The Theatre, The Theatre . . .who doesn't love it!
In the early 20th century, following the development of the entertainment industry, hundreds of theaters/auditoriums were built everywhere in the USA. Major entertainment firms and movie studios commissioned specialized architects to build grandiose and extravagant theaters. From the 60's, TV, multiplexes and urban crisis made them becoming obsolete.
Seattle was the last city to have a full-time vaudeville theater, The Palomar, which lasted until the early 1950s. The last act there was Sammy Davis Jr. You need only move down the street aways to still see the remnant of the once grand Coliseum Theatre. Starting in the mid 1990's, it became the home of The Banana Republic clothing outlet. During an extensive remodeling, the original terra cotta exterior was restored and the sloped theatre floor, proscenium and entire balcony were preserved. The possibility exists that a future tenant could restore the theatre to its original purpose. Over the years, the distinctive vaulted entrance dome was modified several times.
In Washington State alone, fortunately many historic theaters have been given a new beginning. Seattle and Tacoma were home to no less than 72 theaters by the end of the 1920's. We are now home to fewer than a dozen of these incredible structures, some of which are still in site of potential demolition. In Part II of our look at historic theatres, we are going to concentrate on one exceptionally important piece of the history of theatre in Seattle, The Paramount Theatre, The Moore Theater. If you are interested in theatre history, here is a link you will find fascinating we are sure.
There is recycling and then there is redesigning/recycling the way MetroSofa does it. In creating their pieces, MetroSofa thoroughly restores and rebuilds the frames so they can truly continue use by the next generations to come. Their styling is anywhere from Classic to Modern - to well how about you design your own? In keeping with other 'Green' products, MetroSofa uses old and antique frames and continually recycles many components used in the production process. This truly is art inspired furniture. Art/recycling/design and style . . . everything furniture should ever be!
Conceived in 1998, by Lisa Craig Gautier and her husband, Patrice Olivier Gautier (Senior Director, iTunes Music Store, Apple, Inc.) this nonprofit concentrates on manmade surplus, natural surplus and eco-educational programs. The results are worthwhile, common sensical and often enchanting. Matter of Trust is collaborating with thousands of salons throughout the US and abroad, that donate their hair clippings to soak up oil spills. Last year over 2,600 oil spills occurred in the world. They weren't all are high profile, but most had an impact on the environment.
LavishGiving.com is an online gift retailer that donates 20% of all purchases of USD 100 or more to a charity of the buyer's choice. Which allows them to be generous twice: once when giving the gifts they purchased, and a second time when donating 20% of their value to a favourite charity.
Lacoste joins “Save Your Logo” campaign to protect crocodiles. Brooks Brothers has the golden fleece sheep, Ralph Lauren has a polo pony, and Penguin’s got, well, a penguin–but the most recognized animal logo in fashion may very well be Lacoste’s crocodile. The company has just joined the “Save Your Logo” campaign, started by the Global Environmental Facility, the World Bank, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which allows private companies to contribute to the preservation of animal life by protecting the animal that represents their logo.
We are doing it! Take a look below - see one or more things you use on a regular basis? If you do, then give yourself a pat on the back. YOU are turing green in a good way and everyone should be following your example. There are so many little ways we are moving in the right direction. Whether you are a global warming advocate or maybe not, green is always a good color and someplace on that color wheel in your mind, it should be one of your favorite colors permanently.
Let's face it, living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and Alaska, well, do we really need to say more? We already have an edge, we just need to make sure we keep it. Congratulations everyone. Keep it up. If you have any great green products or ideas, we would love to hear from you and feature you on our blog.
We were inspired by a book titled: The Most Beautiful Libraries of the World by Guillaume de Laubier (Author), Jacques Bosser (Photographer), James H. Billington (Contributor), Laurel Hirsch (translator) (Author). In the day and age of information, with the primary sourcing appears to be electronics and the internet, it is the "wow" factor of these incredible libraries that make us take a little step back. Here are just a hand full of the libraries we thought you might enjoy from the above book. Headed in the direction of any of these magnificant structures? Eco-tour idea: walk through and feed your eyes and your mind.
A: Bibliteca di Belle Arti Milano B: Stiftsbibliothek Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg, Austria C: Ruggs Library, Georgetown, NY D: Central Library - Seattle E: Suzzallo Library-Seattle F: Abbey Library St. Gallen, Switzerland G: Blioteca-general-da-universidade-de-coimbra-iv H: Melk Monastery Library, Melk, Austria I: Codrington-Oxford-England J: St Gall
The Netherlands based company, Royal Boon Edam Group Holding, has created the world's first energy generating revolving door that is currently installed at the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in Holland. The door stores power generated in a capicitor bank and illuminates LED lights in its ceiling, while a large scale display outside the building shows pedestrians how much overall power has been generated by the door. This commercialized door is not to be confused with the "Revolution Door" project which still remains a prototype.
