The VRG's Maryland Newsletter by Mary H. AUGUST 2012 ********************************************************************* 1) VRG CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CURRENT VEGETARIAN JOURNAL 2) VRG INCLUDED IN COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN IN THE FALL 2012 3) THE VRG's ANNUAL PRE-THANKSGIVING VEGAN POTLUCK IN BALTIMORE 4) THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL VRG VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS 5) VRG's OUTREACH AT CHICAGO GREEN FESTIVAL 2012 BY ERIC SHARER, RD 6) VISIT THE VRG'S BOOTHS AT THESE LOCAL AND NATIONWIDE EVENTS 7) VRG VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 8) THE LAND OF KUSH IN BALTIMORE BY SHELBY JACKSON, VRG INTERN 9) STICKY FINGERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BY SHELBY JACKSON, VRG INTERN 10) VEGAN SPIRITUALITY RETREAT - AUGUST 11TH - GLADWYNE, PA 11) 2ND ANNUAL VEGTOBERFEST IN BALTIMORE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 12) UPCOMING LOCAL VEG HAPPENINGS 13) VEGAN DINNER DURING 2012 ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA ********************************************************************* 1) VRG CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CURRENT VEGETARIAN JOURNAL Be sure to scoop up the latest copy of Vegetarian Journal, Volume XXXI, Number 3 as it's packed with celebratory menus, reflections on memorable projects and popular veggie foods from 1982 to today, 30 top vegan restaurants across the country, and recipes for 30 vegan dishes that carnivores will celebrate! Not a member? No problem, you can join for $25 for 1 year and receive a free copy of 'Vegan Meals for 1 or 2' by sending payment and subscription information to P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203, by calling (410) 366-8343, or on our website at [ http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=82 ] ********************************************************************* 2) VRG INCLUDED IN COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN IN THE FALL 2012 The Vegetarian Resource Group has been accepted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for inclusion in the Fall 2012 Combined Federal Campaign as a member of Health & Medical Research Charities of America. Please support vegetarian outreach and education and select The Vegetarian Resource Group if you are a federal worker and donate through the Combined Federal Campaign. ********************************************************************* 3) THE VRG's ANNUAL PRE-THANKSGIVING VEGAN POTLUCK IN BALTIMORE Mark your calendars now for The VRG's 31st Annual Vegetarian Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner on Sunday November 18, 2012 at 5:00 P.M. The dinner will be held at North Baltimore Mennonite Church in Roland Park, 4615 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210. Vegetarians, vegans, and the merely curious are invited! $4 per person, children under age 16 are free. Please bring a vegan dish (and serving utensil) that serves four as a contribution from each member of your party. Write ingredients of dish on index card to accommodate special diets. Guests are encouraged to bring reusable dishes and utensils to reduce waste. A vegetarian canned food drive is taking place the same night. Consider donating! Volunteers needed to help with marketing and planning before the event and on the day of the event for set-up and clean-up. For more information contact The VRG at [email protected] or call us at (410) 366-8343. Reservations not necessary! ********************************************************************* 4) THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL VRG VOLUNTEERS We extend our continued gratitude to local high school student, Morgan for helping with projects around the office! Volunteering with VRG can be an enjoyable way for students to earn service hours! VRG welcomes another high school volunteer, Soren who had volunteered with us in 2008 and has come back in to help pack for upcoming booths, proofread Spanish brochures, and help with a mailing. A round of cheers for intern Shelby Jackson and volunteers Dorothy Kenny and Heather Gorn for the time and energy they put forth at VRG's outreach booth at HSUS's Taking Action for Animals Conference in Washington DC on July 28th and 29th! Thank you to our volunteers who make outreach possible. To get involved, email [email protected]. To support future outreach opportunities, donate at: [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ] ********************************************************************* 5) VRG's OUTREACH AT CHICAGO GREEN FESTIVAL 2012 BY ERIC SHARER, RD GreenFest was held inside the iconic Navy Pier of Chicago, which is located on a jetty right outside of the heart of the city, providing an