Laura PytlikThe Lexicon of Sustainability. Two big words, with a very simple mission, and that mission was highlighted at the “Green Meet & Eat” at the Point Park Marketplace on November 21st. The Green Meet & Eat, sponsored by Pickering Associates, was an effort to highlight the area’s abundance of resources to encourage healthier, greener lifestyles. Part of that effort was the curated artwork of the Lexicon of Sustainability, an eye-catching interactive display meant to start the conversation about sustainable living.
Located at the entrance to Point Park at 113 Anne Street, the Marketplace is housed in the newly renovated building that features exposed brick walls and industrial beams overhead. The building is also home to Lapping the Couch Adventures LLC, an adventure company that takes advantage of the Marketplace’s proximity to the river and trail head. John Wiseman led interested cyclists on a 45 minute ride which returned to the Marketplace before the event began.
Inside the Marketplace, vendors were on hand to sell local produce and food products along with hand crafted items. The permanent booths are open Thursdays through Saturdays and provide seasonal produce, baked goods, packaged food products and fresh items such as kettle corn. That same produce finds its way into Chef Yancy’s dishes served in his Five Star Bistro, reinforcing the idea of sustainable and healthy eating. Visitors enjoyed the music of Amanda DeBarr and Family while eating a meal from the Bistro, beverages from the NET and Toscano in Appalachia Winery, and even pepperoni rolls made on site. If you haven’t yet visited the Point Park Marketplace on a Friday evening, you owe it to yourself to stop by for one of the Fridays-at-Five series. The events are quickly gaining popularity as young professionals from Parkersburg and beyond gather to kick off the weekend.
Chef and food writer Sara Bir of The Sausagetarian hosted two cooking demonstrations utilizing local, seasonal ingredients. Sara made Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup and Rice Pudding using a pressure cooker, demonstrating the steps and letting people sample the delicious results. Sara was also responsible for the curation of Friday’s event, and she walks the walk when it comes to cooking and living responsibly. Sustainability is an ideal, emphasizing a worldview that everything we do has consequences. Those consequences may not be visible, but knowing that what we buy, eat, make and think can either be part of the problem or part of the solution gives us a clear sense of responsibility.
The collaboration of Pickering Associates for the Green Meet & Eat was a perfect fit. As the MOV’s premier Architecture, Engineering and Surveying firm, Pickering also leads the industry in sustainable design. Their design and construction of the first and only LEED Platinum home in West Virginia provided a zero-net-energy home that serves as a prototype of sustainable building practices I the region. In addition, their solar energy panel arrays on their facility grounds double as carports—they truly “practice what they preach”.
The Green Meet & Eat had much to offer, regardless of where your interests lie. Supporting local growers and vendors, enjoying the fresh food and beverages, listening to live music, learning new recipes, and being exposed to the Lexicon of Sustainability—one left the event better informed and inspired to make healthier decisions.