Global Green

The celebrities are flocking to LA before a party-filled Oscar weekend including last night's Global Green bash. Earlier, Jake Gyllenhaal planted trees to kick off the initiative to help green schools. Gavin Rossdale performed some of his hits, including "Glycerine," while Gwen Stefani watched from the audience. He talked about bringing Kingston on tour saying, "I take Kingston for as long as he wants, so I try to drum that into him: 'Are you ready to go on tour? Are you ready to go on tour?' It's going to be fun!" Later Sheryl Crow brought Gavin back on stage to sing with her as well. Also in the audience was eco-loving Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Bosworth, and Neil Patrick Harris among others. The weekend is just starting to heat up, so don't forget to fill out your ballot before Sunday as we enjoy all the pre-Oscar celebrations.

To see more photos including Rosario Dawson, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Connolly, and others just read more

Jake Gyllenhaal got down and dirty planting trees as part of the Global Green National Green Schools Initiative in LA yesterday. While he has a big heart when it comes to the world, he's also got a lot of love for his girlfriend Reese Witherspoon. Once again there are rumors that things might be headed to the next level — he supposedly spent some time ring shopping in NYC. It very well could have been a congratulations gift for Maggie and Peter's Uncle Vanya debut, but he also doesn't need an occasion to give Reese something beautiful.

To see more of Jake and the trees just read more

Kate Bosworth grabbed dinner in LA on Wednesday, but she was in San Francisco earlier this week to attend a benefit for Global Green, an environmental organization she supports along with some of the special guys in her life. She spoke at the event, looking fabulous in her specially designed Phillip Lim dress, and chatted with us all about her earth-friendly diet, as well as a new project, car, and what she's up to ove the holidays. Here's more:

• On her holiday plans: "I'm not traveling so I guess that's the best way! I'm in LA and my family is coming out and they're going to be with me in LA."
• On her next environmental project: "My next project, [her friend] Nadia and I came up with it, because part of my land is sort of tiered in a funny way — and we looked at each-other one day and said, 'You know what would be great? An organic vegetable garden!'"
• On her eco-friendly ride: "The car I just got is a new clean diesel VW Jetta, it gets over 40 miles per gallon, which is quite good."

Guess she needed to upgrade that Prius she bought last year, but it's great to see Kate stepping up to try new things for the sake of the environment — especially when she looks so fabulous doing it.

To see more photos of Kate in LA and SF just read more

You know, you hear about celebrities being environmental activists, but to see it seals the deal.

We love Kate Bosworth; she's so cute and her style is ever evolving. We were super excited when we found out she was going to co-host this year's Gorgeous and Green benefit in San Francisco.

This is the benefit's fourth year in the making, and past hosts and supporters include Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, and Salma Hayek. Proceeds went to Global Green USA, an organization committed to various green initiatives like rebuilding New Orleans and promoting access to clean water as a global human right. Not only did PartySugar find a really yummy organic cabernet, I talked to Bosworth about her super cool Phillip Lim dress, which turned out to be, you guessed it, green.

After greeting Bosworth, she complimented us — "You guys look lovely." She had us at lovely. I knew her dramatic zippered LBD was from Phillip Lim's Spring collection, but there was more than meets the eye:

So this dress is Phillip Lim?

"It’s his green line. This dress is in his regular [Spring] line but he made this for me for this event. I told him I really liked this dress, but I know he has a green line, so I asked if it was possible to make it green and he said absolutely. This is some hemp, some organic silk, recycled zippers, and it’s been hand-dyed in natural dyes. What’s so great about it is a lot of people think green clothing can be boring or granola-ish. The reason I loved it is it shows how you can make an interesting design 100 percent green."

To see more of Bosworth at the event and images from the green runway show, read more

On Tuesday night I was invited to the Gorgeous and Green benefit in San Francisco.

The event was hosted by Global Green, an environmental nonprofit that focuses on global climate change through green initiatives. Not only did I taste an amazing eco-friendly wine, but I also got the chance to speak with the hostess of the night, actress Kate Bosworth. Here's what the stunning starlet, who was wearing a dress with recycled zippers, had to say:

On her abilities as a home cook: "I do a little bit, I am getting into it more and more. I'm OK. I'm not advanced at all."

On eating organic: "I try to as much as possible. I guess you can't be so rigid. Do what you can. Clearly you can't eat all organic all the time, but you just have to do as much as you can."

It was a pleasure speaking with Kate. She reminded me that it's important to do what we can to better the earth — I'm going to follow her lead and add a compost pail to my Christmas list! I hope she takes my cooking advice and starts to read YumSugar.

Photo courtesy Drew Altizer.

The eco-chic bandwagon is getting more and more full and jewelry designer Robyn Rhodes is one of its latest riders. Just in time for Earth Day, Robyn is donating 20 percent of the proceeds of this Rumi necklace, named after model/actress Josie Maran's (left) daughter, to Global Green USA. Depending on the metal you choose (sterling silver or 14K-gold filled), the triple-strand necklace featuring an Amazonite pendant will cost you $120 and $126 respectively.

Before the stars get ready for Academy Award fun, there are the prerequisite parties to attend, and last night the celebs came out for the 5th annual Global Green pre-Oscar party. Adrian Grenier has never been one to miss an eco-friendly good time, and it looks like he's officially trying to look like a caveman at this point. At least Salma was all cleaned up (and looking so slim!) to talk about the cause. According to the Global Green board member, having a new baby has only increased her concern for our planet. She said,

"I get a bigger fear of what kind of world she's going to live in. Is she going to run out of water? What kind of water is she going to drink? It's really scary and it's not that far away if we don't do something about it."

It seems like Adrian is already starting the movement to save our water resources by not showering, but hopefully they can spread enough awareness to find other ways to protect the earth as well.

Lots more pics including Alexis Arquette, Michelle Branch, and Molly Sims, so just read more

Hurricane Katrina may have faded from the headlines, but there are still plenty of people without housing in New Orleans. Enter the Holy Cross Project, an affordable and sustainable housing development now under construction. (Thanks to Shelterrific for the tip.) Holy Cross is a partnership between environmental nonprofit Global Green and needs-no-introduction Brad Pitt (pictured below with Global Green's Matt Petersen).

The actor and the organization got together in 2006, sponsoring a design competition to develop a zero-energy housing development in the devastated Lower 9th Ward. The winning design, created by Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD in New York, includes five single family homes and a multi-unit apartment complex that will run on solar power. The first home is currently under construction in New Orleans, with the Home Depot Foundation footing part of the bill and Pitt still playing a hands on role. I think this sounds like a great green solution; how about you?