I worked for a year in an art gallery while I was in design school. The hours were great – 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday – and I got to hang around cool people and look at art all day.

We sold pieces by lesser-known but up-and-coming artists, as well as stuff from greats like Ruscha, Rauschenberg and Rothko. Learning the ins and outs of the LA art scene was fun, especially since I’m a sucker for a starving artist and LA has more than its share.

Art collecting is a hobby for some, a necessity for others. It requires a serious cash flow, but starting small (and when you’re young) and building slowly is the way to go. My only regret is not starting sooner.

But the art scene can be intimidating – an incestuous pool of who knows who and why and how much. So if you don’t know the right people or the relevant questions, shopping for art might prove to be an overwhelming pursuit.

But don’t hang up your collecting shoes so fast. There’s a new kid in town and its name is Art.sy. That’s right – without the .com or .net. Just Art.sy.

It is being pegged as Pandora for fine art, which makes sense since Joe Kennedy, the CEO of Pandora and the Music Genome Project, is involved. Kennedy, along with a computer science engineer from Princeton and a former Christie’s executive, are three of the geniuses behind Art.sy.

They created the Art Genome Project, “an ongoing study of the characteristics that distinguish and connect original works of art” which will work in tandem with search technology that collects your preferences. The goal is helping you discover art that speaks to your taste.

The Art.sy database will include art currently for sale in the hottest galleries, as well as art on display in museums and private collections. It works in three ways – “discover, learn, connect”. You can discover new art, learn more about it and the artist, and finally be connected or introduced to galleries where you can purchase the art, if that’s your goal.

The entire process is streamlined, simplified and confined to the privacy of your own computer. That is, until (and if) you want to buy something, when it’s crucial to see a piece of art in person.

It’s the ideal way to introduce fine art to the masses. Kind of like an art encyclopedia (if you remember that far back). I wish it existed when I was taking Art History in graduate school.

Art.sy is currently accepting requests for an invitation (You don’t need an invitation code, just name and email). I eagerly await its launch, expected this March.

Image: See-ming Lee

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When I grow up, I want to be a retronaut; Chris Wild already is and he is generously sharing his portal with the world. Mr. Wild’s intriguing website (and it is intriguing) is a place in time dancing with whimsy. How to be a Retronaut is a website where you can scroll and click with wild abandon and pure wonder, “If the past is a foreign country, this is your passport.”

A retronaut is someone who travels through time using just perception. How to be a Retronaut is a charismatic playground within a timeline that invites you to be a retronaut. The appeal of the website is in variety and unexpected entertainment. Where else can you find Eiffel Tower blueprints, a blooper reel from the 1930s, and a 5000 year old piece of chewing gum?! There are roots to modern chromatics, like this Crayola color chart graphically depicting the evolution from 8 crayon colors to 120 colors in 97 years (image above). For a dash of Parisian history, devour the details of this flat (who doesn’t want this ostrich?!).

I love the nostalgic photographs hidden throughout the website. These images of a Brooklyn gang in 1959 are completely captivating.

These Parisian glimpses (in color!) are from the WWII era.

And let’s not forget the birth of Twitter (70 years earlier than you think).

Now click over and explore!

(All images from How to be a Retronaut.)

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It’s easy to rush around department stores with our girlfriends, feasting our eyes on sale items while rarely consciously connecting with the items we’re buying. After all, we’re Americans and we just want the most we can get with our money, right?

Conscious choices require conscious shoppers and new online shopping venue FashionStake intends to make you think before you buy.

With a tag line that reads “The Fashion Democracy,” we can’t say enough about how they do make shopping fair for all, interpreting fashion in how we look at our purchases and how designers fill our orders.

FashionStake is essentially a designer trunk show with you, the shopper at the helm, having control over whether the designers actually produce. You shop, you pre-order, you wait for the masses to help make the maximum order threshold and when met, the piece goes into production, your credit card is charged and you get something you really want. By using this pre-order model, the site is able to access designs before they hit stores and only make exactly what has already been ordered – and at a lower price point than what other shops will be offering in spring.

Fashion democracy!

The FashionStake website says the idea was born out of founder Vivian Weng’s personal frustration.

