Destination: Dekalb Market, Brooklyn, NYC

Lately the reasons to visit NYC are stacking up, and up and up! I'm seriously hoping to be able to plan a trip this fall - I think PGM needs to cover the dynamic things happening in this city! Today I came across something really cool — Dekalb Market in Brooklyn — an outdoor vendor market created with discarded shipping containers. Amazing. We've all seen construction projects with recycled shipping containers — most are conversation|statement pieces and don't leave you feeling like the look is going to take off anytime soon [that said I've always thought ecopods was pretty cool. Still don't think you'd be doing much for the landscape, but I have a cottage on an island in Georgian Bay and I can attest to you that an iron-clad, indestructible cottage would have it's benefits]. However, re-imagined in this sense, Dekalb Market is a whole-lot more than a study in upcycling. A collaborative project between Urban Space and Youngwoo & Associates, the space is at once an event venue, an urban farm, an eatery and a retail space. Each vendor was given liberty to outfit their space in whatever manner they saw fit, resulting in a kaleidoscope of ingenuity and originality! Further, among the market's top goals are to create a dynamic sense of community, supporting local vendors, products and food while upholding a credo of sustainability. Check out the entire project at Dekalb's official site.

Images: BKLYNOGRAPHY

Opening early Summer, Dekalb Market will be open seven days a week. Located at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue Extension and Willoughby in Brooklyn, Dekalb Market can be easily reached by public transportation.

Destination: The Folly Bar, UK

We’re back with our regular Friday DESTINATION posts! If you ever find yourself in London, UK, a visit to The Folly Bar seems essential. A mixture of garden-centric store and concept eatery/bar, I fell instantly in love for the eclectic and boho-chic feel of the eatery.  The pickled floors and pattern play, paired with neutral earth tones is a winning combination in our minds.  Even better, the restaurant is a member of London’s Sustainable Restaurants Association.

The Dominican... continued

I had promised more from my trip... I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get it up.  I've had a WHIRLWIND week, with so much good stuff happening!  I'm excited and overwhelmed all at the same time... like when you don't know which way is up but life is SO good!!!  Of course, we all have challenges and setbacks, but it's just nice when the stars align every once in a while.

Anyway, back to DR.  My experience there was nice - the beach was lovely and relaxing, as you have seen.  But, anytime I travel somewhere I like to see as much of the country and culture as I can. In all likelihood, I'll never be back there again, so why miss the opportunity, right? Well, on this trip we planned two day trips, one of which was to the capitol, Santo Domingo.  Founded by Christopher Columbus, the first city in the New World, you can imagine Dominicans are pretty proud of it.  And understandably.  Our tour consisted mostly of listening to a guide talk about Columbus monuments and buildings in five different languages, for the WHOLE day.  Wowza.  But, along the way, we were exposed to a little of the city. I was saddened and shocked by what I saw.  And I don't mean to be negative to the Dominicans, but I've been lucky and traveled  some, and this was the worst I'd seen.  Poverty, yes.  This I have seen, and it is sad.  Stray animals... this is often seen, and surprisingly the dogs/cats I saw looked pretty healthy, but the horses... oi, that was another story.  One of the horse's I saw go by pulling a carriage made me cry (I may address this later, I can't decide).  And the GARBAGE.  It was everywhere, covering every surface, with the exception of the very small Old City, which is where these photos are taken.  Santo Domingo is coastal and the beaches are not safe to swim, they are so polluted. What was so striking about this was that our 5-Star resort was pristine - a microcosm of paradise amongst all of this.  And most travelers probably never see it.  They may not realize how dire the situation is, and that if we want to enjoy the world's beautiful, tropical beaches, something's got to change.  Here's an example of what I mean: on the beach at our resort, each day it is raked, by hand. They have a staff of people that pick up garbage all day, and they fumigate the beach (ewww, this bothered me) with pesticides so bugs and wasps wouldn't bother you.  1 kilometer off the beach and the roads and are strewn with garbage, as far as the eye can see.  So, I've been thinking about the small things you can do on a vacation like this to be a little more eco friendly.  Read On.

The original military fortress of Columbus' day.

