The world’s ultimate concrete jungle is not at all satisfied with its image of concrete forest and trash. Last year the city managers got together and planned a huge pilot program to reduce litter. In view of the fact that there was too much litter around town, they are placing recycling container in all the city parks in all five boroughs and in the Staten Island Ferry terminals. The receptacles are of the sorting kind, with separate drops for bottles, cans, etc. Recycling bins are also being placed in parks and on public streets where, hopefully, New Yorkers will dispose of their recyclables and not put them into the regular trash, where they go to waste – literally!

Although we don’t think of New York in terms of trees, the city as a whole boasts an amazing five million trees. As a beautification project, the city is encouraging residents to plant more trees, around their townhouses if possible, as well as any place a concrete plant container would fit without obstructing auto and foot traffic. Concrete works better, the city believes, because they can’t be carried off very easily. Neighborhood areas take on a new, friendly face when there are trees and bushes gracing the sidewalks, and even better, with outdoor seating such as concrete benches - also hard to carry away without being noticed by the neighbors or the cops. It is well known that there has been a problem in some neighborhoods with vandals, defacing or just straight carrying off any benches or furniture. So concrete furniture makes great sense. Places to sit outside can help calm the soul of folks who are housebound so much of the time, and benches where people can sit and rest their feet and maybe even chat with their neighbors, could start a new wave of friendliness, something that has been all too rare in this bustling metropolis.

The city is proud of its parks, and with good reason. Central Park is one of its most famous attractions, world famous, in fact, filled with beautifully maintained green meadows, lakes big enough to go rowboating on, trees and shrubs of great beauty and idyllic walks. There are concrete fountains and statues that soothe the mind with their beauty and tranquility.

Athens Park is a more recent acquisition. Actually it was a simply playground space, but in 1990 the city decided to do honor to the Greek heritage of many New Yorkers. Greek statuary and other reminders of the glory of ancient as well as modern Athens have been donated by Greece for this space.

One of the most famous ways New York is going green is in its neighborhood parks. Here recycling bins provide a relief from drinking cans and beer bottles, and the concrete benches and tables are safe and friendly. The city is realizing more and more that humans need some open space, some things that grow, and a place to dig in the dirt and maybe grow something to feed the body as well as the soul. Small parks are springing up in vacant lots in neighborhoods all over the city. Residents have formed coalitions to manage these parks and gardens. They find ways to keep them safe from vandalism, like
concrete benches, and they are encouraging gardeners with talent who can grow real food. Some of the neighborhood park groups have instituted community picnics where they can share the bounty. The parks have picnic tables and other concrete site furnishings that make the backyard picnic of the suburbs a possibility for the urbanites as well.

So, no more snide remarks about the concrete jungle! Even here the green revolution is forging ahead.

Blinds to dress your windows are great options for a new and classy look.
At some point, the look of your home can get to you. It either looks too old or has been around so long and you just aren’t feeling it. Change, that’s what you need. You can give an old room a facelift by updating its look. There are many ways that you can do this effectively and one simple way is by updating your window treatments window treatments. There are many different types of window treatments available on the market today; however, blinds have proven to be very easy to utilize and their maintenance is quite minimal. One of the best things about home improvement projects is that you have this new chance to let facets of your personality show. Your involvement in the whole decoration process can be as personal as you’d like, meaning you do all the work yourself, or you can hire on a specific contractor to make the changes for you. Either way, your redecorating vision and creativity will only be limited by how much you’d be willing to shell out to bring new life into an old room.

Home decoration projects involve the whole process of imagining what a finished room will look like, looking around for inspiration – and perhaps saving a picture or two of styles that catch your fancy – and jotting all these thoughts on paper. Why this is a good idea: You’ll feel like wanting to put everything you see right into one project and all the great stuff you’ll eventually find can be overwhelming. After you’ve got the basic features you’d like a room to stand out for, coordinate colors, décor and your furnishings to suit the new room’s personality.

One thing that can make a room look coordinated and balanced is the use of blinds for your windows. Contrary to the cheap, old fashioned style some claim blinds contribute, the types manufactured today are strong in structure, diversified in design and elegant in feature. Your newly decorated room can use a touch of class offered by the right kind. Consider these options:

Bamboo blinds: They are lightweight yet durable with a natural appeal so if the new room is themed around rest, relaxation and natural surroundings, bamboo blinds are perfect window treatments. The kind that use cords to open and close or to pull the blinds up are great but for a more natural-oriental look, but the roll up types are even better and they add much more personality.

Vertical blinds: Further draw out the beauty of wider windows with the use of vertical blinds. For use in the home, the ones made from fabric or vinyls are most suitable as they are fashionable, and they come in a variety of colors and textures. Wide windows are prominently enhanced, allowing you and your visitors some newfound appreciation of how much of the beauty from outside can be brought in. Vertical blinds do not take much installation time, either, and because they hang down vertically, there is much more leeway to allow (or block) the amount of natural light you want in your room.

Aside from the aesthetic functions blinds provide, you’ll find them an affordable option compared to other kinds of window treatments. They are practical to use because it takes very little to keep them clean. And, if you bypass the cheap, thin options to purchase quality blinds, you’ll find that they give you the best value for money because they they’ll definitely last longer.

The search for best value shouldn’t take you very far. You’ll find a wide selection of every home decorating item you need, including blinds at a variaty of sites.