We recently read about this innovative branding company from one of our favorite blogs, Mix Mingle & Glow, and we just had to share the idea with you. If you are looking for a new and innovative way to brand your company logo, name, icon or image then consider a Flogo. What is a flogo, you ask? SnowMasters research and development facility in northern Alabama became the home of what is now known as Flogos, or "logos that fly." A flogo is a cloudlike, balloonlike object created out of proprietary surfactant (soap) based foam formulations and lighter-than-air gases such as helium. Flogos are designed to last for as long as their visual impact is needed. Specific formulations are available to provide a life expectancy of a few minutes to an hour or so. The visual impact also greatly depends on atmospheric conditions such as wind and relative humidity. On average, Flogos last for 30 to 40 minutes. Flogos are Green and 100% environmentally safe.
The economy is calling for all of us to "think creative" - More and more people are riding the scooter scene which is loaded with character from the classic original "Vespa" to the hot new entries in the market. Don't stop there - why not show YOUR style if you ride or are thinking of riding. It's just not "vanilla" anymore. The local Vespa store website is: http://www.vespaseattle.com/
Since you can easily customize your scooter - why not the helmet?
The helmet company, Ruby, designed by Honet, has painted a schizophrenic character he named: Pale Rider vs Surfin' Zombie." These are the tree helmet views at the bottom of the photo. The price tag on this pure style component is running anywhere from $500 to $1100. These are exclusive designs of the famous helmet designer in Paris. If you haven't checked these out - feast your eyes on their website: http://www.ateliersruby.com/. One of the closest dealers on the West Coast is VESPA OF CALIFORNIA. Enjoy the ride!
With all those holiday parties you'll be attending this year, here is a great idea for a hostess gift to accompany a great bottle of wine. Check out these completely eco-friendly wine bags from Grassroots Gallery. These stunning wine bags make a statement. Carefully crafted of sumptuous, eco-friendly handmade papers, the bags feature exquisite floral embossing, velvet flocking, hand silk-screened prints and real rose petals. The finishing touch are beautiful velvet or soft cotton handles, a mark of true distinction.
You've heard it said many times, but what is a carbon-footprint? Any ideas? Well now is your chance to find out. Take the quiz at myfootprint.org and find out what your personal carbon footprint is.
The Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates the area of land and ocean required to support your consumption of food, goods, services, housing, and energy and assimilate your wastes. Your ecological footprint is expressed in "global hectares" or "global acres", which are standardized units that take into account the differences in biological productivity of various ecosystems impacted by your consumption activities. Your footprint is broken down into four consumption categories: carbon (home energy use and transportation), food, housing, and goods and services.
We recently heard about a great organization that is making a difference in the lives of our military troops.
Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 15,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.
The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
If you are like many of us and have an old cell phone just sitting in a drawer, consider donating it to this great cause. Click here for details on how to donate your phone.
2008 Northwest Event Show Sponsor Highlight: Stella Color
We'd like to introduce you to another newbie at the Northwest Event Show this year, Stella Color. At Stella Color, it's all about making big ideas come to life, and doing it with eco-friendly techniques.
Stella Color has been a leader in the digital large format print industry since 1988, and is now helping to lead the way in exploring eco-friendly green printing processes in the large format digital printing world.
They offer a broad variety of digitally printed products and services. They print and produce convention and trade show displays, exhibit displays, indoor and outdoor signage, custom wall coverings for business and home, poster printing, advertising graphics, custom window displays, retail wall displays, vinyl vehicle graphics, and much more!
All of the signage at the 2008 Northwest Event Show will be printed by Stella Color, so we urge you to pay special attention to their quality and start thinking about the ways you can utilize Stella's services for own events or business needs.
As you know, the Northwest Event Show is going green this year and we look forward to presenting you with fresh ideas and inspirations to help you think outside the box in event design.
There is nothing more beautiful than nature, so it is no wonder that current trends in event planning design and decor are gathering inspiration from nature's finest elements. A key theme in event design trends for 2009 is to bring the outdoors inside in the form of floral centerpieces and room focal points.
Below we have provided samples from Los Angeles event planner Krislyn Designs. Krislyn Designs successfully uses natural shapes, colors and textures found in nature to create stunning and masterful event decor sensations. We particularly love the use of potted trees and plants as room centerpieces.
Only three weeks now until the 2008 Northwest Event Show takes place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center on September 23. Have you registered yet? If not, here are just a few of the reasons why you should...
It's 100% free to attend. That's right, the Northwest Event Show is free for all qualified meeting and event planners. Heck, even if you only plan one event a year, or have never planned an event before but have a major one coming up, this show is for you!
