Why “go green”? Who wouldn’t? It’s good for the environment and you, too. We are quickly depleting our resources, when we could be using renewable resources and eating in a sustainable manner.

With the recent oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, everyone should be trying to do their part to help save the environment and ecosystems.  That’s where New York and eating “green” comes in.  No, the world is not going to be miraculously cleaner in one day if everyone starts to eat green, but any little effort to be environmentally friendly will help get the ball rolling. The BP oil spill has massively effected ecosystems and marine life, some of which are becoming extinct. New York can help in the fight against environmental destruction just by being green-conscious and checking out one of the many delicious green restaurants in NYC.

Eating “green” is not just limited to veggies – although delicious and great for you – it means preparing foods and restaurants in a sustainable manner. Restaurants are jumping on the bandwagon and joining in on the green initiative frenzy.  Simple, but effective adjustments have been made by many of NYC’s finest restaurants, such as getting rid of all Styrofoam products, cracking down on the recycling, or purchasing sustainable foods that are organic and locally grown. Natural and locally grown foods are healthier, and reducing, reusing, and recycling is better for the environment. So in the end, everyone wins!  Listed below are just a few of NYC’s restaurants that are green and affordable!

1. The Cleaver Co.
The Cleaver Co. believes that “the best foods are grown, tended and harvested within a day’s drive your table”.  The “Green Table” has an ever-changing menu of organic foods as well as a variety of beverages such as wines, beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drink including a great selection of organic teas.  The food menu includes, but is not limited to, fresh salads, pizzas, burgers, and seafood.  Cleaver Co. also provides catering for special events such as social gatherings, corporate events, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and not-for-profit events.  Be sure to check out their one-of-a-kind “Daily Infusion” seasonal house made beverage for only $2!
http://www.cleaverco.com/

2. GustOrganics Restaurant and Bar
“Changing the World One Meal at a Time” is their motto. If that doesn’t spark an interest to begin with, then maybe their easy online food ordering, online reservations, or online catering booking will catch your attention. Menu option include breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, natural fruit blend, cold and hot beverages, fresh organic baby meals, organic tapitos, and the world’s first USDA certified organic bar.  So many creative and organic options to choose from! $5 off your first online order!
http://www.gustorganics.com/index.php

3.  American Museum of Natural History
Want to tour beautiful museum exhibits and eat green at the same time? Well make sure to take advantage of the opportunity at the American Museum of Natural History! Lot’s of lip-smacking locally grown gourmet meals! Become enthralled in the race to the South Pole in Antarctica as you watch “the Race to the End of the Earth”, and then quench your thirst with a natural fruit smoothie. Or if the endless excitement of exhibit viewing worked up a giant appetite and a smoothie just won’t cut it, dig into a classic dish such as a “mouth-watering” panini!
http://www.amnh.org/museum/food/

4. French Roast
French Roast has two locations within NYC: 85th & Broadway on the Upper West Side, and 11th Street and Sixth Avenue in the West Village.  The restaurant has a “lively atmosphere of a Parisian bistro, both French Roasts pay homage to this most lively and cosmopolitan of cities”. They are certified green by the Green Association, implementing a variety of green business practices. Besides their wide range of menu options, they also have a 24 hour menu! Stop in after a night out on the town for a juicy burger, or to cater to that sweet tooth, try their pancakes!
http://www.frenchroastny.com/menu.php#

5. Babbo
Babbo is all about the, “great Italian tradition of hospitality and quality at the table and in the glass”. Their philosophy is to use the best local ingredients from the land, air, and sea as simply as possible and serve them with “flourish and joy”.  The aura of this elegant Italian restaurant may have you thinking that you are truly enjoying a tasty meal in the midst of Italy, so eat up and enjoy! Or as the Italians would say, “mangia e divertiti!”
http://www.babbonyc.com/vision.html