“After spending her life working with major designers such as Elie Tahari and ESCADA, as well as emerging designers such as Jeffrey Monteiro, Vivian knew first-hand how difficult it was for designers to reach their target audience, no matter how amazing their collections were. Moreover, as a fashion-lover, she was frustrated at paying sky-high prices at department stores for relatively uninspiring items. The fashion industry seemed broken.”

So Weng is fixing it and we are more than elated she’s pulled in four top notch sustainable designers for her “Holiday Showcase” roster including amazing (really, read his story) silk scarves by  David Peck, dresses (and the above rad jumpsuit) from Tara St James of Study, jewelry by Mociun and eco-friendly hand bags from Collina Strada.

All sales end December 20th so get on it and order!

The post Fashion Stake Democratizes Shopping appeared first on EcoSalon.

We love our coffee. And we may think nothing of tipping the hardworking barista at the local café for slinging a fancy cappuccino our way. But what about the farmer who grew the coffee beans in the first place? They probably have the harder job of the two, but in all likelihood, are vastly underpaid for the work they do. In fact, they may make so little that they can no longer sustain their farming practice. Yet here we are spending $15-$20 for a sack of coffee beans without blinking an eye. Isn’t it time the farmers got their fair share?

TraceableCoffee.org is hoping to accomplish just that. The project aims to connect coffee drinkers with the small-scale farmers who grow the coffee beans. So, how does it work? Simply buy and enjoy Traceable Coffee at select retailers throughout the country. The packaging then has a code, which when entered on their website or scanned directly with your smart phone, will then trace you back to the farmer. How nifty is that!

The website tells you about the farmers including a selection of videos. Then, if you want to tip the farmer, all you have to do is add money to a virtual tip jar online that eventually gets sent directly to the farmer.

I can’t help but think of the implications of transparency that come with this technology. For example, if you could see exactly who is farming the cattle where that steak came from”¦

The post How to Tip Your Favorite Coffee Bean Farmer – That’s Right, The Farmer appeared first on EcoSalon.

Looking to connect and shape your community? Wondering how to create new social systems? Searching for like-minded, environmentally concerned citizens?

Look no further. I’ve found the place you’re looking for: The Hub.

The Hub is an international organization with a new platform for innovation and exchange. They aim to combine social and environmental concerns with economic viability. For the Hub, a thriving system produces thriving individuals. They seek exposure, connection and collaboration amongst their community members to create new value systems with an entrepreneurial spirit.

The platform provides ample opportunities for networking through physical spaces, events, workshops and an online community. The physical environment includes offices, communal workspaces, meeting rooms, and project spaces located in numerous cities across the globe. They also offer an online database for connecting individuals and organizations with a focus on social and environmental change.

I spent an afternoon working in their San Francisco communal office space, and the place was exactly that – a hub, humming with activity and innovative energy.

Expanding its efforts to promote idea exchange The Hub Bay Area leads by example, teaming up with non-profit and for-profits alike, including Intersection for the Arts, Tech Shop, and Forest City.

Looking for inspiration? Head to the Hub, pronto.

The post Hub for Social Innovation: Re-Shaping Community and the Way We Work appeared first on EcoSalon.

Let me be clear: I have a firm and unshakeable belief in the need to reuse, reduce and recycle whenever possible. But it occurred to me recently that there might be some things – due to their massive and inescapable skeeve factor – that simply should not be rinsed off and put back in the hands of unsuspecting consumers. It seems logical to me to put sex toys at the top of that particular list.

Once something has been used in such a personal and intimate way, the idea of giving it a second go-round is a little off-putting. And yet, it has come to my attention that there is an organization whose sole purpose is to promote and facilitate the recycling of sex toys. According to this company’s website, all you have to do is put your used item into a pouch and drop it into a designated receptacle; it will be retrieved, sterilized (thank God) and remade –  into either a new sex toy or a more general use item – such as underwear, a toothbrush, chopsticks, or patio furniture. For submitting items to be recycled, you are rewarded with a discount on your next purchase.

For the record, I am not a prude. I do not think that sexual enhancement products are just for floozies and sinners; I wholeheartedly support those who use titillating trinkets as part of an adult relationship. But I shudder to think that a battery-powered rubber device that was once part of an illicit three-way in a sketchy motel could somehow be reincarnated as my toothbrush.

