GO GREEN
Taking care of Mother Earth becomes increasingly important each day, and many companies are doing their part by providing eco-friendly products to consumers trying to save the planet. In case you haven’t been keeping it “green,” Earth Day on April 22 is a great time to start. Here are some ways to make sure this trend is here to stay:


DRIVE
Express your forward thinking and hop on the road in Smart fortwo, the tiniest, most economical ultra-low emission vehicle, now available in the U.S. starting at $11,590. Go to www.smartusa.com




STAY
W Hotels’ Green Wheels program lets guests choose environmentally friendly transportation options like luxury hybrids or ethanol-powered vehicles, and next week begins providing its guests with complimentary Puma bicycles (and helmets) to use at their leisure. Go to www.whotels.com


SHOP
Almost everything inside the atrium that is Fluevog’s new flagship store in Vancouver is reclaimed, recycled, or prefabricated. Currently in the works is a Green Wall, where plants growing upward breathe fresh air into the space, and will eventually create solar shades. 65 Water St., Vancouver, (604) 688-6228. Or go to www.fluevog.com


WEAR
Who says organic clothing can’t be sexy? Lingerie designer Araks has created an eco-friendly collection made of organic cotton that echoes the aesthetic and quality of the brand. Go to www.araks.com




SMELL
Last year Bond No. 9’s creator Laurice Rahme announced that she would open her boutiques' doors to anyone wishing to recycle empty glass perfume bottles — Bond's or any of its competitors. Bring in your bottles and get mini travel bottles of Bond’s fragrances as a gift. Go to www.bondno9.com


CLEAN
CleanWell is the only all-natural antibacterial hand sanitizer that kills germs without the use of alcohol or harmful triclosan, which creates carcinogens when combined with tap water. Once you are germ free, use the lush MicroCotton towels made from 100 percent recycled materials that dry quickly to reduce the amount of energy used when laundering. Go to www.cleanwelltoday.com and www.microcotton.com

SHOOT CITY MAGAZINE'S NEXT TRAVEL ISSUE COVER
Admit it: On your last vacation you took that one perfect photo—a picture so beautiful, so stunning that you still swear it's good enough for the cover of a travel magazine. Well here's your chance to prove yourself right. CITY's second-annual ONE CITY, MANY DESTINATIONS travel photography contest boasts the ultimate grand prize: CITY’s cover shot. Amateur and professional photographers from around the world are invited to submit for juried competition images that best capture a unique moment in the life of a city or other travel destination. A jury of internationally renowned photography and travel aficionados will pick one winning image to appear on the cover of CITY’s Fall ’08 Travel issue, on sale September 30, 2008.

The grand-prize winner will also receive a prize package that includes an all-inclusive, week-long trip for two to Austria. The Austrian Tourist Office will pick up the tab on the whole experience—from round-trip airfare to rooms at luxury hotels to dinner at the top restaurants in Vienna, Salzburg, and wherever else your journey might take you. The best part? While in Austria, the grand-prize winner will have the opportunity to shoot a sponsored-editorial travel photography story for CITY's 2009 Spring Travel issue.

The work of 15 additional finalists will appear in a special travel photography portfolio inside CITY’s Fall ’08 Travel issue. All finalists will win additional prizes. Last year, CITY received more than 4,000 entries to the inaugural contest, with New York–based photographer Konstantino Hatzissaros’ stunning image of two Burmese monks (above) winning the coveted spot on CITY’s cover.

To enter this year's contest, visit www.city-magazine.com/photocontest