NY Times: Green Grocers (and Bakeries)

Yana Llina of the Little Cupcake Bake Shop in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn serving the family of Jackie Gravante, standing.

By J. ALEX TARQUINIO
Published: November 1, 2007

Most people probably would not associate having a sweet tooth with saving the planet. But the owners of the Little Cupcake Bake Shop would respectfully like you to know that they are part of the solution.

First, there is the signature “global cupcakes” — vanilla with blue and green frosting to resemble the earth — for $2.50 each. All the proceeds are donated to environmental groups.

But that is just the beginning. In the two years since the bake shop opened in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, the owners have cut back their energy and water use and reduced their trash by installing glazed windows to cut down on the need for heating and cooling; switching to biodegradable bags and utensils; and adding a recycling unit in the dining area.

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NY Times: Cupcakes for the Endangered Species Coalition

Arden Wohl at a party for the Endangered Species Coalition at the Little Cupcake Bakeshop.

By IRINA ALEKSANDER
Published: December 22, 2010

“WE are saving panda bears here tonight, right?” asked Waris Ahluwalia, the jewelry designer. “Arden specifically told me that, if I showed up, I would save at least one panda bear.”

Mr. Ahluwalia was referring to Arden Wohl, the young socialite who was hosting a benefit party on Monday for the Endangered Species Coalition, a conservation group with a knack for gathering well-connected people. The awareness-raising event was held at the Little Cupcake Bakeshop in NoLIta, a carbon-neutral bakery where old blue jeans are used for insulation.

The guest list promised Ms. Wohl’s cool friends, including the actress Leelee Sobieski and her husband, the designer Adam Kimmel; the actress Stella Schnabel; and the artist Tom Sachs. It was Mr. Sachs who had originally persuaded Ms. Wohl to get involved with saving animals.

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