My Urban Sherpa

Vegan & the Limelight

Apropos of the conversation about Proposition 2 on the California Ballot on Election Day is Frank Bruni’s review of Candle 79 – an upscale vegan venue on the Upper East Side.

Given the benefits of a vegan and vegetarian based diet for your health, and the health of the planet – we are thrilled to see this positive review for this sane approach to food.

The benefits of a vegetarian diet are well explored by Andrew Weil in Eating Well for Optimal Health, and Micheal Pollan in the Omnivore’s Dilemma. The challenges for the planet created by the production of meat for consumption were well reported by Mark Bittman in The New York Times.

And if you’d like to try other wonderful vegan and vegetarian restaurants in New York – we hope you’ll visit MyUrbanSherpa.net from your computer, or MyUrbanSherpa.mobi from your handheld.

Proposition 2

Dear Friends,

Today, on the “Oprah” show, I’ll be making the case to millions of people across the country in support of a campaign that, if successful, will end the cruel confinement of 20 million farm animals.

It’s called Proposition 2, a measure on the ballot in California that The New York Times endorsed last week. Prop 2 will end the practice of cramming farm animals into cages and crates so small the animals can’t even turn around, lie down, or extend their limbs. If passed, it will be the biggest victory for farm animals in U.S. history.

Prop 2 is truly a national campaign: While only Californians get to vote on it, its passage will lead to reforms in farming practices nationwide.

But standing in the way is Big Agribusiness, which has poured millions of dollars into a deceptive campaign to defeat Prop 2 and preserve factory farms’ cruel confinement practices. The next 21 days before the election will be pivotal — and we can’t win without you. Here’s the latest news, and a few ways you can help:

Tuesday, October 14, I’ll be going head-to-head with the front men of the agribusiness industry in defense of the 20 million farm animals in California who don’t have room to turn around or stretch their limbs. Click here to find out when the show will air where you live.

Here’s a snippet: “The fact that such fundamental decencies have to be forced upon factory farming says a lot about its horrors. We urge California voters to pass Proposition 2. We urge every state to enact similar laws.” Click here to read the full editorial on my blog.

Here are two ways you can help pass this historic measure right now:

1. Support the YES! on Prop 2 campaign by visiting the campaign website and learning about the many ways you can help.

2. If you haven’t already, watch our animated video and pass it along to friends and family in California.

YES! on Prop 2 is a true grassroots campaign, funded by thousands of small donations from animal lovers like you. By contrast, the deceptive No on Prop 2 campaign is bankrolled by a handful of rich agribusiness corporations from across the nation — with an average donation of more than $40,000.

The factory farm industry is blinded by the bottom line. No matter how much they dump into defeating this measure, they can’t stamp out the truth: Prop 2′s commonsense reforms are long overdue.

Thank you for being a part of this campaign. On November 4, millions of animals will be thanking you, too.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

My Urban Sherpa is proud to support The Humane Society of the United States in this most worthwhile fight.

Soulful spinning, social sipping, and Strawberry serenity

Who knew that Manhattan’s Upper West Side could offer rejuvenation and respite? Start your day at Soul Cycle where they promise: “45 minutes with us is all it will take to free your mind and work your body.” After all that spinning, you need only walk a few steps to Juice Generation where many of the refreshments are local farmer-friendly, organic, and vegan. With your Watermelon Lemon Drop juice in hand, it’s less than two blocks to the 72nd Street entrance to Central Park and that means: Strawberry Fields. Stretching from 71st to 74th streets, this 2.5-acre tear-drop-shaped parcel of park surrounds the famous Imagine mosaic (donated by the city of Naples). After you meditate and rejuvenate, be sure to check out the bronze plaque listing the 121 countries endorsing Strawberry Fields as a Garden of Peace.

