One such house is the home of architect Raymond Kappe, the founding Chair of the Department of Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, who with a group of faculty and students, started what eventually came to be known as the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), which encourages learning through creative discourse and supports diversity of opinion within the framework of a common vision. His career spans several decades, and in 2009, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in "Stars of Design 2009" at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California.

Located at 715 Brooktree Road, and listed as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #623, the Kappe Residence fits into the shaded landscape of the neighborhood. Barely visible from the street, hints of the design brilliance of Ray Kappe are clear.

Over the years, Kappe has completed some 100 single-family houses, but the crowning glory is his own home. Built in 1968, it’s the “best example of his strength as an architect: his ability to answer complex design problems with inventive, beautiful buildings.”

But, I’m not going to tell you anymore; I’ll let the architect speak for himself via a tour of his home, Kappe Residence:

In 2006, Ray Kappe began working with LivingHomes, a pioneer of modern, prefabricated homes which combine world-class architecture with an unparalleled commitment to healthy and sustainable construction. Ray Kappe’s initial LivingHome design was the first in the nation to achieve LEED Platinum and was the only home to win the American Institute of Architects’ top sustainability award in 2007.

With the combined forces of Kappe’s design talent and WIRED Magazine, sustainable architecture was taken to a new level in 2007 including; “a 4-kilowatt solar system including high efficiency, all-black SunPower solar panels that generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional panels.” The home also features a forced hot air radiant heating and cooling system; low-maintenance high-design ecological kitchen cabinetry; an environmentally friendly washer/dryer system that uses less water and energy; windows and doors constructed with recycled glass and aluminum; reclaimed redwood milled from old military barracks; FSC-certified exterior siding; tankless water heaters; and LED lights that consume less energy than conventional light bulbs.”

To see the floorplans, click here, but to see the construction of the house in two and a half days, watch the time lapse video below:

Hidden in them there hills are some wonderful treasures.

Don’t get me wrong, I know automobile drivers make mistakes and too often do stupid things–sometimes ending in the death or serious injury of the rider or others, or both. Having said that, cyclists, as well as drivers, need to know the rules of the road.

As I had just passed both of these cyclists, I felt as if I knew what was going to happen, but watching it was still painful.

Here’s what happened:

Car 1 is turning right. Bike 1, with the red arrow, is riding the right hand of the road heading straight, just as in the “Wrong” side of the above illustration. Bike 2, with the green arrow, is heading straight, just like the “Right” illustrated above.

As I watched the event unfold, I knew Bike 2 was totally out of position. If Car 1 hadn’t waited for Bike 2 to go straight before turning, a terrible accident could have happened.

If you are NOT turning right, move over to the bike lane, or if no bike lane is present, more to the far right of the second lane, establishing the fact that you are not turning right, just like Bike 1 did in the example above. Even though I was the second car waiting at the traffic light, I could clearly see Bike 1.

Regardless of whether there is a bike lane or not, if a cyclist is going straight, they must not be in the dedicated automobile right turn lane.

If your lane turns into a right turn only lane, change lanes before the intersection Source: League of American Bicyclists

You might feel safer hugging the edge of the road, but by putting yourself in an unsafe position by being in the right turn lane and not turning right, you’re an accident waiting to happen. 38% of bicyclist deaths in 2008 occurred at intersections.

I learned that only the brown drooping fronds on Palm Trees should be cut off. If you trim the green ones, the Palm Trees may not be able to capture enough sunlight they require to grow, thus, killing them.

After watching the construction men who do the trimming, I definitely have a new found respect for the work that they do.

It’s really dangerous, so much so that as a matter of fact, last month, a gentleman was killed while trimming palm trees in South LA, estimated to be about 75’ tall:

The 23-year-old, who was wearing a harness, was suspended in mid-air while trimming a palm tree in the 4800 block of S. San Pedro Street when he became trapped in the foliage. Source: LA Times

Here are the guys in action. Watch out below!

If you’d like to see a few Palm Trees getting their haircuts, this time lapse video is perfect.

Before the trimming is on the right; and after the trimming is on the left. See the difference? And yes, I was standing in the middle of Santa Monica Blvd. when I took this shot.

For me this is a very personal issue. Because I travel all over the city, I don’t get to use my bicycle as frequently as I could or should. Time constraints are my main impediment and factor which predisposes my reasoning.

For instance, over the weekend, I went orange picking in the San Fernando Valley. I live in West LA. If I had ridden my bike there, which is a pretty far distance, it would have taken me most of the day, and I probably couldn’t have walked for a week.