Tip One: The single most striking thing is the amount of PLASTIC you use on these trips.  Let's be honest: all-inclusive resorts involve a good deal of, shall we say, indulging.  And on the beach, that drink comes in a disposable, plastic cup. Bring a travel mug. The bartenders happily fill them, you get a bigger drink that stays cooler, and you can re-use it.  I calculated that the average person uses 8-20 cups per day!!!! This is made even more important by the fact that the Dominican doesn't recycle.

The first cathedral built outside of Europe. It took 20 years to build in the 16th century.

Tip Two: You can't drink the water from the tap in the Dominican. BUT, restaurants are required to have filtered water. So bring a large, 1L water bottle (I have one made of steel that can take a beating, and hence survive many, many vacations) and ask for it to be filled at the restaurants at each meal.  This will save the gazillions of plastic water bottles that you would otherwise have used. Again, which they don't recycle.

The nave of the Cathedral.

Tip Three: most resorts now have a policy that if you make your bed and hang your towels up, they will not change them for new ones.  I'm sure you can imagine how much laundry a resort like that will do in a day, oh the water and energy they will use!!  If you must have fresh ones, at least cut it back to once in the week.  The same goes for your beach/pool towel. Rather than exchange it for a new one each day, hang it on your balcony at the end of your beach day. It will be ready for use tomorrow.

Tip Four:  Wear a non-toxic, biodegradable sunscreen.  Not only is this for your benefit...whatever you put in your skin is in your blood in 30 seconds, don't get me started on parabens!! ;-)... it's also for the benefit of the fishies in the ocean!!!  I don't know if you've ever noticed, but some sunscreens will literally create a surface skim of oily, weird stuff on the water! Not nice.  I'm sure the accumulation of thousands of guests swimming in the ocean several times per day has an effect.

The courtyard of Christopher Columbus' palace.  

Tip Five: That's it. No more tips.  I can think of more, but I don't want to overwhelm you or sound "preachy". Mostly, I just want people to think about the bigger picture, and do what they can because they want to.  So, above all, enjoy and appreciate your vacation if you get to go.  Relax, snooze, detox, whatever.  That appreciation will foster the desire to preserve, so you can come back and swim in the ocean again.  So, what do you think?  If you have any travel tips to add please do so! Leave a comment and share!

A man selling his wares.

Jonathan is struggling a little (read: bored!!!) with the narrative, repeated in five different languages!!! 

Christopher Columbus' palace. Amazing really - it's very old, yet practically pristine.  Inside still has some original furniture!

Thank's for reading everyone!

Still to come today: exciting news about Pure Green Magazine, and an update on our next issue.

{green} traveller: Urnatur & Anthropologie

Often, my favourite part of the day is taking Rusty, my beloved pup, for a walk after a long day.  He's an active dog and won't settle for less than an long walk off the leash in the woods.  Even if I don't always feel like going, once I'm there, the day melts away and I feel more focused.  I often do my best thinking and feel the most creative on those walks.  Which may be why, after curiously reading yesterday's email from Amanda, who works on Anthropologie's PR team, I felt so drawn to the their latest feature on The Anthropologist, a site where Anthropologie features "the inspiring works of inspiring individuals. It {the site} is a testament to the idea that revealing the passions and pursuits of one person can result in the progress of many."  If you've had a gander at Anthropologie's gorgeous December catalog, you may have noticed the breathtaking, ethereal set location - the swirling mist, emerald greenery and dappled light, only a few of the things that makes the actual location, nature retreat Urnatur, hand built by proprietors Håkan Strotz and Ulrika Krynitz, so spectacular.  Urnatur in Swedish means "ancient nature," a principal that is embraced and embodied by the retreat (which has been awarded 5 green stars by Eco Hotels of the World)... the green roofs on the cottages look aged and ensure the landscape is uninterrupted; the tree houses give you new perspective on your surroundings; the interiors are simplistic and organic, emphasizing that the outdoors is your playground. "Urnatur is a refuge from many of the trappings of the modern world. Its approach extends not only to the pace of life at Urnatur, but also to its design. It has been said by guests and Urnatur’s creators that you must experience Urnatur to understand it. The video and photographic series {on The Antropologist}does just that. It brings viewers into the magical simplicity of Urnatur’s world."