Benefit May/Jun 07

The Lifestyle of Giving May/June 07 $ 4.95

Bright Green Al Gore on California,

party politics, and the definition of progress

Green Professionals Bay Area businesses prove green is good

Goldman Prize This year’s global environmental heroes

Turf’s Up! New life for City playing fields

Free Summer Our guide to free outdoor summer events

PLUS Craig’s Little List • TV20’s Green Goddess • Stern Grove Turns 70

The Green ISSUe

These are selected pages from this issue of Benefit Magazine, and not necessarily shown in the same order as the printed version.

contents

GREEN ISSUE

70

MAY/JUNE 2007 Volume 1, No. 5

T he Whole World on His Mind

BY SCOTT ADELSON

Al Gore on California, party politics, and the definition of progress.

76

ot Time, H Summer in the City

BY JENNY P. ANDREWS

KIm Steele

Let the Bay Area give back to you at these free summer outdoor events.

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Green Professionals

BY ANNA HIRSH, PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIM STEELE

Our Bay Area is experiencing a collective environmental awakening. Many green innovators live and work among us.

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contents

In every issue

Editor’s Letter Publisher’s Letter Calendar Listings Philanthroscope

14 16 29 88 96

Craig p.94

Focus 21 The lifestyle of giving, up close Tom Meyer, Good Vibrations, Organicbouquet.com, York Mints, Philanthropy by Design, Harold Brooks, Cargo Cosmetics, Bookmarks, Nancy Oakes, and the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Departments 37 Events Partying with purpose CASA Luncheon, Fashion Week Live, Junior League Fashion Show, Liver Foundation, Mid-Winter Gala, MoAD FirstAnniversary, NARAL, SF Jazz, SF MOMA, Snuggly Soirée, Sunset Youth Services and more.

43 Patrons ING, Claudia Ross, Nancy Norstad, Grace Mgrdechian, and Rick Rosser Gratitude p.50

50 Food Gratitude Attitude The food is raw, organic, and vegan at Café Gratitude, where they feed more than just your body. It’s very California (in a good way). By Laura Svienty

54 Arts All the World on Stage From Hugh Masekela to Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Stern Grove offers San Francisco the best music in the world, for free. By Robin Wilkey

58 Recognition The Goldman Environmental Prize 60 Activism Scout’s Honor From Brownie Scout to Assemblywoman: Fiona Ma takes on playgrounds, food banks, hepatitis B, diabetes ... and the next generation. By Bill Picture

64 Media A Rising Star of Green TV Lesley Nagy is a new kind of reporter. Four times a day, TV20 airs “Your Green Life,” Nagy’s exploration of environmental news, tips, and interviews with eco-celebs. By Lord Martine

66 Parks Turf’s Up! At renovated City fields and parks, playtime never looked so good. By Debbie Cohen

94 San Francisco Voice Craig Newmark He’s got a little list. As told to Tim Gaskin

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gratitue: Lori Eanes, Craig: David Waldorf

The 2007 Environmental Prize Winners Revealed. By Laura Svienty

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Media Lesley Nagy is a new kind of reporter. Four times a day, TV20 airs “Your Green Life,” Nagy’s exploration of environmental news, tips, and interviews with eco-celebs.

By Lord Martine Photograph: Saul Bromberger & Sandra Hoover

A Rising Star of Green TV

Wouldn’t you know it—San Francisco is earth mother to the world’s first

eco-specific news television program. With it, a green star rises. Dedicating her professional and personal life to the sustainability of life on our planet, Lesley Nagy, 29—host of Your TV20’s “Your Green Report”—is a modern day green goddess.

She cometh not a moment too soon.

“Your Green Report” presents positive information and individuals focused on green and socially-conscious living. Nagy is also the spokesperson for Your TV20’s public service campaign, “Your Green Life,” the tenets of which she’s incorporated into her personal “go green” lifestyle.

Nagy takes a break from her demanding schedule to share crispy imperial rolls, spicy broccoli with honshimeji mushrooms, and petrale sole at Out the Door. She chose the Westfield San Francisco Centre restaurant, by executive chef Charles Phan, because of its eco-friendly practices. Out the Door prepares its dishes with organic and locally-grown ingredients wherever possible; uses recycled and compostable take-out packaging made of corn, sug-

ar, and potato; and participates in NorCal Waste Systems’ Food Scrap Compost Program designed to turn compost into energy.

“If you’re going to eat at a food court,” she recommends, “you may as well go for the green place.”

Nagy’s connection to nature began as a sapling in Michigan, where she lived on a lake with her five siblings, including a twin sister. She cites her loving parents for teaching her many of the grounding principles she lives by today.

“I learned to treasure the environment An eye for art: Creativity from my father,” she recalls. “My family has Explored board member 160 acres of land in Michigan. We learned the Cara Storm at the art center. value of things by building our own chairs and Her work on the board brings tree houses, and recycling clothing as hand-meher tremendous satisfaction, downs. For lunch every day, we used the same as well as a burgeoning brown bag. By the end of the week, it was a sad art collection. brown bag—banana smell, spots, wrinkled.

More romantically, my dad has given my mom the same Valentine’s Day card every year since they got married 38 years ago.

“I’d joke with my parents about being cheap. But they were green before its time.”

Her mother was behind the alternative spring breaks the Nagy family took together.

“Rather than sipping mojitos on a sunny beach,” she says, “we’d work with the Salvation Army on flood relief, or help an Indian reservation build an orphanage.”

An alumna of Michigan State University, Nagy graduated with star ratings in broadcast and environmental journalism. “My twin sister was the biggest advocate for me going green. She inspired me to take environmental journalism in college—even when I didn’t think I could do environmental journalism in TV. It’s great having someone I can share my passion with.” (Check out Lesley’s blog at twinsnetwork.com.)

Before orbiting full circle to include her first love of green, Nagy’s career took some

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Media curvaceous turns in the arenas of fashion, extreme sports, and entertainment. Each provided experience in every aspect of television production.

