Chef Rick Bayless looks for fresh tomatoes while on the roof top garden of Frontera Grill in Chicago. (Tribune photo by Antonio Perez / July 30, 2008)
Thursday, June 5, 2008 -- 4:39 p.m.
Check out details of Planet Green's launch party in L.A. last week here! All sorts of celebs attended, including Tommy Lee and Ludacris, who will go head to head in October in Battleground Earth, a reality show in which the two will compete to see who can be greener.
Here's an excerpt from the Planet Green site about the show:
The hard-charging, hard-partying, carbon-laden world of tour bus-living musicians doesn't exactly scream green! Now, Planet Green challenges two icons to join the newest trend in music; "going green." Battleground Earth challenges hip hop superstar Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and rock god Tommy Lee to battle against the toxic forces destroying Mother Earth as they travel across the country on a 10-episode tour.
Discovery Channel's Planet Green channel launched June 4, so check here to see if you get it.
Friday, May 2, 2008 -- 2:25 p.m.
Going to a Radiohead concert this summer? Take public transportation, or at least carpool, please. At least that's the request the band is making to its fans.
According to a press release, Radiohead found that most of the carbon footprint left from each tour came from fans' travel to and from the concerts. Hence the appeal to fans to consider alternative methods of transportation to their shows.
Upon first hearing about this, my first thought was, great, but what if the options aren't there? What is the band doing to help fans accomplish this if public transport isn't accessible?
Then I read the press release. These guys have their bases (mostly) covered.
Can't find public transportation? OK, carpool instead. Want to know what effect the different methods of transportation have on CO2 levels? Check out a calculator on their Web site. And some of the concert venues are pitching in, too, offering incentives to fans who carpool or take buses or trains.
But is Radiohead being pushy by imposing their beliefs and causes on their fans? I don't think so. No one is being forced to find alternative methods of travel--it's just a request.
And if you can't use your stardom and influence to try to make a difference in the world, what good is it?
See what RedEye's CTA blogger Kyra Kyles has to say about Radiohead's crusade on Going Public.
Friday, April 4, 2008 -- 1:44 p.m.
According to New York magazine, Leonardo DiCaprio has taken his green-ness to the next level, buying an eco-friendly condo in NYC. Luxury, of course.
The condo was built with solar-powered energy and non-pollutant materials, and the high-rise even has a green roof. It also has a "gray and black water treatment facility"--whatever that means.
His rep told New York magazine: “Riverhouse is a prime example of how green technology is both accessible and achievable for new residential developments — it is a groundbreaking building.”
Among other offerings: An indoor pool, fitness center, a terrace and a dog spa. How these things translate to eco-friendly is beyond me. But if eco-superstar Leo is doing it, it must be green? Right ...
Sunday, February 24, 2008 -- 8:34 p.m.
The Oscars are back, and though I usually am not a huge fan, I have to give the Academy credit for going green this year.
The eco-friendly fun started last week at Global Green's pre-Oscar party, with lots of stars in attendance.
Salma Hayek, Adrian Grenier and Bill Maher were among the stars who made an appearance at the event, which raised more than $400,000.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Charlize Theron opted to take fuel-efficient cars to the Oscars ceremony Sunday.
And while I doubt the Academy Awards were amazingly green, they claim to have done a lot of great things, including powering 100% of the event with renewable windpower.
So cheers, Oscars, for making a great example by proving that going green on such a large scale isn't impossible.
