Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Better Living Show… The fifth annual Better Living Show returns to the Portland Expo Center Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2012. This free, three-day festival, designed to empower attendees to become more thoughtful consumers, features nearly 300 exhibiting companies, showing off the best in high-performance, eco-friendly products and services for every aspect of living a better life. From health and wellness to electric vehicles and the latesttechnologies for the home and garden, this year’s Better Living Show has something for everyone.
Attendees will find inspiration to live a more sustainable life with these top ten eye-opening features:
1. Meet Daryl Hannah. Join Daryl Hannah, as the keynote speaker during opening night of the show. Hannah, most widely known for her acting roles in hit films like “Splash” and “Kill Bill”, will speak out on her longtime commitment as an environmental advocate and how others can “Turn Inspiration into Action.”
2. Drive with Less Impact. Take a stroll down Portland General Electric’s Electric Avenue, showcasing some of the industry’s newest electric vehicles. Attendees can talk to PGE experts and learn how they can get “plug-in ready” and how they can power their drive with premium-grade, locally made electricity. Get up-close and personal with the Fisker Karma, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Roadster, Toyota Pruis, Mitsubishi i. The show will also highlight vehicles from Portland’s own Green Lite Motors, and the BOXX 2012.
3. Join the Eco Fashion Revolution. Each day of the show, join SEMPER Fashion for eco-fashion shows and beauty demonstrations, highlighting the best of eco-friendly design in the Northwest. Lizzie Parker, of NBC’s newest show, Fashion Star, will give a talk on the “Evolution of Eco Fashion,” Saturday, March 24th at 7:00p.m.
4. Learn the Latest Green Technologies for the Home. Take a tour through the NW Natural Blue Home, a 1,100 square foot demo home, showcasing the best natural gas products, energy efficient upgrades, locally produced furnishings and new technologies. Features include a garage complete with a Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle, along with an at-home refueling station, and a Nest Learning Thermostat. Attendees will also get a sneak peek of the newest, most-efficient gas fireplace before it even hits the market.
5. Get Cooking With Local and Celebrity Chefs. Food Services of America offers guests the chance to get up-close and personal with northwest chefs and restaurant owners. Attendees can relax in the backyard of the show’s demo home for intimate cooking demos from local chefs of Vibrant Table, Baked Alaska, the Houlton Bakery, and Papa G’s Vegan Deli. On Saturday and Sunday, the Better Living Show welcomes Adrenaline Hunter host, Bethy Rossos who will be showing guests how to make delicious homemade pizzas on the grill.
6. Become a Master Gardener. Throughout the show, green thumbs can find expert advice and inspiration for creating a thriving and sustainable garden. Join Oregon State University for its 10-Minute University sessions lead by Master Gardeners, relax in a Zen Japanese Tea Garden hosted by Honest Tea and learn about the best ways to landscape around a family home by award-winning designers from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
7. Go Solar. The Good Energy Pavilion, sponsored by Energy Trust of Oregon, is the perfect resource for all things energy. Attendees can see the region’s most exciting renewable power and energy-efficiency solutions and get expert advice from a line-up of local experts. Products exhibited will include solar water and home heating, solar, passive, wind, renewable and geothermal energy. Those looking to learn even more about alternative energy can take in one of the many solar seminars happening each day of the show.
8. Get Healthy. Hosted by Natural Awakenings PDX and The Portland Clinic, the Wellness Pavilion will be filled with experts dedicated to helping people uplift their lives. These exhibitors have a comprehensive understanding of the human body and nature, and can offer you a wide array of therapies combining the best contemporary and ancient healing methods. The Portland Clinic will present a visual display of common eating habits in America and give attendees an inside look at how a suggested and healthy meal plan varies from the public’s common beliefs.
9. Eat and Sample. The Better Living Show is the perfect event for the taste-tester. Try the best products from local companies including gluten-free and vegan foods, beer, wine, organic chocolates, organic teas, gourmet nutritional mushrooms, raw nut butters, and much more.
10. Get Rid of Your Clutter. Those looking to lighten their current load can take part in the free Recycling Plaza hosted by Schnitzer Steel of Portland. Best of all, Schnitzer Steel will be writing a check to Oregon Food Bank for the full value of all acceptable metal recycled at the show. Community Warehouse will be accepting gently used home goods for local families and EmpowerUp will be collecting computers and other specified electronics to be refurbished and redistributed to families in need and local non-profits.
Along side these free features, the 2012 Better Living Show is also a hub for influencers and innovators in the green industry. For the green entrepreneur, Sustainable Business Oregon and Capital Pacific Bank will be hosting a Green Business Mixer, featuring a presentation by Beth Bell, on taking green products mainstream. Admission is $15. For the creative, the Better Living Show welcomes the Green Living Project, offering attendees the opportunity to experience global sustainability through film. Guests who attend its Short Film Showcase will enjoy breathtaking films, food, beer and big door prizes. Tickets are $20 at the door. Discounts available for teachers, students and advance purchase.
Visit www.betterlivingshow.org for show information.