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Regardless of whether you're a Philadelphia resident or visitor, the government shutdown takes you away from glorious sights like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Valley Forge Park with rolling hills. This past weekend, I visited the "Niagara Falls of PA", Bushkill Falls. It also happens to be a National Park, which means those people who are trying to follow my lead 2 days later are SOL. What can you do in & around Philly that does not involve a cracked bell or battleground? No fear reader, I found a few for you.

Pumpkin season is in full swing... pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin beer... it's here! Word is Starbucks is celebrating their 10-year anniversary of the pumpkin latte but I'm still feeling cold beverages during these mild fall days. So I set out to make a cold treat that made use of the glorious orange squash-like fruit. The fact that it's a bit healthier and much lower in sugar than a pumpkin latte is just icing on (the pumpkin) cake. It happens to be vegan but you could un-veganize (creating our own words today) if you wish to use cow's milk. Read on for the recipe!

Whether you take out or dine in/out, many restaurants (especially sushi joints) tend to have disposable flatware and chopsticks for your taking. Rather than using the chopsticks once before pitching, bring your own. I have a handy bamboo ware set (including chopsticks!) that I stash in my purse and take out when eating. Picking up to take home?

Guess what friends... craving a new tree? We can answer for Where Can I Wednesday...

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur or looking to move up in your career, it's essential to get more training. That's where the Sustainable Business Network's Social Venture Institute comes in. The 11th annual institute action happens right here in Philly on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 at the Hub Cira Center (2929 Arch). Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned professional, you can meet Find out more about SVI and how to apply for one of those scholarships, after the jump!

Love to prepare food at home but hate draining your time? Raw, Quick & Delicious is a great solution for you. I recently tried out a few recipes during a dinner gathering with a friend. Locavore Dinner Party A Twitter match made in heaven happened when I became friends with Kristy, an up-and-coming food blogger. Lucky for us, Kristy loves to cook and I love to eat. Kristy hosted me at her place to discuss KEEN Digital Summit (co-founded by one of my favorite bloggers, Kristin Luna of Camels & Chocolate) which we're psyched to attend in October. (Bonus: I even won a pair of passes to the conference!) This girl doesn't mess around while cooking. Seriously, just look at this Dill-salmon that was the main course along with an asparagus-based purée. Raw, Quick & Delicious: My creations My first experiment was the Salmon side, Green Beans Amandine. A simple recipe consisting of raw almonds, sea salt, green beans, olive oil & lemon juice (I left out the nutritional yeast...) was easy and a great pairing to our meal. (See recipe below!) Find out more about our dinner party and Raw, Quick & Delicious after the jump!

First and foremost, thanks to everyone who came out to Frankford Hall last evening for Nerd Nite Philly! Although we thought we'd have more time to share the details of what's going on, we're happy to bring you up to date. Next month in October, legislation for a small (5 cent) single-use bag fee (ie, plastic or paper) will be introduced in City Council. Sponsored by Council member Mark Squilla, we also have 4 co-sponsors of the bill and are hoping for more. Any money collected from the bill will go to help fund schools, which are significantly underfunded. Learn more about the legislation and see a recap of Nerd Nite Philly after the jump!

Exciting news, my friends: the city of Philadelphia is being made into a Park(ing) lot tomorrow! The 6th annual Park(ing) Day Philadelphia

The toilet flushes... and that's when it gets me. As I'm washing my hands in the bathroom, I see the pile of paper towels overflowing the trashcan. Many places don't have those electronic dryers and with a wave of the motion detector, a magna carter-sized cluster of paper towels comes spitting out. I hate disposables. It haunts me to carelessly use tissues, napkins and paper towels, although my OCD cleanliness sometimes gets the best of me. Where can you find reusable towels while on the go? It's a perfect question for Where Can I Wednesday... So when I found the Jimmy Pocket Towel, I knew I found a hidden gem. Why Jimmy Towel?