Lifestyle

Welcome to our new monthly series, City Spotlight, where we feature green goodness in cities across the nation and globe. Here you'll find ideas for great vegan and veg restaurants, cool eco-sites and shops, and other worthy attractions for when you venture beyond Philly - and the Jersey Shore ;) My recent and upcoming travels have prompted me to share some of my favorite haunts, and we hope you'll share yours as well whether in the comments or via email. Today let's talk about NYC - the city where you can get anything you want anytime of day. And, that includes off the charts vegan dining options. I enjoy a lot of vegan restaurants when I'm in Manhattan including Blossom, Peacefood Cafe, Pure Food & Wine (all raw!) and v-note. However, my first choice go-to picks are sister restaurants Candle 79 & Candle Cafe. They focus on local, seasonal vegan fare and use organic ingredients whenever possible. Click through to find out what makes these spots special!

We've all heard it before: - Air conditioners "work" harder when they're cooling down your house after a hot day ... But it's (True? False? The anticipation is killing me... so just click through & find out, after the jump!)

It's getting H-O-T outside... which means the city is full of window units & central air running to keep us cool. Did you know you should be cleaning out your AC filters at least a few times per year? Poorly maintained filters cut your AC's efficiency, wasting precious energy... and therefore raises your electricity bill. Don't fret friends...

Moving to a new abode can be stressful (I'm currently in the process so I can vouch!) but it's also an opportunity to start fresh and reevaluate. Starting anew doesn't mean you have to abandon your eco-morals and discard haphazardly. Read on for tips to make your move a little more sustainable:

This Sunday, we thank the man who taught us to throw a softball, tend to a garden and appreciate the great outdoors. Father's Day typically conjures up images of barbecues, meat slurries & beer. So how can you greenly pay homage to your Dad? (Find out some ideas, after the jump!)

Have you ever thought about what your shower curtain is made of? Did you ever take a whiff of a new vinyl shower curtain? (I admittedly used to like that smell - odd I know.) Well, I now know that "new" fragrance is a result of the off-gassing from polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC.) PVC can contain toxic chemical additives like DEHP. Health experts report that exposure to these chemicals should be limited. This study found that high levels of DEHP are contained in shower curtains, and have been linked to asthma and brain development issues for children.

This week marks the 3rd annual Hemp History Week movement and activists are hoping to spread the message that it's time to bring back hemp to United States farms. In case your familiarity with hemp doesn't extend beyond those annoying necklaces they sell at the beach let's rewind a bit. What is hemp, really? Essentially it's the non-drug variety that's grown from Cannabis. Yes, cannabis is often known as marijuana, but hemp contains almost zero tetrahydrocannabinol (THC - the marijuana part of the plant.)

Memorial Day weekend calls for shaking off stress, enjoying friends and family, and perhaps a delicious cocktail (or two.) This recipe for a refreshing, seasonal blueberry mojito will start your long weekend off on the right foot. Bonus: it's fairly low calorie, and simple to make! Click through for the recipe.

It's time to start planning your summer entertainment indulgences. One of my favorite things about the warm season is all the opportunities to enjoy live outdoor music. If you're headed to Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Philly's WXPN festival, Outside Lands, or any other fest you'll want to keep things green while rocking out. Here's 5 must -know tips to be prepared: