Danelle Brown · Eco-Chick

Browsing all posts by Danelle Brown

Danelle Brown is a designer, doula, wellness consultant, blogger and activist for woman's rights and environmental action. She is principal director of Verte, a holistic lifestyle studio in New York City, and blogs at TheGreenDoula.com.

http://thegreendoula.com

This author has contributed 49 posts.

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Nouveau Novo

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04/23/06

This past Saturday I was meeting a few friends for dinner at a new tucked-away restaurant called Novo on the outskirts of Tribeca/Soho. As we were waiting for the rest of our party, I couldn’t help but notice the finishes and fixtures used in the restaurant’s interior. I asked our waiter if he knew if the restaurant was intentionally designed in an eco-friendly matter. I figured correctly.

The first green flag was the menu printed on recycled paper and then the fact that both the main bar and the open kitchen prep wall was faced with cork tiles. The wallpaper throughout the space is made from hemp, and reclaimed thin brushed metal sheets accent some of the walls. The light fixtures were made from recycled glass and non-bleached paper shades. The over all palette appeared to be neutral crèmes, chocolate browns and petrified woods.

Projectors are used to cast floral graphic images on adjacent screens. This allows for a wide variety of decorative art without have to hang up a new piece of canvas or paper every so often.

Although Novo doesn’t use organic veggies, they do only use local produce and suppliers to create their unique dishes. The overall menu is an eclectic palette of Latin American dishes and drink specials. Being that Novo is still new, they do not yet have their liquor license so its BYO. So although there is no organic wine on the list you’re more than welcome to bring your own and they will even turn it into a fabulous sangria for your table.

I do have to say that the portion size for most of the menu items is fairly small and this is the type of restaurant that you go on a 1^st date because you can share amazing appetizers and not feel ashamed to order what you really want later since it will be a small portion. The food is amazing and an average meal (appetizer & entrée) will run you about $20-$30.

Go There: Novo, 290 Hudson St., New York, NY
Call: 212.989.6410

decor, design, Eco-Chick, Food, hemp, liquor, local, media, NYC, Organic, paper, party, produce, recycle, recycled, restaurant, spa, style, Wine, wood

First Rock’n Roll & Now Green

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04/19/06

There seems to be a new angle to the term “British Invasion”. While although the UK is still giving us amazing music such as Coldplay and Aqualung (Who just so happens to be playing at the Bowery Ballroom on May 1^st), The Brits are just cranking out amazing green product lines and on-line eco-stores. The latest…. Well, let me introduce you to By Nature. While they have been around for a little while, these eco-lifestyle guru’s concerns about the startling statistics for the UK’s landfills have been manifested into what appears to be a unique and modern eco-friendly home accessories collection.
The most interesting is a photo album made of 80% elephant dung and 20% recycled paper. Now you may have a startled look on your face but actually elephant dung has been used by several environmentalists. Take for instance The Rosamond Gifford Zoo located in Syracuse, New York. They will be the first in the nation to be powered by its own animal waste.

If you still can’t get pass the elephant dung, how about these really awesome decorative pillows made from recycled seat belts or modern lamp shade called the “Spiro” lampshade made from 100% recycled cardboard. This company even has 100% recycled wine glasses. You could throw your own little swank green party at home with your new Vino Wine glasses and sustainable Sushi board while wearing an “Eco Woman” Tee made with organic cotton and azo-free dyes.

accessories, car, cardboard, cotton, decor, dyes, Eco-Chick, Energy, giving, Home, Music, News, Organic, organic cotton, paper, party, recycle, recycled, spa, style, sustainable, waste, Wine, wood, Zoo

Is the 3rd the Charm?

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04/18/06

Tribeca seems to be becoming the little Mecca of eco-friendly living. First there was the remarkable Solaire, then the Tribeca Green, now the new comer in town, The Verdesian, is making its way as the new environmentally advance residential tower of lower Manhattan. Located at the NW corner of Battery City Park at 211 North End Avenue, The Verdesian stands 26-stories tall. This new eco dwelling is jammed packed with amazing features.

24 hours a day the indoor air quality is monitored and as a result 85% of the unknown particles floating around the NYC air are removed, and only the freshest of air enters each unit. With a beefed up HVAC, electrical demands are reduced to 50% of the normal lower peak demand. This definitely cuts back on the utility bills. Not to say that will make it that much more affordable to live at the Verdesian. A typical studio of about 500 Sq.Ft. goes for $2350 a month and a 3 bedroom will cost you $6500. But hey if , if I had the extra green $ I would splurge.

With floor to ceiling windows, an amazing view of Tribeca, and custom solar shades for when we feel a little vampirish on a Saturday morning, why not dive into those pockets of yours a little bit deeper?

If those amenities don’t grab your eco-attention, how about the fact that the pesticide-free green roof garden atop the residence is irrigated using harvested rain water and uses grey water from the toilets? The HVAC units are re-used which cuts the demand from the city’s water supply, and all of the appliances are energy star.

So if your apartment-hunting I would check out The Verdesian before these units are gone.

corn, Eco-Chick, electric, Energy, garden, Manhattan, NYC, oil, reduce, spa, style, water

The New Green Gem

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04/17/06

Will Esquire, Harper’s BAZAAR, or maybe even O Magazine have the next big talked about “Green” Issues?

This I thought to myself while admiring the NYC skyline from within Central Park on an amazing Saturday afternoon. There was one particular building I was starring at, that made me think that this would be in the works shortly. Why?

The parent company of the above publications, The Hearst Corporation, was the owner of the building that held my focus while I was in the park. Next month, the new Hearst tower is set to open its doors as one of the 1^st “Gold Certified” Green Office Towers in New York City.

Located at 300 West 57^th Street, this immaculate structure designed by reknowned London-based architect Norman Foster, is a true ecosystem in itself. Superior indoor air quality, uber energy efficiency and self-sustainability, formaldehyde-free furniture, and carpet made of 100% recycled content, its architecture and interior design is green design at its best. NYC’s new emerald is sure to be the model form to guide future construction in the “Big Green Apple” and across the country.

I am sure others share my hope that in a few years from now, the New York City Skyline will be regarded as the “Emerald City”, a city filled with “Green” buildings that are not only brilliantly engineered but also aesthetically magnificent like a rare gem. The NYT just wrote on this very concept about green office building’s expansion in the city.