vegansaurus!

chickpea-magazine: Our summer issue is out now! :) Chickpea is...

seriousmeaveness — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:07:55 -0700

Our summer issue is out now! :)

Chickpea is a seriously great magazine. Don’t you want to make your life better through publishing? Get on it!

Our girl QG went to our girl Kate D.’s dad’s...

seriousmeaveness — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:51:43 -0700

Our girl QG went to our girl Kate D.’s dad’s restaurant, Veggie Grill, and interviewed co-founder and partner Ray White about its delicious fare. Are you starving watching this video? It makes me so hungry, and I’ve never even had Veggie Grill (I know, my life is a disappointment to everyone).

Help Seals and Sea Lions in Dire Conditions at the Morro Bay...

laurahooperb — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:21:00 -0700

Help Seals and Sea Lions in Dire Conditions at the Morro Bay Aquarium!

The Morro Bay Aquarium has held seals and sea lions and other sea animals in horrific conditions for nearly 50 years now. The one seal and three sea lions who currently live there spend their entire lives in pools no larger than a Jacuzzi. It isn’t only that they live in small spaces, unable even to swim, but also that they are not provided proper care. The aquarium has been cited for numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act over the years, and their attending veterinarian is a local small animals veterinarian who says he has no knowledge of how to treat marine mammals. What is even more heartbreaking is that from the records maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we know that at least 24 seals and sea lions have died there and, appallingly, only one of natural causes. Some have drowned, some have died from being kept in water contaminated by sewage, others from preventable or treatable illnesses, and one, the owners reported, died because he was “love sick.”

Thankfully, the lease for the space is up for renewal and we now have a narrow window of opportunity to close down the aquarium forever. While the owners are eager to renew the lease, the space is public property, and so it is up to the Morro Bay City Council. If the lease is renewed, more seals and sea lions will undoubtedly continue to be exploited. Those of us working to help the seal and sea lions at the aquarium need your help now! We need you to write to the Morro Bay City Council and to the mayor asking them not to renew the lease. Please explain to them why this kind of treatment of animals is simply unacceptable, and tell them you won’t visit Morro Bay unless the aquarium is closed.

We need you to act soon because the council will decide June 25th whether or not to renew the lease or to consider proposals for other uses of the site. We are facing stiff opposition as the owners have many friends and family in the community who believe there is nothing wrong with exploiting animals for human entertainment. Please help us ensure that no more seals and sea lions will suffer and die in this horrific place. The seal and sea lions living in these deplorable conditions thank you, and so do those of us who are working on their behalf!

Please sign and share this petition far and wide, and to stay updated on the status of this issue, please “like” us on Facebook.

- Sarah Spengeman

Tattoo review: James Spooner's vegan tattoos don't hurt (animals)

verbalspacey — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:08:46 -0700

I was always intrigued by tattoos in my early years, but never thought enough about them to ever want one. Thoughts like Why does that guy love barbed wire enough to have it tattooed on his arm? or I wonder what “tribe” that tribal tattoo represents? would cloud my mind and sully the idea of ever getting something meaningful tattooed on the temple I call my own body. Fast forward to my (really) late twenties, here I am thinking of different designs paying homage to my parental units to be permanently drawn on my skin. I knew I wanted something and began my research about two months ago.

In L.A., there’s really just one choice when it comes to 100 percent vegan tattoo joints. I came across a couple of artists that could use vegan inks, but James Spooner of Monocle Tattoo was the only one who would be using vegan-friendly soaps and aftercare, and, as far as I could tell, the only vegan himself. I remember either an old Quarry Girl post or tweet or something regarding Spooner a couple of years back, so when my own research came back to him, I shot him an email (or nine) with some basic questions. He was extremely helpful and informative, and once I met him in person and he was as excited, if not more, than I was regarding my idea. I knew it was a match. Plus the “Vegan Tattoos Don’t Hurt (Animals)” framed artwork in his shop warmed my heart more than standard adjectives can delineate.

I was ridiculously impressed on Spooner’s ability to put his art on paper based off of my descriptions. He sent me a drawing and the next day it was on my arm, permanently. I’ve never been as excited as I was, still am, about this tattoo. I have many more sessions left to fill in and have it colored, which I feel like a kid on Christmas morning in anticipation. This was my first tattoo but Spooner made it feel like I’ve been there before, and even after 3+ hours on the “table” (it was actually a chair) I was never uncomfortable (other than the needles-into-the-arm part.)

Southern Californian vegans would be making a mistake if they went elsewhere. And if you get a non-vegan tattoo because you like the artist’s work, it’s the same as eating a non-vegan pizza because you like the taste. Ya dig? If you want more information on vegan tattoos or if you’re serious about getting something done, for the first time or 100th time, hit him up. Tell him Vegansaurus sent you.

