Eco holiday shopping parties in Los Angeles

Make some eco-thinking friends while shopping for the holidays at sustainable parties this season.

Fri, Dec 04 2009 at 10:23 PM EST

Last night, a star-studded event called Gifts Giving Back at high-end retail store Fred Segal in Santa Monica, Calif., brought out Rachael Leigh Cook, Rachelle Carson-Begley (Living with Ed), and Ann Getty (I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas) and many others to shop for eco-friendly gifts and donate to Toys for Tots. But f you're an Angeleno who missed that event, you're still in luck; lots of green shopping events are vying for your attention — and green dollars — this season. Here's a few not to miss:

Unique Los Angeles will bring together more than 300 indie designers and artists for a two-day shopping event that lets you shop local while meeting unique crafters in your community. Plus, a Green Room within the event will showcase 50 eco-friendly designers and artists — and offer an Eco Lounge, put together by local green website Your Daily Thread, where you can relax drinking Honest Tea, browse books at the eco book nook, and take sustainable DIY workshops!

When: Sat., Dec. 5 – Sun., Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. both days
Where: California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St., Los Angeles
Cost: $10, which includes a tote bag, a drink ticket, and free workshops. Partial proceeds go to 826LA.

Eco-giftables include handmade upcycled notebooks from TYLER BENDER BOOK CO, luxurious goat milk soaps from Chivas Skin Care, and much more. Free-to-attendees workshops range from upcycled handbag making by Apliiq to mini-journal upcycled bookmaking by Jeannine Stein. And there’ll be a DJ in the Yelp lounge — plus Pabst beer, and possibly wine. Get that first drink free with your ticket, then shop responsibly.

Sexy Serenity: Haute for the Holidays (PDF). This green-flavored holiday shopping and pampering event, put together by beauty and wellness site Chill Out LA and Sirens Magazine, invites you to make holiday prep a chilled out shop-cation.

When: Fri., Dec. 11, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: ROB|B OPI Concept salon/spa, 12246 Ventura Blvd., Studio City
Cost: $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For the advance tickets, call ROB|B salon at 818.980.7622 and pay by credit. The ticket includes a shwag bag with freebies — including full-size products from Eminence Organics, OPI polish, Tarte cosmetics — and discounts.

Greener cocktails? Check, thanks to 360 Vodka. Gourmet organic nibbles? Check, thanks to Nicobella vegan organic chocolates. Eco-pampering? check, since the event’s at a spa / salon. Guests will get to take advantage of all that while shopping for holiday gifts and taking in product and entertainment demos from Natural High Lifestyle — and other companies ranging from handmade jewelry makers to sex toy purveyors of varying shades of green.

Guests at the event will get to enjoy less toxic express manis, as well as hand scrubs and massages. Here’s your chance not only to shop chillaxedly, but also to put on your discerning green shopping skills to use to select the truly eco-gifts from the greenwashed wannabes.

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4159698450 264bcaa240 Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar: Soulful shopping 12/12 12/13

Conscious Holiday Gift Bazaar. This weekend event promises “holiday gifts for the soul” — including a free organic vegan buffet to the first 200 attendees!

When: Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 13, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles
Cost: $5, or free with a new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Family Services Agency Of Burbank and Sojourn/Ocean Park Community Center.

Stop by for unique green holiday shopping, local and organic food, and live music — plus a Winter Solstice Concert & Party on Saturday night, happening from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Top photo of Gifts Giving Back event by Siel; Other images courtesy of Unique LA, Chill Out LA, and Counscious Holiday Gift Bazaar