“I started behind the scenes, taking everything I could get,” she says. “I learned writing, producing, editing, and became a ‘one-man man.’ I had to audition for everything and was told ‘no’ 150 times. I’m not just a model who wants to be on camera.”

In 2004, with substance, talent, and skills (her supermodel good looks helped, too), Nagy landed her first fulltime, on-air, entertainment-reporting gig in San Francisco with Channel 20, then owned by The WB. “Daily Mixx” featured her glitzy celebrity interviews with notables such as Jennifer Aniston, Johnny Depp, and Meryl Streep.

But the tide turned. The station went independent from The WB, bringing “Daily Mixx” to an end. As Nagy pondered her next move, station president/manager Bob Anderson announced that he wanted to take the budding star in an eco-friendly direction. “I was asked to stay on and host the new show,” says the self-professed workaholic. “It was more than I expected and has been better than I could have hoped for. It was a higher calling.”

And so it’s been since “Your Green Report” launched in September 2006. A modest green team—Nagy even does her own make-up and hair—ensures that the 90-second show airs four times daily to get the message out. Celebrities remain in the mix because they bring additional attention to the cause. “They’re all green now,” Nagy says.

“I just interviewed Salma Hayek and Orlando Bloom at a Global Green fashion event. Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio support green habitat in the rebuilding of New Orleans.... They’re happy to talk to me about it. Usually, when I’m covering a green story, I’m the only reporter there. When celebrities give their endorsement, it commands more media coverage.”

It can also be said that Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth has inspired a green revival. “Because of this film, in less than a year, many went from being complacent to enthusiastic about the environment,” our Prius driver asserts. “It put things into perspective and made it hip to be eco-savvy.”

“Your Green Report” covers a rainbow of earth-saving intelligence. A sampling is found on yourtv20.com/ greenreport, which cites trends like green blogging (as found on treehugger.com), and movements such as the call to switch to compact florescent light bulbs. The show consistently brings it home with items on the Bay Area’s innovations in green politics, such as legislation by the San Francisco Board of Directors to require large grocery stores to stop using plastic grocery bags.

“The Bay Area is leading the way,” Nagy beams. “I’m glad to be a part of it. The best thing about my job is I learn something new every day, and I get to share that with people. We are so much ahead of the game. But still I fear that we’re not doing enough to protect our future.

I have nightmares of the future—and it’s very hot. We all must take action now! Together we can change.”

Find “Your Green Report” on Your TV20 at: 10:58 am, 1:58 pm, 7:58 pm, and 9:58 pm. B

Living Green RECYCLE

REDUCE WASTE

Place a recycling container next to your traditional garbage can.

Choose reusable containers instead of plastic bags.

Buy recycled greeting cards and paper. Better still, reuse them.

Take plastic bags back to the supermarket to be recycled.

SAVE ENERGY Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescents.

Turn off the lights when you leave the room, and turn off the TV, radio, and computer every night.

Set the thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.

Only run the dishwasher and laundry machine with full loads.

Replace your old refrigerator.

Conduct an energy audit of your home, then repair leaks and improve insulation.

REDUCE EMISSIONS Buy local. It reduces energy and transportation costs.

Drive less. Carpool or join a car-sharing network: commuterchoice.com or citycarshare.org.

Use kitchen towels instead of paper towels.

Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store.

Don’t take plastic utensils when taking “to-go” home.

Buy food in bulk. Prepare food portions accordingly.

Sign up for paperless, online-only bills and monthly statements. Reduce unwanted mail: stopjunkmail.org.

Turn off the water faucet while brushing teeth.

REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL POISONS Use rechargeable batteries.

Recycle traditional batteries properly in designated bins at Rainbow Grocery.

Eat organic. Shop at the farmer’s market. It’s healthier for your body, too.

Use green power. Contact your electricity provider and sign up for a green power program.

Detoxify your cleaners. Replace them with biodegradable, non-toxic alternatives.

CONTRIBUTE

Keep car tires properly inflated for fuel efficiency.

Do yoga. A healthy planet starts with a healthy you.

Combine errands. On the way home from work, stop at the grocery store, post office, dry cleaner. Eliminate separate trips.

Make donations. Take unwanted, reusable items to a charitable organization or thrift store.

Use public transportation.

Spread the word. Start a local environmental group.

Don’t buy bottled water. Use a stainless steel water bottle and fill up at the faucet.

Just THINK! Remember, going green creates good habits, so keep checking this list.

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Whole W rld

The

on his Mind and California on the tip of his tongue On a recent tip to San Francisco, AL GORE shared his thoughts on California, party politics, and the definition of progress. And, no, he didn’t talk about anything but global warming.

By Scott Adelson Photographs by Mike Sugrue

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The epithet was a drumbeat. “Wooden.” Just a few years ago Al Gore was said to be the nation’s most effective sleeping pill. An intensely smart, thoughtful man, to be sure, but still fodder for late-show humor, and the target of disdain by even his party’s faithful.

Today the term is “rock star.” A hero of political stage and

silver screen, that same Al Gore is now the toughest interview to snag in any town (including San Francisco, where he stopped by the California Academy of Sciences in April). This year, he strode into Congress a conqueror wearing cowboy boots, as Condi Rice preceded him unnoticed by the crowd that packed the house.

My, how fortunes change. There have been resurrections before,

but can this be true?

Probably not. Chat with Al Gore and it’s clear that these

contradictory images aren’t worth the papers they’re printed in. Both are bloated.

Perceptions with no reality.

Gore is not particularly colorful, nor is he sleep-inducing.

He casually inquires about common friends, enjoys a little pre-down-to-business laugh, and sets a tone of ease. What is true is that he’s uncommonly sharp. When focused, he stays on message, taking relevant information in as effortlessly as he shares it. And when it comes to global warming, he has a cache of lenses through which he can clearly see any issue the conversation requires. He speaks with quickness and conviction. Not bland. Not blustery.

