Thursday, July 21, 2011

August 11 > A+D Museum > Moving Beyond Cars


Moving Beyond Cars
L.A.’s Alternative Transportation Celebration

We suspect Los Angeles might have a car-crazed reputation but we also know this city has a vibrant community that likes to take bikes, buses and sidewalks, too. de LaB is partnering with Rethink LA, GOOD, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Dublab, Green Aid, The Architect's Newspaper, Tommy B, APA-LA, and the A+D Museum for an event that shows how L.A. can move beyond cars. We'll be heading to the exhibition Rethink LA: Perspectives on a Future City which envisions a Los Angeles fifty years in the future. And we're challenging everyone who attends to use alternative transportation.

That's right—our goal is to make this a completely car-free party. If you remember, we did this last year and it was lots of fun.

Board a bus, take the train, ride a bike, map out a walk, jump on your scooter, hire a horse and buggy, break out your hoverboard... just get here in a way that illustrates an L.A. that's not auto-dependent. Connect with friends and travel together. Document your trip on Twitter, Flickr or Facebook using the tag #RethinkLA. When you get to the event, we'll have an opportunity for everyone to record how they got there, where they came from, and what happened during their journey.

Moving Beyond Cars
Thursday, August 11

7–10 pm
6032 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

$10 at the door / $5 for students

• Spin-artists from Dublab will be DJing
• Free beer from New Belgium Brewery
• LACBC will have a bike valet out front
• GOOD will be collecting statistics on your journey to turn into an incredible alternative transportation-based infographic
• While on your journey, email photos to moving@rethink.la then watch the slideshow at the party
• Document your stories with the Re/corder, journeys and creative stories will be retold by Architects Newspaper
• Ride-Thru bike photos by Tommy B.
• Interactive urban workshops with James Rojas
• Greenaid will be talking about their seedbombs

Also! GOOD is sponsoring a project to Imagine Your Los Angeles Street Beyond Cars. Submit your concept by July 31. All the submissions will be featured at the event, and winners will be announced.

And don't forget to document your trip! Tag your Tweets, FB updates, foursquare check-ins with #rethinkLA and email photos of your journey to movingbeyondcars@gmail.com and they'll be projected at the event. Prizes will be given for the best journeys!

GETTING THERE IS HALF THE PARTY!


Sponsored by Rethink LA, GOOD Magazine, A+D Museum, De Lab, Dublab, Green Aid, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Architects Newspaper, APA-LA, Bang & Olufsen, Tommy B., New Belgium Brewery

Illustration by Lorin Brown for GOOD LA

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

July 31 > de LaB heads to Compton! > Richland Farms

Join de LaB and the A+D Museum for a special behind-the-scenes tour of Richland Farms with local advocate Dr. Lloyd Wilkins. Our tour will include access to one of Richland Farms' many residences, a conversation with the founder of Compton Jr. Posse, and much more.

Located in Compton, Richland Farms is a unique farming and ranch-style community. It was founded in 1888 when Griffith D. Compton donated his land and stipulated that a portion be zoned as agricultural. In the 1950s, when African-American families began migrating from the rural South, they began a community tradition of small-scale farming. This allowed them the opportunity to work the land for their own use and benefit. More recently, a largely Latino community, originally from Mexico and Central America, has found a home-away-from-home in Richland Farms. On any given day, it is not unusual to see people riding horses as a means of transportation in this area; a neighborhood of approximately 435 homes, many on an acre or more of land, where residents own horses and livestock.

Local residents, activists and organizations like Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, and the Watershed Council, view Richland Farms as a model of ecological, sustainable, and urban agricultural renewal. Yet, despite its rich history, increased development pressures threaten its future.

Price for de LaBBers: $10. Tour benefits Richland Farms, de LaB, and A+D Museum.
(Note: You do not need to become a de LaB member to get the $10 event price. If you're reading this post, simply click the "de LaBBer" rate.)

For more information about Richland Farms, click here.

Sunday, July 31, 1:00-3:00 pm
Tour Start Point
716 West Bennett Street
Compton, CA 90220-4608




Friday, July 1, 2011

What to do in July > Three Summer Design Events

We know you're still recovering from June's LA Design Festival, but don't get too comfortable yet. July is packed with a slew of incredible design events and, in case you can't make our events, we recommend the following. But please note, these are not official de LaB events--we just recommend them!

Our favorite architecture and design gallery west of La Brea opens the summer season with TOPO/GRAPHY, an exhibition that visually explores the mapping of the relief, stratigraphy, and history of land. On July 23rd and July 30th, artists Mary Heebner, Brian Hollister, Steve Schmidt, Flora Kao, Adam Silverman and Michael Whiting will discuss the process and craft behind their pieces.

This four-day festival promises to celebrate the best of Japan's cutting-edge design and technology. Hosted throughout Little Toyko, the festival will encourage participants to consider a "New Urban Lifestyle" and will offer an endless stream of activities--from outdoor film screenings and fashion shows, to product demonstrations, awards ceremonies, and, naturally, a Pecha Kucha evening.

John Lautner Turns 100 > Opens July 16
In celebration of what would have been legendary architect John Lautner's 100th birthday, his namesake foundation is hosting a series of events to showcase his extraordinary body of work. Designed to inform and inspire the public about the importance of preserving his architecture, events will include an exhibition of his famous Goldstein Office, home tours, films, and a not-to-be-missed Gala evening.

Image: John Lautner Hope Residence | Mike Moore