Tag: green

Categories
Beauty Featured Uncategorized

CLEAN, GREEN, AND BEAUTIFUL

 

Pamper yourself with these eco-friendly products that will glam your style.

 

LIGHT BRITE Naturally clean teeth are possible with Dr. Brite Naturals Whitening Toothpaste, which is formulated with sustainable and effective plant-based ingredients that are safe to swallow and include no artificial sweeteners or colors. Dr. Brite products are created in small batches in their California headquarters, using ingredients sourced from the United States and India (neem oil), and with minimal packaging. drbrite.com

 

BRUSH UP Help skin achieve its best glow by invigorating the lymphatic system with The Ritual Brush by Joanna Vargas. Made from all-natural materials, the brush is designed to stimulate circulation when used on dry skin before bathing. All of the beauty powerhouse’s products are packaged in FSC paper, glass, and recycled plastic, and are cruelty-free and 100% vegan. joannavargas.com

 

DISCO DANCING

A cleansing and energizing body wash for men containing eucalyptus, aloe, and papaya, Disco Body Wash uses clean ingredients that are vegan as well as gluten, aluminum, cruelty, paraben, and sulfate-free. All products come in sustainable and recyclable packaging, and through their membership program, you can put your skincare routine on repeat. letsdisco.com

 

 

BODY BEAUTIFUL

More than 95 percent of the ingredients in Kjaer Wise’s The Beautiful Oil come from organic, sustainable, and biodynamic sources and are certified organic by the CCBP. The oil is loaded with nutrient-rich botanicals like moringa, rosemary, and ginkgo biloba. kjaerweis.com

 

A HIGHER BAR

Luxurious, salon-style shampoo and conditioner bars by HiBar save on packaging and shipping costs without sacrificing quality haircare. Available by subscription or single purchase, in three formulas: Moisturize, Volumize, and Maintain. HiBar arrives in plastic-free packaging, is cruelty-free, and formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicone, or phthalates. hellohibar.com

 

 

FULL BLOWN

Achieve maximum volume and airy texture for fine hair with Fekkai’s Full Blown Volume Dry Texturizing Spray. This salon-quality, high-performance products also provide our planet with a deep cleanse by creating packaging from 95% recycled plastic, and they are vegan and cruelty-free, as well as free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, and phthalates. fekkai.com

 

 

STRESS LESS

Filled with soothing patchouli, lavender essential oils, antioxidant rosemary, and refreshing eucalyptus, Indie Lee’s DeStress Body Wash is COSMOS-certified, which is a leading third-party global certification process. All products are packaged in glass jars or recycled plastic tubes and use FSC-certified paper. indielee.com

 

 

SHINE TIME

Shampoos and conditioners from Davines OI are steeped in nourishing Roucou oil—an antioxidant-rich Amazonian plant that helps repair cell damage from UV rays–to maintain softness, shine, and volume. The company has pledged to align with the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the UN and compensates for their own CO2 emissions. In 2018 they eliminated the use of fossil fuels in their company headquarters in Parma, Italy. us.davines.com

 

 

VITAMIN BEAUTY

All of the essential nutrients you need are included in DL.MD 13.5.1 Multivitamin, without fillers or excess ingredients. It is a liquid formulated for maximum absorption, and the Myron glass bottles that store the formula guard the product’s effectiveness. The company gives back by helping to supply essential vitamins and nutrients to children in need. thedlmd.com

 

 

SMART SCENT

Delicate underarm skin can breathe a sigh of relief with Smarty Pits deodorants. Founded by Stacia Guzzo when she decided to go aluminum-free in response to her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, the lightly scented deodorants are powered by prebiotics which helps to nourish the good bacteria living on your skin. They are also phthalate-free, paraben-free, propylene glycol-free, and cruelty-free. Smarty Pits deodorants are available in a super-strength formula as well as a sensitive skin version that is baking soda-free. smartypits.com

 

 

REWILD YOURSELF

The Naturally Considerate line of self-care products was created by Manda Kalimian, founder of the Cana Foundation. The range, which includes gentle, sustainable, naturally fragranced cleansers and moisturizers, also comes with ceremonial sage smudge sticks and instructions on how to get back to nature. Naturally Considerate products are designed to work harmoniously with each other and with nature to benefit your skin and bring out the best within your body and life.

