Whether you are a couple who share the dream of a positive, sustainable future or just a group of friends wishing to have an eco-conscious night on the town, sustainable date night is City Atlas’s ongoing itinerary to help New Yorkers plan a forward-thinking evening in NYC. This segment is for people who care about where their food is made and how its processed; for those who are concerned with the carbon footprint left by the daily operations of a business; and those who value the recycling and reuse of materials.
A sustainable evening in Chelsea and the Village
FIrst stop: Bell Book & Candle
In its premiere edition, SDN begins your evening at Bell Book & Candle for an elegant and eco-friendly night of fine-dining. Located in the West Village (141 West 10th Street), this romantic, low-lit, contemporary dining space offers lovers and friends a meal to remember; and, due to its aeroponic rooftop garden, a restaurant that will keep a green foodie coming back.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0gmK-2kHSI?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
60 percent of the restaurant’s produce is grown on its own rooftop garden, so BB&C prides itself on revolving operations around “local, organic, sustainable and overall responsible procurement.” The above video, produced by Reuters, highlights the efficiency and the multiple benefits that the rooftop garden offers. By growing its own produce on premises, BB&C not only saves money, but also eliminates extra automobile emissions that would otherwise have been used to transport non-local fruits and vegetables. All in all, though slightly pricey, a dinner at BB&C is sure to not only impress your significant other, but also make the both of you strut to your next evening destination…
New York High Line
…which is the New York City High Line Park. Here at the High Line, you and your company can walk off the calories ingested at BB&C atop one of New York’s finest examples of urban renewal. Instead of being knocked down and destroyed, the retired elevated freight line of the early 20th century was preserved and converted into a public park. As a result, the Chelsea area has been significantly “spruced-up,” attracting more human traffic, which inadvertently benefits the local businesses and shops; and the obvious, it is an absolute beautiful park that offers some of the most unique views of the city along with great opportunities for leisure and relaxation.
By entering the park’s southern entrance at the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Street, you will travel no more than ten blocks from BB&C to arrive at your urbanization destination. As you travel along the revitalized railway-park, take advantage of the breathtaking sights and sounds that the High Line has to offer (and who knows, maybe the opportunity will arise for a kiss!) Either way, the High Line will serve as a ‘sustainable’ buffer to your next and last destination.
Greenhouse 
Located on the corner of Varick and Vandam Street in SoHo, Greenhouse is an optimum place for you and your date or friends to let loose and party. As one of New York City’s premiere nightlife destinations and first eco-friendly nightclub, eco-friendly people might just fall in love with this progressive venue. Not only is the space built from recycled or recyclable materials, and all decor made from eco-friendly materials, but Greenhouse also received the L.E.E.D. certification from the United States Green Buildings Council for “environmentally conscious construction and design.”
At Greenhouse, you can dance to your favorite hit songs, enjoy the incredibly beautiful ambiance of the space, even run into one of your favorite celebrities (Kanye West, Rihana, Bruce Willis, Benecio Del Toro, Colin Ferrel, to name only a few), and all the while feel a sense of comfort, knowing that you helped in supporting a business that values environmentally conscious development.
Take your next date (or your friends) out to these eco-friendly hot-spots in NYC. And stay tuned for our next installment of “Sustainable Date-Night” where you will have yet another chance to impress your friends and loved ones at even more sustainable spots!