• by Kelly Samardak , April 21, 2010

2nd Annual Heart of Green Awards, Hearst Tower, New York
April 20, 2010

I entered the 4 train last night with someone practicing for Parkour on my ankles. After a polite exchange of "engulf yourself in flames!" eyes, I settled into my seat on stinky bellybutton train, realizing that I was on the wrong train." Sayeth the Pixies, "Where is my mind?" After transferring to the Q at 59^th Street, I was finally on my sweaty way to an intimate dinner with Ted Danson at the Hearst Tower for the The Daily Green's Heart of Green Awards.

Don't worry, I hadn't heard of the Heart of Green Awards, either. Probably because last year "green" wasn't so high-fashion. This summer I'm predicting all kinds of eco-themed rooftop parties with eco-tastic partnerships. Last night was the kickoff, with Hearst's Daily Green honoring people and organizations making green a regular character in our life show, rather than the ratings week special guest. Oh, and in case you didn't know, Hearst walks the walk: If you work in the Hearst Tower, you're practically working in a treehouse. The building is super green, LEED Gold-Certified, right down to the waterfall in the mammoth lobby.

I had to readjust my socializing plan quickly when, based on the intimate crowd of maybe 30 folks, I realized that I wouldn't be able to just melt into the background, snap shots, nibble on my dinner, eavesdrop, take notes, and go home. Nope, I'd have to engage in real conversation, yikes!

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked what seemed like the entire island of Manhattan. It was such a clear spring night that over and past Central Park, I could see the East River easily. The glossy silver head of the one and only Ted Danson broke my "I can't wait for secret beers in the park" reverie. Sam Malone! He was entertaining interviews with everyone who asked. This was also how I discovered that this was a press-heavy event. In fact - it seemed the only guests outside of the honorees were bloggers, writers, and photogs.

I settled into Table 7, surrounded by Treehuggers. No, really, to my left was Meaghan O'Neill, Editor at Discovery's Treehugger and Planet Green, where she also does a little content strategy. Last night was an exciting night for Treehugger as they launched their first episode of Treehugger TV. To her left was Emma Grady, a blogger at Treehugger. To my left was Jerry James Stone, former super-nerd, current blogger at Treehugger and Mother Nature Network. Yes, friends, I hit the trifecta. Also at our table was Katherine, from Tonic.com, which shares an office building with Peoples Revolution (aka "Kell On Earth's" Kelly Cutrone). Sitting next to the Treehuggers proved invaluable - I never would have learned what a fiddle head fern was.

Rit Aggarwala, NYC's sustainability chief, kicked the dinner off, explaining that Mayor Bloomberg himself would be there if it weren't for Dan Shapley, senior editor at The Daily Green saying in the coax letter to Bloomberg, "But it's ok if you send Rit instead." Shapley later joked that it was all an elaborate plot to ensure Aggarwala's attendance. The offer to Bloomberg was simply polite.

Loyal to my Ohio roots, I was geeked-up to hear from 2009 Local Hero, Greg Perry present the award to 2010 Local hero Fred Schaeffer. Perry is a Beachwood, Ohio high school teacher and he announced that a year ago today he had just been released from a nursing home after battling cancer. A survivor, and the very definition of teacher, he and his high school students founded the largest green expo in Ohio, The Green Dream.

Fred Schaeffer is from Poughkeepsie (where my sister was born -- so now both of our birthplaces have sprouted local green heroes) and his dream was to give Poughkeepsie a new lease on life. He spearheaded the revival, with the help of sponsor Home Depot, of The Walkway Over The Hudson, "The Highline's Country Cousin," Schaeffer joked as he described the world's longest pedestrian bridge that, instead of seeing an urban landscape beneath your feet, provides your eyes with a generous gulp of nature. New York State donated $20 million to the project and after the opening ceremony, Gov. Patterson leaned into Schaeffer's ear and said, "you'll have to tell me how you did this." "I thought it was cute," grinned Schaeffer.

The award winners were a cohesive bunch, united by their passion to improve the gnarly state of the Earth and tweak the good parts so our kids, younger siblings, grandkids, birds, fish, and wombats can live on it for as long and as healthily as possible.

Ted Danson, who leaned in and thoughtfully listened to each acceptance speech, brought the house down with his unapologetic passion bordering on fanaticism, saying the reason he is an activist, and a prolific one at that with deep involvement in OCEANA, is because "it's fun. It's fun. It's satisfying. It feels good." He continued, "As soon as you start participating you're part of the solution." He wrapped up his speech uttering, "we know what's going wrong in the oceans..." and then rattled off a list of fish to keep out of your belly: "Don't eat swordfish! Don't eat tuna! Especially bluefin."

Josie Maran, new mom, model, and founder of Josie Maran cosmetics, a line without harsh damaging chemicals, eco friendly packaging, and all that good stuff, perked up and drilled Danson for the official "do not eat" fish list, to which Danson amiably replied, "Are you saying I'm an expert?" and then directed her to the Oceana website. He encouraged his rapt audience to become "fish huggers"

Each award winner spun off of Brian Halweil's analogy that eco-activism is spreading like a weed or mushroom. (He's Publisher and Editor of Edible East End, Edible Manhattan, and Edible Brooklyn.) Gloria Reuben quipped, "I'm from Canada, weed is growing everywhere. And it's legal. I'm thinking about moving back." Halweil described food as a gateway drug to other environmental issues. Once you get that first buzz, it no doubt leads in you in search of bigger and better.

I ended my evening by scribbling a sign for Ted Danson to hold up that said, "Hi David," for my dude, who is a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" superfan. "This is the most fun thing I've done tonight," smiled Danson as he did my bidding.

A big green thumbs-up to Hearst for extending the invitation to me, I met a great group of people at my table. AND, two green thumbs-up to Gloria Reuben for delivering irreverent and cheeky commentary throughout the evening, putting everyone at ease.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to plan my day photo excursion to the Walkway Over The Hudson!

Photos are up on Flickr!