The products are free of parabens, dyes, and harsh chemicals, and are never tested on animals. They are formulated with pure, organic, and wildcrafted essential oils. These gifts from nature synergistically assist the skin’s natural desire to revive, refresh, and rejuvenate; while encouraging healing for your mind, body, and spirit.

The line includes Reflection face serum (above), which is formulated with clary sage, hemp, and neroli; Running Creek face wash; Well Being body lotion; Rewild Sacred spritz face toner; Whitewater body wash, and Speak Only Love lip balm. The company’s commitment is based on reducing or eliminating their carbon footprint as much as possible to provide truly sustainable, natural skincare products. All proceeds support the efforts of the Cana Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. dedicated to the conservation and protection of native wild horses. naturallyconsiderate.com

Categories
Bars Dining Featured

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

This article was published in an earlier edition of Downtown Magazine

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

MIKA BULMASH STARTED Wine for the World because there were no companies focused on how winemaking is transforming emerging regions through social and environmental impact. She was working at the United States Agency for International Development and saw an increasing awareness of fair trade and ethically sourced coffee, tea, and chocolate but not wine, so she headed to South Africa to see how they were making wine in the post-apartheid environment. She could see the need to focus on underrepresented winemakers and wine regions that meet strict criteria in the areas of sustainability, social impact, quality, and practice.

Though Bulmash has a background in molecular and cellular biology and international development, her love for wine was never just a hobby. As soon as she discovered how fascinating the winemaking process is, she began a course of self-study and wine tastings that eventually led her to a WSET Level 3 certification. Instead of starting her own vineyard, Bulmash decided to find other winemakers who practiced the ethical and sustainable methods she was seeking. 

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

Wine for the World curates and tells stories through delicious wines, like those of Ntsiki Biyela, who owns Aslina Wines in South Africa. She is the first black woman winemaker in that country and was given a chance through Suo, another brand Wine for the World works with. Many of the wineries Bulmash works with have been named Global Ethical Company of the Year including Ktima Brintziki, Greece’s first green and carbon-neutral winery; Cave Geisse, a trailblazing boutique winery in Southern Brazil leading the way for the country; and Bosman Family Vineyards in South Africa, all of which champion socially responsible and environmentally sustainable practices. Wine for the World is now starting to explore under-the-radar regions in the US as well. 

 

When asked why philanthropy was so important to her endeavor, Bulmush says, “Personally, it’s what motivates me and my team. It’s also what keeps us going strong in an incredibly crowded and complex industry. There’s no shortage of wine in the US, but having the opportunity to meet fantastic producers doing great things, to tell their stories, to see the excitement in our customers’ eyes, to have them become evangelists for the same reasons that motivate us, and then to see how that impacts our producers and their communities—that’s what makes it so exciting and worthwhile. We love to break boundaries, and combining wine and impact is one boundary we are thrilled to break.” DT wine4theworld.com

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

Categories
Dining Events Featured Restaurants

Aquarius Celebrates Sustainable Seafood

The party in full swing. Photo courtesy of @lissyellelaricchia

Elegant warehouse–two words that don’t often go together. Yet that is the best way to describe The Foundry, the setting for the third annual Aquarius Festival on January 25th, the nation’s first and only sustainable seafood festival. As you walk into the venue, you see brick walls and bare metal walkways transformed into a classy club with the help of some lighting, Instagram-able decor, and multiple bars. Food trucks and stands set up in a semi-circle in the open courtyard, with seating around a few open woodfires.

