Hello and see you at Green Drinks

Hello environmentalists and eco-curious people! Welcome to Emerald City, your bloggy, new resource for green living in Los Angeles.

With Al Gore winning both an Emmy and an Oscar, "green" is very "Hollywood" these days. Though judging by the number of SUVs on the 405, many Angelenos have yet to jump into the movement with both feet.

So, let me start with an invitation: If environmentalism sounds preachy and scary to you, maybe happy hour with a few environmentalists will warm you up to the movement. Green Drinks -- an international initiative of sorts that gets green-minded people together for drinks -- happens at a different bar in LA every Thursday of the week.

No, you don't need to drive a Prius. You don't need to have a compost heap or your own tomato garden. Green Drinks has no agenda or theme -- The event's simply composed of the people who attend.  All you have to do is show up ready to hang out and meet a few like-minded people over drinks. Rub elbows with everyone from die-hard eco-activists to people who seem to have just come for the booze and a little company.

I go to the Green Drinks in Culver City, which happens at the Culver Hotel on the first Thursday of each month -- Next one's on Oct. 4. Sometimes there's organic Square One Vodka, sometimes there isn't. But there's always enviro-oriented conversations, with lots of sociable people eager to talk about their green businesses or organizations, the latest eco-parties and events, or, um, recycling.

Live far from Culver City and don't want to  burn fossil fuels to get to a green event? The East Side, the Valley, and Hermosa Beach all have their own Green Drinks too. Sign up to get on the email list, and you'll get a reminder before the events -- as well as a list of  other fun green stuff  happening around town. See you there -- where you can tell me what you want me to write about.

Pictures by Siel