Portland
Going Green
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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Tease your taste buds by just walking into this creamery haven. Alotto Gelato hand-makes all of their gelatos on-site with fresh, local ingredients, ensuring folks that everything is top-quality (and lower in fat than ice cream!). The seasonal selection rotates as the supply changes, but the summertime Coconut "lick your way to Tahiti" flavor tastes just like paradise, and the Indulge in Pumpkin will keep you in jovial spirits during Portland's moody fall and winter months.
HAWTHORNE DISTRICT. Portland's plenteous vegan population found a haven when Food Fight Grocery opened in 2003. Sassy and to the point, the store's website says the concept for the shop sprang up because the proprietors "were tired of having to settle for what others wanted to give us to eat." Along with cruelty-free foods for you, Food Fight offers earth-friendly fare for your furry friends.
DOWNTOWN. This student-run eatery believes that what you put inside of you should be good not only for the body but for the environment and society as well. Food for Thought incorporates locally grown and sustainable produce to create a fresh menu daily at a reasonable cost (it is on a college campus, after all). The café also features artwork by students and Portland artists, as well as special events – like film screenings and live music.
Portlanders are known for being conscientious of earth-preserving practices – so much so that they even have an environmentally friendly haven for pets. At Green Dog Pet Supply, you can find pet beds that incorporate recycled materials, organic and pesticide-free food products (their 'Wet Nose' dog biscuits are handmade in Washington), and a friendly staff. In addition, the store itself was designed with lots of reclaimed goods and energy-efficient features.
HAWTHORNE DISTRICT. Along the eco-friendly, hipster stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard, you'll find one of the coolest little clothing shops in town. Le Rouge features tailor-made apparel – often created by local designers – as well as clothing crafted from alternative materials. Le Rouge also hosts a Thursday night Art Show once a month to feature a new (or up-and-coming) local artist.
ALPHABET DISTRICT. Lush is a major advocate of free trade, using cruelty-free and natural products, and even packaging shipments with water-activated, gum-backed material instead of tape to help reduce waste. This package-elimination practice coincides with the idea of selling bath products in never-wrapped bar form – look for shampoo bars, massage bars, and good old-fashioned (and splendidly aromatic) soap bars.
More than just an environmentally-friendly food store, People's Food Co-op is a truly member-driven organization that offers participants free yoga classes, patronage refunds, volunteering opportunities and incentives, and discounts at over 40 local businesses. The store maintains high standards for its produce – trying whenever possible to buy local – and features a vast array of options for vegan and vegetarian shoppers.
Sameunderneath is more than just the name of this clothing store – it's the company's philosophy that all people desire the same basic things and want to feel worthy. The owners utilize local designers to create unique fashions, and they make products out of bamboo and other organic fibers in an effort to support local and sustainable practices. Sameunderneath makes shopping for fashionable items guilt-free and satisfying.
It isn't called The Farm Café for nothing – but what appears to be a run-down barn from the outside actually boasts a warm, cozy interior with food so good you'll most likely find yourself caught up inside for hours. Don't expect things like farm-raised fish here, though; The Farm Café features only wild-caught filets alongside local cheeses, sensational tofu dishes, an innovative cocktail list, and a menu that's spot-on in regard to flavor and preparation.
This home remodeling center offers – and is made of – 100% recycled materials. The goods have all been donated, so you can purchase scrap wood, doorknobs, vintage sinks, light fixtures, and more for thrifty prices. Thanks to its earth-friendly ways, The Rebuilding Center estimates that it diverts 4˝ million tons of reusable materials from landfills every year. They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
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They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
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