Temple Bags hits all the right notes. The luggage, tote and accessories collection is handcrafted in Los Angeles from repurposed WWII military tents, bags and canvases found sifting through warehouses in the city. The "extremely limited edition" Holiday 2009 collection, launched earlier in December....read more
The Los Angeles Board of Public Works has announced sustainable new rules for residential parkways. LA Times Greenspace reports that Los Angeles-area homeowners will now be allowed to plant drought-tolerant, turf substitute ground-cover plants in residential parkways without a permit. Previously, homeowners were only allowed to plant street trees and grass without a permit. Residential parkways......read more
If you don't live in southern California, you'd be forgiven for not knowing what a loquat is. Hell, a lot of Los Angeleans don't even know. That's because the fuzzy orange fruit that grows all over the city is largely ignored in kitchens — and entirely ignored commercially. Well it's time to put a stop to loquat neglect. Boasting a sweet-tart flavor that falls somewhere between an apricot......read more
It's hard to imagine a Los Angeles without the daring modernism of John Lautner. The Michigan-born, Frank Lloyd Wright-trained architect created iconic buildings — such as the visionary Chemosphere Residence (1960) and the panoramic Silvertop Residence (1963-67) — that have helped define the city's built environment. Futuristic, cinematic, and sexy......read more
Farmscape, California's largest urban farming operation, has recently launched what may be its most ambitious project to date: a 200-square-foot custom garden on the roof of The Jonathan Club in Downtown Los Angeles. Completed in December, the garden provides fresh, organic produce for chefs working in the kitchen of the private social club. Writing for LAist, Lauren Lloyd sums it......read more
Forget what you heard about the Occupy movement being dead. If last Saturday's All in for the 99% event is any indication, there's plenty of life left yet. The arts and music festival on South La Brea Avenue amplified the voices of the 99 percent with Funny or Die short film screenings, Slake magazine readings, a Van Jones talk, DJ sets, and an art exhibit featuring over a hundred artists......read more
For several years, San Francisco-based photographer Michael Light has been flying his own lightweight aircraft to document the American West from the air. His latest book, LA Day/LA Night, shows off the beauty and horror of the City of Angels in equal measure. Whereas the nighttime photos carry a celestial, almost heavenly feel, the daytime images -- a selection of which are shown here -- are......read more
Nestled deep in the hills of Glassell Park in northeast L.A., Hidden House easily fulfills the three non-negotiable features of our dream home: bucolic seclusion, sustainable architecture, and a big-ass garden. The home, which sits on a rustic 7-acre site that's accessible via a half-mile of unpaved road, offers amazing views of Los Angeles - while feeling a world away from the city. Designed......read more
Wit the popularlty of New York City's High Line, other cities are looking for ways to incorporate elevated green spaces into public infrastructure. Recently a Los Angeles developer announced plans for "High Line West" in Hollywood. With "Urban Air," LA-based designer and SHFT compadre Stephen Glassman introduces a new twist on the aerial garden rage. The plan involves converting LA billboards......read more
If we were asked to imagine a dream curator for a photo show, Wade Davis would definitely be on the list. An accomplished photographer himself, the esteemed Canadian anthropologist and ethnobiologist is also one of the world's most influential advocates of indigenous culture. Century City's Annenberg Space for Photography (ASP) has answered our curatorial dreams, giving Davis the reins for its......read more