6.  Candle 79
“Elegant. Organic. Local. Seasonal. Compassionate. Green. Step inside, and discover a world of a sustainable beauty in food and drink”. Enough said – I’m there! You don’t need to be a vegan to enjoy the unique meals and drinks served at this classy restaurant – just come in with an open mind and you’ll be sure to find something you can’t get enough of.  They even have a gluten-free menu, how accommodating! Sit down and enjoy a brunch of berry crepes with coconut cream, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate drizzle, or one of the chef’s daily hand cut pasta. Candle 79 is sure to make even some of the most carnivorous of carnivores out there begin to have a new appreciation for vegan meals!
http://www.candle79.com/

7. NiceMatin
Certified Green by the Green association, this restaurant located in the Upper West Side has an extensive menu of anything from burgers and sandwiches, to pizzas and pastas. Check out their three-course dinner option full of different choices of appetizers, entrees, and desserts for only $35! And feel free to make a reservation ahead of time online!
http://www.nicematinnyc.com/menu.php#

8. Otto Pizzeria
Otto Pizzeria is another fabulous restaurant partaking in the green initiative.  What are they doing you may ask? Well, they recycle and use compost, as well as avoid all Styrofoam materials.  They also installed Xlerator hand dryers which use 80% less energy than traditional hand dryers and get the job done in 10-15 seconds, which has halved the restaurant’s paper towel usage! You will not find a single water bottle in the place as they are reducing their plastic usage, but you will find an abundance of energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs! Obviously this pizzeria goes through a whole lot of pizza boxes, so by switching to boxes made of 100% recycled cardboard, Otto Pizzeria is just adding to the improvement of their carbon footprint.  You won’t miss this restaurant on the side of the road – it’s shaped like an Italian train station! All aboard the Otto Pizzeria! Enjoy drinks, antipasti, griddle-cooked pizzas and homemade gelato, all the while listing to upbeat and lively music!
http://ottopizzeria.com/home.cfm

9. Rouge Tomate
Rouge Tomate is a Modern American Cuisine restaurant that actively works to address social and environmental issues. Food is provided by farmers who only produce local and seasonal foods to ensure that every meal is taken directly from the farm to the table. Innovative cooking techniques are used to “ignite the natural flavors while heightening the nutritional value of each meal”. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the warm octopus salad. If you’re feeling not-so adventurous, there is plenty to choose from such as a salad, pasta or chicken dish. Explore the endless possibilities of this Modern American cuisine with a twist located off the southeast corner of Central Park!
http://www.rougetomatenyc.com/

10. Habana Outpost
What is an “eco-eatery”? Habana Outpost is! And the only one in NYC! This means that only earth-friendly practices are used in the design, construction, and day-to-day activities. Not only is the food produced and consumed in a way to promote sustainable solutions, but there is an entire market to discover, full of a variety of local designers and vendors. Choose your location of which eco-eatery you would like to try: Café Habana in New York, New York, or Habana Outpost in Brooklyn, NY!
http://www.cafehabana.com/planet.htm

1. Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
3 Clarkson Street
New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 242-5228, (212) 242-5418
Cross Streets: 3 Clarkson Street @ 7th Avenue South
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun 9am-5:30pm
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/M103

The popular outdoor pool, open during summer months, is free and very pleasant when it’s not too crowded (avoid it on the hottest days). There are lifeguards on duty and lap lanes in the deep end. Swimmers need to bring a lock for the locker; bathing suits are required in the pool area.

2. Tompkins Square Mini Pool
500 E 9th St
New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-387-6784
Cross Street: Ave A
Neighborhood: East Village
Hours: Daily 11:30am-6:30pm
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/tompkinssquarepark

To swim in this small shallow pool (3 feet deep) in Tompkins Square Park children must be six years old and at least 3’8″ tall. That means it’s perfect for little kids. Add to that the playgrounds and great neighborhood eats surrounding the park and this is a pool worth traveling to for a great day outing.

