Green Options » wedding

#3 Portland, Oregon (USA): Great Bicycle City Photo Tour

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:53:01 +0000

With bike weddings, bike parades, hundreds of naked bicyclists, bike fashion shows, popular & interesting cargo bikes, and travelling bike pubs, Portland is #3 on this great bicycle city photo tours list.

Portland has great bicycle facilities (colored bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, great bike signs, off-road bicycle paths, etc.), a large number of people using the bicycle for transportation, and a bike culture that brings the fun of bicycling to another level.

As a result of these factors and more, Portland was the first large city in the US to achieve the Platinum level Bike Friendly award from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) — the Platinum level being the highest level possible (above Gold, Silver and Bronze). It is truly a world-class bicycle city now, and the amazing photos in this photo tour help to show that.

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Wedding Rings for the Ethical Bride

Katherine DalPra — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:10 +0000

Most single women would give anything to start all the fun of wedding planning before she officially has the ring, so here’s your excuse to do so. If your personal values have led you to follow a more environmentally and socially conscious lifestyle, then your wedding will likely be no exclusion. There are literally thousands of ways to make your wedding more “green” and one in particular comes into play before he even gets down on one knee.

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Hot Eco-Couture Wedding Gowns from Bridal Fashion Designer Adele Wechsler

Gina Munsey — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:13:39 +0000

Designer Adele Wechsler, a South Africa native and current Toronto resident, doesn’t see green weddings as merely a passing trend, but “as more of a movement that’s here to stay.” Adele’s newest Eco-Couture Collection transcends preconceived notions of eco bridal wear by seamlessly blending high fashion luxury with organic fabric and fair-trade labor.

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Eco-Guide: How I Turned My Wedding Green (Part Two)

Gina Munsey — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:31:24 +0000

As part one of Eco-Guide: How I Turned my Wedding Green illustrated, it is entirely possible to green your wedding while still keeping the green in your pocketbook. Two mantras are tantamount — Think Household Items, not Wedding Items, and Invest Time, not Money .

In last week’s guide, I brought these two principles to life with examples from my wedding last fall, sharing how I repurposed classy but practical household objects into sophisticated wedding accents. I also discussed minimizing the dreaded DIY look through maintaining subtlety and consistency.

This week, we’ll take a look at more ways to green your wedding and introduce the last three principles: Re-Think the Must-Haves; Borrow, Don’t Buy; and Incorporate Heirlooms.

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Eco-Guide: How I Turned My Wedding Green (Part One)

Gina Munsey — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:55:37 +0000

Greening your wedding doesn’t automatically mean emptying all the green from your pocketbook.

There are countless innovative ways you can have an eco-conscious wedding celebration — ways that go far beyond a hand-crafted wedding dress or an organic meal.

In this eco-guide, learn how we minimized consumerism and pulled off a fabulously green wedding by incorporating family heirlooms, repurposing everyday objects, growing our own organic flowers, questioning the must-haves…and much, much more.

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Green Wedding Cakes

Allison Boyer — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:40:11 +0000

Yes, you can purchase a “green” wedding cake, and I don’t just mean in color! A number of bakeries around the world make organic cakes these days.

Don’t forget to also choose natural flowers and an environmentally-friendly topper, and make plans to donate any uneaten cake to a homeless shelter in your area or a needy family you know so that leftovers don’t go to waste while you’re on your honeymoon.

There are even a number of websites for organic bakeries, so it is fairly easy to find one in your area.

Here are some bakeries that make organic cakes:

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A Green-pro Designer for Custom Couture

Delia Montgomery — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:39:04 +0000

Ever think of securing a custom designer? Most people only do so for special occasions, but it’s especially more common for high-fashion couture admirers. And why not for green couture?

Well it’s not common knowledge, but custom green couture is an expanding service. Existing and famed designers are shifting from conventional materials and some like Crystal Miler have been at it from the start.

