Green Drinks Carolinas

Meet in a relaxed environment, and chat over drinks? The Green Drinks association offers a welcome to those who are 'eco-conscious and eco-curious' as well as environmentalists. You can make new connections over a beer or a coffee. These informal sessions have a lively mixture of people from natural and green organizations, academia, government and business. The events are simple and unstructured. At the meetings people have found employment, made friends, and developed new ideas. Green Drinks is an organic, self-organizing network; each city hosts their own version. Carolina groups are in Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville, the Raleigh and Durham Triangle area, and Winston-Salem, NC; and Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, SC.

Asheville meets every Friday night from 6:30 p.m. at BoBo Gallery, 22 N. Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC; 828-254-3426.

Green Drinks Charlotte meets on May 13th from 5:30 p.m. until about 8:30 p.m. The location is the newly remodeled brewery (formerly South End) called Woods on South, 2100 South Blvd. Charlotte, NC. They have people ranging from architects to builders, scientists, organic farmers and more. The meetings are once a month, on the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Richard Lloyd-Roberts at richard@divsix.com, www.divsix.com/Subscribe/, or call 704-754-8880.

Join the eco-minded, eco-professionals, and eco-curious of Greater Greenville, NC, on Thursday, June 5, for a casual monthly gathering. Blow off steam after work, meet friends, make connections and share information that will make Greenville and our world a better place to live. They meet at the upstairs bar at Ham's, 701 Evans Street, Greenville, NC.

In Raleigh and Durham, every other month the Triangle Emerging Green Builders hold Green Drinks in the Triangle. They go to Chapel Hill and Cary also, rotating locations to reach as many people as possible. Everyone's welcome, bring a friend, and come meet others interested in 'green!' They start each evening off with a short presentation on a local green issue, with informal discussion & drinks to follow. Comments, questions, and recommendations for locations and speakers can be emailed to trianglechaperegb@gmail.com.

Green Drinks Winston-Salem meets on the last Wednesday of each month. You don't need to be in an environmentally-aware business to come. Caring for all things green is a plus. It's informal, so just relax and mingle among those with common interests. Each month is sponsored by a local business or group. Sponsors provide finger foods and in return receive recognition on the website, and community postings. Bring your cards and bring a friend! The next gathering is Wednesday, May 28th, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Krankies Coffee, 211 E. Third Street, Downtown Winston. Subscribe to e-vites by emailing: sarah@leaprealty.net or call 336-403-8840.

In South Carolina, Beaufort Green Drinks meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Enjoy happy hour specials at Brewer’s Brewing Company located at 2121 Boundary Street in Jean Ribault Plaza. To subscribe to the electronic invite list for GreenDrinks Beaufort, email them at greendrinksbeaufort@gmail.com.

Green Drinks Charleston is a dynamic group of individuals and organizations from around the Lowcountry who meet up once a month to enjoy cocktails, lively discussions, new friends, and good times. Known locally as Charleston's Green Happy Hour, the group meets at The Trusted Palate, 563 King Street in Downtown Charleston. The meetings are usually the 2nd Wednesday of the month. "Since 2007, our Green Drinks meetings have drawn in more new guests than we could have ever expected, including students, new business owners, scientists, municipal officials, retailers, architects, college professors, and other interesting folks. Won't you come and join us, too?"

Columbia asks people to join them for the next Green Happy Hour, on Tuesday, May 20th, 5:30 p.m.; at Icy's, 7167 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC. Come along and bring a friend. Add yourself to the email list; send an 'add me' to Kevin at greendrinkscolumbia@yahoo.com. Cheers!