We did not see much of the Vancouver Winter Olympics as we were in Brazil . . . though it was a delight to watch some events on Brazilian TV, which was uninterrupted by commercials! Whatever you may think of the Olympics, the athletic feats are impressive, the stories behind some of the Olympians are [...]
The debate over climate change and energy independence is often divisive and polarizing. First we must confront the apathetic and the nay-sayers, which has not been easy in the USA with the purported “Climate-gate” bruhaha and our concern over 10% unemployment. The Obama Administration has not been very helpful with its “green jobs” rhetoric–I think [...]
One of the ugly consequences of America’s foreclosure crisis is the abandoned homes that are scarring our cities. Once proud cities like Cleveland and Detroit, which in the past symbolized America’s industrial might, are turning into ghost towns, their neighborhoods barren and houses boarded up. Cleveland and Detroit reached their peak in the 1950s, when [...]
As Ottawa’s population grows, districts once in decline are making a huge comeback. Wellington Village, on Ottawa’s west end, was considered gritty and lacked shops and services earlier this decade. Now, this neighborhood, where I’ve been staying the past week, is thriving. Shops and restaurants have moved in, homeowners have purchased homes and beautifully refurbished [...]
Recently a friend and I attended a day-long LEED workshop in Santa Monica. The instructor was enthusiastic and knowledgeable (in fact, he stayed an extra hour to cover the material with us); the class small, providing a great opportunity to cram in more information; and the venue was a LEED-certified silver showroom, giving us live [...]
On Wednesday I attended the Best Events Los Angeles conference as a guest of Jaime Nack, President of Three Squares Inc. The organization invited Jaime to speak about organizing “green” events at a time when companies and event planners don’t have the green to spend. Jaime was the Director of Sustainability and Greening Operations for [...]
Modular homes.
That thought leaves most of us shuddering, then snickering about that dream double-wide trailer—hey, live large and maybe you could have a triple wide! Years ago, a dear friend of mine was struggling to buy a home in her beloved, but unaffordable, Santa Cruz County. She dealt with a real estate agent who [...]
Sacramento is an afterthought to most Californians. I think I only know it well because of the 70s family drama, Eight is Enough (“but daaaad, this is the 80’s!” was my favorite line!). It’s too bad me and another 35 million-plus Californians don’t know this city better. Its downtown is full of old Victorians, there [...]
Ah, Beverly Hills. 90210 has a mythical quality to it–unless you live in LA. Indeed, BH is a guilty pleasure with its delightful people watching, decadent boutiques, and posh hotels. I usually cringe when I drive there, however. Many classic homes have been demolished in favor of garish McMansions, and stop signs appear to be [...]
Mayors around the world, including San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom, have traveled to a certain city to learn about sustainable development and urban planning. This city has rooftop gardens, is creating more greenbelts and bike paths, and has a “today don’t drive plan” in an effort to reduce traffic and air pollution. I can understand if [...]
Dear Pasadena Convention Center,
Thank you for being a great conference venue during a recent event I had attended. You are located right in the middle of what’s fantastic about Pasadena, and I love the fact that you are walking distance from two Gold Line Stations. During the conference, however, I noticed some slips that you [...]
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