3. Hamilton Fish Recreation Center
128 Pitt Street
New York, NY 10002
Phone: (212) 387-7687
Cross Streets: East Houston & Stanton Streets
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9-4pm
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/M033

Frequently cited as the best public pool in NYC, Hamilton Fish has a couple things that make it a stand out. The first one in my book is that it has two pools. One is enormous and four feet deep (perfect for a little swimmer.) The other is a giant kiddie pool. Kiddie pools can be hard to find in NYC, so the fact that this also happens to be possibly the cleanest public pool in NYC with cool water and attentive lifeguards is all bonus.

4. Dry Dock
E. 10th St and Szold Place
New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-677-4481
Cross Streets: bet Ave C & D
Neighborhood: East Village
Hours: Daily10am-6pm
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/drydockplayground

Same vibe as Hamilton Fish, but this pool is said to have tougher lifeguards which means less roughhousing by teens in the water.

5. Asser Levy Recreation Center
E 23rd Street and FDR Drive
New York, NY
Phone: 212-447-2020
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am-9:30pm, Weekends 8am-4pm
Website: http://bit.ly/cA3Ldo

This Rec Center has a free outdoor pool during the summer, a playground, basketball courts and game room. During the rest of the year there is a small annual membership fee required to use their indoor pool housed in a 1908 Roman Revival Bathhouse with a fountain and skylights. The long opening hours mean if you are an early bird you can have the pool practically to yourself.

6. Jackie Robinson Recreation Center
85 Bradhurst Avenue
New York, NY 10030
Phone: (212) 234-9607
Cross Streets: West 146th Street & Bradhurst Avenue
Neighborhood: Hamilton Heights
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8:45pm, Sat 9-4:45
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/jackierobinsonpark/

Providing ten blocks of resources, Jackie Robinson Park is a Harlem jewel. One of four spaces designated Historic Harlem Parks, the park is noted for its strong connection with the community.

7. John Jay Pool and Recreation
77th St and Cherokee Pl (east of York Ave.)
New York, NY 10162
Phone: 212-794-6566
Cross Streets: Between York and FDR
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Hours: Daily 11am-7pm
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/johnjaypark

John Jay is an oasis in the middle of Manhattan. One of the best public pools in Manhattan, it is clean and safe; there’s a snack bar inside and a playground with sprinklers and swings. It is also one of the two pools in the city that allows diving. They ask for a small annual donation of $25 for adults and $10 for teens.

8. Lasker Skating Rink/Pool
Central Park near 110th St. and Lenox Ave.
New York, NY 10026
Phone: 212-534-7639
Neighborhood: Central Park North
Hours: Mon. – Fri. from 7:00 – 8:30 AM & 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Website: www.centralpark.com/pages/attractions/lasker-pool-rink.html

Lasker Pool is an enormous outdoor pool at the top of Central Park. It is one of the city’s most popular pools and gets very crowded, but you can go on the early side and then spend the rest of the day exploring this itinerary for Northern Central Park.

9. Manhattan Plaza Health Club
482 West 43rd Street at 10th Ave
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-563-7001
Neighborhood: Midtown West
Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Weekends 8am-9pm
Website: www.mphc.com

If you are in the mood for a little luxury try this hotel rooftop pool with a retractable glass roof. The lap pool has a separate area for kids. Day passes are $25 and include the use of the gym, saunas and whirlpool. In the off-season check their site for a special $10 entry promotion.

10. Stuyvesant High School Community Center
345 Chambers St. between the West Side Highway and the Hudson River
New York, NY 10282
Phone: 212-312-4800
Neighborhood: Tribeca
Hours: Mon-Thurs. 3pm-6pm, & Fri 3pm-7pm, Weekends 10am-2:30pm
Website: www.communitycenteratstuyvesanthighschool.org/

The Stuyvesant Community Center pool is a nice indoor pool with a great view and family swim times which aren’t usually crowded during the week. A six-month membership is only $200 for adults plus $70 for each kid, but you can also pay just $12 for the day ($10 for kids). Either way you get access to all the facilities including a gym, basketball, handball and volleyball courts.

1. Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade
Join the Nation’s largest Memorial Day parade in honoring our Veterans. Monday, May 31^st at 2 pm the parade begins at the corner of Jason Avenue and Northern Boulevard in Great Neck. For more information and to register your group online please visit:
http://www.memorialdayparade.org/

2. Memorial Day Weekend Sale at Woodbury Common Outlets
Shop, shop, shop!!! This Memorial Day weekend why not take a road trip with friends or family and visit the Woodbury Common Outlets! Enjoy their many discounts on already low outlet prices, so ladies and gents get those wallets ready! For more information on store hours please visit their official website:
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/hours.asp?id=7

3. Concert by American Idol Winner & Runner-up
Rise and shine! Thursday, May 27^th at 7 am at the Rockefeller Center, the Today Show Summer Concert Series presents the winner and runner-up of American Idol. Both will be performing a FREE concert for all their fans! If your favorite makes the top two, come show your support! For the 2010 Today Show Summer Concert Series schedule please visit: http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/gmatodayconcert.htm

4. Fleet Week-Memorial Day Celebration
What better way to celebrate Memorial Day then with the U.S Navy and Marine Corps! On Monday, May 31^st, they will be at the Bronx Zoo as well as at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, so why not take your children and enjoy! For a full list of Fleet Week Activities please visit:
http://gonyc.about.com/od/holidays/p/fleetweek.htm

5. Boat Basin
Always a great time at Boat Basin! Enjoy the sunset and view on their patios. Great food, and great drinks, what better way to enjoy a day off by relaxing on the deck! For information visit:
http://www.boatbasincafe.com/index.htm

6. Go to a local beach
Fed up of this concrete jungle? Enjoy a 30 minute getaway and visit some of the local beaches we have right here! Visit some of our favorites:
http://www.pentaevents.com/2010/04/top-10-beaches-near-manhattan/

7. Bistro Ten 18
Enjoy a special Full Course meal at Bistro Ten 18! For only 45$ a person, your Memorial Day Celebration can be a tasty one! For information visit: http://www.bistroten18.com/events.html

8. Keyport Memorial Day Parade
Celebrate a little earlier and join members of local American Legion and VFW posts representing the military, including the Color Guard on Saturday, May 29^th at 12 pm. After the parade, many local stores, cafes and restaurants will offer parade specials! For information, please visit:
http://www.keyportonline.com/

9. The Casino Meets the Beach
One reason to get out of the city and enjoy Atlantic City: Ludacris! Join him in celebrating Memorial Day at the Pool of Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. Doors open at 3 pm on Sunday May 30^th, party it up and don’t forget the sunscreen! To purchase your tickets visit:
http://www.bigbusinessny.com/

10. The Empire Hotel: Rooftop Bar and Lounge
Don’t feel like going all the way to Atlantic City? Come enjoy New York City’s own rooftop bar and lounge at the Empire Hotel! You can have dinner and drinks or just go later on for the party! For more information visit their website:
http://www.empirehotelnyc.com/eat-rooftop.php

1.  Tinsley Mortimer – Manhattan’s Queen B. Hailing from Richmond, VA, Tinsley is a staple on the New York social and event scene.

After marrying long-time beau, Topper Mortimer in 2002, she gave up on the notion of a day job and was able to focus all of her energy on climbing to the top of the New York social ladder. Her diligence paid off, with designers now clamoring to dress her, luxury brands paying her to endorse their products and the CW Network even giving her the opportunity to star in her own reality TV show titled “High Society.” The show follows newly single Tinsley, her sister, Dabney Mercer, and her well-to-do comrades on their daily escapades in the city.

Always the paparazzi magnet, Tinsley is every New York event planners’ dream A-list guest!

2.  Olivia Palermo – The socialite grew up in between the Upper East Side in New York and Greenwich, Connecticut.

Palermo rose to her current social position in 2007 when a blog posted an e-mail that may or may not have been written by Palermo, asking 70 of the Manhattan social elite to accept her in their crowd. Palermo’s family declared the e-mail a forgery and hired a lawyer, claiming “identity theft.” The scandal landed her on the cover of New York Magazine in May 2007. In 2008 her social maneuvering eventually landed her the role as girl-we-love-to-hate on the MTV reality TV show, “The City.”