Not only is it free, but we'll also give you free stuff! Just for attending the show you'll receive the 2009 B&E Event Resource Guide as our complimentary gift. The guide retails for $14.95 in bookstores, and truly is the most comprehensive planning tool around. The best part is, the 2009 edition will be in FULL COLOR for the first time ever. And you'll be receiving it hot of the press!
The Northwest Event Show is occurring in conjunction with the 2008 SUMMIT INDUSTRY Meeting, also a first. If you are planning on attending the SUMMIT you'll get two great shows on one day.
You'll learn the latest Green Event Planning Tips. This year's event is going green and we have the best ideas and inspirations in town so you can plan greener events too.
Chances to win three weekend getaways to Skamania Lodge, Suncadia Resort, and Sunriver Resort complete with the royal treatment.
The exhibitors are top-notch! With over 250 booths you'll never get another chance like this to meet with the area's top event planning professionals, in one place, on one day. They are the best of the best in design, catering, entertainment, team building and more!
All the food your belly can take, and then a little more. You'll get to sample the best food Northwest caterers have to offer. It's definitely not a day to wear tight pants!
Have we convinced you yet? If so, head on over to nweventshow.com and register for the 2008 Northwest Event Show! You cannot afford to miss this spectacular event!
We've all seen them hanging on a rack at the local grocery store. Eco-friendly, reusable grocery bags are now a hot item when food shopping. But let's face it, now that these earth-saving bags are the way to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags, there is no reason why these new accessories can't be stylish.
From Dogeared, comes these "superheros" of the "supermarket" and they are pretty darn cute. Some of them even have funny phrases much like bumper stickers for those of you that truly want to make a statement.
The bags retail anywhere from $22 to $27. The bags are made of all natural cotton.
And if you are an advocate for greener-bags, you'll love our eco-friendly trade show bags that we'll be handing out for free to all of the attendees of the Northwest Event Show thanks to our sponsor Zippydogs. Have you registered for the show yet? Click here to do so now.
College is a great time for any young (and sometimes, not so young) person. But, with all the rising costs, college and all the expenses that come along with it can make you feel pressed for cash. So, whenever a student can pinch a few extra dollars and save them for a rainy day, they are more than willing do what it takes to save.
If you know someone about to enter college this Fall or know someone who is already in the thralls of learning, we have a completely fantastic online tool you NEED to share with them.
Meet Flat World Knowledge. Flat World Knowledge preserves the best of the old textbooks by leading experts that are rigorously reviewed and developed to the highest standards. Then they flip it all on its head. All of their textbooks are free online. They offer convenient, low-cost choices for students – print, audio, by-the-chapter, and more. The textbooks are open for instructors to mix, mash, and make their own. The other part this is great about Flat World Knowledge is that an online social learning network is automatically created every time you open a chapter to read, because you can also see who is reading the same chapter (even if they are across the globe) and ask them questions if you need help understanding what you are reading. How cool is that?
To learn more about Flat World Knowledge, watch the video below.
Kimpton Hotels has given their "Pick Your Perks" program a makeover and have made the commitment to be environmentally and socially responsible with their newly implemented Great Meetings Great Causes Program. By booking a meeting at one of the Kimpton Hotel facilities, you will reap the benefits of eco-minded rewards that you and the planet will appreciate. Book your next meeting and pick TWO of the following:
A $100 donation to one of Kimpton Hotels' national corporate social responsibility partners (Trust for Public Land, Red Ribbon Campaign or Dress for Success) OR to the corporate social responsibility partner of your choice
A complimentary meeting upgrade with one of the following:
- Eco Signature Meeting - Full breakfast - Complimentary organic morning or afternoon break
One complimentary night at any eco-friendly Kimpton Hotel
A $50 gift certificate to Kimpton Style
A Greensender.com box to help anyone get started or continue incorporating green practices into their daily lives.
A $105 donation to environmental organizations to offset carbon use.
You name the best way you think we can work together to best serve the community and the planet. Our hotels and restaurants will do their very best to accommodate your request.
Click below for more information on one of Seattle's Kimpton Hotels.
Hey all you iPhone users....Did you know your iPhone can actually help you save gas by tracking your mileage. In this day and age, we are all penny-pinchers. Wherever we can save a few extra dollars we try to take advantage of it. There are three applications available for your iPhone that can actually help put money back in your pocket. Here are our favorites...
AccuFuel Fuel Efficiency Tracker - Monitor fuel use by tracking how your driving habits affect your fuel efficiency. You can even track more than one car.
Price $0.99
CarStat - CarStat is a replacement for that little white book that all of our dads used to keep track of the car's mileage. Anytime you fillup your car or take it in for service, record what was done. You can then have CarStat compute a number of different stats on the data.
Price: $1.99
FuelGauge - FuelGauge is a simple little app that does about what you would expect, it helps you keep track of the milage you are getting out of your vehicle. The Miles Per Gallon.
