Cirque du Cycling, the Portland bike parade, came and went like…well…a parade. People lined up and down Mississippi Avenue to witness the spectacle of collected bike groups. Our family rode with a group of cargo/utility bike users. Aside from all being larger bikes, this group shares the belief that bikes are superb vehicles for moving large objects from place to place. James--seen in the photo below with his dog Louie who sits in a custom made box atop his Xtracycle--made our banner, which pretty much summed up our group’s thinking: WeGO Cargo! More...

After an extended, gray winter, Seattle is now enjoying the kind of summer that reminds us why we live here.

As the long-awaited sunshine pulls us from our fleece cocoons and recharges our vitamin D levels, THIS SPACE is here to remind you that sunshine also offers one of the simplest, low-investment opportunities for saving electricity -- the solar clothes dryer. You might recognize this energy-efficient technology better as a clothesline.

Hanging clothes to dry used to be a commonplace event, but largely disappeared with the arrival of affordable, convenient appliances.

That convenience comes with a cost, which you can turn into a savings. More...

On Art Mondays we bring you innovative, inspiring examples of artists working with and for the environment.

Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor creates cement figures from models--including students and a BBC presenter-- and then places them underwater as artificial reefs, where sea sponges and worms can collect on the hard surface and attract fish and other underwater residents searching for a stable home. Check out the images of the works changing over time, it's both eerie and beautiful how the sea overtakes the forms.
One more image after the jump. All images courtesy Jason deCaires Taylor. More...

We received a great event tip from BobbyG's Pizzeria at our East Bay Twitter Account. Here's their message:

BobbyGsPizzeria June 23 from 8pm to 10pm Green Speed Dating for environmentally conscious singles. More www.greenspeeddating.org

Information from the site:

LOCATION: Bobby G's Pizzeria 2072 University Avenue Berkeley, Calif. 94704

TIME: 8-10pm, COST: $20 per person, AGE RANGE: 25 - 45 years old

Pre-registration and pre-payment is required. We need to know who is coming in order to pre-make the dating forms. Please RSVP to greenspeeddating@gmail.com with your name, age, and gender. A confirmation email will be sent to you once you are signed up. More...

Vegetarian Cooking Class: Burgers & Backyard Bites
Join Compassionate Cooks’ founder Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of the Joy of Vegan Baking and The Vegan Table in her monthly fun-filled Vegetarian Cooking Classes that celebrate healthful and humane eating! $55 (in advance), plus $5 food/materials fee.
June 20 10-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro

Climate Change Facilitator Action Group
Gather 5-10 friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, classmates, or congregation members and attend a facilitator training. RSVP required. Write to debra@ecologycenter.org or call 510-548-2220 x240 to sign up.
June 25, 6-8:30pm
Ecology Center, 2350 San Pablo Ave (at Dwight), Berkeley

Family Outdoor Movies at East Bay Regional Parks
Arrive early for a good seat. Bring a flashlight, warm clothes, snacks, and a blanket or chair. Each location offers a unique experience. No pets. Rain cancels.
June 25, The Never Ending Story, 9pm
Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Oakland More...

Alameda Zero Waste Workshops
Zero waste community meeting is 7-9pm, with additional workshops during the day.
June 11
Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street

Free Hands-on Bicycle Classes
Class will cover flat repair, safety inspection, how to check wheels, derailleurs, gears, cranks, handle bars and stems for wear and tear.
June 14 and 28, 11–12pm
REI, 1338 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley More...

By Jennifer Hallstrom, Community Outreach Manager

For Memorial Day weekend my dad came to visit from Florida. Having guests in town is always an opportunity to show off the East Bay sights, especially if it is to a place you've never been. My dad has always enjoyed taking the Ferry, so we decided this time to take the Alameda/Oakland Ferry to Angel Island for a hike. On the weekends you can catch a ride directly from Oakland at 9:00am, or Alameda just 10 minutes later, that goes to Angel Island (with a transfer at Pier 41). We decided to leave a little later and caught the 10:25am ferry from the Alameda Port, which stops at Oakland and the Ferry Building before reaching Pier 41, where we transferred to the Angel Island Ferry.

The extended ride was worth it to experience more of the cool bay breeze and watch my nephews’ amazement of the boats and bridges. We enjoyed a picnic breakfast on the boat and arrived at Angel Island within an hour. We walked along the Angel Island Loop Trail, enjoyed the views and made it back to catch the 3:10pm ferry, which took us directly to Alameda  - docking at 3:45pm. It was a perfect day on the water.

Here's how to go yourself or view the EcoMetro Guide ferry coupon.: More...

I want to add the phrase “everyday cycling” to our language. I first heard this when I was a guest on the KBOO Bike Show in Portland. Before the show, I head co-host Tori Bortman use everyday cycling, and being the word geek that I am, I asked about the nuances of her phrase. A discussion ensued, and I am now convinced that everyday cycling needs to be part of our language.

There is a sizable group of people who fall under the term everyday cycling, myself included, but my riding habits are usually described as bike commuting. Until now.

Image used with permission of metrofiets.com. Pictured: Ella Ross and Phillip Ross. Picture taken by Maile Leithea. Check out the Metrofiets photostream! More...

I recently headed to the upholstery store to find fabric for an old rocking chair in need of rehab. Surely they would have organic fabrics to choose from...and yet the saleswoman shook her head. There just isn't much interesting green upholstery fabric, she said. So I was pleased to find Mod Green Pod, out of Austin (found via their Twitter), and revive my project.

Mod Green Pod's fabrics are 100% Organic cotton that is grown, woven, and printed with non-toxic dyes in the USA ($39.75/yard). The line of wallpaper is PVC-free and also uses non-toxic inks ($60/roll). Using organic cotton grown in the USA is especially impressive. And those patterns!

Pictured is the Room Creator, where you can play with prints and get an enthusiastic environmental message from the furniture (and the cat). See their blog for inspiring cover ups. More...