Summer Sounds: Céu
Just discovered the fantastic Brazilian singer Céu. Perfect music for a summer afternoon. Learn more about her here.
Friday Photo: Seattle
Enough time in Portland makes you forget that it’s really not a big city… and then you take a trip up to Seattle with its many busy streets and numerous high rises, and you’re quickly reminded of what a large metropolis really feels like.
Scandinavian Electronica: Röyksopp
One of my favorite electronica groups, Röyskopp, who hails from Norway, recently released their new album Junior. This live version of “The Girl and the Robot” features Swedish singer Robyn. Definitely dig it!
Other excellent songs from the album include “It’s What I Want” and “Happy Up Here” (in the video above). Check out Röyksopp’s main page here.
Friday Photo: Spring on the Coast
There’s nothing like a Saturday at the coast to enjoy spring sunshine. Indian Beach happens to be one of my favorite spots that’s not too far of a drive from Portland. Hit up the farmers market on your way out of town to stock up on goat cheese and fresh bread, and an afternoon picnic overlooking the seastacks could be my favorite way to spend a weekend.
Plastic Can Be Beautiful
Plastic is plaguing the environment and our health, but in celebration of the big Ban the Bag event that we put on this Tuesday (which Portland’s mayor Sam Adams spoke at), I decided to put plastic to good use. A big event calls for big jewelry, so I knocked out a necklace and bracelet, proving that single-use plastics can be turned into something more worthwhile instead of merely being thrown away.
The above necklace is a plastic bag cut into strips and then knitted into three separate squares. The bracelet is cut from a plastic cup and then held together by silver wire.
Want to hel get the single-use plastic bag banned in Portland? Sign the petition!
Friday Photo: Eco Style
In the past couple of years we’ve seen eco-style go from the stereotypical hempy, sack looking garments to the chicest forms in fashion. One of my favorite brands, Nau, is at the forefront of sustainable design. Not only have they developed over 300 sustainable fabrics that incorporate alternative materials like recycled polyester, but everything they make looks cool. And that’s what makes or breaks an eco-fashion line now isn’t it?
I took this picture at a recent event at Lizard Lounge in Portland, which also houses the Nau team.
French Flavor: Camille
Camille is one of my favorite French pop singers; love this video for her song Ta Douleur on the album Le Fil. Her latest album, Le Sac Des Filles, is another excellent collection, perfect for warm spring afternoons. Or for dreaming about being in France with a good cafe au lait…
JunkRide + Ban The Bag Event in Portland: Help in the Battle Against Plastic Pollution
Great event next week to educate about the evils of plastic pollution and work on getting the plastic bag banned in Portland.
What: The Portland Surfrider Chapter welcomes Anna Cummins from Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Dr. Marcus Erikson of JUNKride, an educational tour by bike from Vancouver B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico. The duo will highlight the voyage of JUNKraft, a recently completed trip from California to Hawaii on a raft made of garbage. In addition to JUNKride, Jessica Hamilton, Natural Resources Policy Advisor to Governor Ted Kulongoski, will present on the West Coast Governors Agreement to reduce the western seaboard’s impact on the oceans, with regard to marine debris. Entertainment by singer/songwriter Micah Wolf. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to benefit Portland Chapter Surfrider’s BAN THE BAG campaign to ban single-use plastic shopping bags in the greater Portland area.
When: Tuesday, April 21st, 2009. 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
Where: Keen Footwear, 926 NW 13th Ave #210, Portland, OR 97209
For more information on JUNKraft and JUNKride, visit www.junkraft.com. To keep up with Ban the Bag, follow them on Twitter.
Bikes Power People and Businesses
A little over a month ago I wrote a story called “Pedaling to Profit: The Upswing of Bike Powered Business.” It got picked up by the Huffington Post, and then today none other than Boing Boing decided to give it a mention. Needless to say, I’m stoked.
This can only mean one thing: bikes are hot. And if businesses are running their operations on two wheels, you can too. Even fair-weather cyclists no longer have an excuse, it’s finally spring! So pump up your wheels and take your classy ride out for a spin. Need help? Read this great article on Chelsea Green called “Spring Has Sprung: Now Get Off Your Fat Ass and Bike to Work.”
What can bike commuting do for you? Apparently:
* add over 2 years to their life expectancy
* have the general fitness and health of someone 10 years younger
* are 50% less likely to experience depression
Go get on it!
blog.annabrones.com 