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Five Tips to Keep Local Foods the Honored Guest at Catered Events

Lisa Kivirist — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:16:19 +0000

At home, we rank king and queen of our own kitchen – declaring local and seasonal priorities, treating area farmers like valued citizens, banning high fructose corn syrup and declaring kale royalty. Once we cross the moat of our island home base, navigating reality can get a bit more treacherous and sticky, especially when organizing an event outside your kitchen confines. Our quest for sustainability deflates through the reality of standardized event menus, venue restrictions and catering managers rolling their eyes and commenting, “But we’ve never done it that way before.”

Enter Greg Christian, owner of Greg Christian Catering and Events, Chicago’s “Conscious Caterer” on a mission to bring the healthy, sustainable food message to the event scene. Wearing his white chef coat like a cloak of armor, Christensen proves that commitment, passion for healthy food and a dedication to constantly questioning and evolving can prompt true change.

Christian’s journey toward sustainability sparked when his young daughter’s asthma improved significantly through eating organic foods. “But I was living two lives, eating organic at home and using conventional foods in my businesses,” Christian confesses. “I realized I couldn’t live these two separate lives anymore and I started literally diagnosing where my food inputs came from on a world map.” This mapping system prompted not only change, but a deep sense of humility for Christian. “I’m humble and honored to be part of the global food system,” adds Christian, an emotion fueling his catering company’s constant quest to buy from area farmers, run a zero waste kitchen and continually work towards further greening his operations.

Planning an event you would like to keep green? Here are five tips to get started:

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Plant It Green: Five Tips for Mixing Sustainable Foods into Your Next Event

Lisa Kivirist — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:10:59 +0000

Large events, from weddings to corporate functions to even your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary bash, provide a double-edged sword when it comes to going green. On one side, as events like these often focus around food, such gatherings provide the ideal opportunity to showcase local, seasonal and organic fare. But then there’s the other dark side of the catering and event planner world, where efficiency, cost and disposability typically rule the bottom line.

Planning an event you would like to keep green? Here are five tips to get started:

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Top Ten Ways to Make Your Wedding Sustainable

Amiel Blajchman — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:36:29 +0000

So, the knee has been bent, the question has been asked, the positive answer given. Now comes the (un)fun part: organizing the wedding. Along with choosing the band, the cake, the colour of your linens, some couples are beginning to ask how they can make their special day more sustainable? After the break, sustainablog will present some of our favourite ways of making a wedding into a green wedding.

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Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations by EarthlyAffair.com

Stancie Wilson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:25:48 +0000

It was when Jennifer Stambolsky was planning her own wedding that she found a lack of wedding invitations for the modern bride that were both gorgeous & eco-friendly. With a love of nature combined with a love of beautiful stationery, she launched EarthlyAffair.com.

Choose from two environmentally friendly papers, a premium 100% Recycled Post Consumer Recycled paper that uses no new trees and a heavyweight 60% Recycled (30% Post Consumer) Cotton paper that is Forest Stewardship Counsel certified. All envelopes are made of 100% post consumer waste, FSC certified and processed without the use of chlorine. Not only that but they are a carbon neutral business purchasing CO2 offsets for emissions caused by conducting business and shipping through carbonfund.org.

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Green Weddings: Wedding Planning Binder from russell+hazel

Stancie Wilson — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:10:16 +0000

The key element to the success of any event, especially a wedding, is planning. In the savvy bride’s arsenal you’re sure to find her Wedding Binder, where all her checklists, magazine clippings and sketches lie.

I’ve always loved the designs & concepts from russell+hazel, a company who obviously adores paper and organization as much as I do. And as such, they realize that cutting down trees is not something they what to perpetuate, so each and every product they offer is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and most are biodegradable and/or reusable; from the spirals in their notebooks to the covers of their binders. And now, with their ultra-stylish Wedding Organizer Set, you can keep everything on track while still looking good. My particular fave is their whiteboard feature inside of the binder cover so that quick notes or sketches can be made easily and wiped away when finished.

