>>  The Green Business Network is holding their monthly networking event this week. Refreshments will be served and there will be a raffle and discount certificates for Pepe & Sherina Designs.  Bring any old batteries, cell phones, shopping bags and dry cleaning bags you want recycled.  The event takes place on Tue., Nov. 8 from 6-9 pm at the Working Village, 212 Marine Street, Suite 100, Santa Monica.  Cost: $15 at the door or $10 online.

>>   Come and support the LA premiere of THE BIG FIX, a documentary about the continued damage caused to the Gulf of Mexico by the BP oil spill last year.  The screening will feature a Q&A with the filmmakers and takes place on Sat., Nov. 12 at 12 and 2:30 pm and Sun., Nov. 13 at 12 and 7 pm at the AMC Loews Broadway 4, 1313 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica.  Cost: the price of a movie ticket.

>>  Come out this weekend for the BAGS FOR BNEATO event.  Donated, reusable bags will be distributed along with tip sheets (in English and Spanish) on how to organize your reusable bags so that you always have them when and where you need them.  Come out this Sat., Nov. 12 from 12-4 pm to either the Echo Park Vons (1342 N Alvarado St, 90026) or the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s (2730 Hyperion Ave, 90027).  Cost: free.

>> Update, 11/9/11: This event’s been canceled. CalRecycle invites you to the Santa Monica Pier for a day of outdoor fun and education as they kick-off CalRecycle’s “Check Your Number” campaign.  CalRecycle is offering free parking to visitors who stop to check their car manuals to learn their oil change interval this Sat., Nov. 12 from 10 am – 3 pm.  Cost: free.

>>  Come ride bikes with the mayor of Burbank! The Burbank BikeStop is a high-capacity indoor bike parking facility located at the downtown Burbank Metrolink Station. Ride with the Burbank mayor to the Metrolink Staion for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Mon., Nov. 14 at 10 am.  The meeting point is Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave, Burbank.  Cost: free.

>>  Cornerstone Theater Company continues their first annual “Creative Seeds: An Exploration of Hunger.”  This two-week event has some of LA’s most innovative artists, food activists, farmers, chefs, food critics and thought leaders address the issue of hunger through an artistic lens.  The festival ends on Nov. 20 and events take place throughout Los Angeles.  Cost: some events are free and some have suggested donations.  See website for details.

Los Angeles’ new bicycle plan wouldn’t have come to be if it weren’t for the hard work of local bicycle activists. Those cycling advocates have been planning more and more events and projects in the last few years — to the point that a bike-related event seems to be happening a few times a week! Whether you get to work by bike everyday — or are a newbie inspired to get two-wheeling because of the bike plan — here are some fun upcoming events in the L.A. area to get you riding:

Long Beach Bike Master Plan Workshops are happening now through March 23. Get your two cents in on the plan now if you live work or play in Long Beach.

The GOOD fundraiser party for CicLAvia. Loved the first ever CicLAvia, when 7.5 miles of city roads closed to car traffic, to make room for a lot of cyclists and pedestrians? Help support the 2011 CicLAvias — the first one’s happening April 10 — by enjoying “an afternoon of street-inspired eating, drinking, and playing.” The event offers everything from free bike clinics to a free yoga class! It all happens Sat., March 6 from 2 pm to 7 pm at Atwater Crossing, 3229 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets start at $20.

Sunday Funday Ride #3 – Roots, Architecture, & Escapism: The North San Gabriel Valley. Do you consider yourself an “advanced rider”? Then join the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition for a 62-mile ride that “will explore the many architectural and historical developments of the North San Gabriel Valley.” Meet up on Sun., March 6 at 8:30 am at the Rose Bowl parking lot K. The ride starts at 9 am. RSVP to Carol Feucht at carol@la-bike.org.

Re-Imagining Empty Space Bike Tour. Discover or rediscover South L.A. with a 7-mile bike ride led by C.I.C.L.E., which has partnered with the Coalition for an Active South L.A “to showcase sites that have been transformed from empty space into parks and gardens through community action.” That event happens Sat., March 12, starting with a breakfast a 9 am at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 3916 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. The ride goes from 10 am to 12:30 pm.

SMMoA X Cycle Chic Sundays. The Santa Monica Museum of Art wants you to “show your chic side while you ride” at a half-day bike ride that’ll take you from looking at museum exhibits to seeing brand new green living projects — with a snack break mid-ride. The ride happens Sun., March 27 from 10 am to 1 pm. Cost: $10 online.