In the interest of propriety I will not go into detail about the products that qualify for this exchange program – suffice to say that most of them will have taken a wild ride through bodily fluids. It’s hard to imagine that mere sterilization could make such objects clean enough for certain uses. I could probably live with the idea that a deconstructed sex toy had been recycled into an ink cartridge or a garbage bag, but I honestly cannot imagine one landing on my table as a chopstick.

This unwelcome knowledge is causing me to cast a wary eye on the recycled items I currently use. I have been struck with this uncomfortable thought: Is someone else’s refurbished vibrator in my house at this very minute? Intellectually I know that recycled products are entirely clean. But emotionally I am not OK with this. Suddenly I find myself wondering about those self-righteously eco brown paper towels: where have they been, exactly?

This sex-toy thing will absolutely not stop me from purchasing recycled items. But you know those black lights they use on CSI to illuminate bodily fluids at a crime scene? I may have to invest in one.

Image: Chrysaora

The post Um…My Toothbrush Was <em>Where?</em> appeared first on EcoSalon.

As many of you know, here at EcoSalon, we often emphasize the point that sustainable travel is not just about carbon offsets and packing lighter. Sustainable travel is about conscious travel, and thinking about your next adventure with a holistic approach; everything from where you go and who you stay with, to what tour operators you use and how you get around town. Ultimately, sustainable travel is also about making sure that as travelers we’re doing our best to ensure that the places we want to explore stick around for other people to enjoy them as well, and that means traveling in a manner that’s environmentally, humanly and culturally conscious.

There are a lot of great resources out there on sustainable travel and eco tourism to help guide you in your quest to be a more conscious traveler, with everything from general travel guides to specific listings of sustainable destinations. We’ve rounded up our favorite top 10.

1. Sustainable Travel International – This is the eco traveler’s go-to resource for all things related to sustainable travel. They run an excellent and informative blog that keeps you up to speed on the latest developments in the eco tourism world, and their Eco Directory lets you search travel and tourism providers that have been vetted for their commitment to sustainable practices.

2. Matador – The world’s largest independent magazine, Matador offers a wealth of information to those looking to travel off the beaten path. The articles here are succinct, savvy and are all focused on travel that benefits both the traveler and the local communities. Check out Matador Change which boasts a variety of green travel tips as well as voluntourism organization profiles.

3. Intelligent Travel – National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel blog isn’t specifically green focused, but with the traditional National Geographic attitude it features articles, profiles and tips that all fall under the category of conscious travel, with travel dispatches everywhere from New York City’s High Line to ancient rainforests in Australia.

4. Why Go EcoTourism – Part of the Bootsnall consortium of travel blogs, Why Go EcoTourism is a great place to start your eco travel research. You can easily navigate through various modes of accommodation, including eco lodges and farm stays, and get tips on other eco travel resources like books and guides.

5. Green Traveller – A UK-based site, Green Traveller offers advice on everything from cargo ship travel to staying in treehouses. It’s a well-respected site that’s been mentioned by other travel media like Conde Nast and Rough Guides.

6. Go Green Travel Green – Co-founded by travel savvy ladies Kimberly and Elizabeth Sanberg, Go Green Travel Green features the latest and greatest in green travel gear and tips. They’ve also got a great section on Green Travel 101 for those still a little unsure on the Who, What, Where and Why of it all.

7. HelpEx – If you’re looking to add a stay at an organic farm, or do some volunteer work on your next trip, HelpEx provides a great community of farms, B&Bs, and even sailboats that invites volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation. An excellent way to experience a new place if you’re a fan of slow travel and truly taking part in a local community.

8. The Guardian Green Travel – The Guardian’s section committed to green travel offers a wealth of advice, and includes features on up and coming destinations along with highlighting those spots you just thought couldn’t get any more interesting.

9. Seat 61 – If taking the train enters into any of your travel plans, make sure to consult Seat 61. In the online travel community, this is the one and only site to go to when it comes to researching train travel in other countries. The site covers in detail train travel in almost every country that trains exist, including links to train travel companies, tourism boards and tips on buying tickets.

10. Traveling Greener – Traveling Greener is a blog inspired by green travel news and trends, so it’s jam packed with the latest and greatest in green travel information. Check out Traveling Greener’s Twitter feed too which always has links to interesting articles and tidbits.