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Deborah Lindquist Eco-Friendly Wedding Dresses

Stancie Wilson — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:05:42 +0000

I love weddings! Attending, coordinating or helping in any way, I enjoy being a part of the big day and my biggest satisfaction comes from knowing the bride is happy. Planning what may be the biggest party you’ve ever thrown to even the most intimate of events can simultaneously be the most exciting and stressful time of your life. While the majority of weddings occur in the Spring and Summer, many have become engaged recently, in the midst of planning a Fall or Winter wedding; or you may have reserved next year for your nuptials. In my multi-part series, I’ll highlight super stylish ways to incorporate “green” into your wedding.

One of the most sought after eco-conscious fashion designers, Deborah Lindquist is a celebrity favorite and has dressed the likes of Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron and Pink.

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The Nature Conservancy: Top 10 Tips for the Perfect Green Wedding

Jonathon — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:12:41 +0000

In honor of the impending wedding season, The Nature Conservancy offers tips to make your special day one Mother Nature will celebrate.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something… green? It’s really not as out of the ordinary as it sounds—last year, Brides.com estimated that approximately 33% of future brides and grooms in the U.S. are planning an eco-friendly wedding.

Today, The Nature Conservancy is issuing tips for planning a greener wedding or commitment ceremony, with ideas from invitations through the honeymoon to help reduce your celebration’s impact on the planet—and maybe even reduce the impact on your wallet as well.

“There’s no need to sacrifice your dream wedding for a green wedding,” said Sanjayan, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy. “Just imagine the power of one simple change—be it as small as reducing wedding travel or serving organic food at the reception—multiplied by the thousands of couples who plan to marry this year. The littlest changes really add up, and can leave a positive impact on the Earth for generations to come.”

Invitations: Sending invitations electronically or on recycled paper stock will save money and trees. Bonus for going the electronic route: You’ll save on the fuel used to deliver the cards.

Gift registry: Register for gifts that you actually need and will definitely use, and if possible, are healthy for the planet. Many of your favorite stores probably carry organic and environmentally sound products already, and with a little research, you can ensure that your new ice cream maker has a minimal carbon footprint.

Reducing consumption can have more of an impact than simply buying recycled/recyclable products. If you don’t need anything, ask your guests to donate to your favorite charity.

Flowers: Organic flowers are one option, but tastefully arranged dried or silk flowers can make as big a statement as fresh floral arrangements.

If you’re set on fresh flowers, try decorating with potted plants native to your area. What’s fresher than still-living flora? You can even plant them when the ceremony is over—wedding décor and landscaping in one fell swoop!

Fashion: The Condé Nast Bridal Group estimates that most brides spend about $900 on just their gowns—and that’s not including the many accessories most brides need to polish their look. An environmentally and cost-friendly solution is to wear a vintage or hand-me-down dress. A female relative or friend’s gown has likely (hopefully!) only been worn once, and you do need something borrowed, right?

If you’d prefer a new dress, look for one that’s made of certified organic cotton, since polyester is petroleum-based, and most other cotton is grown with harsh pesticides. Grooms and ushers can get on the all-natural natural-fiber bandwagon as well by wearing a dress shirt made of hemp or organic cotton.

Do your bridesmaids a favor and forgo the puffy sleeves and universally unflattering fits, and select a gown that your girls would gladly wear again. If you’re stuck with a frock reminiscent of an ‘80s-era prom nightmare, forgo dumping that hideous gown in the garbage, and check out HGTV’s suggestions for turning sequins and taffeta into stylish home accents.

The Rings: The production of one tiny band of gold results in 20 tons of mine waste, according to Earthworks, an organization that works to protect the environment from the impact of mineral development. Show your commitment to your brand new spouse with a recycled or heirloom ring, or start a new trend by sporting silver bands, since the mining of silver is a bit gentler on the environment.

The Location: Holding your festivities in a central location will cut down on travel for your guests, which will make both them and Mother Nature even happier to be a part of your joyous day. Another thing to consider when choosing a wedding locale: “Believe it or not,” said Sanjayan, “big cities might be better than country locations because cities, for the most part, have less energy use in terms of per capita carbon.”