amazing view of the skyline and waterfront. The event itself was held in the large festival hall. This is a large space giving plenty of room for all the vendors, presenters, and visitors comfortably. Per the GreenFest webpage, the total weekend welcomed over 24,000 participants. This was very large venue, so it never seemed excessively busy or overwhelming and I would encourage anyone interested to visit the event in 2013! The crowd was quite a melting pot of all ages, demographics, beliefs, and cultures; a very fascinating mix of people. I would say the two most common age groups were people in their 20's - 30's and people in their late 40's early 50's. A large majority of the crowd was familiar with the overall concept of vegetarianism/veganism, but many had questions about the reasons why one would pursue this or how to do so. Major topics of interest include the environmental impact of the livestock industry, vegan children, eating healthy on a budget, and gluten free nutrition. Many people were shocked to learn of the impact that eating animal protein, poultry, or dairy has on the environment and the earth's supply of fresh water. They were surprised to learn that the largest user of fresh water is the livestock industry, since water is directly needed for drinking and cleaning of animals. There were many conversations about all sorts of topics related to vegetarianism/veganism. I had great talks with a few nurses, counselors, and teachers who wanted to spread the word on the benefits of vegetarianism/veganism to their students/clients/ patients. Several school teachers who came to the booth were excited to share Vegetarian Journal and coloring books with their students. Along with volunteering for The VRG's booth, I was part of the opening ceremony with The Earth Balance Plant Based Panel. This was a panel of both local and national experts, specializing in various arenas such as nutrition, GMO, raw foods, media, etc. This was a very exciting panel which drummed up a very interesting and informative discussion related to vegetarianism. It was a special moment being able to represent myself as well as VRG at GreenFest Chicago! Video of this panel as well as the panel from other cities is available at the Earth Balance website. If you are interested in volunteering at a booth like this, e-mail [email protected]. For a list of other ways to volunteer and get involved with the VRG, please visit [ http://www.vrg.org/getinvolved.php ] Donations from individuals like you help VRG continue to sponsor outreach booths like the one mentioned above. To donate, please go to [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ] For more information about GreenFest, visit: [ http://www.greenfestivals.org/ ] To watch the Earth Balance panel video, visit: [ http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/news-events/events/upcoming/ ] ********************************************************************* 6) VISIT THE VRG'S BOOTHS AT THESE LOCAL AND NATIONWIDE EVENTS Festival season is here! We would be thrilled if you came by our booth to talk with VRG volunteers, check out special book offers, and take home free handouts and magazines! Volunteers are needed for these events, if you would like to sign up email Mary at [email protected] MARYLAND AREA EVENTS: Animal Rights National Conference 2012 August 2 - 5 in Alexandria, VA [ http://www.arconference.org/ ] DC Veg Fest September 22 in Washington, DC 11:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. [ http://dcvegfest.com/ ] Baltimore Vegtoberfest October 27 in South Baltimore 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. [ http://www.openthecages.org/vegtoberfest/ ] VRG's Thanksgiving Potluck North Baltimore Mennonite Church, 4615 Roland Ave (21210) November 18 -Sunday- in Baltimore, MD 5:00 P.M. NATIONWIDE EVENTS: Chicago Vegetarian Food Festival August 11th and 12th in Chicago, IL [ http://www.veggiefestchicago.org ] Bethlehem Vegetarian Festival September 8 in Lehigh Valley, PA [ http://www.downtownbethlehemassociation.com/calendar/vegfest ] Boulder Green Streets September 16 in Boulder, CO [ http://bouldergreenstreets.org/ ] Vegan Mania September 29th in Chicago, IL [ http://chicagoveganmania.com/ ] AND Food and Nutrition Conference October 6 - 9 in Philadelphia, PA [ http://www.eatright.org/fnce/ ] For information on VRG's vegan dinner during the conference visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2012/05/11/vrgs-vegan-dinner-in-philadephia-oct-7-2012/ ] World Vegetarian Festival 2012 October 6 - 7 in San Francisco, CA [ http://www.sfvs.org/wvd/ ] Boston Vegetarian Food Festival October 27 - 28 in Boston, MA [ http://www.bostonveg.org/foodfest/ ] NY Capital Region Vegetarian Expo November 17 in Albany, NY [ http://www.nyvegetarianexpo.org/ ] To donate and support these