Image: Gianni D

The post 10 of the Best Travel and Tourism Sites appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sometimes we envision the perfect wall sconce, chair, or bookshelf that will tie a room together just so, but actually finding it can be an uphill battle. Custom Made, an online marketplace for artisans of handmade furniture and home goods, is a great place to look for someone to bring your decorating ideas to life.

Search the site by geographical location or type of furniture you’re looking for (custom cabinetry, handmade lamps, hand-carved signs, and more). Then check out the galleries of various artisans and contact them directly to discuss your individual needs.

Custom Made is filled with portfolios from people who make everything from standard fare like chairs and mirrors, to exotic humidors and custom clocks. You’ll find plenty of furniture made from bamboo and eco-friendly FSC-certified wood. For example, check out this nightstand from Denver-based Tilde Design Studio. Made of Cherry wood and coated in a non-toxic finish, it sports two handled drawers and a secret compartment behind the front-facing apron. Elegant and discreet at the same time? Love it!

If you’re an artisan, you might want to look into having your work featured on Custom Made. There’s a small monthly fee to join, but then you can post pictures of your work and let customers find you. Although Custom Made is a lot like the popular online marketplace Etsy, its main focus is connecting customers and artisans for customized pieces, not selling pre-made work in a retail environment.

Custom Made is a real gem of a website. The next time you see a home furnishing you can’t live without but know it hasn’t been created in an ecologically-responsible manner, hit up an artisan on the site and see if she can whip up something similar for you.

The post Find an Artisan to Customize Your Dream Furniture appeared first on EcoSalon.

When you decide to make changes in your life to reflect a more environmentally responsible lifestyle, the first place many of turn to for information is the web. There are plenty of green blogs with terrific information (ahem!), but if you’re looking for one of the best definitive and all-encompassing websites out there, be sure to bookmark National Geographic’s Green Guide.

Accumulating tips on green living is great but when you want to dig into the reasons why the choices we make are important, the Green Guide is a terrific resource. There are scads of articles that dig into the science of subjects like allergies and the toxins in modern cooking equipment. Other articles are packed with information on the efficacy of carbon offsets and where to find eco-friendly ales.

Many of the green choices we make as adults are for the betterment of future generations. The Green Guide has a whole offers sections devoted to bringing today’s youth into the fold with stories on where to find sweat-free college sweatshirts to throwing tot-oriented birthday parties that give back. There’s even an entire section devoted to babies and toddlers who want to live eco-friendly but just don’t know it yet.

The Green Guide isn’t just for people new to the eco-aware way of life – there’s plenty of information for people who’ve been living sustainably for years. Be sure to check out the many quizzes sprinkled throughout the website to brush up on your knowledge on topics like global warming and cutting gas emissions. Technology changes so fast that there might be new developments you haven’t even heard about yet.

Of course, you don’t want to give up reading your favorite green blogs, but be sure to add National Geographic’s Green Guide to your arsenal of tools that keep you up to date on the latest in eco-living. Oh, and of course, the articles have the coolest pictures around.

The post NatGeo’s Green Guide: A Go-To Resource for Eco-Living Advice appeared first on EcoSalon.

Poring over a glossy catalog while relaxing in the tub is luxurious, but all those mailers contribute to a glut of decomposing paper in landfills and deforestation for the sake of advertising the newest line of summer sundresses. Let’s make a pact to lessen or eliminate the amount of store catalogs we get in the mail, shall we? Catalog Choice is a free, easy-to-use website that will help get us started on the right foot.

Catalog Choice has over 1,700 companies in its database, all willing to stop sending you catalogs just for the asking. Just pop over to the site and enter the name of a retail company. If it’s listed in the database, you’ll get the company’s customer service phone number, links to its website and privacy policy, and an option to opt out of receiving future catalogs. For many companies it’s an all or nothing deal, but others will keep you on a seasonal or occasional “mail to” list if you like.

If you’re like me, it’s hard to give up the catalog habit cold turkey – everything just looks so slick and pretty! Fortunately, Catalog Choice has your back. In an agreement with many big retailers, you can flip through a digital copy of catalogs from Crate & Barrel, National Geographic Gift Store, and more, right online. Registered users can even bookmark catalogs for return visits, make wish lists, and share links right from the site.

So, let’s get ready to cut back on the dead tree versions of our favorite catalogs and free our mailboxes from being stuffed to the brim. Go!

Image: Vee Dub

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