'Green' Minds Think Alike

Earlier this week over organic pizza and beer a group of people chatted about healthy living.

It was the exact scene Lisa Custer had in mind when she began the "Holistic Happy Hour" event. Co-owner and operator of Going Green Tampa, Custer, took cues from the national Green Drinks movement. That event involved people across the country meeting monthly at restaurants that were eco-sustainable.

The national event waned a bit, but Custer decided that the concept might still have air in Tampa.

Holistic Happy Hour was born.

Every second Tuesday of the month the group meets at green restaurants to eat, drink and chat. So far the group has met twice. This month's location was Pizza Fusion in Westchase.

Odessa Organic Farmers Market owner John Ciani and his wife, Suzanne, have been instrumental in getting the event noticed.

When the subject of encouraging people to buy healthier food Suzanne chimed in.

"You have to shop and look for the best quality product," she said. "It's amazing the time people will spend doing everything else except finding the right foods to buy."

Moses Medina, co-owner of Sielos RX, an all natural hair and skin product line, was also in attendance at this month's happy hour.

It's about health. It's about educating," Medina said. "Bringing them green is bringing them the best."

Holistic Happy Hour meets every second Tuesday of the month. For more information on locations go to Going Green Tampa.