outreach booths and enable VRG to participate in even more events, donate at: [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ] ********************************************************************* 7) VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES For more information about the following and other chances to contribute, email Mary VRG's Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] To work with like-minded folks on clerical tasks that help us get ready for outreach events, communicate with our members, and connect with veggie communities around the country come to Volunteer Days in The VRG Office! Email Mary at [email protected] for info on the August date. Example tasks include, assisting with mass mailings, helping with local and national restaurant guide, preparing materials for events, and packing for outreach booths. Looking ahead to the fall, we would appreciate help with the planning, marketing, and day-of set up/clean up for our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck, which will take place on Sunday November 18th in Roland Park in Baltimore at 5:00 P.M. ********************************************************************* 8) THE LAND OF KUSH IN BALTIMORE BY SHELBY JACKSON, VRG INTERN The Land of Kush, located at 840 N. Eutaw Street, boasts the two features I admire most about a restaurant: generous portions and affordability. Though the menu may seem small, everything I have tried is flavor-packed, seemingly healthy, and surprisingly filling. The entirely vegan menu allows you to customize and get creative with your meal; you can put one of the three entr�es on a wrap, or choose one entr�e with two sides for the $10.99 platter, or just fill up on the side dishes. As far as I have tasted, you cannot go wrong with any of the selections. I am usually pretty quick to pick favorites when it comes to restaurant entr�es, but not with The Land of Kush. As someone who grew up in the south eating barbecue meats and lots of macaroni and cheese, I'd have to say the Land of Kush really hit the spot with their savory, smoky Kush BBQ Ribs and Baked Mac & Cheese. Though the latter does not necessarily taste how I remember, it was buttery and creamy, and I will definitely be going back for seconds. The texture and flavor of the Sweet & Sour Seitan, with its tangy sauce and tender texture, reminded me of the brisket my mom used to make. Both the Ribs and the Seitan were extremely hearty and satisfying and the leftovers tasted great on a sandwich the next day. The Chick-un Salad Wrap tastes exactly like real chicken, according to my omnivore boyfriend who has ordered it twice. His next favorite were the ribs, which were "good, but not real ribs." Coming from a boy who grew up in Kansas City and is quick to point out the shortcomings of mock meats, this remark is more positive than it may initially seem. The Land of Kush does not try too hard to imitate the non-vegan versions the dishes are inspired from. They are careful to extract the natural, wholesome flavor and unique texture of seitan and soy, but with a soul food spin. The Mac & Cheese, as well as many of their entrees, is incomparable with the real thing, which is fortunate, because what they have come up with tastes much better. For more information about vegan dining options in Baltimore, MD, see The Vegetarian Resource Group's local restaurant guide at [ http://www.vrg.org/travel/baltimoreguide.php ]. For more information about vegan dining options across the US, see the VRG's national restaurant guide: [ http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php ]. For more info about The Land Of Kush: [ http://www.thelandofkush.com/ ] ********************************************************************* 9) STICKY FINGERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BY SHELBY JACKSON, VRG Intern Sticky Fingers, located at 1370 Park Road NW in Washington DC, is a vegan caf� and bakery that takes the cake for the best treats around. The two time all-star winner of the Food Network's Cupcake Wars, Sticky Fingers is a must stop destination for any serious connoisseur of fine vegan desserts. The meal options are reasonably priced (all around eight dollars) and dessert items run for about as much as you would expect from a vegan bakery. I had the Breakfast Burrito: tofu scramble, black beans, tomato, spinach and Daiya cheese wrapped inside an organic whole grain tortilla. My boyfriend enjoyed the Chik'n Ranch Wrap which included lettuce, avocado, refried beans and homemade ranch dressing. Both were equally satisfying, especially when paired with a thick and creamy vanilla soy ice cream shake. After sitting down, I instantly regretted not ordering the Biscuits & Gravy; they looked incredible and were being devoured at nearly every table in the restaurant. The mesmerizing