Living green is really about taking advantage of alternative methods of doing everyday activities. Whenever we hear about a new and improved way of doing ordinary things, we just have to share them with you. We recently heard about a company based out of Orange County California that is changing the way families and business pack and move to new locations. Meet EarthFriendlyMoving, the do-it-yourself pack and move solution that allows you to rent packing eco-friendly packing supplies. EarthFriendlyMoving recycles all of those hard-to-recycle colorful plastic bottles from under your kitchen sink, laundry room and garage shelves- like bleach bottles, household cleaning products, dishwashing and laundry detergent to make the famous: RecoPack™
The word RecoPack™ is short for "Recycled Ecological Packing Solution." Made in five consumer friendly sizes, these lightweight, stackable containers are rented to relocating households for a buck a box per week.
Following the move, the Recopacks are picked-up at customers’ new home by a fleet of vegetable oil powered trucks, cleaned, sanitized and then rented out to another customer.
EarthFriendlyMoving is currently operating in Orange County and Long Beach, and will expand throughout Southern California and then nation wide over the next three years. To learn more about EarthFriendlyMoving, click here.
Since Seattle and other Northwest cities like Bremerton and Everett rest along the shores of the Puget Sound, we have the opportunity to watch cargo ships enter and leave our ports, attributing to our area's economy. Our offices are located in West Seattle, so each day we drive parallel to Elliott Bay where hundreds of goods are transported each day. With as much action as our waters undergo, one has to wonder what effect each ship has on our environment. Recently we came across something quite unique that could change the way cargo ships travel from port to port. Meet SkySails. That's right, just like a sailboat moves through the waters by the force of wind against its sails, now the same energy source is being used to move large vessels.
It's a simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, despite its attractive saving potential, it is not presently being used by cargo ships - for a simple reason: so far no sailing system has met the requirements of commercial shipping.
SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies. By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%.
So the next time you drive past a water port, be on the lookout for a "sailing" ship. You never know what the wind might bring.
Introducing The New and Improved Washington State Convention & Trade Center
As you may have heard us mention, once or twice, the 2008 Northwest Event Show is going green! In honor of our Emerald City, the Northwest Event Show will showcase green event planning methods, decor, tips and trends to make your own green event planning ever the more simple and easy-to-do. To start off, the 2008 Northwest Event Show will be held in one of the greenest event venues in the city, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. Located in the center of one of the most environmentally progressive cities in the nation, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center (Center) has long been an industry leader in energy conservation and recycling.
Here is the short list on how the WSCTC stays green...
1. They continue to invest our resources into renovation projects to make the facility even more efficient
2. The Center’s lighting systems to replace older equipment with more efficient fixtures, resulting in savings of over 3,000,000 kWh per year
3. New touchless faucets and self-flushing toilets are being installed throughout the facility to reduce water consumption
4. Tons of food scraps, food soiled paper and disposable service items are separated from
trash and recyclable materials and sent for composting instead of to local landfills
5. The new meeting facility at 800 Pike will achieve LEED Silver Certification following completion of renovations in 2010
The Washington State Convention & Trade Center is doing their part to preserve the city and world we live in. To read even more about what the WSCTC is doing, click below for their "GREEN NEWSLETTER."
Have you ever wondered how green the hotels in Seattle are in comparison to each other? Now you can easily find this information available at RezHub.com. Hotels around the globe are making a huge effort to lower their energy and water usage, and reduce solid wastes. They are installing energy efficient lighting, low flow showers and toilets, participating in recycling programs, and contributing to the local communities. What's even better is whether you're looking for a luxury suite, or something a little more budget friendly there are green options for you and they are all reviewed for you with price comparisons in RezHub's Green Travel Hub section. You can also find information for other cities, plus search for Green Rental Cars, Green Flights and read the Green Travel Blog.
Check below for a quick comparison of the greenest hotels in Seattle.
Have you ever wondered which hotels in the Seattle area are the greenist?
Sometimes in this new green-friendly world, it is easy to wonder what part you can make as an individual. But the truth of the matter is that the best way to make your contributions to sustaining the earth is to make small commitments and changes to your every day lives. Here is one way to start.
Let's face it, Seattleites love their morning cup of java. Whether you get your cup at Starbucks or Seattle's Best or Tully's or even the local stand in your office, each time you order a piping hot cup of joe, your barista most likely also includes a cardboard sleeve to protect your hands from being burned. Just think how many of these paper products are used and thrown away each day.
Now comes a reusable alternative to the cardboard sleeves. CupKozy, available through Etsy, creates new cup sleeves made of felt, chosen for its superior insulating properties. They will fit most 12, 16 and 20 oz. disposable coffee cups, and the best part is they are reusable day after day.
And we think they are pretty darn stylish too. See what you think below.
