Tag Archives: green

Go Green In Style At The High Line Park!

HighLine

The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. It is a great vantage point to look at New York from a different viewpoint. The High Line is fully wheelchair accessible.

The High Line is located on Manhattan’s West Side. The park runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. The first section of the High Line opened on June 9, 2009. It runs from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street. The second section, which runs between West 20th and West 30th Streets, opened June 8, 2011.

The summer hours for The High Line are in effect now with the park open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. All ages can enjoy the beautiful High Line! Visit thehighline.org for more information.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is Always in Bloom

Right next to bustling Capitol Hill is haven of breathtaking Picture 15flowers, roses and gardens at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Tracing its beginnings to 1816, The U.S. Botanic Garden the oldest of its kind in North America.

It is divided into three locations: the Conservatory, Bartholdi Park, and the National Garden. The newly renovated Conservatory is one big greenhouse divided into separate rooms and holds over 4,000 living species. Each room simulates a different habitat and contains various types of plants that ordinarily would not survive in Washington D.C., from desert species to Southern plants to medicinal plants.

Bartholdi Park serves as a home landscape demonstration garden and is home to a beautiful fountain that is 30 feet high. There is also the National Garden, which contains the Rose Garden and the First ladies Water Garden, as well as an outdoor amphitheater.

Romance & Adventure on the Arboretum’s Full Moon Hike

For romantic night owls, take a walk at the Full Moon Hike at the U.S. National Arboretum. Sure, the bars and entertainment in the city offer plenty of adventure, but this hike is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be beat.

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At four miles long, with a path through meadows, woods and gardens, this hike allows you to see what the Arboretum looks like by moonlight, under a blanket of stars.  There are some truly magical areas throughout the hike, including a beautiful view of the Anacostia River and the illuminated National Capitol Columns.

The scenery is a rare sight, especially after spending a whole day next to loud cars and city life. It’s not just a light stroll through the park, though. The terrain is often hilly and uneven, so the hike is mildly strenuous. There’s no better way to see the lights of our nation’s capital than on the Full Moon Hike.

2. Drive Off to the Washington Auto Show 1/27-1/30

Picture 10700 new vehicles, giveaways, live entertainment, celebrities and special appearances galore makes the Washington Auto Show an event that will delight car lovers and families alike.

But what your eyes will really turn to are the new innovations in alternative fuels featured in the Green Car Pavilion. As the auto show’s tagline stakes out “Change Happens Here.”

Check out what’s new for 2010- and beyond- at the Washington Auto Show in January.

Take it Slow at Theodore Roosevelt Island

Whether you’d like to take a run or enjoy the picturesque scenery and touching memorial, the Theodore Roosevelt Island is a beautiful place to visit. Located in the middle of the Potomac River, the island was re-named and made a national memorial to commemorate the heroic 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Enjoy the scenic beauty of this island, but make sure to bring your walking shoes. The only way to access the island is through a footbridge from Arlington, Virginia and no cars or bicycles are allowed.

Potager: Where the Perennial Meets the Seasonal

Picture 15The name means “kitchen garden,” and with good reason. Though Potager’s dining room is decidedly urban- with its high ceilings echoing cement surfaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and exposed ducts- it leads to a positively pastoral back patio surrounded by, you guessed it, a vegetable and herb garden. Chef Teri Rippeto was espousing locavorism before it was trendy, and to this day her oft-changing menu is rife with farmer’s market finds and sustainably raised meats, be it Gnocchi with pea shoots, baby leeks, mint, bacon, and goat cheese or a Grilled Pork Chop with rhubarb sauce and pickled turnips. The wine list, too, emphasizes boutique labels. And Rippeto’s eco-consciousness doesn’t end there: Potager recycles, composts, and relies partly on solar and wind power. No wonder it’s perennially popular. On that note, be prepared for a wait at the bar: reservations aren’t accepted.

EcoManor

One of the most environmentally progressive homes in the country is nestled in the heart of Atlanta’s historic Buckhead neighborhood. EcoManor, set to be the first U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified residence in the Southeast, was built to inspire a change in urban design by showcasing how the latest green technologies can be incorporated into a traditionally beautiful Tudor house. Constructed by national eco-activists, Laura and Rutherford Seydel, EcoManor will serve as an educational tool for builders, architects, designers, landscapers and homeowners to promote green living, conservation and advanced residential building practices.

Recreation at Piedmont Park

Since the city officially purchased it in 1904, Piedmont Park has been Atlanta’s most popular park retreat. This historic stretch of green located northeast of downtown Atlanta is known for its lush treetops and scenic grounds. Paved pathways throughout the park are perfect for ambling along, and scattered benches beckon strollers. The sprawling 186 acre park encompasses the 11.5 Clara Meer Lake, where wildlife has taken up residence and also includes a dog park. This is the ultimate repose from the city’s quotidian hustle and bustle.