Photo by Michael Dorausch

>> A free lecture called California Native Plants + Sustainable Urban Landscape Design is open to would-be urban gardeners who want to to learn about the versatility, design, and maintenance of eco-friendly native plants for sustainable landscapes. The event happens on Wed., April 21 from Noon to 1 pm at the LACCD Board Room, 770 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

>> L.A. Fashion Corner 2010 Eco-Friendly Fashion Show will showcase green fashions and sustainable products. Hosted by NBC’s Deal or Deal’s Leyla Milani, the night will feature live DJs and entertainment, a meet and greet with the designers, eco-vendors and exhibits, a charity raffle, freeze models, and giveaways. Be there Wed., April 21 from 6 pm – 11 pm at The Highlands, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Fl., Los Angeles. Cost: $25 in advance, $50 at the door.

Then on Earth Day:

>> Start your day off by volunteering at EARTH DAY at Elysian Park with L.A. Works. You’ll help prettify L.A.’s oldest public park by weeding, mulching, raking, trimming, and more. Volunteering begins Thurs., April 22 from 8 am – noon; sign up for details.

>> Then take the 720 or your bike over to the FREE Wilshire Center Earth Day for dance and music performances, booths, a farmers market, and more. That happens Earth Day, Thurs., April 22, from 11 am – 3 pm on the front lawn of Wilshire Park Plaza, 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

>> Or if you want to stay on the westside, Santa Monica College’s Earth Day Festival will feature free local, organic, vegetarian food, poetry, art, music, and prizes. The fun happens Thurs., April 22 from 11 am – 1 pm at the Santa Monica College Main Quad on the SMC campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.

In the evening, pick from:

>> ‘I Heart Earth’ LA Green Drinks party will bring together green drinkers from all six LA Green Drinks. There’ll be organic drinks, yummy bites from Pizza Fusion Hollywood, Border Grill and other eateries, music by solar-powered DJ Ref, and live bands. The fun happens Thurs., April 22nd from 7 pm – 11 pm at The Lofts at Cherokee Studios, 751 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. Cost: $10, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Global Green USA.

>> The Green Lounge Earth Day Celebration and Awards will be an eco-luxe shopping affair. Be there Thurs., April 22 from 5 pm – 11 pm at Lexus Santa Monica, 1501 Santa Monica, Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: $20, all donated to Global Green USA. RSVP required to jenna@nicolesherwinevents.com

>> Avatar’s James Cameron at Global Home Tree Benefit, which other Avatar cast members — as well as other eco-celebs — are expected to attend. There’ll be live music, a screening of eco-highlights from Avatar, and Q&A with the filmmaker and cast. The fun begins Thurs., April 22, 7:30 pm – 11 pm at Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles. Cost: $35 to $135 per ticket, with proceeds benefiting local at-risk youth through The Los Angeles Partnership Schools.

>> The FREE Valley Water Expo will show you how to save water and money — and the environment. There’ll be water conservation table presentations, speakers, and a free raffle. The event happens Thurs., April 22 from 6 pm – 9 pm at Balboa Sports Center, 17015 Burbank Blvd.

Earth Day events happening after Earth Day will be posted later in the week!

Photo by CarbonNYC

Love raw food — but can’t give up the organic coffee habit? Stop by SunPower Natural Cafe, where you can eat a Raw Supreme Pizza (above) and indulge your caffeine addiction too.

This vegan, organic, and almost all-raw restaurant makes a raw pizza with a marinara sauce, cashew cheese, and SunPower raw “sausage” that makes the concoction actually tastes somewhat pizza like — though with a nuttier, chewier, denser sunflower seed crust that will help you naturally exercise some portion control.

My $11 pizza came with a side option, so I went with a kale salad — the kale’s bitterness is massaged out, then the healthy greens topped with a delicious creamy dressing — which comes served between the two halves of the pizza.

In fact, SunPower even makes a Sweet Kale Shake — a $7 concoction that combines the freshness of kale with the sweet, thick, creamy texture of a milkshake. The goji berry-topped drink’s so delicious it’ll really make you crave kale — enough to spend $7 for the pleasure of drinking it.

For those who aren’t a fan of raw “bread,” regular organic buns are available for your sandwiches. Above is the Mexican Torta — with savory SunPower sausage, pico de gallo, fresh veggies, and ranch dressing on a multigrain bun, with a side of hummus with pita bread. I guess the dish was delicious, because my friend disappeared the $12 dish before I could ask for a bite.

For dessert, I got an almost-raw tiramisu — an $8 delicacy that’s raw save a little bit of coffee used for flavoring. However, I don’t recommend attempting this dessert unless you’re in a group of 6 or more. This tiramisu’s made mostly of coconut — which means the dessert’s extremely rich and dense. The first bite of this tiramisu tastes like a decadently creamy bite of coffee-flavored and sweetened butter. Subsequent bites will likely make you a little sick — which is how I felt after eating all of it (I know, I know).