But, I know that I can no longer and do not want to put time ahead of being more eco-friendly and be more health conscious as well.

Therefore as of today, I’m making a personal and public commitment to change my lifestyle. I’m going to go “car-lite,” and use my bike as often as possible.

Currently 40% of all trips made are less than 2 miles, but 90% of those trips are also made by car. I intend to become part of the 10% by following the 2 mile rule. But, I’m going to up that 2 mile rule to a 5 Mile Rule. From now on, all of my trips that are equal to or less than 5 miles will be car-free.

As the Publisher of Travelin’ Local, much of my day is spent behind a computer, so I’m not as physically fit as I would like to be. I’m not in terrible shape, and overall, I don’t do too badly; but I know I want and need to lead a healthier lifestyle. and The 5 Mile Rule fits perfectly into my needs and wants.

As well, because of my lack of regular exercise (and probably a little over eating), I’m weigh about 30lbs. more than I would like or should be. So, I’m going on the Car-Lite Diet. I’m positive my new found dedication to the 5 Mile Rule will help with that.

To that end, I have two immediate goals for myself.

1. By September 12^th, 2010, Day 58 of my Car-Lite Diet and the planned day of CicLAvia, where 7+ miles of LA streets will be car-free, I will be 20lbs lighter. CicLAvia is a social event designed to get walkers, bikers, skateboarders, and anyone else who doesn’t want to drive a car to shop, eat, and just have fun, is currently in the final stages of preparedness. Here’s the planned route:

2. By October 23^rd, day 100 of my Car-Lite Diet and also the date of the Tour de Fat, a traveling “road” show designed to spread “the good word about the positive societal offerings of the bicycle.” Taking place in the Los Angeles Historical State Park, it’s the perfect setting for me to celebrate my new, fitter, sleeker body.

Follow along as I keep you updated on my progress. 5 Mile Rule here I come!

I’m really excited about my decision. I have two bike locks, and I have the panniers attached to my bike rack for groceries.

BTW, if you or anyone else wants to join me in the 5 Mile Rule journey, by all means please do. Nowadays working out with a partner or group really helps us stay motivated especially as we all lead busy and stressful lives.

So, to keep it real, I’ve created a widget so you can let all of your friends participate, too.

Born out of what used to be old oil fields, an earthquake fault and what had become a weed-infested, dusty lot; Vista Hermosa Park is a 10.5 acre treasure in a big city. Amazing, this park is downtown Los Angeles’ first new public park built since 1895.

Meaning “beautiful view” is Spanish, Vista Hermosa Park is located atop the hills on North Toluca Street, and does present wonderful vistas.

But, beautiful views are just one of the great features of this park:

All of the park buildings are topped with “green” planted roofs that retain rainwater and provide insulation, keeping the buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In addition, not only do they save energy, the plants absorb CO2 and other pollutants from the atmosphere. Personally, I love the idea. More houses should have a roof top garden included.

Being a self-contained watershed, Vista Hermosa Park uses almost every drop either by watering the native Southern California drought resistant plants or capturing it to use for irrigation. By combining permeable surfaces like the parking lot and sidewalks, which allows the water to soak into the ground; and the underground cistern system, which captures water and reserves for the drier months, Vista Hermosa Park is an example of state of the art landscape design and sustainable technologies.

Adjoining the park is a FIFA-regulation soccer field, which is made of synthetic turf that requires no irrigation and allows for absorption of rainwater. It’s used jointly used by the adjacent Edward R. Roybal Learning Center and the LA Department of Recreation and Parks.

Other Vista Hermosa Park features include:

• Walking trails
• Meadows
• Picnic grounds
• A nature-themed playground

With only 33% of Los Angeles residents living within a quarter-mile of a park, compared to 97% for Boston and 91% for New York, Vista Hermosa Park is an example of how our city parks should be expanding and built. BTW, nationwide, the average park space per 1,000 residents is six to 10 acres; in Los Angeles it’s only 3.4 acres.

Vista Hermosa Park is a joint project of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and is definitely worth visiting.

Based on the beauty and thought put into Vista Hermosa Park, we can do better and build a few–or a lot more parks like this in Los Angeles.

Well, it’s much like what its name implies; it’s a bus that travels on water taking passengers to various stops along the way; public transit at its finest.

Where can you find the WaterBus?

It’s only available at the harbor at Marina del Rey. Of course, you can’t catch it just anywhere. Just as with any “normal” bus, the WaterBus has stops:

• Fisherman’s Village
• Burton Chace Park
• Waterfront Walk / Fire Station #110
• Marina Beach
• Dolphin Marina
• Esprit 1
• Marina Harbor

If you’re a map person like me, this will help:

When can you catch the WaterBus?