It’s possible to keep the travel to a minimum once your guests have arrived, too. When Evan Parker, The Nature Conservancy’s manager of digital membership, got married last October, he and his bride-to-be chose a church and reception site within walking distance. Post-ceremony, the bride traded in her formal shoes for sneakers, and the couple and their guests walked to the reception, held at a restaurant just blocks from the church.

Food: Feeding your guests unpronounceable pesticides is no way to show your appreciation for their attendance, so consider serving organic food and wine at the reception. Local produce is also a great, low-impact option, and your menu will be fresher for guests and easier on nature.

Favors: The Bridal Association of America estimates that the average couple spends over $400 on favors for their guests, which seems like a lot for a couple pounds of after-dinner mints. A greener option? Donate the amount set aside in your budget to a favorite charity.

The Nature Conservancy offers a number of favor options with a minimal carbon footprint. Help reforest Brazil’s Atlantic Forest by contributing to the Plant a Billion Trees campaign, or adopt a few acres of Costa Rican rainforest in honor of your guests.

If you absolutely must give your guests a sweet treat, try organic, local goodies like chocolate or wine. Really, does anyone need yet another tiny lace pouch of Jordan almonds?

The Honeymoon: The party might be over, but the honeymoon fun’s just begun—and it’s easy to maintain a green theme throughout your romantic getaway. One way to lessen your trip’s environmental impact is to forgo a far-flung destination. (And as the cost of fuel continues to rise, keeping it local will also save you a bundle in travel costs.) If you’d prefer to spend your first few days as husband and wife in a more exotic locale, remember that many travel companies offer eco-trips or environmentally friendly excursions. You could even go on a Nature Conservancy Conservation Journey!

No matter how you decide to spend your honeymoon, you can buy energy offset credits to offset the toll your travel has on the environment.

…And Baby Makes Three?: If there’s a baby on the way, or you’re planning to start a family soon, have eight trees planted on your child’s behalf, said Sanjayan. “Eight trees will offset the amount of carbon a person releases by simply breathing during an average lifetime.” While you’re at it, why not plant a few for yourself as well?

For more information on going green, learn how you can become an everyday environmentalist.

Bike Wedding Parades

Bike Fairy Pedicabs

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.” ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Bike Halftime Shows

Bands on Bikes

Bike Parades

Bike Street Clowns

“After your first day of cycling, one dream is inevitable. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs, and round and round they seem to go. You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow.” ~H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

Green Bike Lanes with Bike Boxes, Dutch Style

Blue Bike Lanes at Major Intersections, Copenhagen Style

Bike Lane Stencil — Bike & Golf

Bike Lane Stencil — Juggling on a Bike

Artistic Bike Racks

Good Signage for Bicyclists

Great Bicycle & Pedestrian Lanes on a Bridge

On Hawthorne Bridge. The photographer writes: “This clear signage allows a wide sidewalk on a bridge to be safely shared between bikes and pedestrian traffic.”

Bikes on Transit

From the photographer: “MAX trains essentially have have three kinds of carriages: two kinds of low-floor carriages and one kind of high-floor carriage.

Each MAX train consists of just two carriages (they are short because Portland city blocks are so short), and one carriage is guaranteed to be a low-floor carriage (only the low floor carriage are suitable for folks with disabilities). But… only the low floor carriages have hooks (you can stand on the high-floor ones). Each low floor carriages has 4 hooks, so a train has 4 or 8 good places to hang a bike and relax.”

Image Credit 1: poetas via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: Shannon Henry via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: Brewcaster via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 6: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 7: hradcanska via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 8: Mark Stosberg via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 9: brianellin via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 10: mokolabs via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 11: Mark Stosberg via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 12: Major Clanger via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Bike Fashion Shows

Image Credit 1: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 6: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 7: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 8: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 9: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 10: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 11: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 12: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Bike Tattoos

Bike Art

Bike Fish or Fish Bike (not sure)

“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else’s heart.” ~Diane Ackerman

Bike Art?

