The Greens and the Beer

Greendrinks Seattle
http://www.seattlegreendrinks.org/

In most areas and issues, the environmentalists and the corporate world are at odds. However, apparently there exists some common ground. I am speaking of the benefits of networking and of beer. Once a month, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable organizations host a happy hour for people in the green business (or just people who recycle) so that they can mingle, talk, hang out, listen to music, and have a few beers on the house. Kind of like a business networking event without the business cards, suits, and pretension.

Populated heavily by students and graduates of the UW in departments such as the Evans School (not surprisingly, the founder of Greendrinks is an Evans School grad), landscape architecture, and environmental studies, these events are also a great place to meet other 20-30 somethings who have some free time during the week and have the same "values". The events are all free and recent locations include the SAM Sculpture Park Pavilion and the Sightline Institute. The organization has just recently started a website where they post job openings, local events, and even member blogs (I don't think I will make the cut). It's worth a look and a visit.

Tonight the event was at EVO in Fremont - a business that appears to be a skater shop (I don't know, I'm not cool enough to shop here). Sierra Nevada donated the beer, Herban Feast catered, and there was a band for an 8:30 party afterwards. People are friendly enough but it pays to go with a few pals- the green circles in the city are pretty tight and I got the feeling most people knew each other from outside circles (such as grad school or the Sierra Club).