Aquarius Seafood Festival
Seafood Watch is a sustainable seafood advisory list. Photo by @BarryTakesPictures

Aquarius stands out, though, with an incredible open bar of interesting cocktails and even more delectable food from a variety of ethical vendors. Some standouts included a variety of fresh oysters from the raw bar, provided by MF Events, Houseman‘s Squid with XO Sauce, and perhaps the biggest stand out: Ca’pisci with a delicious array of seafood including a spectacular swordfish skewer grilled and covered in Mint, Capers, and Lemon.

The cocktails were well prepared, drawing long lines from taste and spectacle. The Makers Mark Hickory Smoked Manhattan was especially delightful to watch and to drink. The bar staff used an actual smoker that plumed out to reveal a very nice Manhattan.

Mattitaco
Mattitaco serves farm-to-food-truck Mexican. Photo courtesy of @Ozgonza1

The real star of the night was Aquarius’ efforts to live up to its claim and take steps towards sustainability. Using the company Cup Zero, Aquarius was able to prevent loads of plastic waste. Cup Zero is a straightforward concept: party guests pay two dollars for a reusable plastic cup when they enter. When they leave the party, they return it and get their money back. It was easy, and more events should look into this very simple step. The booths also set out for more sustainable eating, using wood or paper containers and remaining plasticware-free. Overall, Aquarius was a great experience that showed you can throw a great event while still doing your part to help the environment.

Categories
Dining Featured Restaurants

The Meatball Shop: Flavorful Dishes, Zero Waste

The Meatball Shop: Flavorful Dishes, Zero Waste
The Meatball Shop, Westport CT. Photo: Liz Clayman

by Fernanda Mueller

At The Meatball Shop, you will definitely find delicious meat, chicken, pork, salmon and lobster balls. But what you would never think you could find in a restaurant that has meat in its name are a lot of vegetarian and vegan options – from salads to veggie balls. And for those who still prefer the traditional balls, but are more conscious about the consumption of meat, that’s a safe place to have a meal.

More and more people are worried about sustainability and that is also an important topic at The Meatball Shop. All of the meat used by the restaurant is sourced from farms and facilities that practice what is known for “Never-Ever” – no hormones or antibiotics in the life of the animal. They also make sure to not waste any parts of it, as the CEO Adam Rosenbaum explains: “People talk a lot about this topic, but really sustainability is making sure you are not going to waste anything. Not just worrying about where it comes from, but that you are actually going to use the whole animal if you are going to eat it.” 

By grinding the meat, The Meatball Shop can use different parts of the animal that are less popular cuts than what people might want to get at a steakhouse, such as the shoulder. The muscles, that are the tougher parts of the animal, actually contain more flavor! That practice also helps to support family farmers, because they can sell the whole animal. In the end, the restaurant is not only being sustainable, but also making flavorful dishes, by not wasting any meat. 

Meatball shop
The Meatball Shop, Westport CT. Photo: Liz Clayman
Categories
News Real Estate

Green Roofs for an environmentally Friendly Greener City

green

Legislatures are proposing that green roofs will create a greener city both literally and environmentally. The proposed bills may make downtown New York a more environmentally friendly area to work in, shop in and, most importantly, to live in. 

Three City Council members, Councilman Stephen Levin, Councilman Donovan Richards Jr, and Councilman Espinal, all introduced bills. These bills would require newly constructed buildings like libraries, storage facilities, and department stores to have energy-efficient roofs.  Collectively, the three bills would potentially require that every new building come equipped with a green roof or some other green technology.

Councilman Espinal introduced the most recent bill on July 18th. The bill, if put into law,  will require all new skyscrapers, storage facilities and department stores to come outfitted with wind turbines, solar panels, or a roof that is partially or completely covered with plants. 