Image Credit 1: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: vj_pdx via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: Philosophographlux via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: Ben Amstutz via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 6: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Fun Family Bicycling

“A bicycle does get you there and more…. And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun.” ~Bill Emerson, “On Bicycling,” Saturday Evening Post, 29 July 1967

Image Credit 1: EthanPDX via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: drwhimsy via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: cafemama via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: qousqous via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 6: Philosophographlux via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 7: Mark Stosberg via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Naked Bicycling Events

Donuts on Bikes

Beer by Bike

Pizza Delivery

Bike-Thru Window at Black Sheep Bakery, no Cars

Image Credit 1: Anomalily via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Elly Blue via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: Elly Blue via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: chrispyworld via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Bike on Bike

Got a Package to Pick Up? Get It on Your Bike

Bike Delivery

From the photographer: “B-Line PDX is a new local business that is looking to change how Portland businesses deliver goods across town. They got two huge cargo bikes and the clients are already rolling in.”

Cool Cargo Bike

Dutch-Style Cargo Bike

More Cargo Bikes

Both of these for sale at a downtown bicycle shop, Portland Tricycles.

Cargo Bike in Snow

Cleaning Service by Bike

Recycling on Bike

Image Credit 1: gregraisman via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: gregraisman via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: timmycorkery via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: gabriel amadeus via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 5: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 6: NathanBackous via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 7: Mark Stosberg via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 8: Portland Pedalworks via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 9: Portland Pedalworks via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 10: npGREENWAY via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 11: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 12: Philosophographlux via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Off-Road Biking Safer for Bikes than Cars

“Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.” ~Jacquie Phelan

If you liked this photo tour, you are sure to like the previous ones as well:

#4 Copenhagen (Denmark)
#5 Paris (France)
#6 Groningen (the Netherlands)
#7 Berlin (Germany)
#8 Barcelona (Spain)
#9 Bogota (Columbia)
#10 Basel (Switzerland)

And be sure not to miss the top two photo tours! Keep your eye on EcoWorldly or subscribe to its feed or email list to make sure you don’t miss them or other upcoming posts. Have something extra to add? Comment below!

Image Credit: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Wedding Bands That Won’t Break The Bank

Emma Henderson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:33:36 +0000

Wedding bells are in the air at Green Options. Deb over at our sister blog Feelgood Style is getting married next week, and she recently wrote a fascinating article on greening your wedding.

I have a little longer left to plan fortunately and I’m feeling very inspired by an article I found at Portovert on making your own wedding rings, specifically making them from old silver coins. These DIY wedding bands could even be made from coins manufactured in the year of your - or each others birth, what a lovely touch.

This wikiHow article gives detailed instructions on making the rings as well as explanations of what can go wrong and why - always useful. But even if it does take a couple of attempts to perfect, at $3 a shot your hardly going to break the bank.

Bike Wedding Parades

Bike Fairy Pedicabs

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.” ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Bike Halftime Shows

Bands on Bikes

Bike Parades

Bike Street Clowns

“After your first day of cycling, one dream is inevitable. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs, and round and round they seem to go. You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow.” ~H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

Green Bike Lanes with Bike Boxes, Dutch Style

Blue Bike Lanes at Major Intersections, Copenhagen Style

Bike Lane Stencil — Bike & Golf

Bike Lane Stencil — Juggling on a Bike

Artistic Bike Racks

Good Signage for Bicyclists

Great Bicycle & Pedestrian Lanes on a Bridge

On Hawthorne Bridge. The photographer writes: “This clear signage allows a wide sidewalk on a bridge to be safely shared between bikes and pedestrian traffic.”

Bikes on Transit

From the photographer: “MAX trains essentially have have three kinds of carriages: two kinds of low-floor carriages and one kind of high-floor carriage.