Too much dessert aside, I loved my meal — and the two cups of freshly brewed organic, fair trade coffee (Trader Joe’s brand) I drank after it in a very cute mug-and-spoon combo vessel.

If you last visited SunPower Natural Cafe a couple months ago, visit again. The restaurant’s been newly renovated and is now a classier, more spacious place, complete with a communal table in the back for those looking for a chance to make new raw foodie friends. Thanks to reader M for recommending that I try out SunPower!

SunPower Natural Cafe. 3711 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City. 818.308.7420.

Earlier: Raw vegan restaurants in Los Angeles

Want to give your home a green remodel? See how beautiful your newly eco-fied home can look by taking a tour of the ZENERGY House, a new comprehensive green remodel in Studio City.

Unlike the brand new LEED Platinum-certified eco-mansions that tend to get all the attention, ZENERGY House is a more modest one-story home originally built in 1950. Having toured the place, I have to say ZENERGY House still seems mansion-like compared to my 500-square-foot apartment — but apparently this 2,450 square foot home with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms reflects the size of the average American home.

The size may be average, but the cutting edge eco-features at ZENERGY House are not all easy to replicate in an average American home. While a family does actually live in the place, the net zero energy ZENERGY House isn’t a remodel undertaken just by that family. It’s a showcase green home, put together by a consulting firm called Residential Energy Assessment Services, intended to serve as an uber green space for seminars, tours, and other green events. Thus, the place is tricked out with all the expensive green gadgetry, furniture, and materials offered by sponsors eager to showcase their products in front of a green-minded L.A. audience.

Still, many eco-features — from very simple ones like foam insulation for hot water pipes to more complex solar panel installations for the house and pool — are easy and cost effective (taking into account future savings as well as current government rebate programs) to incorporate into an average remodel. And some of the remodeling decisions included a choice to refurbish and reuse existing materials instead of buying new stuff — even if the new items may have been made with eco-friendly materials.

Plus, ZENERGY House gives visitors a look at eco-home features that will hopefully soon become affordable, if not de rigueur — and a sense of how beautiful a green home can look. The home’s green at all levels, from sleekly-designed energy-efficient appliances, reclaimed wood floors (above; visitors are given booties to wear indoors), and a backyard edible garden — to small details like organic cotton duvet covers with gorgeous prints, recycled PET clothes hangers, and even 3D “wall ruffles” made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper (below).

Not all features will please all greenies. Yes, the house does have a pool — solar heated, but one that does require a lot of water in an area currently in a drought (Christine Duong at Duong Designs has already complained about this, and I agree with her) — and yes, the house does have a large garage — as mandated by Los Angeles building codes. And I’m guessing some of the more expensive decorative features will not find favor with the ubergreen compact types (does one NEED 3D “wall ruffles” and an expensive bamboo iPod dock?). But from the sloped-to-conserve-water front lawn to the cute FSC-certified “Barking Teak” dog furniture (below), I found a lot to love about ZENERGY House.

Want to see ZENERGY House in person? Public tours — led by students from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts who’ve learned about the eco-features and trained as green docents — will begin soon. Check the ZENERGY House website in the coming days for details. All the features, gadgets, and products used in the house are fully detailed and documented — with an entire room of boxes containing brochures from sponsors (above) — so if you find something you like, you’ll easily be able to find out how to get it for your own home.

You may have seen the Valley Bikery’s mobile clinic at at Balboa Park, the Studio City farmer’s market, or L.A. River Ride. Now, the co-op’s found a permanent spot within the Valley Bicycles bike shop in Chatsworth. Like Bikerowave, Bicycle Kitchen, and Bike Oven, Valley Bikery basically gives the community tools and training to be self-sufficient cyclists.

Drop by, and you can get hands-on help from the volunteers (a.k.a. bakers) and buy low-cost bike parts you need. Cost: $5 suggested per-hour donation — though no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

The Valley Bikery also plans to keep doing the mobile clinics — as well as provide a spoke card service if you need bike-favors and promotions for your next cycling event. Beginner bike rides and commuter support programs are also in the works — so volunteer your time or donate the many items on the Bikery’s want list (web designer isn’t on the list, but they need one of those too, IMHO) to help your local bike co-op get its wheels wet.

The Valley Bikery. 21112 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. Hours: Tues., 2 pm – 6 pm; Wed., 1 pm – 5 pm; Sat., 1 pm – 5 pm.

Photo of Valley Bikery booth by work the angles