Green Guide 2012 | Ecofriendly ways to enjoy Chicago
Whether you're looking for an earth-friendly way to get to work or a delicious farm-to-table restaurant meal, our Green Guide can help you be good to your Mother Earth.
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Green Guide Calendar of Events
“Restoring Earth” at The Field Museum Ongoing For this new permanent exhibit, the Field Museum exhibition staffers worked with its scientists—including conservationists in Chicago—to educate museumgoers on biodiversity and conservation practices. Watch videos of scientists starting contained fires in prairie habitats, discovering previously unknown specimens and going on helicopter drop-downs in the Peruvian rain forest. Bonus: Displays are made from Earth-friendly materials. The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, (312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org). Open every day 9am–5pm.
Photo: Laurel RossRestoringEarth.jpg151828561
“Loop Value” at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Ongoing Chicago Architecture Foundation’s “Loop Value: The How Much Does It Cost? Shop” begins with this simple statement: “Few people understand how their purchases shape the world.” The show goes on to reveal hidden costs—both monetary and environmental—in everyday items. Crammed with a variety of consumer goods, such as permeable paving bricks, bags of potato chips and a coffeemaker, the exhibition is modeled on a retail store, complete with colorful graphics and bright lighting. Visually busy, the show’s organization would benefit from a clearer hierarchy of information. The exhibition works best when presenting architectural issues such as sustainable building materials and the costs of preservation versus demolition—the latter would make an engaging show all by itself. Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S Michigan Ave (312-922-3432, architecture.org). Open every day 9:30am–5pm; FREE.
Photo Courtesy of Ingrid HaftelLoopValue.jpg151828462
"Space Junk 3D" at the Adler Planetarium Ongoing I’ve always wondered where satellites go to die. Thanks to the Adler Planetarium's new space movie, "Space Junk," I now know thousands of defunct satellites stay in Earth’s orbit, traveling at perilous speeds. This half-hour 3-D film explores the titular phenomenon while following Donald Kessler as he expounds upon his “Kessler syndrome” theory—that orbiting objects will occasionally collide and, moving 17,000mph, set off an avalanche of explosions. If it sounds scary, it should: The film’s intention is to warn the public that space exploration might cease entirely due to vast fields of debris shooting through space like super-fast rifle bullets. As you can imagine, this makes for good entertainment: The flick’s illustrations of 3-D explosions compensate for a strange CSI-like scene of stiff actors playing workers from U.S. Space Surveillance Network, the organization that tracks space junk. Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr (312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org).
Photo Courtesy of Space Junk3D, LLCSpaceJunk.jpg151828613
Re-Thinking Soup Ongoing, Tuesdays Do you find yourself longing for good conversation regarding environmental, cultural and economic issues? Do you enjoy delicious healthy soup? With guest speakers ranging from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization to veteran farmer-activist John Kinsman, Re-Thinking Soup cultivates an atmosphere that emphasizes good soup and good talk, every Tuesday. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S Halsted St (312-413-5353, uic.edu/jaddams/hull). Every Tuesday, noon–1pm; FREE.
Photo Courtesy of Re-Thinking SoupReThinkingSoup.jpg151828514
Spring Lawn Care for Homeowners March 24 If you’re one of the lucky Chicagoans with a lawn, take a lesson on how to keep it green without the use of pesticides. Using the Chicago Botanic Garden’s holistic turf management program as a model, expert Tom Fritz explains how to cultivate a thriving lawn while lessening pesticide use. He’ll cover a lot of ground, including turf culture, mowing, aerating, watering, fertilizing and weeding, and insect and disease control. Seminar Room, Plant Science Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe (847-835-5440, chicagobotanic.org). March 24, 9–11am; $37, Chicago Botanic Garden members $29.
Photo: Robin CarlsonSpringLawncare.jpg151828665
Green Business Resources Fair March 28 If you own a small business and want to get on the greener side, the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is offering a Green Business Resources Fair to answer all of your questions and help you become a friend to the environment. Offering education, services and resources to green your business practices and workspace, more than 20 Chicagoland businesses and organizations will offer information and presentations on sustainability to Chamber members and the community. ReBuilding Exchange, 2160 N Ashland Ave (773-384-2672, wickerparkbucktown.com). March 28, 9am–1pm; FREE.
Photo Courtesy of Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of CommerceGreenBusinessesResourcesFair.jpg151828316
5th Annual Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Summit April 12 With an interest in developing a green workforce and economy in Chicago, the Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative is hosting its fifth annual jobs summit. Emphasizing a commitment to creating new green jobs, the summit will develop action plans to guide us toward making our communities a hub for environmentally sustainable economic development. Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S Western Ave (312-252-0460, greencollarchicago.org). April 12, 8am–5pm; $60 for staff at partner entities, $70 for non-partners.
Photo Courtesy of Chicago Jobs CouncilGreenJobsSummit.jpg151828367
Going Against The Grain: A DIY Fair April 15 Share in the knowledge of self-sufficiency and sustainability at Delta Emerging Leaders’ annual Do-It-Yourself Fair. DIY experts in homebrewing, beekeeping, weatherization, gardening, chicken-keeping, composting and bicycling will share their knowledge of sustainability with anyone eager to learn. Donations benefit the nonprofit ReBuilding Exchange, which diverts unwanted building materials from landfills by reuse and recycling. ReBuilding Exchange, 2160 N Ashland Ave (312-554-0900, delta-institute.org/againstthegrain). April 15, noon–5pm; $5 donation.
Photo: PicasaDIY.jpg151828218
Partners in Change—Gleefully Green April 25 With a “Glee-inspired” performance by Vocal Trash, a group that uses recycled items as instruments, the Delta Institute of Chicago is shining a spotlight on Chicago’s environmental leaders with Partners in Change Awards. This event provides Chicagoans the opportunity to rub elbows with environmental pioneers who have helped push the green economy to the next level, while munching on hors d'oeuvres and sipping cocktails. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Delta Institute, an organization aimed at blazing a trail for the green economy through innovative programs such as the ReBuilding Exchange. Spertus Museum, 610 S Michicagn Ave (312-554-0900, delta-institute.org/partners2012). April 25, 6–9pm; $150 per person.
Photo Courtesy of GreenMark Public Relations, Inc.GleefullyGreen.jpg151828269
Green Music Fest June 23, 24 The Green Music Fest returns to Wicker Park this summer, in a two-day event where good music takes a close second to environmental action. Headliners Dinosaur Jr. and the Raveonettes will play alongside green vendors, activities, demos and other environmentally conscious bands. Damen Ave between North and Schiller, (312-850-9390, greenmusicfestchicago.com). June 23, 24, noon–10pm; $5 donation.
“Restoring Earth” at The Field Museum Ongoing For this new permanent exhibit, the Field Museum exhibition staffers worked with its scientists—including conservationists in Chicago—to educate museumgoers on biodiversity and conservation practices. Watch videos of scientists starting contained fires in prairie habitats, discovering previously unknown specimens and going on helicopter drop-downs in the Peruvian rain forest. Bonus: Displays are made from Earth-friendly materials. The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, (312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org). Open every day 9am–5pm.