Bike Fashion Shows

Bike Tattoos

Bike Art

Bike Fish or Fish Bike (not sure)

“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else’s heart.” ~Diane Ackerman

Bike Art?

Fun Family Bicycling

“A bicycle does get you there and more…. And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun.” ~Bill Emerson, “On Bicycling,” Saturday Evening Post, 29 July 1967

Naked Bicycling Events

Donuts on Bikes

Beer by Bike

Pizza Delivery

Bike-Thru Window at Black Sheep Bakery, no Cars

Bike on Bike

Got a Package to Pick Up? Get It on Your Bike

Bike Delivery

Cool Cargo Bike

Dutch-Style Cargo Bike

More Cargo Bikes

Both of these for sale at a downtown bicycle shop, Portland Tricycles.

Cargo Bike in Snow

Cleaning Service by Bike

Recycling on Bike

Off-Road Biking Safer for Bikes than Cars

“Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.” ~Jacquie Phelan

If you liked this photo tour, you are sure to like the previous ones as well:

#4 Copenhagen (Denmark)
#5 Paris (France)
#6 Groningen (the Netherlands)
#7 Berlin (Germany)
#8 Barcelona (Spain)
#9 Bogota (Columbia)
#10 Basel (Switzerland)

Image Credit: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Recycled Silk Flower Pin: Perfect for the Green Bride

Tara Hogan — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:44:07 +0000

Wedding season is always in season but a lot of couples get married in spring and summer. As a bride I looked high and low to find a modern hairpiece instead of a traditional veil.

Foundling’s shop on Etsy features a recycled silk pin with glass beads that can double as a hair piece. Each layer is cut and singed by hand. Sizes range from about 3.5 to 4 inches in diameter.

Bike Wedding Parades

Bike Fairy Pedicabs

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.” ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Bike Halftime Shows

Bands on Bikes

Bike Parades

Bike Street Clowns

“After your first day of cycling, one dream is inevitable. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs, and round and round they seem to go. You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow.” ~H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

Green Bike Lanes with Bike Boxes, Dutch Style

Blue Bike Lanes at Major Intersections, Copenhagen Style

Bike Lane Stencil — Bike & Golf

Bike Lane Stencil — Juggling on a Bike

Artistic Bike Racks

Good Signage for Bicyclists

Great Bicycle & Pedestrian Lanes on a Bridge

On Hawthorne Bridge. The photographer writes: “This clear signage allows a wide sidewalk on a bridge to be safely shared between bikes and pedestrian traffic.”

Bikes on Transit

From the photographer: “MAX trains essentially have have three kinds of carriages: two kinds of low-floor carriages and one kind of high-floor carriage.

Bike Fashion Shows

Bike Tattoos

Bike Art

Bike Fish or Fish Bike (not sure)

“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else’s heart.” ~Diane Ackerman

Bike Art?

Fun Family Bicycling

“A bicycle does get you there and more…. And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun.” ~Bill Emerson, “On Bicycling,” Saturday Evening Post, 29 July 1967

Naked Bicycling Events

Donuts on Bikes

Beer by Bike

Pizza Delivery

Bike-Thru Window at Black Sheep Bakery, no Cars

Bike on Bike

Got a Package to Pick Up? Get It on Your Bike

Bike Delivery

Cool Cargo Bike

Dutch-Style Cargo Bike

More Cargo Bikes

Both of these for sale at a downtown bicycle shop, Portland Tricycles.