He’s found his heart …

When the subject is Northern California, it’s clear we’re near and dear to the former vice president’s heart. Not just because we’re the bluest portion of a decidedly blue state, or even because we’re blue-green. Gore is engaged with our neck of the woods because of our place in global geopolitics, our population growth, our technology focus, and our earthy reception to green ideas. To him, we’re

there’s no doubt that f

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more than leaders. We have to be leaders. And according to Gore, California has what it takes.

“The awareness of the climate crisis has long been vast in Northern California,” Gore declares. “As the world as a whole focuses more and more on this crisis, you’ve provided a lot of leadership. I’m not sure how the culture evolved the way that it did, but there’s no doubt that for a long time, progressive ideas have found a higher level of support in Northern California than a lot of other places in the country.”

But what does “progressive” mean? Is it attitude? Politics? Maybe. For Gore, it’s vision meets pragmatism meets talent. And in Gorespeak, progressive thought means technology.

“Silicon Valley is the essence of the green technology revolution in the same way that it was and still is the epicenter of the information technology revolution and one of the most important centers of the biotech revolution,” he says. It’s his first thought when questioned about the region’s role in taking on global warming.

“And the ways in which the venture capital industry and the private equity industry in Silicon Valley have sprung into action to develop new opportunities that give us ways to solve the climate crisis are extremely important.”

How “close” is Gore to the region? He recently bought a second home in San Francisco’s St. Regis Residence Club (his daughter, Sarah, attends the UC San Francisco School of Medicine). He’s associated with many Silicon Valley heavyweights, including Apple founder Steve Jobs and Google chief executive Eric Schmidt. Also, Gore’s award-winning An Inconvenient Truth was financed by Participant Productions, which was founded by Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay. Combine his focus on and ties to the frontlines of high tech with the mindset of a relatively radical “save-our-planet” community, and you have fertile ground for Gore.

“The fact that the effort to solve the climate crisis is currently mainstream doesn’t mean that the ideas that Northern California has been advocating for a long time are not still progressive,” he says, protective of the region’s place. “It’s just that [Northern California is] always a little bit ahead of the curve.”

Another warm spot in the Gore/NorCal relationship is, of course, the region’s political personality. Given the increasingly high-profile role our area representatives are playing on the national stage, Gore knows that many of his “progressive” ideas are being infused into the broader culture.

“The political leadership in Northern California, with Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and the others: It really is a center of innovation in policy as well as technology,” Gore says. “Nancy is doing a terrific job. Tipper and I had a long meeting with her in her office in the Capitol the day that I testified before Congress. I really appreciate and admire all the hard work that she’s putting into this.”

When asked about issues aside from global warming, Gore gets quiet. Trying to get a comment on the day’s biggest headline involving Nancy Pelosi and her efforts in the Middle East, Gore says “I saw a headline, but I haven’t been able to read it at all so I really don’t know.”

“Can’t comment?”

“I really don’t know anything about it.”

Is he on message? Almost frustratingly so.

Urban challenges, personal commitments National and regional politics and policies aside, Gore also peers down city streets (including those of San Francisco) when it comes to climate challenges.

“We have an urban civilization,” he says excitedly. “There were times when no more than 15 percent of the population worldwide lived in cities. Now we’re on the way to 65 percent. When you have continuing growth in population with continuing urbanization trends, I think a lot of the solutions for this crisis ought to be found in cities, where there are tremendous opportunities for redesign, transportation changes, and communities opening up to the challenge.”

Bold thinking, but what about individuals? EPA and USDA Forest Service numbers (printed on the front-page of the San Francisco Chronicle the day of this interview) tell us all where greenhouse gases come from: 33.3 percent from electricity, 27.9 from trans­ portation, 19.6 from industry, 7 from agriculture, 6.6 from commer­ cial, and 5.6 from residential. What’s to prevent folks from saying “Look, if we can get the government to get its regulation act together and get big business in line, why can’t I continue to let my carbon footprint—and my wallet—be?”

Says Gore: “Everybody has to be a part of the solution. That’s pretty much a given. I’m in the midst of putting solar panels on my house and will pay more for green energy that doesn’t produce

t for a long time,

l of support in Northern country.”

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aendlot of the investm e up saving money and making bu s CO2. But I’m looking forward to when it becomes more common and [thus more economical]. You know, a lot of people say that the United States shouldn’t do anything because China is not part of the [Kyoto Protocol] treaty. But the way to get China to join is for the U.S. to take the lead.”

And the now infamous story about his personal energy usage back home in Tennessee?

“A group that denied the existence of global warming put out this story,” Gore explains. “As I mentioned, we pay more for wind energy because it’s not common in Tennessee. So when we make it a permanent decision to pay considerably more in order to make sure that we are not contributing to the CO2 problem, they try to make it sound like something it’s not. We are in the midst of a major renovation of an old home and we never claimed to be perfect. But we’re doing our best and we’re walking the walk and not just talking the talk. In addition, we’re completely carbon neutral. I know that some people say that … offsets don’t matter. But they do matter. For many people and many businesses, [offsets] are now driving a worldwide effort to substitute clean energy for carbon addictive sources.

“And I think it’s a mistake to assume that the changes necessary to solve the climate crisis are going to be a net cost to the economy. I really don’t think that’s true. I think that some [changes] will [have a cost], but I truly believe that the majority are things that we might choose to do because they are beneficial economically anyway. Saving money while reducing energy waste is a good thing for everybody.”

This is an important point for Gore—and one that shouldn’t be so difficult to understand.

“You know, [Rocky Mountain Institute founder] Amory Lovins, who has been right about a lot of these issues for 30 years, was saying the other day that the problem with that way of thinking [that there is a large economic net cost to combating global warming] is that people have the ‘sign’ wrong.

“I thought, well that Amory is so smart; he’s probably talking about trigonometry and cosines. But it turns out he’s not talking about trigonometry. He’s talking about a plus sign and a minus sign. That was a relief to me. I can understand that the point is that a lot of the investments needed to solve the climate crisis end up saving money and making business and the economy more productive. They’re not all that way, but if we choose carefully, the net impact will be extremely positive for the economy as well as the environment.