It’s only available on the weekends during the summer from now – September 7^th

• Fridays: 5:00pm to midnight
• Saturdays: 11:00am to midnight
• Sundays and Labor Day: 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Summer Concert Series (Thursday nights): 5:00pm – midnight
• Labor Day: 11:00am – 9:00pm

Okay, so now you know the what, where, and when of the WaterBus. What about the Why?

1. You get a bird’s eye view of the marina

2. You get to sit back and enjoy the ride

3. You’re using public transportation

4. It’s quick and easy

5. It only costs $1.00 one way

I took my first WaterBus trip when I was on my Marina del Rey bike ride, and it was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

On June 26th, I participated in a "ROOTS" event, sponsored by the Community-Based Restoration and Education Program in the Upper Newport Bay. It’s program began in 2002 due to the California Coastal Commission’s desire for additional public involvement protecting our ocean and open spaces.

Focus is given to the Upper Newport Bay because it’s one of the region’s largest wetlands and according to their website, it’s "Internationally significant and renowned as the best birding site in North America."

I showed up around 9am, after parking in the lot for the Muth Interpretative Center, located across the street from UC Irvine. After a walk around and to the wetlands, I arrived at the official ROOTS table and signed a waiver to participate.  Volunteer leaders were there for us to show which plants to pull up, and which to leave alone, and to direct me to a large bucket of gloves. Then, it was time to work.

There was a big group of volunteers that Saturday morning including many repeat attendees (I heard banter of “How long has it been, seven years already?"  Everyone was busy kneeling, ripping out prickly tocalote and wild mustard shrubs and weeds (the gloves were necessary as the prickles found their way into my socks and my gloves), and shoving the plants into giant garbage bags.

The lead volunteers were scattered about, prepared to answer questions (for instance: "Is this tocalote?" Answer: "Yes." or "Should I pull this one out?" Response: "None of the plants with little red flags next to them!").

There’s something extremely satisfying about spending the day outside, ripping out invasive non-native plants and because we started at 9 and were finished by 12, the heat of the day hadn’t settled in.

Not only was it a rewarding Saturday, but also an educational one. I didn’t know that wild mustard was a non-native invasive plant that was choking out our native plants including the California buckwheat, and the Coast’s prickly pear.

Once we finished our work, it looked like a herd of grazing animals had passed through. There were large patches of land that are now barren. But the new found openness provides the opportunity for our native plants to thrive. Like most things in life, it’s a long haul and constant vigilance is needed to keep ripping out the mustard and prickly pear plants.

The invasive plants always need to be steadily removed, as unfortunately they’ve been growing unhampered for years if not decades, and because they’re not native, they tend to be much more aggressive than most of our native plants. Another component to removing the invasive plants is that there has to be a follow-up, as the many plants we removed that morning still left intact seeds that have to be removed in the future–not to mention the acres of area that hasn’t even been tended to.

This is a process that will take years of growth and plant warfare.

The Upper Newport Bay has volunteer ROOTS activities every 4th Saturday of the month. If you plan on volunteering, be sure to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and sun tan lotion (I missed the spot on my lower back– don’t forget that you’re bent over the entire time). Gloves are provided, as is a station to refill your reusable water bottle (because we’re being ecologically friendly).

In three hours, all the volunteers had removed approximately 200 pounds of mustard and tocalote, and this was only a small percentage of the total 96,000 pounds of bad and invasive foliage that’s been removed since 2002.

If you’re interested in dedicating a Saturday morning to reclaiming the California coast for California natives (and you don’t even have to be born here!), the next ROOTS event is Saturday July 24th. Check their website) for more details about what you can do to help.

When my kids were young, we used to go picking all the time, especially in the fall when the apples were fresh and tasty. It was an annual event. And they loved every minute of it. In June, the strawberries came out, and when we left the farm with our bounty, we didn’t need to stop for lunch. The kids were too full of strawberries to think of eating.

Since moving to LA, I haven’t encountered any pick your own scenario, until today. For the first time, I picked my own Valencia oranges and white grapefruit. And you can too, but you have to hurry. You only have one day left.

For one weekend a year, Orcutt Ranch, opens its doors to anyone and everyone who wants fresh oranges and grapefruit. And I can say without a doubt, they are sweet and luscious.

