Eco-cocktailing

OK...the sustainability world needs more pool parties. I actually recall Paul Hawken and Vicki Robin saying many times that it's time to make this stuff a lot more fun and I'm pleased to report the Angella Lindvall and her Collage Foundation did just that on Sunday.

The party, held at a private home in Pacific Palasades and sponsored by Tanqueray, was actually an event to launch Collage's new website and online magazine. There were plenty of pretty faces there, but more importantly just as many people of substance including some established and new-to-the-list personal hereos: Julia Butterfly Hill, Van Jones, Tai Robinson of Hydrogen Hummer fame, biodiesel boy-wonder Josh Tickell, Wildlife Works' founder Mike Korchinsky and model/budding entomologist Summer Rayne Oakes.

Got to hang with the a few of the SSF-LA possy too: Susanne Donnegan - our LA Liaison and green interior designer extraordinaire and Colette Brooks - our favorite PR princess/surfer (Colette was responsible fore getting over 20 celebs to show up to the last few Oscars in hybrids). Good people, inspiring speakers, organic food, a solar-powered Jerry Cantrell...what more could a sustainable socialite ask for.

Finally, had a great meeting with Ruben and Lisa from Earth Communications Office (ECO) and Gavin Keilly on next year's OSSA Awards. Good times ahead.

photos: Angela Lindvall, Summer Rayne Oakes, Jerry Cantrell, Stephen Dorff

Spiritwalk and more

Had quite the busy day yesterday. Started the day with the 10th Annual Spiritwalk in Seattle to raise money for Seattle Indian Health Board programs. A short walk but a very important fundraiser with great people and amazing entertainment after the walk. It's my third year in a row and it's now an event I won't miss.

Next it was off on another whirlwind trip to LA to attend Collage Foundations's online magazine launch party. I decided to fly in today in order to see Sharon Lawrence (one of SSF's Style Ambassadors) perform in Steven Sondheims's Chicago. It was an amazing performance and afterward, Ruben Aronin (of ECO and I had a chance to chat with Sharon at the Hotel Bel-Air. We talked SSF, philosophy, physics, etc. One of those great Mindwalk conversations you long to have more of. I did get lost in the hills of Bel-Air on the way home so I guess life has a way of keeping you humble.

Birds for birthday boy

Well I survived my birthday weekend. I need to check in and see how my buddy Ruben, ED of Earth Communciation Office (ECO) is doing, we share the exact same birthday, how crazy is that? One of the stops on my birthday weekend was to the Skagit Wildlife Area north of Seattle where I used to do fieldwork on song sparrows. I was really surprised to run into Mike Beecher, my Animal Behavior professor at UW, as we were leaving the site. Very Cool and timely as I'm preparing for my Earthwatch trip to Cuba next month to participate in research on sandhill cranes.