“Look at players like Wal-Mart,” Gore continues, “they’re making the changes they’re making right now because they want to do the right thing and help solve this climate crisis. But I’m telling you, they’ve also decided that they can make money out of it.... You know, pollution is waste. You’ve got to buy raw materials in order to make pollution and if you can figure out how to make less pollution in the right way, you can become more efficient and more profitable.”

Whose party is this?

On the subject of global warming, Gore’s not one to bite (too hard, anyway) when party politics come up. Or maybe it just seems that way because before he levels any body blows, he offers up a dove or three.

“Before the Reagan administration, [global warming] was largely a bi-partisan issue,” he says. “Even Richard Nixon, who left office in disgrace, was actually quite a good environmental person. And Teddy Roosevelt, our greatest environmental president, was a Republican.”

Gore also has kind words for a local hero—noted Republican and long time “friend of Al’s” (and, of course, vice versa) Richard Goldman, a San Francisco-based philanthropist and creator of the Goldman Environmental Prize.

“I have enormous respect for Richard Goldman and we have been friends for a long time,” says Gore in an “even-some-of-mybest friends-are” mode. “He’s a Republican, and he represents the best of the traditional Republican concern for conservation.

I don’t really think of him first and foremost as a partisan in any way.... He’s an example of how successful this issue can be for people who have been led to believe in the last 10 or 15 years that for some reason it is a partisan issue. It’s not. It’s not even a political issue. It’s a moral issue. I feel very strongly about it and Richard Goldman has provided fantastic leadership.”

But these heartfelt feelings in no way mean that Gore has any quarter for those in the way of progress.

“I think during the Reagan years and especially during the two Bush presidencies, a new coalition took the reins away from the more traditional Republican Party,” he says. “Some elements of the coalition include the carbon lobbies—the large carbon polluters who provide a lot of support for the campaigns and demand to be

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mu ents needed to solve the climate crisis siness and the economy more productive.” left alone where their pollution is concerned. The second part of that alliance is a very determined ideological coalition that wants to prevent any kind of global support from [the U.S.] government.

They stress that some of the solutions to the climate crisis will involve government action.”

The mere existence of an important Supreme Court case (the Massachusetts v. EPA–05-1120 decision which was handed down the day before Gore’s San Francisco visit) proves the latter point, he says. The court ruled against the Bush Administration’s laissezfaire approach to climate control and pushed the government toward greenhouse gas regulation.

Despite the administration’s contention, “the EPA does have the right to regulate CO2 as a pollutant,” says Gore. “It proves that government’s role ought to be to close a loophole every time they can find one.”

Gore says the ruling is great news, but remains skeptical.

“Whether it’s a small step or a big step depends on how it’s implemented,” he says. “Part of the decision [permits] further discretion by the EPA. And the Bush-Cheney EPA will not make very good decisions on this. But it can be a big step because it restores the right of the EPA to regulate CO2. This was a position that we took back in the late 90s in the Clinton-Gore administration. The Bush EPA reversed that and that’s what has been struck down by the Supreme Court.”

All told, he seems to have given up on the Bush administration’s motives entirely. For example, Gore offers a skeptical, at best, response to the White House’s move to place polar bears on the Endangered Species List.

“I think they acknowledged that the law requires the listing of polar bears as an endangered species because their habitat is being destroyed. But they coupled that decision with an instruction to people in the administration to not breathe a word about the connection to global warming. So you know they didn’t really do anything.”

Ironically, when it comes to the right wing, Gore does see some cooperation coming from, of all places, parts of the Southern evangelical community. The notion of “creation care” has recently been making the news as some large Christian organizations are announcing support in the global warming fight. Turns out some believe “God is green.”

“The evangelical groups that are especially influential in my part of the country have been moving for some time now in the direc-

tion of ‘creation care,’” Gore says enthusiastically. “It’s really popping out all over now, and that’s a great development because it does shift the center of political gravity in the country significantly.

But my impression is that some of the more political elements of [the Christian right] are unhappy that the Bush-Cheney agenda is not adopted lock, stock, and barrel any more.”

The quickest way to end a conversation…

Business is business, and despite his friendly manner and easy-going nature, Gore isn’t interested in light-hearted personal banter. The required “rock star” query gets a stock, albeit updated, answer....

“Sanjaya—is that how you call him?—is a rock star,” he groans, referring to the annoying American Idol star, Sanjaya Malakar.

“I just have a slide show.”

But doesn’t it feel good? I mean, there are the accolades, the Oscars ... He’s back to global warming. Not even a heartbeat ...

“You know, people respond to the issue and there’s a deep feeling that all of us have about wanting to solve this,” he says. “So I think that causes a lot of strong feelings. It’s a privilege to be able to deliver a message that has a really important connection to people.”

The elephant in the interview remains. And conventional wisdom is, of course, all over the map. Many close to Gore insist he’s happy with his current life. After all, isn’t it a promotion—from Vice President of the United States to President of the Global Fight against Global Warming (read: Commander in Chief of the Effort to Save the World)? Others, though, insist that he’s just waiting for the right time to jump into the race. Will Hillary and Obama stumble? Will the cry for a Gore candidacy reach a deafening pitch? Few, however, are betting their reputations either way.

Realizing that the subject is off message as far as he’s concerned, it’s still too big a question to ignore. So here’s a real quick way to end a conversation with Al Gore.

SA: “Okay, sorry but I’ve got to ask it, because everybody’s going to pester me: ‘Is he going to be on my ballot?’”

AG: “I don’t have any plans to run for president.”

SA: “That’s it?”

AG: “Yep ... Bye, bye.”

As fortunes continue to evolve, and perception and reality enjoy their ride on our cultural roller coaster, only time will tell. B

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Green energy. Green design. Green farming.

There’s a colorful new adjective on everyone’s lips these days. From innovative architecture to organic foods to solar energy, the world— and indeed our Bay Area—is experiencing a collective environmental awakening. • But the groundbreaking solutions that are reshaping the world we live in aren’t necessarily coming from government mandates, corporate directives, or political will. Rather, eco-friendly transformation is happening at the grassroots level, led by dedicated community members and local businesses. Change, as it often does, is coming from the people.