Bring a bag, box, or whatever you want to carry your fruit with, because all of the very helpful park employees are there to assist you load your contents into you car or van, in any way they can. Pickers, which is basically a long stick with a basket on top, rent for $1.00, but because I went early this morning, I didn’t need one.

Open today, Saturday, July 10^th and Sunday, July 11^th from 7:00am-2:00pm, Orcutt Ranch, will be open to keep you in fruit for as long as you want. For only $2.00 for a “regular” bag, $3.00 for larger bags, and $5.00 per a moving box, the price is more than competitive and can’t be beat.

However, at this rate, you don’t have a moment to lose:

Orcutt Ranch is located at 23600 Roscoe Blvd. in Canoga Park.

Started in 1994, Smart Gardening is an easy way to get a really great looking yard while using less water, energy and wasting fewer resources. You save yourself time and money while doing something that helps keep Los Angeles County a nicer place to live and work.

Composting is the secret.

Backyard composting is “an attractive, simple method of managing organic wastes at home. It has the advantage of being readily adaptable to fit individual lifestyles, income, yard size, and overall ambition.”

By attending the Smart Gardening Workshops, sponsored by the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Works, Environmental Programs Division, you’re taught how to compost and all the associated benefits from doing so.

Each workshop is about an hour and a half, and takes place throughout the entire county.

Beginning workshops provide hands-on instruction on composting, worm composting, grasscycling, and water-wise and fire-wise gardening. Residents can purchase a backyard or worm composting bin at a discount at the workshops.

The first class starts this morning at 9:30am in Torrance at Columbia Park, but classes are held all over the county almost every Saturday until the end of November.

To help you find the class location near you, Travelin’ Local has created a map, which includes the day and time of the class. The map only includes the beginner levels, so if you’re interested in the advanced levels, please head over to the DWP:

View LA Smart Gardening Workshop Locations in a larger map

During my bike ride in Marina last week, a family asked how me how to get to Venice. At the time, I was on a side street off the beaten path, and really wasn’t sure how to answer. In fact, I told them I thought Venice was about 4 miles away. Then they pulled out a map, which showed it was much closer. I was surprised. After all of us consulted the map, we figured out the best way for them to get there was via Ocean Avenue.

However, I wondered if there wasn’t a better and more scenic way to get from Venice to Marina del Rey—and vice versa. As yours truly loves to do Travelin’ Local’s research, this project was no different.

Is it possible to go from Venice to Marina del Rey via the Venice Canals and Ballona Creek?

Because I was totally new to this section of Ballona Creek, and have only been to the Canals twice before, I wasn’t completely knowledgeable about the best course to get from one place to another–but, I quickly learned.

After you enter the Venice Canals from Venice Boulevard, take a break and enjoy a walk through the canals. If it’s your first time here, you might want to look around as well. If you’re just going to Marina del Rey, just keep heading straight.

Once you reach Washington Boulevard, you’re faced with two choices–the obvious one is taking the trail to the left, but there’s also a trail on the right. Take the one to the left:

As you can see by the construction material in the photo, the ongoing restoration of the plant ecosystem is being heralded by volunteers. Here’s a photo taken on June 26^th, via the Ballona Institute’s facebook page:

If you noticed the trail on the right side, you can walk it for a while, until, at the end, you’ll find this:

I admit, this is a beautiful scene, except for the end of the sidewalk–it would be great if a walking bridge was built here connecting this trail with the trail on the other side of the lagoon.

But, by following the trail on the left as mentioned above, you’ll discover this trail also ends, sort of. After you pass a high rise apartment building, the trail turns into Via Dolce Street.

Turn right here and follow the sidewalk. You can’t see the canal, but Via Dolce leads right to the orange house at the far left of the photo above. That’s where the trail starts up again, leading past the beautiful scenery, bird habitats, and wonderful architecture.

From here, you can see where I made my earlier mistake:

See the sidewalk that ends on the right– I was standing there a few minutes ago.

To help you retrace and show my hike from Venice to Marina del Rey, I traced my steps and put them in the map below:

View Walking from Venice to Marina del Rey in a larger map

What will you find once you reach Marina del Rey or in the alternative what will you do once you reach Venice and its beautiful canals?

Amazing that each of the two beautiful spots are less than 2 miles away. To make a day of it, take your bike along and do the Marina del Rey Biking Route. Just be ready to walk your bike for a while. No bikes are allowed on the Ballona Creek Walking Trail.

What can I say? I love living in Los Angeles!

Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago
Detroit
Houston
Los Angeles
Minneapolis
New York
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, DC

In order to make urban bicycling safer, more comfortable and more convenient, Cities for Cycling initiated an initial Emerging Best Practices Sheets that includes:

• Bike Boxes
• Bicycle Preferred Streets
• Bike Signals
• Buffered Bike Lanes
• Colorized Pavement
• Contra-flow Bike Lanes
• Cycle Tracks
• Shared Roadway Markings

Based on the above documents, “Cities for Cycling and NACTO seek to create a comprehensive Urban Bikeway Design Guide which will have two major final products: a web-based version that includes a platform for discussion and information exchange, and a printed summary that will be updated regularly.”

This is so important considering that according to the just released National Bicycling and Walking Study, over the last 15 years, biking and walking have increased in both the number of users:

And the amount of Federal Funding:

Because Los Angeles is a forward thinking city, and is getting closer each day to becoming a a more bicycling and walking friendly city the timing couldn’t be more urgent to implement these measures, as the recent devastating oil spill, global warming, and the high price of carbon, means that the traditional use of solely cars for transportation has probably seen its better days.

So with the right funding, the necessary political will, and the requisite desire to change, now is the time for LA to “be” “the” best bike-friendly city in the nation. (Or at least try to be.)

One way to show your support for cycling and increasing its popularity in LA, is to participate in LA City Councilman, Tom LaBonge’s, 2010 Summer Bike Rides.

The first of the six planned Wednesday night rides start this evening on the First St. steps of Los Angeles City Hall at 5:30pm. Tonight’s ride tours both downtown Los Angeles and USC. Future rides highlight portions of Councilman Tom LaBonge’s district.

What the oil spill has wrought upon our nation’s gulfs, marshlands, water eco-systems, fishing, diving, and seafood industry and workers, hardly is tolerable, nor can we accept it as a "status- quo" as to its damage.

We are not a political site nor is this a political message.

It’s a universal message that there’s something about oceans, gulfs, water-ways, and coasts, that everyone needs, something that a life spent wholly on land and inland would be missing. It has nothing to do with sunny, sandy beaches, diving, fishing, or purchasing real estate.

It’s our earth’s greatest and most magnificent resource.

We’re not going to delve into the how’s. who’s, this’, and that’s to seek blame, but Travelin’ Local’s readers all know that we treasure our environment because we’ve been blessed with one of the greatest one in the world.

To our readers that are dealt this miserable hand our hearts go out to you as well as our constant vigilance in thought and effort to assist.

No more truer words have been spoken, than you never know what you really have until you lose it.

Note–we don’t want to lose our oceans, coasts, gulfs, waterways, and natural resources. On that, we don’t think there’s a dissenting voice to be heard.

We celebrated Earth Day not too long ago, so get in touch with the many credible organizations to see what you can do to help the gulf’s oil spill victims get some relief.

Although its gates were closed while I was there, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t feel its vibe–the feel of the garden, its community spirit, and all the love and care of the community garden which was given, came to life during somewhat of clairvoyant moment.

Occupying the former site of the Solano Avenue Elementary School, which was torn down in 1935 shortly after construction of the Pasadena Freeway, the Solano Canyon Community Garden was established by the nearby community 11 years ago.

An amazing fact about this garden is that the freeway runs alongside—and under—the garden.  Part of the orchard is actually situated above the second tunnel of the northbound lane of the Interstate 101 highway.

The first thing that caught my attention was the inlay tile that surrounds the entrance to the Solano Canyon Community Garden. It only took a moment for me to realize what I’d found, but upon that realization, the wonders only increased.

Two thirds of the garden space are devoted to orchard and hillside planting beds for non-local farmers, and the remainder consists of common areas and 30 individual garden plots.

Clearly the love and care that went into each tile design, is a marked degree of both creativity as well as a Public Art monument. It was created and transformed with very small pieces of tile, as all of its pieces were put together to form the overall pattern–therefore by default, this artwork catches the eye as well as keeps the eye.

At the base of the stairs that lead to the Garden’s Gate, you’ll see this

Even though the gates were locked, I was able to get this photo. As time is always the great destroyer, the gardens have only lost a little of their flair—it’s respite with life, love, and freshness. Here, people are growing food to put on their tables, herbs to season their dishes, and flowers to add color to their homes.

Growing is what gardens, gardening, and gardening is all about, and there is no better way to demonstrate that than by including children in the growing process. Because, after all, aren’t we all children at heart?

One topic that’s caught my attention is the city of Los Angeles’ “Bicycle Master Plan.” This “document describes the long-range planning for developing bicycle infrastructure throughout the city, with an emphasis on designating and expanding bike routes, fostering a safe environment for cycling, and promoting bicycling as a viable transportation option.”