Andrew E. Irons is a blogger from Long Beach, California. He co-created and contributes to a Rhode Island based Hip-Hop website, The Echo Chamber Blog, under the pseudonym Verbal Spacey. You can track his daily diatribes by following him on Twitter.

Upton's Bacon Seitan is tops!

youtalkfunny — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:20:36 -0700

Review time! Have you heard the news? Upton’s made a seitan bacon! My general rule on vegan bacon is pass the vegan breakfast sausage but I hear so many good things about Upton’s in general, I thought I’d give it a shot!

I was not disappointed! Of course it’s not exactly like bacon (um, thank god), but it has a good bacon-y flavor for sure. The texture isn’t chewy and crispy like bacon though, but still good. I think it would be better for eating in a BLT or something rather than straight but it was enjoyable off the stove all by itself. Damn, I kind of really want a bacon-avocado sandwich right now! I don’t have any avocados! Will my sandwish ever come true? Stay tuned.

It’s Paul Shapiro’s Animal News You Can Use!

seriousmeaveness — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:48:31 -0700

It’s Paul Shapiro’s Animal News You Can Use! Yay, Paul! Yay, Animals!

Jon Stewart may not be on the Daily Show right now, but the ag-gag debate is! Watch this week’s must-watch hysterical segment featuring a former HSUS investigator pitted against the Animal Ag Alliance. You be the judge of who won.

“A tough opponent,” “formidable,” and “sophisticated.” In the rare chance you weren’t able to attend the World Pork Expo in Iowa this week, these are just some of the ways the meat industry is describing HSUS there. We’ll take it.

NPR asked the question last night, “Why is Bill Gates investing in chicken-less eggs?” Want to know? Check out yesterday’s “All Things Considered” great feature on Hampton Creek Foods.

The upcoming week is a major one in Congress, with the House set to take up the five-year farm bill, including consideration of a Farm Bureau-backed nefarious provision intended to harm farm animals, and the federal hen protection bill (which the Farm Bureau and nearly every national meat trade group opposes). Contact your member of Congress now!

P.S. Video of the week: Dogs vs. citrus …

Spicy watermelon gazpacho! Jerry James Stone, you beautiful...

seriousmeaveness — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:25:02 -0700

Spicy watermelon gazpacho! Jerry James Stone, you beautiful genius. You know, sometimes I read Cooking Stoned and I wonder if JJS is trying to create a Central American-flavored paradise in San Francisco, and if so, can we please come live there, too?

You hot New York vegans gonna check out the June Vegan Shop-Up?...

seriousmeaveness — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:20:59 -0700

You hot New York vegans gonna check out the June Vegan Shop-Up? It’s happening on Saturday, June 15 (tomorrow!), from noon to 6 p.m. at Pine Box Rock Shop, just like always, and just like always we can expect it to be terrific. Look at the vendors and start making your shopping list! See you there!

Product Review: Sacha Vida Gelatinized Maca fuels your vegan libido!

queerveganfood — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:01:00 -0700

No animals were hurt in the making of this maca. Photo via Sacha Vida.

Back when I was part of a raw food group out in the middle-of-nowhere Arizona desert, I learned that offering up a maca-laden smoothie was the most expedient and reliable way to getting into another raw foodist’s unisex hemp kilt. To be fair, maca’s aphrodisiac effects may be placebo in nature and we were all pretty bored out there, but the stuff still tastes amazing and has other great nutritional properties!

I didn’t know this, but a lot of people say maca is good for your stamina, hormones, energy levels, memory, and even your immune system and fertility! Zing! I recently tried a complimentary batch of Sacha Vida’s new gelatinized maca, which, despite the ground-dead-animal-hoof connotations of its name, is completely vegan! “Gelatinized” refers to the process the maca undergoes to remove the hard-to-digest starches, making it smooth smoothie sailing!

Highly delicious, no tummy problems to report, and I’m now ready for some kilt-jumping. Who’s with me?

Right now, Vegansaurus readers receive 30 percent off all products on Sacha Vida’s website by using the coupon code “vegansaurus”. Get on it, y’all!

"Young women dressed in fake fur were seen chasing doughty nationalist supporters down London’s..."

seriousmeaveness — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0700

“

Young women dressed in fake fur were seen chasing doughty nationalist supporters down London’s Whitehall as a large number of security forces in iridescent jackets looked on from police lines.

Led by Queen guitarist Brian May, protesters in fancy dress demanded an end to the government’s cull of badgers, brought in to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

They chanted: “Smash the cull! Smash the BNP!”

BNP candidate Clifford Le May was left with a bloody nose after being caught up in a rival enclave of human rights activists.

”

- Right on, British badger-lovers. Nuts to fascist political parties and nuts to people who fuck with the ecosystem and then try to fix it by fucking with it more. And who doesn’t prefer a badger to a fascist?

