EMERGE recently went to Green Drinks, an eco-mixer that takes place once a month. A non-profit founded in 1989 in London as a casual unstructured way for environmental professionals and people simply interested in �??green�?� to meet, network and socialize, GD has since spread to over 229 cities worldwide. While it�??s the underlying issues of environmentalism and sustainability that draw people in, a palpable sense of community keeps them coming back and has made it one of the most interesting self-organizing networks around.

The monthly event draws a dynamic group of smart people conscious and curious about creating and sustaining the dialog about green. The New York chapter's Holiday party attracted more then 800 people- at that scale it became more of a grassfed meat market than a casual cocktail event. I heard one story of a guy who found his apartment, job and girlfriend all at that fateful party.

The charm of the event is the fact that the location constantly changes, as does the crowd. This month's Green Drinks took place at The Park, a cavernous Chelsea nightspot with a stunning outdoor garden. The rain didn't seem to be a deterrent as over 400 people showed up (in search of new pads, jobs, and dates presumably).

At this point, few brands have wandered into this space and the opportunity is there to start a dialog with a self-selecting group of people engaged and interested in the still emergent green lifestyle. One company that has seen the potential is local energy supplier, Con Edison. By bringing in your electric bill and converting to wind power, you could receive a complimentary admission.

By Amy Daroukakis for EMERGE

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