Earthy Sights from the Big Apple
A Low-Impact Travel Guide to NYC
The contours of the human experience were etched in New York City.
Each city block manifesting a collision of life journeys, where strangers from far below the poverty line share the streets with the upper 1%. Seemingly infinite curations of restaurants, smoke shops, and department stores glitter the buildingscape. Each subway ride—be it two stops or twenty—is a portal to a new world with a whole new set of characters.
The universal plane I found myself in was unsurprisingly green, and surprisingly nonanomalous in the Mecca of maximal consumerism. In a place where everything from people to potpourri stands are 10x’d, it makes sense that environmental pleasantries also come a dime a dozen.
Here are a few of my favorite little green moments from the concrete jungle:
Galleries of Gaia
Location: Museum of Modern Art (53rd St between 5th & 6th Ave)
Just shy of a century-old, MoMA is ranked among the world’s most beloved (and progressive) art museums. Though it didn’t always boast this reputation. Business mogul John D. Rockefeller’s wife opened the museum about a week after the stock market crashed in 1929—needless to say its origins are speckled with elitism. Just a few months after opening, MoMA trustees started charging an admission fee (albeit a relatively small one) to tamper the number of daily museum visitors. Inspiring is MoMA’s movement toward democratization, which influenced an exhibit about circular and regenerative design principles free of charge to the public.
As the name implies, MoMA houses only the most cutting-edge, contemporary pieces of art. For instance, they were the first museum in the U.S. to feature industrial design, architecture, photography, and motion pictures in their collections. An apt addendum to its the futuristic curations, MOMA welcomed the Life Cycles: Materials of Contemporary Design exhibit last September.
Stepping into the space, I lay my expectations of greenwashing out to dry and prepared to appreciate artistic perspectives on designing a less wasteful world. The only image staining my preconception was the ovary-shaped candelabra smattering promo posters, which turned out to be made from cow dung.
As a human endlessly fascinated by biodesign, the space was comfortably familiar yet intriguingly novel. Upon entering, I was greeted by a honeycomb vase tinkered by bees, a never ending self-tailorable garment, and a squadron of design students assigned this trip as part of their curriculum. I pranced through the pieces, sharpening my knowledge on 3D-printing, kintsugi and self-healing materials, biodegradable alternatives, and indigenously inspired techniques.
The yellow brick cul-de-sac of circular art ended at a piece called ‘Palm City,’ which resembled a form of ancient currency or post-modern beach furniture. Its metallic coating pooled in viewers, where they were invited to watch a film about how the piece was made (lucky you, I linked it below). From the very start to finishing touches, the Brazilian artist consciously reduced their energy and waste. They gathered their own biofuel to melt down recycled aluminum cans, and used a sand casting technique to coat a palm leaf and branches in the silvery coating, which made up the seat and legs of the chair.
Some other things I especially appreciated:
The word ‘sustainable’ was not used once in the exhibit (at least that’s what my shoddy memory recalls).
The first floor exhibit is free to the public (which of course I only realized after purchasing a ticket myself).
Bonus: MoMA also has an incredible exhibit called Emerging Ecologies about the evolution of green building and architecture. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Homage to Environmental Justice
Location: Soho (Prince & Wooster)
I’m a wanderlust traveler. Nudged this way or that by gusts of wind and herds of humans. But I also do my diligence scouting out hotspots where I might connect with new earthy friends. Of course, the Climate Museum made my favorited list on Google Maps, so as I edged into Soho I eagerly navigated to check it out.
When I found myself on a designer strip—with a Canada Goose, Tiffany & Co., and Chanel in each direction—I was convinced I had taken a wrong turn. But nay, this center for environmental justice and climate resilience was strategically located next to some of the fashion industry’s biggest offenders.
As a student of all things environment, I can’t say I necessarily learned a whole lot from the exhibit, but in my opinion the fact it was located in one of the poshest areas of NYC is what made the experience so brilliant. I won’t give too much else away, but some of the highlights of the informational exhibit include:
The origins of the fossil fuel industry and its ties to colonialism
[Redacted oil company]’s pre-1970 knowledge of climate change
Health risks associated with petrochemicals
The rise of environmental justice
The woes of ‘carbon capture’ technology
Loss and damage funds for climate reparations
My favorite Climate Museum novelty was the kid’s table. Museum-goers aged 9 to 69 sketched their visions for a safer, more equitable, and sustainable future. Drawing cities, energy systems, and other elements of human connection, these visionaries conceived ways for our systems to be transformed for the benefit of the collective.
*Bonus: If you want to check out some professional environmental art, Poster House in Flatiron currently has a ‘We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis’ poster exhibit, also available virtually.
Rummaging Circular Racks
Location: Oculus Center (Church & Fulton)
Turns out America’s fashion capital is also its secondhand fashion capital. NYC has over 100 thrift stores and flea markets, making it the national hub for vintage and modern used clothing. After watching Girlboss (a flic about the founding of the vintage-turned-fast fashion brand Nasty Gal in the Big Apple), I had been pining for an NYC thrift adventure. Admittedly I was naively unprepared for the price tag, which blew my Midwestern bulk bins out of the water (NYC premium, baby).
In the first thrift store I went to, there was not a single garment less than $130. When I took a second swing in a circular fashion outlet at Oculus, prices jumped even higher, starting at $210 (standard $100 premium for including UN SDGs on clothing tags?)
At this point, my mind entered ethical civil war. I don’t fundamentally disagree that secondhand fashion should be valued on a scale that better reflects rates of depreciation over time and usage of clothing (most thrift items are admittedly underpriced). However, if that secondhand piece is more expensive than most comparable alternatives, I find it ultimately harmful to the slow fashion scene. Why must sustainability be made a luxury?
Turns out I did find a few accessible options. Crossroads and AuH20 were some of my favorites where I scored some moderately priced pieces.
Polishing it Off With a Plate
As a Grade A foodie, I also wanted to mention a few of my favorite (pricey) plant-based eats:
Vegan croissant @ Vesuvio at Moynihan Train Hall
‘Torched and Pressed’ @ PLANTA
Wild Mushroom Kabob @ Anixi
Vegan cream cheese @ Tompkins Square Bagels
Of all the places you’ll go, I’d say the opportunities for low impact (but definitely not low cost) travel are pretty ripe in New York. Let me know if you visit any of these earthy sites (assuming they’re still around in the City that Never Sleeps) & if you have any recommendations for place I missed.
P.S. As a sustainability buff, I know this space is surely siloed and constantly evolving. All to say, I welcome your fact-checking and feedback! Working together to improve our collective understanding of sustainability is the goal of my page!
P.P.S. The views in this article are my personal perspectives and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer or any other person or entity.
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