Since its inception in 1996, the Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan has gone through many changes but has, unfortunately, had little results. It includes plans for developing building sharrows, bike lanes, and bike parking, as well as other initiatives, to name but just a few ideas.

Nonetheless, they’ve been either put on the back burner or taken off all together. To prove my point, I headed over to LABikePlan.org, and found that there were many broken links.

Surprisingly, a city with the size and scope of Los Angeles—with its thousands of cyclists–can’t get their act together, unlike most other bike-friendly cities in most major cities on the East Coast. New York City, a place where the weather is only bike friendly about half of the year, has seen great strides in their efforts to make the city more attractive to bikers.

Therefore, I herein chosen two random locations in both LA and NYC, choosing each other’s City Hall, and another location about 5 miles away. Here’s the resulting biking maps brought to you by Google:

Los Angeles

New York City

Do you notice the dark green lines? Over the last three years, NYC has said “Yes” to bikes, and made a truly remarkable effort to create a city that welcomes bikers. In fact, in 2009, NYC’s bike commuting has seen an increase of 26%. On the other hand, LA can’t make up its mind as to what to do–so nothing gets done.

As someone who has lived so many years on the East Coast, with the rain, snow, ice, and downright bike-unfriendly weather, it’s amazing to me that a city that’s “warm” and not too wet, doesn’t have bike paths or sharrows on every street, to create more opportunities for additional bike friendly routes and pathways.

With billions currently being spent upgrading roads, and adding lanes (that don’t do anything to alleviate congestion), isn’t it time to put a real commitment in order to help make Los Angeles more bike-friendly?

NYC did it. Why can’t we?

California’s municipalities are currently deciding to see if a ban on plastic bags is in the best interests of its residents. In 2007, San Francisco passed a ban on plastic bags, but much to the chagrin of environmentalists, paper bag usage then skyrocketed.

Thus, the issue isn’t really one of either paper or plastic bags–but using reusable tote bags:

One idea to cut back on all single use bags, regardless of material, is taxing each bag. In January 2010, Washington DC passed a $.05 tax on all single use bags, and has subsequently seen dramatic results. In fact, “plastic bag usage in supermarkets and other establishments dropped from the 2009 monthly average of 22.5 million to just 3 million in January."  That’s quite a difference!

After all, how many taxes are offered to people as a choice? It’s up to each individual consumer if they want to pay this tax.  People can either choose to use reusable bags, or be taxed for using a single use bag provided by the retailer. 

When April 15th comes around each year, no one can say, "Oh, I don’t want to pay my taxes this year."  However, by using a reusable tote bag, you choose not to pay the $.05 bag tax.

The eco-friendliness of the bag tax doesn’t stop yet

A portion of the tax proceeds collected from the tax goes to environmental projects. In the case of Washington DC, $150,000 will go to help clean up the Anacostia River.

So to summarize the benefits of using single use bags–it helps to keep our environment cleaner by dramatically reducing single bag usage, while raising money for environmental causes. In ordinary jargon, that’s a win/win situation.

So Yo, California Legislators, why not consider a tax on all single use bags instead of a ban on only plastic ones? During these tough economic times, doing good and doing well for both the environment and your tax proceeds, can’t be a bad idea.

Photos courtesy of Samuel Mann and Keng Susumpow

So when it comes to alternative transportation, bikes are a great way to lessen our carbon footprints and to be “green” in how we can rely less on cars. So it’s that time of year to be reminded just how easy using a bike can be to travel to work or to do local errands.

Monday, May 17^th, 2010 marks the start of Bike to Work Week here in Los Angeles.

Why Bike to Work Week is Important

With statistics like these, it’s easy to see why:

• 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home
• 40% of all trips are within two miles of the home

So the goal of Bike to Work Week isn’t only about biking to work, although that’s definitely important–it’s also about using a bike for short trips to the grocery store, dropping a letter off at the post office, or going to the bank.

In Los Angeles, driving to a location may be easy, but parking isn’t. It sometimes take longer to find parking then it does to get to where you’re going.

For this year’s Los Angeles’ Bike to Work Week, here’s the current list of events:

Monday:

In front of the new LAPD Headquarters, at 8:00am, Chief Charlie Beck will join Metro Chair Ara Najarian, City Council member Tom LaBonge, and several others who’ll encourage motorists to safely share the road with bicyclists.  LAPD has partnered this year with Metro, LADOT, and LACBC to promote bicycle safety throughout the city.

