Tuesday night two frontrunners in the campaign for environmentalism, Smart Car and Kevin Wall with Live Earth, came together to host a truly remarkable event featuring DJ Samantha Ronson and Vanessa Carlton. The event was attended by many “green” celebrities and advocates, as well as many society people.
Fashionably Green
The Smart House (of Smart Car), a white three-story building, marries functionality and style. Its minimalist interior provides its guests basic – but none the less fashionable – comforts: white couches and chairs in simple and crisp lines, natural wood floors, basic colors, geometric shapes and clean lighting. On the top balcony a brand-new yellow Fortwo is proudly on display. One knows immediately upon entrance that here, efficiency reigns supreme.
The walls are adorned with green slogans and Smart Car designs and descriptions here and there – not enough to crowd the space but just enough to hold one’s attention. On the third floor, the walls were hung with photos of past Live Earth concerts – London, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, Shanghai… The second floor housed a shiny black baby grand piano; a promise for the night’s festivities.
It is no wonder, then, that such an impeccably designed house would be the home of one of the world’s most efficient cars: the Smart Car. Originally a California-German concept and design, the Smart car aims to reduce gas emissions in order to improve the environment AND customer’s wallets.
An Urban Hippie
Tuesday’s event was in junction with Smart Car’s new Smart Fortwo, which “is the most fuel efficient non-hybrid vehicle in the United States.” It is officially considered to be a “Smartway” vehicle by the Environmental Protection Agency and is a certified Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle. Smart Car boasts innovative designs and technology to tackle environmental and urban problems.
Environmentally – Conscious Music
Live Earth is a recent initiative aimed at bringing awareness towards today’s environmental issues through music and entertainment. It’s 24 Hours of Music initiative encompasses seven continents and hopes to reach and people on individual, business, and governmental levels in order to compel them to come together to solve the climate crisis.
Guests started pouring in at eight p. m. and kept coming until well into nine. The house soon housed a lively and eclectic crowd: actors and actresses, producers, business owners, singer-songwriters, entertainment and Live Earth interns, photographers, media and PR people, and of course, our stars.
Samantha Ronson was fantastic: the music, while decidedly upbeat and always present, never overpowered but instead perfectly complimented the setting, dancing in and out of conversations and tying the whole party together. At around nine thirty p. m. the music suddenly stopped.
Vanessa Carlton had arrived
Some crowded round the piano in hopes of catching a glimpse of Ms. Carlton and her violinist. Others casually sat back and let Carlton’s beautiful lyrics and melodies wash over then, while others still watched from the inside balcony from the third floor. It was a very intimate setting and Ms. Carlton gave a stunning and heartfelt live performance. She after about 30 minutes and Ms. Ronson resumed from there.
Tree-Huggers Do It Better
The atmosphere was very natural; casual yet hip. Everyone was friendly and down-to-earth. People chatted and mingled freely beneath a Live Earth sign glowing from the central balcony of the third floor. There were no un-reigned egos running rampant; no one used the cause to further their agenda.
It simply felt like a gathering of like-minded people enjoying themselves and each other’s company. The cause was simply a backdrop in which people could comfortably envelope themselves in and enjoy themselves.
And that is what environmentalism is really about. It is about maintaining our world so that we can go about and enjoy our lives without having to worry about our health or the health of out planet.
Also in attendance were: Macy Gray, Brooke Burns, Mindy Kaling (The Office), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Jennifer Coolidge (Epic Movie), Tom Arnold, Alicia Witt (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) Fisher Stevens (Lost), Susie Castillo (America’s Prom Queen). For more information about Smart House or Smart Car, please visit www.smartusa.com. For more information about Live Earth and their events, please visit www.LiveEarth.org
