Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Cupid's Shooting Some Green Arrows

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by Starre Vartan · 02/12/07

I know you all wait until the last minute just like I do…..so here’s a list to help you out of the V-day crunch and still come up smelling like roses with your beau. Whatever your time schedule and budget, you should be able to do something special, even within the traditional tropes of the holiday.

(And hey, if you are anti-Valentine’s, I don’t want to hear it. I’m so happy that you express your adoration for your lover every single day and don’t need a predetermined time to do it, but we’re not all that fabulous, OK? I like celebrating holidays, especially those that have to do with promoting LOVE. You don’t have to buy some piece of crap or participate in the commercialism if you don’t want to, but you can still enjoy the holiday and not be a cupid-killer.)

Massage
Give a gift certificate to an independent massage therapist (high end)
OR
Pick up some extra-virgin olive oil and mix it with an essential oil like lavender (you can find both at your local health food store), and do the massage yourself. (low end)

Flowers
Order some organic fleurs from Organic Bouquet or Local Harvest, or head over to Wild Oats or Whole Foods, both of which carry organic bouquets. (high end)
OR
Make an artful arrangement of flowers crafted from old magazines, newspapers, or cardboard. Get funky with ribbon, old buttons or yarn and your sweetie will be able to keep your creation forever, unlike flowers. (low end)

If you don’t already know why you shouldn’t buy conventionally grown flowers, check this Coop America article.

Dinner
There’s nothing sexier than a fabulous meal made with care and attention. You’ll never be able to make reservations at this point, so make it yourself! You can go as high or low as you want; supermarkets will still have organic cheese so you can construct a cheese plate (cut the cheese into hearts…awww….) and grab a few bottles of organic wine or even better yet, champagne. Add some fresh fruit, some great music, and who needs to be at a crowded restaurant? Plan some star-gazing or a late-night walk in the cold winter air and keep eachother warm naturally.

Chocolate
There are so many great organic, fair-trade chocolates out there….from vegan truffles to raw treats.

But a really simple, romantic idea is to buy a bar of high cacao dark chocolate at Trader Joe’s (inexpensive and they carry organic/fair trade, but look for the label), or your local health food store, and make your own chocolates with your Valentine’s Day partner. Parents can do this with kids, with eachother, and it’s safe to do with your grandma too! You can make something complicated, with a fruit filling, or just make fun shapes with the melted chocolate. Try adding almond flavor, strong coffee, or fruit liquors to the chocolate when it’s melted and then let it harden. A really fun project that doesn’t cost much and will leave you with plenty of chocolate after Valentine’s Day too.

Speaking of projects, I found this wonderful article on making fun eco-friendly Valentine’s with kids! Being a kid at heart myself, I think these would be fun to do with friends and lovers of any age.

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Nouveau Novo

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by Danelle Brown · 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

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