At 7:00pm, the Glendale Library is hosting a showing of “Contested Streets.”  This film tells the story of New York City in the 20th Century, and how their transportation decisions forever altered the Big Apple. In recent years, New York City has become a leader in the use of bikes, road safety, and commuting.

Tuesday:

The Blessing of the Bikes at Good Samaritan Hospital, located at 1225 Wilshire Blvd. is the place to be.  Get Blessed! Get Breakfast! Get a Free Bike Check! It all starts at 8:00am.

Wednesday:

At 8:00am, Metro is sponsoring a bike tour of Downtown Los Angeles, starting and ending at the historic Olvera Street South Plaza.  If you want a preview, here’s the map.

Thursday:

Bike to Work Day is being observed at several local transit agencies–including Metro and LADOT. They’re providing free rides to cyclists and “pit stops" around the county to make the morning commute easier. Many of the pit stops will feature food and free prizes. For a list of participating transit agencies, click here, and for a map of the pit stops, click here.

Friday:

Bicycle Riders All Aboard! The Pasadena Crosstown Ride will scour the streets of Pasadena, picking up new riders at various Pasadena districts (Paseo, Lake, Playhouse), before ending up at One Colorado for a fun evening including a silent auction, music, prizes, drinks, food and more! Meet at 6:00 PM for registration and food, Ride departs at 7:00 PM at the One Colorado Courtyard, in Pasadena.

After the ride, be sure to watch the screening of “Return of the Scorcher,” a classic bike film that captures the essence of bike lifestyles from all over the world.

And after the movie is the C.I.C.L.E. Pedal Party. It sounds like a fun night for everyone!

Travelin’ Local’s mission includes not only the unique and special places here that we like to escape to and find places to do various things—we’re also passionate about Los Angeles, and want it to always be the best that it can be.

And this year’s Los Angeles Bike to Work Week is a great way to accomplish that

My first impression was how soft it was. Made from 100% organically grown cotton, the bag isn’t just for use as a shopping bag, but could be used as a purse, a mommy bag (perfect if you have kids), or even as a school tote bag.

With a long shoulder strap, one large compartment, and a smaller side pocket—it’s both multi-functional and strongly constructed. I know because I’ve already used it at the supermarket, chocked full of groceries, and it hangs over my shoulder with no problem whatsoever.

Organically Grown, the company that makes the bag, specializes in organic infant clothes that are quite cute.

Although my children are all young adults now, having had 4 girls gives me bragging rights as to what to recommend—and I still if organic fabric will serve babies well, and I’m sure that kids will love them.

Why Organic?

Here are the top 10 reasons why organic clothing should be on your shopping list:

1. It helps protect your children
2. It reduces pesticide use
3. It protects farm workers
4. It protects water quality
5. It prevents soil erosion
6. It is a sturdier fabric
7. It saves you money
8. It feels amazing inside and out
9. It supports a true economy
10. It supports a healthier environment.

Source: Expectant Mother’s Guide

Organically Grown’s products aren’t limited to infant clothing.  They also have T-shirts, blankets, and wall décor that are also totally organic.

My recommendation is that the next time you’re in the market for something organic, check out the Organically Grown products on their website.

They might have just what you’re looking for. I know that my tote-cum-handbag-cum-purse are not only cool and comfortable; it’s fashionably cute and functional at the same time.

Los Angeles isn’t just about about celebrities, Hollywood, and movie making. We’re an extremely diverse group of people, as evidenced in our everyday lives here, and as this morning’s article is testament to.

As always, all of the events listed below are free, so if you’re looking for some ideas and things to do this weekend, below are some interesting things for you to consider:

For family fun, the Los Angeles Historical State Park is hosting a sunset campfire. Find out the history of the park, roast a few marshmallows, and watch a dramatic sunset with the beautiful city of LA as a backdrop. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your blanket. Location:  245 N. Spring Street, Downtown LA.  When: Saturday, April 24^th, at 6:30pm.

Do you like books? How about listening and talking to your favorite authors? If this sounds appealing, then head on over to the LATimes Book Festival this weekend. It’s the place to be and an annual ritual here on UCLA’s campus. With book readings, book signings, lectures, interviews, panel discussions, and a wide range of children’s activities, you won’t be at a loss for things to do. Location: UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles. When: Saturday, April 24^th,: 10am – 6pm, Sunday, April 25^th,,10am – 5pm.