Pure Food and Wine? Purely Delightful

In the increasingly hopping area around Union Square is Pure Food and Wine, a restaurant with bar and spacious courtyard patio that offers a lovely evening, and an excellent start on the next day. The menu offers raw food, that is: nothing is cooked beyond 118 degrees to preserve the enzymes in the ingredients. What’s raw is organic and seasonal fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Aside from being vegetarian and vegan, raw foods also omits wheat, dairy, soy, and refined sugars.

You may not recognize any of the entrees on the menu, nor the tastes on your plate, but you will enjoy the meal, the setting, the organic wines, and a particularly energetic tomorrow.

54 Irving Place
212.477.1010

purefoodandwine@gmail.com

For more restaurant recommendations, where you’ll eat as well as the food is good for you (and the planet!) visit MyUrbanSherpa.net – and MyUrbanSherpa.mobi.

Your Weekend Respite

Stick and Stones Farm in Newtown, Connecticut is, well…let them tell you a little about it: “Sleep in a houseboat and listen to the water lap against its walls. Walk to another waterway and have a picnic in one of the screened woodland structures or in our gazebo overlooking the foothills of the Berkshires. Whether Tim or Annie are demonstrating stone building techniques, making salsa, pesto or a green smoothie from their garden bounty, the projects related to life and the land are plentiful and ongoing.”

Hike the property, enjoy a delicious—and nutritious—meal, experience a drum circle or a sweat lodge or a yoga class…or simply revel in uninterrupted solitude.

To reserve your piece of mind, contact Sticks and Stones now.

Heavenly cheap eats

There has been a lot of talk lately about cheap eats. I’ve found, on this planet, that you get what you pay for. So cheap isn’t an adjective or an attribute that I value in association with food. But I would like to recommend a restaurant where the food is delicious, and as affordable for you and as it is for the planet! Zen Palate is my number one recommendation for excellent and inexpensive fare in New York (and now Princeton, of all places.)

The lunch special is an extremely generous portion of Sesame Medallions, Sweet and Sour Sensation, Shredded Medley … several excellent options for hot entrees and cold salads, and a pineapple or green tea ice tea – for $8.95. Served graciously with a smile inside, or outside at several café tables.

Veggie Pride Parade

On Sunday, May 18 – thanks to the VivaVegie Society – the Big Apple will play host to America’s first ever Veggie Pride Parade. Beginning at noon, the parade will wind its way through Greenwich Village – culminating in all-day veg lovefest at Washington Square Park.

In a sprout-friendly city like New York, there are many reasons to march or take part and some of the goals set forth by the organizers of the event can be shared by all. So grab your tofutti cutie and join the fun.

(Mickey Z. can be found here)

Looking for a local CSA?

What could be more local than your doorstep?

If meandering through a green market is more luxury than your life allows Monday through Friday consider a CSA – Community Supported Agriculture.

For less than the taxi fair to and from Union Square Market, have a week’s worth of fruits and vegetables delivered to your door.

Choose among many CSAs that deliver to Manhattan and the 5 boroughs.

Or walk to your local Green Market.

If this happens to be Saturday, and your local market is Union Square, you are in luck! Incite interest in the season’s offering starting Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 am with a market tour led by Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, and lunch there to follow at 1:00pm.

This series continues sporadically through the fall, Wednesdays and Saturdays with many fine chefs, including Peter Hoffman of Savoy, Colin Alevras or the Tasting Room, and Bill Telepan of Telepan.

Bon appetit, bon karma, bon journee!

An inconvenient truth about global warming

Farm Sanctuary Gala – Saturday May 17, 2008

Farm Sanctuary, who provides a loving and bucolic home to hundreds of animals who had a rough start in the assembly line of food production, is ready to party in New York.

Saturday May 17th at Cipriani Wall Street, Heather Mills and Melissa Rivers will host a Gala in celebration of all things Vegan. A music performance by Shawn Colvin, awards for Sharon Gannon and David Life, a gourmet vegan meal, and an auction await ticket holders.