NEXT GREEN DRINKS  Tuesday, Oct. 9  Maryland Green Designer   Show Home  5:30-7:30 p.m.  Free. No RSVP. Cash Bar (donations for your beverages).

It seems like we're everywhere...

This week (and next) we are at the boat shows, bringing recycling to the granddaddy of all outdoor events in downtown Annapolis and helping to make our town look good and eco-friendly... But first to Green Drinks.

Join us This Tuesday, October 9, at the Maryland Green Designer Show Home, built Green from the bottom up, by local builder Baldwin Homes. Our last radio show was all about Green building in general and about this home in particular. Click to listen and you'll want to come to Green Drinks and see it for yourself! The home is in the Preserve at Severn Run, in Gambrills, just off Route 3. It's just a short drive from Annapolis and well worth it.

The Baldwins did it right -- they installed infrastructure -- a coastal plains outfall system designed by Keith Underwood -- that mimics Mother Nature to control stormwater runoff before any construction began. The development has had no detrimental effect on the Severn River at all because of this. It's an example of how development and the environment can co-exist. There's a video on our website that explains it. Just click here. Not only is the home super Green, it is also beautiful, designed by local architect Catherine Purple Cherry.

One of the fun things we'll do at Green Drinks is a scavenger hunt. Find certain Green features and you'll win a prize!

Honoring Baldwin Homes' program to give back to the community by using the home to raise funds for charity, the proceeds from your donations for beverages will go directly to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and Hospice of the Chesapeake, rather than to Annapolis Green. 

Cheers,

Our project to Green the boat shows is in its second day and the people we've talked with at the Sailboat Show are loving it. From vendors the most-heard comment is, "Thanks for doing this."

We and WasteStrategies deployed over 25 eco-stations throughout the show -- our entire inventory -- and they are colorful reminders to Sailboat Show attendees and vendors to "Do Good for the Bay" and recycle.

Ed Hartman, President of US Yacht Shows, the parent company of the boat shows, told Elvia today that the eco-stations looked good and thanked us for partnering with his company. Right back at you, Mr. Hartman! We are delighted to work with you to demonstrate to visitors, in
particular, that we locals care about our environment!

We also are reaching out and doing our best to message the recycling effort with with signs on the bins themselves, banners, signs on the eCruisers, and a rack card to engage everyone to help in spread the word.

We owe a big thank you to the four companies sponsoring this effort and making this public awareness campaign possible: 

• BoatU.S. Foundation
• Dream Yacht Charter
• Loews Annapolis Hotel/WEST Kitchen & Tavern
• Annapolis Accommodations 

At the show look for us (we'll be roaming) so we can give you a rack card with info about the program. The card also includes a generous coupon from WEST for 20 percent off your entire meal check through December 28! Remember you can hop an eCruiser to get you around town and to the Loews -- and to see our signs! The rack cards are at the booths of the BoatU.S. Foundation (on the BoatU.S. Bridge) and at Dream Yacht Charter in the Vacation Basin.

Cards also are available at the Lehr Propane Powered Outboard Engines tent (Dock D, across the water from the Schooner Woodwind), represented by our own Lynne's husband, Mark Forsman. Stop by and see this environmentally friendly motor -- particularly if you are shopping for a motor
for your dinghy. It was named the National Marine Manufacturers Association and West Marine "Green Product of the year."