An interactive photo shoot entitled “Fashion is Art,” features several designers alongside the Hold Up’s (a local art gallery in Little Toyko) collection of contemporary art, and clothing from the Number A Boutique. They’ll also have gift bags, including apparel and accessories from their participating designers. Location: Hold Up Art Gallery, 363 E. 2nd Street and Number A Boutique, 374 E. 2nd Street. When: Saturday, April 24^th, 7-11pm.

Mark your calendars! The 21st Annual Fiesta Broadway will feature 25 square blocks of music, kid’s activities, food, and fun. Billed as “the largest Hispanic event, in the largest Hispanic market in the U.S.,” Fiesta Broadway will keep you busy and entertained. Location: Just go downtown to the Broadway Corridor, but consider using Metro. When: Sunday, April 25^th, 11am to 6pm.

To celebrate the Earth and the arts with green products, green organizations, water friendly plants, electric vehicles, children’s art workshops, art exhibitions, nonstop live entertainment, and Pasadena’s first swap meet where the public can give and take away items without exchanging money, you might be interested in attending Greening the Earth Day Armory Family Arts Festival. Where: 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. When: Saturday, April 24^th, 10am to 4pm.

This is an outdoor extravaganza where they’ll be featuring exotic food, eco-games and crafts, celebrities, and giveaways. STAR ECO Station Children’s Earth Day wide variety of green friendly organizations teaches many families and people here how they’ll play a role in the larger worldwide environmental effort of preserving our planet. Location: 10101 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. When: Sunday, April 25^th, 10am-4pm.

With everything going on this weekend, finding something to do and a place to go, should be a fresh breeze in a cool atmosphere.

The artist truly captures all of the power of looking at the world with both a sense and feel of a new vision and embodiment of a worldly ethos.

On the plaque underneath, “Gestation III,” it reads:

“Dedicated to all who work to heal our planet”

Travelin’ Local’s stories are not usually captioned or written with a “Happy Holiday” perspective, but Earth Day is definitely a celebration we can all stand united behind and on behalf of.

Who can’t fall in love with the idea of embracing the Earth, keeping it clean, safe, and with the goal to heal our small part of the planet?

There are so many events going on today, I can’t possibly list them all. If you click the links, you’ll find a quite a few Earth Day events in Los Angeles.

Most of all have fun, learn new eco-friendly ideas that you can incorporate into your life, even create a park, but don’t forget, Earth Day is a day you can celebrate every day, as we all should do.

Instead of writing a list of the different events taking place today, we’re sharing a story about a group of people who are of the belief that Earth Day should be every day. At the corner of 6th Avenue and San Juan in Venice, is a lot owned by the Bethel Tabernacle. There, Robin Murez , is spear heading a group of volunteers who are turning a blighted street corner into a beautiful and fascinating neighborhood park, complete with an in-ground labyrinth.

A labyrinth is a non-denominational spiritual path, which is uniquely suited for the Church’s lot, and the Venice neighborhood which has a strong spiritual history. To date, over 50 people have volunteered their time to paint, plant, and dig in order to accomplish building this small park, with most volunteers coming from the local neighborhood. Individuals aren’t the only ones who are volunteering. Several businesses including Westchester Plumbing, helped install a new irrigation system; Control Printing, who is helping with their upcoming T-shirt campaign; and Naylor Paints, who provided the paints that are being used to freshly paint the church walls.

The church, Bethel Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, was built in 1927, is just down the street from the historic Kinney-Tabor House., Its pastor, Elder Harold G. Smith, has been with the church for 15 years, along with Mother Sammie Moore, who welcomed me with open arms when I stopped by to visit. There is a sign on the front of the church that declares, “Everyone is Welcome.”

This project is the first of several planned community based efforts by Robin who heads the group, “Venice Neighborhood Ball Parks.”

Their stated mission is:

To create public green spaces wherever we can throughout Venice; each with unique landscaping suited to its neighborhood; each with a mosaic sphere (Ball) that is both sculptural seating and a neighborhood ‘logo.’ It greens and beautifies Venice; celebrates our diversity and enhances the unity of our community.

The Grand Opening celebration for this particular event is on May 1^st, which also coincides with both the Venice Garden and Home Tour, and the World Labyrinth Day.

From 10am to 5pm, they’ll be hosting live music, dance, labyrinth events, and food. But, before any of the celebration takes place, there’s more work to be done.

For this year’s Earth Day, celebrate it by helping to create a park. So head over to 6^th and San Juan in Venice. Volunteers are welcome to come on Thursday, April 22^nd,between 10am-4pm.  Think about it–wouldn’t is be great to come back here in a few years and tell yourself, “Hey, I helped create this park!”