VIDEO! quarrygirl presents clara's cakes! a teenage-run vegan bakery in LA.

seriousmeaveness — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:32:00 -0700

quarrygirl:

you’re probably already familiar with teenage baking sensation clara polito, who owns and operates her own vegan business in los angeles called clara’s cakes…after all we’ve posted two recipe videos with her in the past. clara went vegan at the age of 12, and frustrated with the animal-free dessert options in her area, she decided to learn how to make her own treats. four years later, she’s got her own bakery with a menu that wows all kinds of eaters. in today’s video, we sat down with clara at her home in LA and learned about her most delicious creations and why she went vegan in the first place.

to learn where you can find clara’s cakes in LA, check out her website, twitter feed, and facebook page. i know that right now, you can find her cupcakes at pizzanista which happens to make the best vegan pizza in town. so go get ‘em.

QG does it again! Laura’s in LA now and if she isn’t following quarrygirl’s exhaustive guides to the vegan shangri-la that is the city of angels, she’s not doing it right. Same goes for anyone else in SoCal.

The terrific cat-lives-saving Teal Cat Project has a new shirt,...

laurahooperb — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:58:31 -0700

The terrific cat-lives-saving Teal Cat Project has a new shirt, and it’s the fucking CUTEST SHIRT. Designed by the ridiculously talented vegan artist Lisa Congdon (we love her!), I’ll be wearing it every day this summer and then almost everyday in the fall and then over a thermal in the winter because I’m v. fashionable. BE JUST LIKE ME, OK??

Yay: NYC gets its first pet-friendly domestic violence shelter!

youtalkfunny — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:09:51 -0700

Read Jasmine’s story on HuffPo

This is wonderful news. NYC is starting a pilot program to let domestic violence survivors and their pets stay in a shelter together. As I’ve read many times, whether they are trying to defend their owner from the abuser or just abused to hurt or manipulate the owner, pets are very often co-victims in domestic violence situations. So much so that many victims of domestic violence will stay in the abusive situation for fear of what would happen to their pet.

The program is a partnership between the Urban Research Institute and the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

National data show that more than 40% of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations out of fear of what would happen if they left their pets behind. Plus, more than 70% of pet owners who enter shelter report that the abuser has threatened, injured or killed family pets.(*) Yet in New York City—the largest provider of domestic violence services in the country with more than 50 shelters—not one shelter currently allows pets in residence, until now.
URI is filling this critical gap by becoming the first organization in New York City—and one of few nationwide—to welcome pets into domestic violence shelters. The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals will be working closely with URI to provide staff training, pet safety education, pet food and supplies, and foster solutions for any pets PALS may be unable to accommodate.

Right now the program is only accepting cats and small animals like hamsters but they also work to find foster homes for other animals (here’s a great example about a cute pup who was fostered until his family found a safe situation).

The Mayor’s Alliance has more info about families with pets in crisis situations.

The News You Need: Mama duck calls for help, police answer

youtalkfunny — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:49:42 -0700

Can’t see the video? Watch it on Vegansaurus.com!

Here is a cute video to remind you that people can be good and nice to animals! But how did they ALL get down there?

I love the end, they can’t get back to mama fast enough.

YOU GUYS. I moved to LA just as quarrygirl left it, and that is...

laurahooperb — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:44:16 -0700

YOU GUYS. I moved to LA just as quarrygirl left it, and that is very fucking sad. Come drown all the sorrows with me at the echo park vegan pizza crawl, where we will eat pizza until we sob.

heads up!! the echo park vegan pizza crawl is coming back this year on june 29th for vegan pizza day. don’t miss it!! same deal as time: there will be deals and specials at all your favorite echo park pizza spots including mohawk bend, masa, two boots, sunset beer co, and los angeles pizza company. join the facebook event here, and check out specifics after the jump ——->

Read More

Well-dressed vegans everywhere know Vaute Couture is the place...

seriousmeaveness — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:10:02 -0700

Well-dressed vegans everywhere know Vaute Couture is the place for the chicest, warmest, best-looking, and best-made vegan coats on the market. Leanne is a beautiful genius and we should be thanking her on every cold day that we are looking good and feeling gorgeous.

Now’s our chance to scoop up even more gorgeous Vaute clothes! Per Leanne:

By appointment only, you can come in and preorder a dress in a new print, or a soldout size, one of our new summer pieces, or take home something from the store—all at special Favorite Fan prices only (25 percent off everything that’s full price, plus sample sale prices on winter coats)! (Walk ins won’t get the same discount you will.) So if you’ve had your eye on something, like our Waxed Canvas Motorcycle jackets, or tees or sweatshirts, button downs, etc, now’s the time to stock up!

