Celebrating 5 great years

On 10 June, 2008, Seattle Greendrinks celebrated its fifth anniversary with a huge party, attended by over 1,000 people, celebrating the richness of this community. With amazing food and drinks, a gorgeous venue, great music, crafting, and people committing to doing one thing to improve the world, the event was a tremendous success. Below are some of the photos, as well as a write-up by Remodelista's Scott Liebman.

June 10th

The Pear Garden is located in an old red wood building in an industrial section of Seattle, near Starbuck’s Headquarters, shipyards and the Safeco Baseball stadium. The sounds of trains passing by are a continual reminder that building once served as a train engine shop. The new owners transformed the space from a stone showroom / gallery to a collaborative space for the headquarters of their design company Patronus Design, a tea house (to open in July), and a venue for events. Seattle’s top caterer Chef BJ Duft’s Herban Fest is conveniently located next door.

I entered from the back into a large 2-story high atrium with tall basalt pillars, ferns and trees….The sound of the fountain water flowing into the fish pond filled the atrium. The owners were busy preparing for the local Green Drinks chapter’s fifth year anniversary celebration – Over 1000 Seattle “Green” folks coming to celebrate achievements and awareness of eco-friendly activities in this tiny green oasis in the middle of industrial Seattle. Eco-friendly “green” sponsors
were setting up tables in the outside courtyard.

Around the corner I wandered into a sitting room and a tea –bar where a tea master Jin Shuen Chen would soon be pouring different organically grown tea from his plantations in Fujian and Zhenjiang, China. Oo Long, Hibiscus, Earl Grey / Lavender… The Pear Garden will start selling these teas under the Pear Garden brand to the public in July (using a logistics friend FORTsystem.com) An old library catalog card cabinet was being used to store containers of tea; an old display cabinet that was left there by the previous owner was used as a showcase for ceramic objects, and a modern black lacquered shelf was used to display teapots, tea and other gift items. Tall stone statues were intermingled with basalt pillars holding up massive wood crossbeams, and in one corner, there were some nice old leather chairs and bamboo Toro stools – casual setting to sit and chat. I had already tuned out the cars and trucks rolling up and down 1st street outside.

I went into their private offices to warm up by the fireplace – Mexican agate clad the book cases and is used for the lampshades and sconces – wood and stone mixed to make book cases and a stone fireplace in the corner. A Persian rug adds welcomed warmth – (Seattle is having a particularly cold year).

Just outside their offices is a high counter top which they plan to transform into a wine tasting bar. Several organic and “eco-friendly” wines were set up in the back and a bottle of a super premium 100% estate grown cognac called CMG was sitting on the counter ready for the tasting. The cognac production is extremely limited and was featured there because of the producer’s attention to using eco-friendly practices in the production of the cognac. I’m a bit of a single malt fan and cognac connoisseur, and couldn’t believe how great it is. I then proceeded into the last room where there were drafting tables, and
various pieces of furniture on display. The gracious owners Jonathan and his wife Ai are designers. Jonathan crafted the logo for Microsoft, and now with Ai designs wine labels (including the new CMG cognac label), spaces, furniture and a long list of other things. A good deal of their time, however, is spent designing and manufacturing furniture for the chain of Kumon schools throughout the United States. They manufacture everything in the US (They compared prices with outsourcing to China, but there was no price advantage, and still a quality control advantage keeping it in the U.S.). To date, the furniture has been available only to the Kumon schools, but soon they will start selling the furniture directly to individuals through PatronusFurniture.com. They also make custom designed furniture for businesses and homes.

As I made my way out of the building to go check out the neighbor’s ‘great hall’ where the food would be served, the sponsors had already been setting up shop in the inner courtyard created by the space between the buildings. Hand-crafted chocolates, baked goods, brewed beer, and other goodies – plus lots of eco-organizations generating awareness for their cause. Hundreds of people had already arrived for the Green Drinks anniversary – and not only some young, idealistic faces, non-profit workers, and Audubon Society members, but IP lawyers, architects, designers, manufacturers, and folks of all sorts – with the common thread of awareness and interest in learning about what is going on. Inspirational!

Together, they have created a unique and respectful environment where people can come to be alone for a little respite in the middle of a hectic day or meet with others. The facilities have already hosted large private events where Seattle’s top companies have held secret product review and strategy conferences, expositions, meetings, wine tastings, weddings, and tai chi workshops. Jonathan and Ai will be setting up a little library for visitors to enjoy; and envision that the venue will
provide the community with a venue for collaboration and tranquility. I look forward to visiting again soon when it’s open to the public.

- Scott Liebman