June 2007
Monthly Archive
Fri 22 Jun 2007
Leimert Park is located in South LA at the crosstreet of Crenshaw Blvd. and Vernon Ave. Made famous for being the epicenter African American arts and culture where vendors sells African American artifacts, clothing, jewelry and arts. When the lights go down and the shops are all close, live jazz, rap, rhythm and blues will ring on a particular night.
While you go around the neighborhood and not fear of a black planet (term taken from Public Enemy’s 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet), you begin to notice in the surrounding neighborhood that you could be confuse of being in the Fairfax district or the Miracle Mile in West Los Angeles with its mediterranean duplexes and Art Deco buildings.
Duplex on Creed Ave. in Leimert Park
The Vision Theatre @ Leimert Park Plaza
The rents of commercial space are affordable compare to the rising cost in the more gentrifying neighborhood like Santa Monica and the Westside. There has been efforts in bringing tourism and revitalization in Leimert Park. It’s an important part of Los Angeles of being multi-cultural and African American community. You might say it is the West Coast version of Harlem.
Song of the Blog: Soul Power by James Brown feat. Bobby Byrd in the album Revolution of the Mind
Fri 22 Jun 2007
One of the ideals that has been floating around for building sustainable/affordable housing to the cites is using storage containers and a good possibility of being part of the exhibition. The availability of shipping metal containers and the easy transport of them is becoming more suited for multi-housing units that will bring not only sustainable ideals but a new social spectrum of living.
The reason to that effect is the amount of habitable space in unit containers is small versus the residual space which is open to other inhabitants. It’s a good scenario in rethinking social boundaries and communities.
The use of shipping containers as part of building homes are not fairly new. There are architects, artist and developers who use shipping containers to recycle them for mass produced housing units, temporary structures for emergency/evacuation and art/sculpture.
A few examples are:
Art Center Campus in Downtown Pasadena by Daly Genik Architects
Song of the Blog: Father to a Sister of Thought by Pavement in the album Wowee Zowee
Tue 19 Jun 2007
One of the luxuries is the amount of recreational activities in the West Coast. One of them is sailing. 8 friends, including myself, sail off of Marina Del Rey for a full day of sailing, hoping to get some strong winds and wildlife in the Bay.
It was bright that always glimmer searching the moment of the Sun looking to direct yourself into the clouds
Blue skies at flight then came a school of dolphins
Song of the Blog: Preparedness by The Bird and the Bee from the album The Bird and The Bee
Thu 7 Jun 2007
Along the Tujunga Wash, stretching from Vanowen Street to Oxnard Street, which borders between Van Nuys and North Hollywood are “green ways” or green strips” being constructed for bike paths and pedestrian walks which seems to be in near completion.
At each end between the streets, there are river rock veneer pillars to signify a gateway to the park-like setting with drought tolerant plants and variety of trees, similiar to the bike paths along the Orange Line. A much improve outlook for the area that gives it a sense of place and a purpose of reconnecting with the community.
Even though there are still trash in the tributary and a enormous channel wall, there has been a movement called The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan which calls for a rejuvenation of city space with more green space and community pride. It is probably the most extensive research and documentation for the L A River and other tributaries in the city in order to bring the river back to its natural state, civic pride, becoming green and possibly the reintroduction of the steel trout.
Northend view from Fulton Ave. and Vanowen Street
View from Victory Plaza (Bally Total Fitness )
South view from Oxnard Street and Coldwater Canyon Ave.
Song of the Blog: In Your Mind by Built to Spill from the album Ancient Melodies of the Future