August 4th, 2009

From Green Right Now Reports

Downtown Film Festival–Los Angeles will hold its fourth annual Sustainable L.A. event, co-presented by arts>Brookfield Properties, on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 7+FIG at Ernst and Young Plaza.

This special event will be located at 7+FIG at Ernst and Young Plaza in downtown Los Angeles, at the corner of 7th and Figueroa Streets. A farmer’s market and product expo take place on the main level, while the speakers and films will take place at the 7+FIG Art Space on the second level of the center. A reception at the Festival Lounge at the AT&T Center will follow the event, beginning at 7 p.m.

“After four years, Sustainable L.A. is not only an important part of our Festival, but an anticipated event for environmentally conscious residents from all over the Southland,” event director David Andrusia said in a statement. “In the past, our mission has been to educate people about the value of sustainable lifestyles; this year, our goal was to make the event as do-it-yourself as possible so that people can learn exactly how to do so in ways that are rewarding, easy, and—yes—fun.”

The schedule of speakers includes:

11 a.m. — Susan Gottlieb is an environmentalist, water conservation expert, and holds position on boards of influential environmental organizations such as Friends of the Ballona Wetlands and the Theodore Payne Foundation. She owns the “Eco-Conscience” G2 Gallery with her husband, where she showcases work of the world’s most renowned nature and wildlife photographers, donating 100% of the proceeds to environmental charities. Drawing on her extensive experience with gardening and wildlife, Susan shows us how to go green in our backyards by planting native plants which require little or no water.

12 p.m. — JoAnn Cianculli, author of the highly acclaimed L.A.’s Original Farmer’s Market Cookbook: Meet Me at 3rd and Fairfax, is a widely published food writer and Food Network producer who has also been a guest panelist on Bravo Network’s Top Chef. She’ll share lore and anecdotes of what is arguably L.A.’s oldest sustainable market, as well as best-loved recipes of yesterday and today.

1 p.m. — Corinne Trang has been called the “Julia Child of Asian Cuisine.” An award-winning cookbook author, she contributes to Food & Wine, Cooking Light, and Saveur and is author of the just-published Noodles Every Day. She’ll talk about why Asia boasts the world’s original sustainable cuisine — entirely based on local ingredients and regional climates and cultures.

2 p.m. — Michele Carbone is the Santa Barbara-based author of Friday Evening: Creating La Dolce Vita, One Bite at a Time, in which she offers readers a year’s worth of culinary inspiration for less than the cost of a Friday night out. A knowledgeable advocate of Italian cuisine in the Old World and new, Michele will share all the best ways to grow food for and cook a traditional Mediterranean, food-based lifestyle —and the health and well-being it brings.

3 p.m — Bridgett Fernandez created the Bridgett Artise Originals line in 2000 as an inspired mix of trends, vintage apparel, and edgy designs to appeal to the most fashion conscious of the day. She has been nominated for several fashion awards and featured in Lucky magazine, and her designs have graced the shoulders of fashionistas Vivica A. Fox, Sheryl Crow, and more. The author of Born Again Vintage, she’ll discuss how to recreate, revamp, and recycle average vintage pieces through on-site demonstrations of her much sought-after technique.

4 p.m. — Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, authors of The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City and the blog www.homegrownrevolution.com, describe their unique outlook on farming and gardening in an urban setting. Step-by-step projects include harvesting your own vegetables, raising city chickens, and converting to solar energy; the authors’ practical information encourages us to participate in sustainability every day.

5 p.m. — Rubin Naiman, PhD, director of Circadian Health Associates and recognized sleep and dream medicine leader, also lays claim to groundbreaking books that include Healing Night and Healthy Sleep (co-authored with Dr. Andrew Weil). He will present his heralded blend of sleep science and alternative medicine methods—a sustainable and holistic Deep Green Sleep that all will want to adopt.

6 p.m. — Florence Reed, a noted expert on ecotourism and honorary doctorate holder, has been involved in the sustainability movement since her days as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The Founder and President of Sustainable Harvest International, Florence will talk about how traveling green can be rewarding, respectful, and, of course, fun, including a review of the hottest ecotourism destinations of today.

The centerpiece film of the program is the Los Angeles premiere of A Sea Change, a new documentary about ocean acidification directed by Barbara Ettinger, to show at the festival’s main screening venue at the AT&T Center Theater at 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Film Festival–L.A. is scheduled for August 12-22 at venues throughout downtown L.A.