Parkman Triangle Park in Silver Lake

Jan 30, 2010 No Comments by Leon Kaye

At the corner of Silver Lake Boulevard and Parkman Avenue lies a 2000-square foot patch of asphalt that has lain empty for decades.  Occasionally, trash is strewn across it; sometimes there are unpermitted weekend yard sales or flea markets; often cars are parked on it illegally.  Years ago this space was paved over to make [...]

air - land - quality of life, art and culture, construction and architecture Read more

The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Jan 29, 2010 No Comments by Leon Kaye

Rio is one of those must visit cities, so you should be sure to visit before the 2016 Summer Olympics in case its leaders decide to erase its wonderful retro sheen.
 
Naturally the beaches are lovely, but you must visit the Botanical Garden, at the foot of Corvocado mountain.  When we visited in 2004, we happened [...]

International, air - land - quality of life, art and culture Read more

The Brazilian Decade?

Jan 01, 2010 1 Comment by Leon Kaye

Happy New Year and New Decade!  From the “buzz” I’ve heard, 2010 will be a pivotal year for those involved in the sustainability movement.  New technologies advancing smart grid and electric vehicles may (or may not) take off, and investment and opportunities in renewable and alternative fuels may (or may not) surge.  GreenGoPost plans on [...]

International, air - land - quality of life, business, energy, food and consumer products, politics, water Read more

Guerrillas in the Midst

Oct 06, 2009 1 Comment

Activism.  Activist.  They are words that many people love to shout out.  To me, they often give me the creeps.
 
How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t eat THIS” or “I don’t buy THAT” or “I don’t do ALLOFTHEABOVE.”
 
My response is:  it’s always easier to NOT do something.  It takes a lot more [...]

Read more

Bleed Dodger Blue. Feel Sustainably Green.

Oct 05, 2009 No Comments

Rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers is almost like begging for physical abuse in the Bay Area, where I grew up.  Well, now that my favorite adopted baseball team (I’m not abandoning the Oakland A’s, despite their recent sad performance), is the Dodgers, let me rave about this organization.  After all, with all the debate over energy [...]

Read more

The Tree of Hell

Aug 25, 2009 No Comments

Invasive species are difficult to eliminate once you plant them.  I admit I was eco-punked once:  I went to a trusted nursery and asked for good ground cover, and after I planted these shrubs where I was living at the time.  Later, I found out that I planted . . . an invasive species from New Zealand. [...]

Read more

Palms Away

Aug 24, 2009 No Comments

When one thinks of Los Angeles, palm trees immediately come to mind.  Hardly a city block lacks a business with Palm in its name, and whether you’re in affluent Brentwood or the effluent neighborhoods near downtown, palms line the streets.  When visitors send postcards home, most likely they’re showing off palm trees.  We’ve got a [...]

Read more

Just Say Bye to Your Lawns

Aug 21, 2009 2 Comments

We’ve been talking for decades about greening L.A., so it doesn’t make sense to put forth a policy that’s going to make everyone’s lawns go brown.

-          Matt Myerhoff, spokesman for LA City Councilman Greig Smith

Huh? (more…)

Read more