The Pros

 

Green
Photo courtesy of Councilman Espinal’s office

“Multiple studies have found that green roofs offer a variety of benefits for the environment. They reduce urban heat island effect by cooling down the surrounding atmosphere. They also mitigate stormwater runoff, which decreases water pollution. In some cases, green roofs can also be used for urban farming to provide more healthy, locally grown foods and jobs to our neighborhood.” per Councilmember Rafael Espinal.

 

Green roofs can help reduce New York City’s carbon footprint while providing more green plants simultaneously. Green Roofs also add insulation and may help reduce heating bills for individuals living on top floors. Carbon offsetting measures, like the proposed bill, help make NYC  more environmentally conscious. However, the measures will not affect the environment alone.

Green Roofs for an environmentally Friendly Greener City

The Cons

Not all people think that green roofs are the most effective way to approach environmental conservation. Real estate companies, contractors, and architects have voiced concerns that not all rooves are capable of housing green roofs due to weight considerations. Additionally, some roofs may not be exposed to enough sunlight or wind to justify the installation of solar paneling or wind turbines. Green roofs may also replace other roof-top recreation that New Yorkers have come to enjoy, such as rooftop pools and bars. Ultimately, many fear that the additional costs, that come with constructing green roofs, will only be put onto local residents, and tenants.

Green roofs may or may not be the right fit for NYC. Is the future of our skyline green?

Categories
Culture Featured Travel

7 Places To Go This St. Patrick’s Day 2018

St. Patrick’s Day 2018 is where the city turns green and white all over Manhattan to Williamsburg. It’s always hard to find places that have the best deal on drinks and where people are going to truly enjoy the holiday. Preparing where to go for St. Patrick Day is a strategic way to avoid parade goers and very long lines. Want to find a great spot for this St. Patrick’s Day?

Well, Downtown is here to help find the bars and places and deals!

Paddy Reillys

Paddy’s features live music in a traditional Irish pub setting – in the heart of Midtown East Manhattan. Since 1986, we’ve fostered the spirit of live music in New York City for visitors across America and the world over. Their happy hour is 11 AM to 7 PM 7 days a week including Saints Patrick Day!

Molly’s

AILTE (pronounced falcha) means “welcome” in Gaelic. Pete and John welcome you to Molly’s, established in 1960 and the most traditional Irish bar in New York. Complete with sawdust on the floor and a log-burning fireplace. Renowned for its Shepherd’s Pie, hamburgers, and steaks, all for a reasonable price, Molly’s is a long-time favorite with locals and a destination for newcomers.

Wilfie & Nell

In the West Village Wilfie & Nell is just that bar which prides itself on serving good drinks and locally sourced food. Hangout with your friends here drinking their refreshing cold microbrews.

The 13th Step

A lively space featuring a young crowd, The 13th Step, pub grub, drink specials and plenty of games on the tube. Their happy hour is from 11:30 AM- 8:00 PM with the whole bar at 1/2 price. Celebrate the day with cheap beers, friends and good times!

The Dead Rabbit


This 2-story spot combines a lunch taproom with a parlor serving small plates & vintage cocktails. The pub is working with Bushmills on St Patricks’s day and will be offering Bushmills specials including The Dead Rabbit Irish Coffee for $7. This is one of our favorite watering holes.

Swift


Swift was established in 1995 by Danny McDonald and Mike Jewell and later joined by Anthony Malone. Swift quickly became known for their cornucopia of beer styles from here and abroad, one of the finest selections of Irish whiskey in the city, and, of course, its often-applauded for their attention to detail. They have a new take on the already classic “Van Diemens Land” re-launching every year just before St Patrick’s day. This year they will be re-launching on Friday the 16th, don’t miss out!

New York City “Luck of The Irish” St. Paddy’s Pub Crawl 2018

Not looking to waste your time using Google Maps let Downtown help you find a pub nearby and avoid the worry of crowds? Look at the pub crawls that make worries disappear. This pub crawls offers in various location in the city, and the tickets average around $17 to $30 dollars. Have a non-stressful St. Patrick Day and put your main focus on getting to the next bar safely and worry free..