life at an early age. From the article,

“I would give it a good shot for a while,” she said. “I grew up in a small town, with a small backyard and raspberry bushes. My parents had a garden, but it was very basic. I think one thing that kids who grow up on farms really have going for them is they have exposure to death and birth in a totally different way. I think it takes away a little but of the mystery and a little but of the fear, and I do wish I had that.”

We’re not surprised to hear McAdams express a desire to raise her kids in nature — especially since she’s one of the co-founders of the green site GreenIsSexy.org — and an eco-friendly chick to boot. Perhaps she’ll live next door to Ellen and Portia?

Photo credit: PR Photos

April 13th 2009

Coco Eco Mag Gets Us Ready For A Green Spring With Josie Maran

Filed under: fashion, healthy living, magazines — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 9:48 am

It’s been a bit since we checked in with Coco Eco — the stylish online green magazine from Anna Griffin — but we’re loving their new April/May issue featuring Josie Maran. This is definitely the slickest and most well-produced virtual green publication on the web — with gorgeous photography, art direction, and brilliant content.

The current issue gives every fashion-concious green gal a chance to get ready for warmer weather — from sustainable, natural makeup products to the latest from ethical and earth-friendly designers. Of course, there’s also the gorgeous Josie Maran — who gives a stunning photo shoot and insight into the life of an eco-entreprenuer. Coco also hits some green spots in LA, dishes on ways to deal with stress, and goes a little Q&A with actor Brian White.

Want to check it out? Your access to the best green mag that would rival anything in print is only one, free, click away. (Be sure to hit “Full Screen” for easy reading.)

March 18th 2009

George Lopez Celebrates World Kidney Day At KEEP It Hollywood Event

Filed under: events, healthy living — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 10:45 am

On March 12th, George Lopez joined a slew of famous faces to show his support for the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California at a special World Kidney Day event.

The “KEEP It Hollywood” event is a pre-Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) that includes a mini-screening (blood pressure cuff, finger prick & a few health questions asked by some of the best doctors in the country) allowing numerous celebrities and influential community members to take part in the fight against Kidney Disease through early detection, evaluation, and intervention for World Kidney Day.

Lopez told LookToTheStars.org:

“I had a transplant four years and the kidney was donated to me from my wife and I’ve been healthy for the first time in my life. I was unhealthy the majority of my life. And what we’re trying to do is prevent that from happening to other people. And not only to people of color, but all people because it’s a disease that effects 26 million people — whether you’re wealthy or poor, black or white and no matter what part of the world you’re in.”

Check out the entire interview below!

March 11th 2009

Sting Talks Of His Life As A Farmer, Upcoming Release Of Organic Wine

Ok, we get it: Your life is awesome.

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, food & drink, green and famous, healthy living — Michael Andre d'Estries @ 4:36 pm

Rock legend Sting has opened up for the first time about life on his massive Tuscany farm — a place where he’s resided for most of the last 15 years. The 57-year-old spoke at a Tuscany town theatre last night and described why his farm is 100% organic. ”I am a farmer who looks after the land to nourish it and not to plunder it,” he told the audience.

”I came here and I decided to stay and be a farmer, also because I wanted to nourish my family with genuine quality products in a healthy environment. Everyone knows about my environmental commitment, especially to the rain forests in South America. With this business in Tuscany I am trying to help myself and those who are close to me to live better in a natural context,” he said.

On his 300-hectare estate near Figline Valdarno, (30 km south of Florence) Sting produces extravirgin olive oil, chestnut and acacia honey, jams, fruit, vegetables. This year, he will release his first-ever red wines - a Chianti and a Toscana. Both have been “resting” for about two years and will be available in over 30,000 bottles.

Don’t go thinking that Sting’s organic farm has made him a vegetarian. Besides producing salami, he also admitted that his favorite Tuscany dish is stewed wild boar.

To read the rest of the evening’s discussions, jump here!

[Update: After some digging, it appears that you too can stay at Sting's Tuscany villa for a yoga retreat! Hit this site for more!]