display of gleaming baked goods left me wishing I had more room in my stomach. After spending a good ten minutes eyeing all the mouthwatering selections, I finally settled on a cinnamon roll to save for later. Cinnamon rolls are an all time favorite of mine, and I have always had difficulty finding a vegan replica of the melt-in-your mouth gooeyness characteristic of a well made roll. Sticky Fingers has gone above and beyond with their gigantic, frosty cinnamon rolls. I'm not sure it's even possible for better ones to to be made. Sticky Fingers is as aesthetically pleasing as it is delicious. The funky retro d�cor made me feel as if I was stepping into a 50's diner, and was probably the motivating force behind my decision to order an ice cream shake with breakfast. I encourage you to treat yourself to one of Sticky Finger's heavenly, perfectly frosted delicacies. I've been to a fair share of vegan eateries, and it is with critical evaluation and careful contemplation that I deem Sticky Fingers as among the best. For more information on vegetarian selections at restaurants all across America, see the Vegetarian Resource Group's online restaurant guide: [ http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php. ] For more information about Sticky Fingers: [ http://www.stickyfingers.com/ ] ********************************************************************* 10) VEGAN SPIRITUALITY RETREAT - AUGUST 11TH - GLADWYNE, PA Explore veganism as a spiritual practice at the 3rd Annual Retreat on Saturday August 11th in Gladwyne, PA featuring Rae Sikora of Plant Peace Daily, Anne Dinshah author of Dating Vegans, Neal Seghal of Evolve for Animals & vegan yogis John Calabria & Derek Goodwin. Enjoy yoga, a catered vegan lunch, nature walk, discussions, guided meditation, and an Animal Blessing Ceremony with vegan drums! For more information: [ http://www.publiceyephilly.org ] [ http://www.veganspirituality.com ] Call: (315) 620-2130 ********************************************************************* 11) 2ND ANNUAL VEGTOBERFEST IN BALTIMORE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 Open the Cages Alliance is happy to announce the second annual Vegtoberfest to be held at Riverside Park in South Baltimore in honor of compassionate, joyful, and sustainable vegan lifestyles! Look forward to "Astro Folk" song-crafter Woody Lissauer, speaker Joseph Gonzales, dietitians from PCRM, and performer Ron Kipling Williams. More event information to be loaded on Open The Cages website soon. Riverside Park is located at 1600 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 Information: [ http://www.openthecages.org/events/index.html ] ********************************************************************* 12) UPCOMING LOCAL VEG HAPPENINGS A rotating vegan potluck in the greater Baltimore area is happy to open their doors to families who are interested in a brunch or late afternoon gathering to allow kids, parents, and peers to share information, ideas, and support. To be added to the monthly potluck announcement email Dana Shaw: [email protected] August 5th, Sunday 12:30 - 2:30 P.M., Vegetarian Meetup hosted by Earth Save at Cafe Zen in Belvedere Square. This group is a great place to get support and suggestions related to a vegetarian lifestyle. To RSVP, register at [ http://vegetarian.meetup.com/9/, ] Cafe Zen is located at 438 East Belvedere Avenue Baltimore 21212. For more information: [ http://earthsavebaltimore.org/node/71 ] August 5th, Sunday 4:00 P.M., August Corn Roast hosted by Supper Club. This potluck group is bracing the heat with a picnic themed gathering, corn and veggie burgers provided. Start thinking of what you would like to bring and RSVP to Deborah Jamieson, [email protected] or Celeste Voigt at [email protected] August 12th, Sunday 12:00 - 4:00 P.M., Free Holistic Wellness Clinic at The Natural Path Holisitic Wellness Center, 3333 Greenmount Ave. in Baltimore, MD, 21218. Services & workshops include: nutritional counseling, holistic living consultation, reiki, natural pregnancy, yoga, tai chi, relaxation therapy, and more! Info: call Dr. Akua at (410) 435-9647 or visit [ http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Natural-Path-Holistic-Wellness-Center/211722695550518 ] August 15th, Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Vegan Meet Up hosted by EarthSave Baltimore. This group welcomes anyone interested in learning about healthy eating. Vegan Meetup will be at Mr. Chan's Szechuan restaurant at 1000 Reisterstown Rd. in Pikesville, which has great tasting vegetarian and vegan choices. To RSVP, register at [ http://vegan.meetup.com/29/ ] [email protected] or 410-252-3043. [ http://earthsavebaltimore.org/node/71 ] August 17th, Friday 6:30 P.M. Dine Kind Vegan Potluck. Hosted by Jill Stankis from David's Natural Market. This