Moonrise Hotel Hosts Green Ball Friday

On Friday green-minded movers and shakers will gather in the Delmar Loop for an evening of green fun, fabulous entertainment and local philanthropy. They will be kicking off the , hosted by Moonrise Hotel.

The gala, which begins at 7 p.m., will mark the 42^nd anniversary of Earth Day and the third anniversary of the Moonrise Hotel’s opening. Proceeds from the Green Ball will benefit the EarthWays Center, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden that promotes sustainability through environmental education and improving the built environment.

Ticket prices are $60 per person and include locally sourced and organic appetizers and beverages prepared by Eclipse Restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine John Stuhlman and complimentary bar service featuring local beer and wine and organic spirits.

Guests will dance to live music from Hudson and the Hoodoo Cats and see fantastic entertainment from Belle of the Ball and Human Art by Jessica Dana.

This year’s event will feature a Chinese motif, complete with statues, florals, lanterns and elegant eco-friendly décor.

To highlight the importance of making events “green,” the ball will be earth friendly. Ameren Missouri’s Pure Power program will provide carbon offsets for travel and electricity used during the ball. Brochures are printed on recycled paper, and food waste will be composted. Paper, metal and glass waste will be recycled, and tap water will be offered to guests rather than bottled water. Make sure you carpool – free valet parking will be offered to cars of four or more people.

“We’re so pleased to partner with the Moonrise for the third year on the Green Ball and continue raising awareness of sustainability for future generations and green building," said Glenda Abney, director of the EarthWays Center. "We’re hoping for a great turnout and successful event so that we can continue to show St. Louisans and Missouri Botanical Garden visitors how their choices affect the environment."

While the Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is to protect and preserve plants, the EarthWays Center’s specifically focuses on those whom are the greatest threat to plants and the environment – people. The Center offers more than 20 programs and projects on sustainable living and learning for students, educators, community leaders and green building professionals and contractors in Missouri.

The idea for the Green Ball developed three years ago, when the Moonrise Hotel decided to stage an event to celebrate those “living green” in the St. Louis area and draw attention to local green businesses and organizations. The EarthWays Center seemed a natural beneficiary because of their programs that promote eco-friendly choices and green living.

Moonrise Hotel, a platinum member of Ameren Missouri’s Pure Power and winner of the 2011 Award of Achievement in the RCGA’s St. Louis Green Business Challenge, employs extensive green efforts such as hotel-wide composting, a solar-powered rooftop bar and rotating moon and an electric vehicle car charging station.

Dress to Impress

Guests should prepare to be creative with their “green” attire — reused, recycled, eco-friendly, vintage or just plain green clothing is encouraged. An expert panel of fashion and style judges will award three “Best Dressed” prizes in the Green Fashion Contest.

Judges this year include:

• Debra Bass, fashion editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; 
• Jill Manoff, fashion editor at ALIVE Magazine; 
• Laura Kathleen Planck, St. Louis designer and top five finalist on season 9 of Project Runway; 
• Jean Ponzi, green guru and host of 88.1 KDHX Radio’s environmental talk show Earthworms; and 
• Sarah Trone, last year’s Green Ball fashion contest winner. 

Winners will take home an overnight stay at the Moonrise Hotel, a Missouri Botanical Garden membership and an Eclipse Restaurant gift card.

Tickets Still Available

To purchase Green Ball tickets, please visit the Moonrise Hotel website or call 314-721-1111. Overnight accommodations are also available here. Additional event information may be found at Facebook.com/MoonriseHotel.