Cargo Bike in Snow

Cleaning Service by Bike

Recycling on Bike

Off-Road Biking Safer for Bikes than Cars

“Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.” ~Jacquie Phelan

If you liked this photo tour, you are sure to like the previous ones as well:

#4 Copenhagen (Denmark)
#5 Paris (France)
#6 Groningen (the Netherlands)
#7 Berlin (Germany)
#8 Barcelona (Spain)
#9 Bogota (Columbia)
#10 Basel (Switzerland)

Image Credit: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Green Style How-To: Bridesmaid Dresses Can Be Worn Again

Victoria Everman — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:36:49 +0000

With summer soon coming to a close, the busiest wedding season of the year will be ending as well. Great food, funny dancing, beautiful decorations … and some questionable fashion choices are standard for most these events. Once the DJ goes home, the cake is eaten, and the happily wedded couple are off on their honeymoon, what do you do with that bridesmaid dress that you don’t ever see needing (or wanting) to wear again? As expected, the folks working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Blueprint Magazine have assembled a nice collection of ideas on how to revise those silk taffeta nightmares into something you would actually be excited to wear on a nice night out or casual weekend.

If the thought of wearing that bridesmaid "beauty" again gives you cold chills, there are other options. Author Cindy Walker published an amazinglytongue -in-cheek book called 101 Uses for a Bridesmaid Dress in 1999, but the tips are still relevant. Though there are no actual patterns of directions in the book, Walker does offer an intriguing collection of part-joking, part-serious ways to reuse that hunk of fabric hanging in your closet, such as "you can never have too many hair scrunchies" and "how about a taffeta hammock?"

Maybe you have long since donated your bridesmaid gowns to a non-profit, but can’t help but be reminded of the happy moments and unique experiences you went through to help one of your close friends have the perfect day. Then there is a book for you as well. Meg MateoIlasco’s You Can Wear It Again: A Celebration of Bridesmaids’ Dresses "pays loving tribute to fifty years of bridesmaids’ dresses, as featured in real-life weddings." While there is no doubt that bridesmaid dresses will never be "in fashion", this book is also a great gift for that bride that you care so much about that you spend a whole day wearing a puffy, peachy nightmare for.

Bike Wedding Parades

Bike Fairy Pedicabs

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.” ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Bike Halftime Shows

Bands on Bikes

Bike Parades

Bike Street Clowns

“After your first day of cycling, one dream is inevitable. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs, and round and round they seem to go. You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow.” ~H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

Green Bike Lanes with Bike Boxes, Dutch Style

Blue Bike Lanes at Major Intersections, Copenhagen Style

Bike Lane Stencil — Bike & Golf

Bike Lane Stencil — Juggling on a Bike

Artistic Bike Racks

Good Signage for Bicyclists

Great Bicycle & Pedestrian Lanes on a Bridge

On Hawthorne Bridge. The photographer writes: “This clear signage allows a wide sidewalk on a bridge to be safely shared between bikes and pedestrian traffic.”

Bikes on Transit

From the photographer: “MAX trains essentially have have three kinds of carriages: two kinds of low-floor carriages and one kind of high-floor carriage.

Bike Fashion Shows

Bike Tattoos

Bike Art

Bike Fish or Fish Bike (not sure)

“When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day’s sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay’s call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else’s heart.” ~Diane Ackerman

Bike Art?

Fun Family Bicycling

“A bicycle does get you there and more…. And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun.” ~Bill Emerson, “On Bicycling,” Saturday Evening Post, 29 July 1967

Naked Bicycling Events

Donuts on Bikes

Beer by Bike

Pizza Delivery

Bike-Thru Window at Black Sheep Bakery, no Cars

Bike on Bike

Got a Package to Pick Up? Get It on Your Bike

Bike Delivery

Cool Cargo Bike

Dutch-Style Cargo Bike

More Cargo Bikes

Both of these for sale at a downtown bicycle shop, Portland Tricycles.

Cargo Bike in Snow

Cleaning Service by Bike

Recycling on Bike

Off-Road Biking Safer for Bikes than Cars

“Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm.” ~Jacquie Phelan

If you liked this photo tour, you are sure to like the previous ones as well:

#4 Copenhagen (Denmark)
#5 Paris (France)
#6 Groningen (the Netherlands)
#7 Berlin (Germany)
#8 Barcelona (Spain)
#9 Bogota (Columbia)
#10 Basel (Switzerland)

Image Credit: BikePortland.org via flickr under a Creative Commons license