As much as it pains us to admit it, any event would be given a boost with this quintessential Manhattan socialite in attendance.

3.  Fabiola Beracasa – Her busy social schedule has made her one of the most talked about socialites in recent years.

Born in Caracas to Veronica de Gruyter and her first husband, Alfredo Beracasa, a Venezuelan insurance and banking tycoon, Fabiola moved to New York when her mother became the third and final wife of the late, Randolph Hearst in 1987. When she was a teen she went off to boarding school in Switzerland, but returned to the states to attend Boston College. Of late, Fabiola has been focusing her efforts more on building her journalism resume, as a contributing editor at Interview.

With brains and beauty, there’s no doubt Fabiola would spice up any event.

4.  Derek Blasberg – He’s made a name for himself since moving to New York from St. Louis, Missouri to attend NYU.

Specializing in fashion, art and society, Blasberg is now the Editor at Large of Conde Nast’s Style.com, Senior Fashion News and Special Projects Editor at V and VMAN, and a contributing editor for Harper’s Bazaar. He can frequently be seen on the arm of any number of high-ranking social scenesters around town. Blasberg has even been influential in promoting new brands due to the number of contacts he has in the city.

With the who’s who of New York contacts sure to be in Mr. Blasberg’s phone, he’d be a dream guest at any event in the city.

5.  Julia Restoin-Roitfeld – Reared in Paris, she came to New York when she transferred to Parsons-The New School for Design, from a Paris-based affiliate.

The daughter of French Vogue editor, Carine Roitfeld, Julia has been a New York social fixture since stepping off the plane from Paris. In addition to her social commitments, she is also a model and aspiring designer. Julia was picked by Tom Ford as the face of Black Orchid, his first fragrance; and in August 2007 she became the face of Eric Villency’s new denim line: Restoration of the Monarchy.

With fashion in her blood, it’s fair to say that Julia will be the best-dressed person at any event.

6.  Byrdie Bell – The Chicago native is best known these days for setting off paparazzi frenzies while she struts around town in her designer duds.

A professionally trained actress, Bell has appeared in several slasher films and even had a cameo in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary, “Shine a Light.” Her name comes from a long line of Evelyn Byrds, the first of whom was the eldest daughter of Colonel William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond, VA. Like any good socialite, she does some modeling to supplement her acting “career.”

Though she keeps busy with work, Byrdie doesn’t neglect her social duties; the attractive, girl-about-town won’t disappoint at your next social gathering.

7.  Amanda Hearst – A long-time subject of Page Six gossip, the 26-year-old heiress has been making a splash on the social scene for years.

An heiress to the Hearst media empire with estimated revenues of $5 billion a year, Amanda attended boarding school in Connecticut and went on to attend Boston College before transferring to Fordham University.  She’s appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan and in ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren. Though, she wasn’t shorted on looks, Forbes once estimated her yearly “maintenance costs” – which includes spending on clothes, make-up and vacations – at $136,360.

With her girl-next-store looks and penchant for excess, Amanda Hearst has earned her spot in the circle of the social elite. What event planner wouldn’t want a Hearst at their event?

8.  Gian Luigi de Almeida Prado Tadini—or Luigi as he’s known to his friends—is a Brazilian-born social scenester/jewelry designer and the heir to a family jewelry fortune.

Tadini describes his style as “a mix between a young Mick Jagger and 40 year-old Cary Grant and perhaps a little Alain Delon.” The fashion-forward Tadini is involved with two charities: Save Venice and Riverkeeper Junior Council, which he co-founded with gal-pal Amanda Hearst a few years ago. The two seem to be an inseparable duo, as you can find them together at events all over town.

When Luigi’s at your event, you can almost guarantee a two-for-one, as Ms. Hearst will most likely be at his side.