By AnnA Kirsch

PhotogrAPhs By Kim steele

Many green innovators live and work among us.

They have made large and small lifestyle changes, and even substantial business commitments, to improve quality of life for everyone. At the same time, they’re transforming public opinion, increasing their bottom lines, and feeling truly good about their eco-efforts. • Benefit spoke with seven of the Bay Area’s most inventive green pioneers in fields ranging from dentistry to design to law. All are on the cutting edge of sustainable solutions and all, in their own ways, are leaders in the local green movement. Here, they share their green aspirations and success stories, remarkable inventions, and simple solutions.

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nAme: Mrs. S.C. Huang Business: Orchard Garden Hotel industry: Hospitality Address: 466 Bush Street, San Francisco green thoughts: “It’s personal. My father,

husband, and daughter all died of cancer. I created this green hotel in their memory.” green orgAnizAtions: California Green Lodging Program, Green Hotels Association, San Francisco Department of the Environment

If you’re ever in the lobby of the Orchard Garden Hotel (theorchardgardenhotel.com) in downtown San Francisco, you will see a plaque dedicated to three lost family members of owner Mrs. S.C. Huang.

Mrs. Huang lost her father, husband, and daughter to cancer, and in their honor has built “the city’s greenest hotel.”

She went to great lengths to realize her vision.

Mrs. Huang traveled to Singapore to find noncarcinogenic wood for the hotel’s furniture, had a card-key system installed that automatically stops the power to a room when the guest leaves, and requires that all cleaning be done with only citrus-based products.

“I grew up in Shanghai and we never thought about [being green],” she explains. “But we always knew that we had to live a clean life with fresh air, free of toxins.”

A tai chi master, Mrs. Huang’s secrets to living a healthy life are fresh air, good food, and relaxation.

healthy hospitality

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Four Legs Good

NameS: Virginia Donohue and Mark Klaiman Industry: Animal Care Business: Pet Camp Green since: 2001 Location: 525 Phelps Street, San Francisco Green thoughts: “Too many people believe

that the power to change lies in the big companies’ or government’s hands, but if small businesses each did something it would make a huge difference.”

—Mark Klaiman Green organization: San Francisco Community Power Cooperative “We are at the low end of technology. We scoop poop for a living,” says Virginia Donohue, cofounder of Pet Camp in San Francisco. “If we can go green, anyone can.”

Donohue and her husband Mark Klaiman founded Pet Camp (petcamp.com), an all-amenities dog and cat kennel, 10 years ago. And although they didn’t start the business with the idea of being green, it was something that’s always been deeply embedded in their value system.

The couple have become true green pioneers in the Bay Area. Not only is Pet Camp the largest privately-financed company using solar power in the City, it is also part of a pilot program that utilizes dog poop and other green wastes to pro­duce methane gas, which is then turned into energy.

“Being green is in every decision you make,” says Klaiman.

The couple certainly hasn’t limited their green endeavors to the workplace—they’re passing along their eco-values to their four children.

“Every night after dinner, our children’s first question is ‘Where’s the compost?’” says Klaiman.

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Mr. Green Jeans Name: Mark Miller Industry: Architectural Design Company: Project FROG Green since: 2006 Location: Roundhouse One,

1500 Sansome Street, San Francisco “One of the greenest things people can do is live in the city.

Density is good for the environment and people should not be afraid of it.”

Green organizations: One Atmosphere, U.S. Green Building Council, Clinton Global Initiative/Clinton Foundation, CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools), 1% Solution Green thoughts:

Mark Miller (shown with insulation made out of recycled denim jeans) doesn’t call himself a green archi­tect. He simply refers to his extremely innovative designs as “responsible.”

“If it’s your way of life and a part of your core principles, then you design accordingly,” he says.

Miller has devoted his professional life to solving environmental problems through socially-responsible design. His latest endeavor is as “Co-inventor” of Project FROG (Flexible Response to Ongoing Growth, projectfrog.com), an answer to the unhealthy and underperforming trailers that surround many schools today.

Project FROG provides flexible, quick-to-deploy structures that act as modular classrooms. But these are a far cry not only from the trailers they seek to replace, but from traditional classrooms as well. With abundant natural light, the option of “living roofs,” and a variety of changeable floor plans, these buildings are on the cutting edge of green design.

“One of the greenest things I do is live in San Francisco,” Miller says, “my family is here, my business is here, my children’s school is here, and in that way I am able to live with a smaller carbon footprint.”

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Name: Albert Straus Industry: Dairy Farming and Milk Processing Company: Straus Family Creamery Location: Marshall, Marin County Green since: 1993 Green thoughts: “Family farms are the basis of

our society and I believe that we can create sustainable farms that are healthier for the customers, the environment, and the animals.”

Green organizations: Marin Organic, Marin Agriculture Land Trust (MALT)

To call Albert Straus an innovator in organic farming is an understatement. Not only did he create the first certified organic dairy west of the Mississippi (way back in 1993), but he’s still re-inventing the concept of green farming. Consider this: Straus uses a methane digester for cow manure that produces 90 percent of the energy his farm uses.

“I often wake up in the middle of the night with some of my most innovative ideas,” says Straus. At first, competitors “thought I was crazy. Now those people are either organic farmers themselves or out of business.”

Straus grew up in a much-lauded family that has always been committed to land preservation and forward-thinking in green farming. So, when he was approached in 1990 about creating organic milk for ice cream, he immediately agreed to take on the challenge.

Straus’ ability to produce organic, award-winning yogurt, milk, cheese, and ice cream while staying true to his green values not only saved the family farm, but also made it a huge commercial success (strausfamilycreamery.com).

Green Acres

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Name: Namrata Patel, DDS Industry: Dentistry Location: 230 California Street,

San Francisco Green since: November 2006 Green thoughts: “Sharing knowledge

is the real solution; that’s where it matters the most and where the global effect really comes into play.”

Green organization: Teleosis When Namrata Patel says she was born into an organic lifestyle, she’s not exaggerating.