group gathers in Harford County on the third Friday of the month at Fallston Unitarian Church: 1127 Old Fallston Road Fallston, MD 21047. Please bring a dish, recipe, minimum $3 donation and come enjoy this welcoming event with guest speakers. To confirm potluck details, call (410) 836-0808. [ http://www.facebook.com/pages/DineKind/128952760505552 ] August 25th, Sunday 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. Veg Dinner Series hosted by EarthSave. Vegetarian Potluck and special film preview, "Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home". Dinner guests are asked to bring a vegan dish to share along with a donation of $5 (members $2). You may RSVP by calling (410) 252-3043 or by emailing [email protected]. This event is held the last Saturday of the month at the Learning Center of Your Prescription for Health, 10210 S. Dolfield Rd in Owings Mills. September 9, Sunday 10 AM - 1 PM, Veggie Gourmet Cooking Class with Mimi Clark. Beans and Grains, learn to cook with ancient "new" grains and lesser known beans. Past classes have included some of the following: Lentil Walnut Pate, Black Bean Hummus, Herbed White Bean Pate, White Bean & Kale Soup, Azuki Bean Patties, and more. Regularly: $55/person; $100/two people; $50/VSDC, VRG, COK members. For availability: email [email protected] or call (703) 643-2713. Checks payable to: Mimi Clark, 9302 Hallston Ct. Fairfax Station, VA 22039. More information: [ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ] November 18, Sunday 5:00 P.M VRG's Annual Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck at North Baltimore Mennonite Church in Roland Park, 4615 Roland Ave. Baltimore, 21210. Guests are asked to bring a vegan dish that serves 4+. Don't forget a serving spoon and your own reusable plate/utensils. Admission is $4 and children under 16 are admitted free. Volunteers needed before and after for set up/ clean up. To volunteer please email Mary, [email protected] or call (410) 366-8343. ********************************************************************* 13) VEGAN DINNER DURING 2012 A.N.D. CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA On Sunday October 7, 2012 at 6:00 P.M., The VRG will host a vegan feast during the annual meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly ADA) at Singapore Vegetarian Restaurant, about one block from the Philadelphia Convention Center. VEGAN BUFFET MENU House Wonton Soup Hot and Sour Soup Curry Dumpling Spring Roll Sesame Noodles Salad Singapore "Pepper Steak" General Tao's "Chicken" with Broccoli Vegetable Lo Mein Chinese and American Greens Coconut "Shrimp and Chicken" Brown Rice, White Rice, Tea, Oranges Cost: $20 per person To register: Pay online at [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ] (and write in Singapore and names of attendees in the comments/notes) You can also reserve by calling (410) 366-8343 Monday to Friday, 9-5. Or by mailing a check to The VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. *Seating is limited. Menu subject to change. ********************************************************************* ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and individuals to bring about healthful changes in your school, workplace, and community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about vegetarian diets. The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization. Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, bequests and book sales. The VEGETARIAN JOURNAL, a print magazine, is a benefit of membership in The VRG. (For more information, please see the VEGETARIAN JOURNAL online at [ http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ] ) To sign up for The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ] To sign up for The VRG's Maryland Email Newsletter, please visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/local/ ] We are also on Facebook and Twitter!! [ http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup ] [ http://www.twitter.com/VegResourceGrp ] If you would like to make a donation, become a member, volunteer, or find out more about The VRG, contact us at: The Vegetarian Resource Group P.O. Box 1463 Baltimore, MD 21203 Phone: (410) 366-8343 Fax: (410) 366-8804 E-mail: [email protected], Website: [ http://www.vrg.org ] To donate: [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1565 ] Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2012 The contents of this newsletter, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own. If you were forwarded this message and would like to sign up for our monthly local email newsletter please see our website: [ http://www.vrg.org/local/ ] If you wish to not receive the Local Email Newsletter, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the phrase "remove me from local email newsletter".