9.  Anna Anisimova – This socialite/model/heiress has been said to be the Russian equivalent to Paris Hilton.

Anisimova is the daughter of Russian aluminum tycoon, Vassily Anisimov, who bankrolls her extravagant life. In addition to her $15 million, 4000-square-foot apartment in the Time Warner Center, she owns a number of other residences stateside. While living in Manhattan partying, shopping and occasionally modeling she’s more than earned social butterfly status.

This girl definitely knows what she wants and knows how to get the party started. Make sure the vodka’s on ice because this Russian will liven up any gathering.

10. Bonnie Morrison – This style maven was given the title of one of the most connected fashion publicists in New York by Fashion Daily.

Though not your typical socialite, she has made a name for herself on the New York scene.  Morrison has worked as a publicity director at the renowned fashion PR firm KCD (reps the who’s who in fashion), PR consultant for Proenza Schouler, Dries van Noten, Phi and magazine editor for the now defunct Men’s Vogue. Her style has landed her on various blogs and websites over the last few years.

Who wouldn’t want a fashionista with an endless list of connections at their next party?

1. Hot 97 Summer Jam 2010
This summer’s hottest hip hop concert will be on Sunday, June 6^th 2010 at the new Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. Sure to have a great time with artists such as Drake, Fabolous, Nicki Minaj and more. Get your tickets at the hot97 official website: http://www.hot97.com/summerjam/
See you there!

2. Free Summer Music Series on Governor’s Island
Enjoy live music on the beach this summer! Enjoy Yaesayer on June 5^th, She & Him on July 4th, and Neon Indian August 14^th.  All of these great concerts are FREE.  Rain or shine, the show will go on at Governor’s Island!  Click here to read more:  http://www.clubplanet.com/Articles/6318/Free-Summer-Music-Series-on-Governors-Island

3. Rooftop Films Summer Series 2010
Enjoy a summer night by watching independent movies from artists all over the city. For a full list of movie screenings visit: http://rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/

4. Chaos in New York City at Irving Plaza
Calling all party goers!  Every Tuesday and Saturday night (starting May 18, 2010) you can experience what is “Chaos” at Irving Plaza. Some of the most famous DJs in the world are expected to spin some of their best beats, so be ready to dance the night away with celebrity appearances and luxurious VIP treatment this entire summer!  http://www.clubplanet.com/Articles/6318/Free-Summer-Music-Series-on-Governors-Island

5. Ovo by Cirque du Soleil
Who says you need to be in Vegas to experience one of the world’s most beautiful performances? Experience a Cirque du Soleil classic right here in New York City. You can enjoy OVO from April 9 through June 6, 2010 under the blue and yellow big top at Randall’s Island. For more information on how to purchase tickets visit http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/destinations/new-york/default.aspx

6. gLee live
For all you gLee fans, here is your chance to watch the cast live at the Radio City Music Hall from May 28^th-May 30^th 2010. Sure to bring fun and dancing, this is an event the whole family can enjoy! For ticket information visit:
http://www.radiocity.com/events/glee-live-510.html

7. Washington Square Music Festival
Every Tuesday through July 6th -July 27th 2010, at Washington Square Park all you classical and jazz music lovers can enjoy a free concert from different composers around the world. For a full list of performances visit: washingtonsquaremusicfestival.org

8. Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
Celebrating its 80^th year, the Art Exhibit is a wonderful event that delivers some of the best art in and around the city. All art lovers are welcome and encouraged to attend on May 29-31^st as well as on June 5-6^th in the heart of the Greenwich Village. For more information, visit:
http://www.washingtonsquareoutdoorartexhibit.org/

9. American Crafts Festival
Join artists at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on June 19, 20, 26 and 27. Entertainment and demonstrations of crafts from all over the country will be sure to enlighten the artist in you! For more information on this event visit their official website: www.craftsatlincoln.org

10. Fleet week
What better way to spend a week with none other than America’s finest men and women in uniform. Join our US Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guards when they set their feet on dry land from May 26^th until June 2^nd, get ready for a week of fun and entertainment from the sailors and marines themselves, so come out and show your support! Ships will be docked at Pier 88 in Manhattan and Staten Island. For more information, visit navy.mil