“I was actually born in my own home in a little village in India and grew up in a lifestyle that was all about minimalism,” she says, “not just about recycling, but about using less to begin with.”

Patel is a member of a small group of green dentists in the United States who believe in efficiently-designed and run offices as well as minimallyinvasive dental procedures. “Everything we do is energy-efficient, from conserving water to keeping digital records to printing with soy ink,” says Dr. Patel.

Outside of her practice (sfgreendentist.com), Dr. Patel is an advocate in the community and is constantly teaching those around her about the importance of being green.

“It’s really about educating the people who don’t get it,” she says. “it’s such a great feeling when you make a difference happen in someone’s thoughts and actions. That’s where the beauty and real change lie.”

Gentle Dental

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Name: Chris Bartle Industry: Real Estate Company: Green Key Real Green since: July 2005 Location: Works from his

Estate

San Francisco home north of the Panhandle (“It’s greener that way.”)

Green thoughts: “San Francisco is in the mindset of green, but we are still behind in terms of our real estate.

Everything can be done greener.”

Green organizations: Friends of the Urban Forest, Build it Green Chris Bartle calls himself a “diehard greenie.” He’s a vegan, he composts, he offsets his emissions by working from home, and he hardly ever uses his car. It’s no wonder he created the first and only green real estate company in San Francisco.

Founded in 2005, Green Key Real Estate encourages homeowners to green their homes by educating buyers and sellers and connecting them with green designers, architects, contractors, and builders.

“Whether you own or rent, there are ways to make environmentallyfriendly improvements to your home,” says Bartle.

Bartle and his wife have done many of these things in their own home, and he believes that communicating these to the “light” green population will play a big role in the greening of not only the Bay Area, but also the entire country.

“We really need to start talking to more than just the tree huggers and start targeting the huge slice of the general population, because we all need to make changes,” he says.

Green Mansions

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Alan Nichols, Manfred Krikke, Greenbacks for and Scott Wu (left to right) Green Biz Industry: Private Equity Investments Company: Tasman Group Green since: Inception (2006) Location: One Maritime Plaza, San Francisco Green thoughts: “Green is good for business.”—Manfred Krikke Green organizations: Greenpeace, SF Bike Coalition, Sierra Club NameS:

On most weekday mornings, hordes of bikers can be seen crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Among the tourists and professional cyclists, two of the three partners of the Tasman Group can often be found on their way to the Maritime Plaza in San Francisco to begin a day of green private equity investing.

Manfred Krikke, Alan Nichols, and Scott Wu are all part of this forward-thinking firm, which is dedicated to assisting companies that have a positive impact on health and environmental sustainability. Their goal is to bring environmentallyfriendly companies into the broader market and provide green businesses with much-needed financial backing.

For each member of the Tasman Group, being green started out with a personal awareness of consumption. “It was in our personal lives that we started to realize the impact we were having on the planet,” says Krikke.

“There has been a seismic shift in consumer and business behavior toward green,” notes Wu. And the effort helps out in one other very important regard, adds Nichols: “It’s really empowering and lifts morale to work in a green business.”

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Let the Bay Area give back to you at these free summer outdoor events

F

orty years after the Summer of Love, you can still slip a flower into your hair and go to the park for festivals of music and community. From Golden Gate Park to Stern Grove to plazas throughout the Bay Area, free summer events abound.

As the fog clears (maybe) and the sun breaks through (sometimes), head outside to celebrate this region that we live in. From zany costumes to serious athletes, from hula to cumbia, soak up the diversity of free summer events. Festivals provide abundant opportunities to donate and volunteer, as well as to picnic and simply spectate. Many fairs, parades and races generate money with booth and exhibition fees to support neighborhood programs or nonprofit organizations. So pack a picnic or buy a falafel as you take it all in.

See, hear and taste the diversity: Cultural events Most of us count ethnic diversity among the top reasons to live in the Bay Area. Bask in the sun and reawaken all your senses with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Bay Area cultural festivals. Learn some history along with a new dance step. And, from the lumpia to the tamales to the tempura, always sample the food.

May through October, the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (ybgf.org) offers 100 free events featuring artists from around the world, including music, dance, visual arts exhibits, spoken word, and family and children’s programming. Afternoon highlights include the Venezuelan Music Project

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(June 16), Jenny Lind (June 21), Descarga en Yerba Buena (June 30) and AfroSolo (August 4). All-day festivals include Israel in the Gardens (June 3), the Native Contemporary Arts Festival (June 17) and the Pistahan Filipino American Art Exposition (August 11–12). At the festivals “a large number of local arts and community organizations come together to do outreach from booths and even from the stage as performers,” enthuses Marshall Lamm, YBGF publicist.

On May 5, BART on over to Fruitvale for Oakland’s colorful Cinco de Mayo festival (oaklandcincodemayo.com), commemorating the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, with family-oriented entertainment, food, arts, and crafts. The festival funds after-school activities like a traditional drum and bugle corps; queen contest winners receive college scholarships. Head back to the Mission on May 26 and 27 for Carnaval San Francisco (carnavalsf.com), as local musicians, performers, and artists continue bringing the sprit of Latin America and Caribbean culture—including a parade of salsa, cumbia, and more on Sunday.

The festival—produced by and supporting the Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc., which promotes self-sufficiency and community growth for the Mission District’s children, youth, families, and seniors—includes a health pavilion offering screenings and referrals.

Each July 14, francophiles celebrate Bastille Day and the French Revolution by jamming bars and restaurants in the “French Quarter,” composed of Claude Lane, Belden Street, Mark Lane, and Harlan Place.

Got poi? Catch the island spirit and sample spam musubi, lau lau, or loco moco at the San Francisco Aloha Festival (pica-org. org), August 4–5 at the San Francisco Presidio, a festival of arts, Pacific Islander music, Polynesian dance, crafts, vendors, island cuisine, educational exhibits, and workshops. Continue spreading aloha the following weekend, August 11–12, at the Nihonmachi Street Fair (nihonmachistreetfair.org), celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander communities with yet more art, music, and food.

