Gettin' Some

The Enviro-Friendly Date

by Monica Weymouth

The Enviro-Friendly Date

Your little hearts are made of hemp, and that's pretty cute. But even eco-friendly bran muffins need a night on the town every once in a while.

Dinner: Just because it's hippie fare doesn't mean it can't taste homemade. Picnic uses local ingredients from sustainable family farms to make classics like mac and cheese, roasted vegetable lasagna and stuffed cornish game hen. Call ahead and they'll whip up a basket, complete with checkered napkins. 3131 Walnut St., 215-222-1608.

Main Event: You compost the cores of your organic apples, but how can an entire city go green? Start by watching a movie. In his documentary Ecological Design — Inventing the Future , Chris Zelov explores the progression of ecological design in the 20th century. The award-winning film looks at engineering advances, public transportation, sustainable architecture and the green community's movers and shakers. Ultimately, the film hopes to work out a happy compromise between nature, technology and that pesky thing we call humanity. This fragile relationship, which inspires much of Zelov's work, will guide a discussion following the screening. "We are design beings," says Zelov. "We are world makers whether we like it or not." Sun., April 15, 6 p.m., 3420 Sansom St., 215-386-9224, www.whitedogcafe.com

Coffee: At West Philly fave Satellite Cafe, fair-trade coffee and vegan angel food cake fuel the scruffy crowd and their crossword puzzle habits. Challenge them to a socially conscious duel and order a Vibrant Green Kale Smoothie with a scoop of Peaceful Planet Supreme Meal. Bonus tree hugs: Firehouse Bikes is located upstairs. 701 S. 50th St., 215-729-1211