Tag Archive
Languid LA Summer Nights
One of the sweetest things about a 98 degree day like today in Los Angeles, is the cool night that follows. Just when I thought I couldn’t take the fiery heat anymore… the sun set and a cool breeze blew in. It was time to... »
The Hummingbird Chick Has Flown!
I’ve previously posted up a couple updates (here and here) in regards to the earlier discovery/progress of the two Anna’s hummingbird chicks nested in the laurel tree overhanging our Silver Lake frontyard, but there’s been a whole bunch of some serious pint-sized tragedy and triumph... »
Solar Day: 5 Billion Years of Solar
* Dosa Restaurant ~ Invites the public to enjoy complementary tea and cookies while learning how to heat water using the sun. Saturday, June 19 10 AM – 4 PM 1700 Fillmore St. San Francisco Dosa on facebook * SF Environment Green Energy Fair on the 28th Free educational workshops: Learn about – Solar, wind, and energy saving improvements. Activities for kids... »
Education Forum at The Tech: Solar Power
The Tech Museum of Innovation is hosting an educational forum presented by the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. Solar power will an important part of our energy use in the future. Join Alana Conner (VP of Content Development – The Tech Museum), Charles Weis (County Superintendent of Schools), and Tom Werner (CEO SunPower) to discover how... »
Drill, Baby, … Still?
My downtown neighbor Deborah just posted this great pop/rap video protesting the handling of the recent BP disaster and other massive spill created by offshore oil drilling. That’s Deborah singing lead. She’s joined by AshEL Seasunz for rap vocals. If you upload a photo of yourself holding a hand-written sign saying “Clean Up the Mess.... »
A New Gator At The LA Zoo, or, My Excuse To Talk About Animals Doing It
Here’s the thing about alligator sex: It’s weird by mammal standards. See, mammals like you and me have what evolutionary biologists like to call a “ding-dong” and a “what-what,” and the way we mate is that we put the two parts together until one or both of the participating parties (OK, usually just one) has... »
Hollywood Sign View Saved by Hefner
Yay!!!! Playboy founder Hugh Hefner stepped up today and threw down the last $900,000 needed to buy the land around the Hollywood sign that was threatened by developers. The Trust for Public Land had to put together 12.5 million dollars to rescue the view from being blighted by houses built on the... »
Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase This Sunday
In celebration of Earth Day, Mar Vista is having its annual Green Garden Showcase this Sunday, April 25. From their website: This free, self guided garden tour is all about water conservation. These homeowners have all made choices to eliminate or reduce turf lawns and have created gardens that thrive in our Southern California climate while... »
Garden tour report
Every year I’ve been on the Going Native Garden Tour, I’ve explored the California native plant gardens of a different part of the South Bay. One year it was Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. Another year, the San Jose downtown core. This year I headed for Los Gatos and San Jose’s Camden and Cambrian areas.... »
Don’t forget, garden tour this Sunday
We’ve mentioned it before, but I thought this would be a good time for a last minute reminder about this Sunday’s Going Native Garden Tour. The tour features dozens of gardens all over Santa Clara County. All of the gardens emphasize native California plants, and most are low-water, low-chemical, and beautiful too. You... »
Earth Day 2010 Weekend Events
Earth Day 40th Anniversary is Thursday April 22; however, there are activities planed for this weekend: Earth Day celebration at the Marine Science Institute is this Saturday April 17 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This free family friendly event will feature programs with tide pool animals, sharks, fish, plankton, along with fish and shark feedings.... »
How to Buy Less and Share More
Need a ladder for a one-time project but don’t want to buy one? Out of town and want to borrow a bike for the weekend? Do you have a garage or attic full of stuff that you only use once a year? If so, NeighborGoods can help. NeighborGoods is an innovative place where you can... »
Silver Lake’s Reservoir Of Black Balls Makes National Geographic
Cruising through the April issue of National Geographic, an edition with a global scope focused on the subject of water, my wife Susan and I were surprised to find the following Best Shot Ever from photograher Gerd Ludwig of a local body of water — Ivanhoe Reservoir — made somewhat ongoingly infamous by its... »
Head to Palm Springs…the desert is blooming!
According to the locals I spoke with we are about another week or so before the peak blossom for the Mojave around Palm Springs. As it is the entire valley floor is awash in bright yellows and whites. Under it all is this petite little wild flower (name escapes me and I can’t find... »
My Saturday in the Patty Wagon
One of the ubiquitous gourmet food trucks to hit the LA streets recently is Patty Wagon, which boasts sustainable, 100% grass fed beef hamburgers and hand cut fries made from organic potatoes. This past Saturday, I found them parked across the street from the Silver Lake Farmer’s Market and decided to check out the... »