Nihonmachi keeps the emphasis on community, as nonprofit organizations participate with volunteering, outreach, and fundraising.

One of the largest community festivals in the Bay Area, the Oakland Chinatown Festival (oaklandchinatownstreetfest.com)— this year on August 25–26—draws crowds of more than 100,000 people to see, hear, taste, and learn about the flavors of Chinatown represented by over 200 vendors and entertainment groups on nine city blocks. For just one example of the event’s philanthropic spirit, Jennie Ong of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber points to local merchant Albert Wong, of the New Oakland Pharmacy, who has offered complimentary lunch for seniors on the Sunday of the festival for the last twenty years—serving over 600 seniors in 2006.

Take it to the street: Neighborhood fairs and open studios

D

id you know that Emeryville has one of the largest percentages of artists per capita in the United States? Or that, at the legendary Jimbo’s, a Fillmore Street jazz club, Louis Armstrong went to check out Charlie Parker—the only known time they were

under the same roof? The neighborhoods of the region are rich with history, tradition, and individual character, and many roll out the welcome mat with summer street fairs featuring art and music. Listen to world-class bands as you stroll from booth to booth, chomping on a hot boca burger, and buying art directly from the artist, complete with the story of its creation. Experience the exhilaration of a grassroots community celebration.

May 26: Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival Solano Avenue, Berkeley (solanoavenueassn.org) June 2, 3, 9, 10: East Bay Open Studios Oakland/Berkeley/Emeryville (proartsgallery.org) June 2–3: Union Street Fair San Francisco (unionstreetfestival.com) June 9–10: Live Oak Park Fair Berkeley (liveoakparkfair.com) June 9–10: Italian Street Painting Festival San Rafael (youthinarts.org) June 9–10: Haight Street Fair San Francisco (haightashburystreetfair.org) June 16–17: Marin Art Festival Marin Civic Center Lagoon (marinartfestival.com) June 16–17: North Beach Festival San Francisco (sfnorthbeach.org) June 30–July 1: Fillmore Street Fair San Francisco (fillmorejazzfestival.com)

Al fresco theater: Shakespeare, symphony, opera

A

rtistically prolific year-round, local theater troupes take the arts outside with abundant free summertime performances of opera, symphony, ballet, drama, and spoken word. Free performances bring the arts to new audiences of all ages, including children who may become the Michael Tilson Thomas or Mark Morris of the next generation.

The grand dame of al fresco performing arts, the Stern Grove Festival has brought admission-free performing arts—including opera, ballet, and an eclectic list of musical headliners—to its beautiful San Francisco amphitheater since 1938 (see Benefit profile, page 54, and full schedule at sterngrove.org). Across town at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (ybgf.org), performances include Opera in the Gardens (July 29) and Symphony in the Gardens (August 24).

Since 1983, audiences have enjoyed free Shakespeare in the Park (sfshakes.org), at parks in Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. The 2007 season brings a tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to a green space near you. The shows are free, just roll out a blanket in the park and enjoy.

Far from silent, the San Francisco Mime Troupe (sfmt.org) will continue its forty-year tradition of free shows in the parks. No timely political or social issue is safe from its satire, so prepare to shriek and cackle along with the boisterous crowds.

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Nothing Was Harmed in the Making of This Party Green is the new verb. Green your house, your car, your wardrobe. From a casual backyard barbeque to a grand gala, here’s how to “green” your next event.

Do good without doing harm.

Put on your shades, view the spectacles: Parades, races, and contests

O

ur fair city has no shortage of over-the-top spectacles, free for the viewing. From the bare-cheeked to the unbearably cheeky, the crowds gather like fluffy cumulus rain clouds. Sometimes with bold headlines and sometimes behind the scenes, many of the large parades and races raise funds for service organizations.

So fold out your lawn chair on the sidelines and cheer on the participants, whose entry fees raise funds for cancer research, park trails, and more.

The quintessential San Francisco athletic contest, Bay to Breakers (ingbaytobreakers.com) is the largest foot race in the U.S., with up to 100,000 participants. On May 20, they’ll run, walk, and dance the 7.5 miles to the finish line, pursuing awards not only for fastest times but also for best costumes. Designated beneficiary organizations—such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Washington High School, Lowell High School, and the San Francisco Elks Club in 2007—provide volunteers and receive donations collected from registrants. For those seeking more serious racing, on July 29 elite runners will compete in the grueling San Francisco Chronicle Marathon (runsfm.com). The marathon provides online facilitation of participant fundraising for nonprofits at causetorun.com—registered teams are already raising money for fighting illiteracy in India and defending international rivers from threats.

For those who prefer wheels, the Tour De Fat (sfbike.org) comes to Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park on July 21.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition promises a combination bike rodeo and bike circus, with fire-jumping bike acts at this annual bike-and-beer event and parade, sponsored by the New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire, with live music and a mix of vaudeville and burlesque entertainment, all powered by solar/ b100 bio-diesel fuel. Participating and gawking are free. Proceeds from beer sales go to the San Francisco Bike Coalition and the Bay Area Ridge Trails Council.

The annual SF Pride Celebration and Parade (sfpride.org) will take over San Francisco’s Civic Center June 23 and 24, with live musical performances and the famous parade on Sunday. The Community Partners Program is open to any nonprofit organization whose mission involves service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities, people living with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer, or positive outreach to the general public about these issues—apply to supply event volunteers and receive a grant for your programs.

Want to see your kids’ eyes bug out with glee at an event that keeps them enthralled for hours? Bring them to Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina July 28–29 for the Berkeley Kite Festival (highlinekites.com), where colorful kites of all sizes fill the sky during exhibitions, flying contests, and lessons. Bring a kid or just act like one. B

Choose a location that uses no energy, like a national park or botanical garden—or your backyard.

For inside locations, choose a building certified by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, the national benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings—such as San Francisco’s Bently Reserve (bentlyreserve.com). For entertainment space plus lodging, go for sustainable hospitality at Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa (gaiahotelnapavalley.com).