WHEN: This Saturday through next Saturday, June 8-15, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

WHAT: Fav Fan 25 percent off pricing on EVERYTHING (and Sample Sale pricing on winter coats), including preorders on new summer pieces, new summer prints, soldout sizes, all special pricing!

HOW: By Appointment Only! (Walk Ins won’t get to preorder or get special pricing or get to preorder.) Make an appointment by emailing Kristina at KristinaVaute@gmail.com with your ideal day and hour, and we’ll email you back with your half hour time slot. You can bring up to 4 friends (to help decide what to get, or shop too!)

PLUS Vaute is having an empty-the-warehouse coat sale! Shop online from 1 p.m EDT Tuesday, June 11 through 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 13, and in person on Sunday, June 16 from 1 to 8 p.m. Even more opportunities to buy glorious Vaute coats for way super-cheap.

Inventory is limited, prices are insane, clothes are beautiful. Go Vaute!

For more information, visit Vaute Couture online. RSVP for the Summer Love pop-up and the sample sale at KristaVaute@gmail.com. Miss this and you’ll end up paying full price—what are you rich?—or freezing come winter (and winter is always coming).

It's Paul Shapiro's Animal News You Can Use!

seriousmeaveness — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:24:42 -0700

It’s Paul Shapiro’s Animal News You Can Use! Yay, Paul! Yay, Animals!

Huge news this week: The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education voted 4-1 to enact an exclusively vegetarian Meatless Monday policy at all K-8 schools in the district. Unsurprisingly, this was to the chagrin of the Animal Ag Alliance, which waged a losing campaign to defeat the measure.

If you liked that, you may also be impressed that Canada is poised to pass a national regulation curbing gestation crate use.

I’ve got a new piece on HuffPost about the increasing number of folks even within the ag industry who are starting to second-guess their ag-gag strategy. Feel free to leave a comment.

A number of papers, such as the Bakersfield Californian, are editorializing against Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) nefarious attempt in the Farm Bill to erase numerous laws we’ve passed to protect farm animals. Meanwhile, King and his allies in the meat industry are also trying to kill federal legislation to ban barren battery cages for laying hens.

Finally, this week, a major story got a lot of media play announcing extensive new research showing that vegetarian diets are linked to longer lives. In that vein, influential UK members of Parliament are urging Britons to eat less meat as a way to increase food security.

P.S. Video of the week: HSUS’s future CEO?

P.P.S. Live in SoCal? Hope to see you at veg appetit next week!

NYC: Can we talk about Peacefood Cafe's chickpea fries?!

youtalkfunny — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:16:00 -0700

A new Peacefood Cafe opened a few months ago and they totally deliver to my work in Gramercy! And let me tell you, their chickpea fries are out of control. Whatever this “house dipping sauce” is, it’s freaking solid gold. I highly recommend. They have great sandwiches too! But for real, chickpea fries, whoa.

[co-signed by Meave; they are AMAZING]

Show off your Mooshoes and your cute pets to win $50!

youtalkfunny — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:50:00 -0700

MooShoes and Raven + CrowStudio are running an Instagram contest that ends this Friday. They’re giving away a $50 MooShoes gift card to the person who submits the cutest awesomest photo of their companion animal and their favorite MooShoes purchase.

This is my entry of Mitsy and my super cute grey boots I got a MooShoes like 80 years ago. This is an old pic, the boots have since died. Mitsy is chilling though! Bad ass as ever.

To enter, post your pic on instagram with #mooshoescontest hashtagged and @mooshoes_nyc and @ravenandcrow tagged.

More info can be found on the Instagram post and their blog.

It's Paul Shapiro's Animal News You Can Use!

youtalkfunny — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:33:28 -0700

It’s Paul Shapiro’s Animal News You Can Use! Yay, Paul! Yay, Animals!

This year’s ag-gag fight has been a bruising one for the animal ag industry, with every single bill so far introduced failing, while generating enormous negative media attention for animal agribusiness. It’s gotten so bad that one dairy industry spokesperson just published a column with a revealing title: “Ag-gag bills do more harm than good.”

Speaking of ag-gag bills, what’s likely to be the final battle on this in 2013 is in full force. North Carolina had a hearing on its ag-gag bill this week, and you can watch HSUS’s TV commercial that we’re running across the state. The Fayetteville Observer—the hometown newspaper of the state Senator sponsoring the bill—condemned this ag-gag effort, summing it up well: “We hope [Sen. Wesley] Meredith will let this dreadful legislation die humanely in committee.”

NBC had a fascinating feature on a company making in vitro leather, calling it “The Company Leading the Future of Farming.”

Finally, here’s a very potent new TED talk by a former wildlife poacher turned vegetarian animal advocate.

P.S. Video of the week: Pig platform on which goats can play!