Hire a caterer and/or event planner who recycles, composts, and features organic, locally-grown, seasonal foods. Back to Earth Organic Catering (organiccatering.com) will deliver a delectable organic spread in their biodiesel van. Even if your event is not a wedding, utilize the resources at eco-wedding sites like idofoundation.org and portovert.com for inspiration and information.

For a casual event like a summer picnic or birthday party, go paperless by inviting guests with a festive e-vite (evite.com). To take it up a notch with printed invitations, programs, or other materials, use recycled paper printed with vegetable-based inks. TwistedLimbPaper.com offers 100 percent recycled handmade paper products in a studio powered by green electricity and employing adults with developmental disabilities—and donates a portion of profits to environmental conservation.

For casual dining, use biodegradable plates from sugarcane, available at Whole Foods and other natural food stores. Come clean-up time, toss them into the compost.

Decorate with local seasonal flowers, like those offered by OrganicBouquet.com, whose designated charity bouquets raise money for nonprofits (see page 23, “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Inches”). Choose delectable and inspiring favors like Endangered Species chocolate (chocolatebar.com).

When events include goody bags, use recycled bags, and gift organic tees from San Francisco’s Wildlife Works (wildlifeworks.com), which can be imprinted with your logo or event slogan—commemorate your event with no pesticides or poison dyes, and Wildlife Works’ proceeds fund an African animal sanctuary.

In lieu of gifts, register for charitable donations through websites like the I Do Foundation (idofoundation.org).

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The demarcation line between illusion and reality is becoming thinner, yet surprisingly manageable, as Saturn and Neptune begin aspecting your chart more strongly. One of the surprising outcomes: The very thing that seemed to be your greatest tragedy yesterday has suddenly turned into a most amazing opportunity. There is one little catch to your good fortune: Unless you believe that it can last, it won’t.

aRIEs MAR. 21–APR. 20

Fire Signs

LEO JUL. 23–AUG. 23

SAGITTARIUS NOV. 23–DEC. 22

Acting on impulse is definitely one of your greatest highs, but these days you find yourself doing nothing else. Action without consideration is ill-timed during the next two months, however, so don’t give in to compulsive behavior.

Proceeding deliberately, there will be energy to spare. Channel it more consciously and watch yourself come out on top, which is where you prefer to reside anyway.

Even to you, the sudden flurry of activity has become a bit overwhelming. Instead of running for the hills (your preference), let your playful side convince you to stay and go with the flow (your second preference). Others will appreciate your willingness to cooperate more than you know. With the outer planets strongly aspecting your sign, even some of your hedonistic adventures have important lessons to teach you.

Philanthroscope

by Agnes Liebhardt

GEMINI

Work is becoming more challenging and consequently a lot more interesting these days. If only you could invoke the Buddha’s calm demeanor at times when all you want to do is verbally annihilate certain others. Keeping the Libran scales centered now demands that you walk the fine line between being the student and the teacher.

Not to worry: With Venus prominent in your chart, your lovability factor is safe.

(astrocounsel@aol.com)

Air Signs

libra SEP. 24–OCT. 23

MAY 22–JUN. 21 The need to be bigger (and perhaps even better) has been seriously tugging at your “mindstrings.”

Under normal circumstances this could lead to disaster, but right now the cosmic clock is supporting expansive tendencies. Growth means change, but it can also be fun, especially when it includes a higher purpose. Channel your uncanny ability to network toward something more productive than feeding your restless and curious mind.

CAPRICORN DEC. 22–JAN. 20

The current combination of mental agility (yes, you’ve still got it!) and heartfelt compassion is luring you into the arena of relationships. Whether dealing with your partner, a friend, or a colleague, you are able to bring uncanny clarity to the situation at this time.

Knowing that this is actually your biggest gift will help you put any last judgments aside— especially those relating to self.

One of your greatest joys is the opportunity to impart hard-earned wisdom to those still learning the ropes: And imparting you have been. Why, then, aren’t you being shown the appreciation you know you deserve? There might be a lesson lurking here, so dig deeper.

This is your moment to open to, in fact, invite copious feedback about not so much what you say, as how you say it.

CANCER JUN. 24–JUL. 23

SCORPIO OCT. 24–NOV. 22

As Mercury goes retrograde in your sign this June, the familiar pull to remain in your shell will grow even stronger and practically irresistible. Although the world will try to pry you out, the sensible thing now is to stay put and manage your affairs from the comfort of your home. This will make you much more inclined to share your nurturing side with others.

Water Signs

PISCES FEB. 20–MAR. 20

The current configuration of planets is opening doors to more excitement and energy than you have had access to in a long time. Frankly, you’d rather stay with your usual routine, but another part of you is seriously nagging at you to jump in and experience another state of mind besides lugubriousness. Summon your courage and let yourself mingle with those whom you’ve been admiring from afar.

VIRGO AUG. 24–SEPT. 23

Earth Signs

TAURUS APR. 21–MAY 21

Even though you’d rather do the seasonally correct thing and run off to the beach or travel to exotic places, you are not quite done facing responsibilities on the home front. Although this sounds serious, it can actually be stimulating, especially the part where you get to share some of your practical Taurean wisdom and expertise with those who are badly in need of a reality check.

AQUARIUS JAN 21–FEB. 19

For some time now, you have wondered where the true you has gone, having been buried under more responsibility than you care to handle. It is time to allow the humanitarian in you to re-emerge as the planets begin shifting, providing the impetus to reconnect with projects that are dearer to your heart.

It is exhilarating and magical when you Aquarians dream big for all of us.

Don’t blame the planets if things aren’t working out as you would like them to: All supportive celestial energies are currently on your side.

The trick is to use your powerful intuition when you have to navigate new ground. Things might not seem as tightly controlled as usual, but then again, the present is all about letting go of control altogether and watching the magic unfold.

Illustrated by Jose Nunez, an artist at Creativity Explored, a nonprofit visual arts center in San Francisco’s Mission District where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell artwork. He has exhibited his drawings both nationally and internationally.

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