de LaB

February 18 > Field Trip: Palm Springs Modernism Week > Backyard Oasis Tour

2012-01-31T22:02:00.000-08:00

Michael Childers, The Hockney Swimmer, 1978, color photo, © Michael Childers

Join us for de LaB's annual spring field trip to Palm Springs Modernism Week. This year, we'll take a tour of Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography 1945 -1982, another great Pacific Standard Time exhibition organized and hosted by the Palm Springs Art Museum. The exhibition, curated by Daniell Cornell, traces the development of art and cultural history within California Architecture and Design, Hollywood and Celebrity Culture, The Shape of Desire and Dreams, The Utopian-Dystopian Topos of Surburbia, and the Pacific Ocean as Context.

Once we've taken a dip in iconic SoCal imagery, we'll head to the brand new (and dangerously colorful) Saguaro to explore our own sub-culture rituals by the pool. Formerly a Holiday Inn, the newly revamped property is owned by the Sydell Group (who also own the Ace Hotel across the street) and received a kaleidoscopic makeover by architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat. The vibrant palette is actually based on tones found in native desert wildflowers. The Joie de Vivre-run Saguaro, opens its doors February so we'll be among the first guests to check it out.

Saturday, February 18

1:30pm: Introduction by Palm Springs Art Museum Senior Curator Daniell Cornell
2:00pm: Docent-guided tour of "Backyard Oasis"
5:00pm: Poolside happy hour at the Saguaro

Tour tickets:
Tickets for the tour cost $15/person and must be purchased in advance. We will not accept payment for tickets on the day of the tour.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Accommodations:
We've reserved a block of rooms from Friday, Feb. 17th to Sunday, Feb. 19th at the Saguaro for a great rate of $109/night. To book one, simply call 1-877-808-2439 and say you're with "design east of la brea" (spell it all out, don't say de LaB). Reserve and pay for your own accommodations. Be advised there is a resort fee of $18/room. Reserve by Monday, February 6 to get a room at this special rate.

Other Activities:
Since it will be opening weekend of Modernism Week, there's no shortage of parties, tours, and exhibits. Here's a full listing of all the events and ticket prices and availability.

Stop by the Modernism Week PreFab Showcase Village at 575 N. Palm Canyon Dr. to check out the latest and greatest in smart and sustainable living, including a new line of homes by LA prefab pioneer LivingHomes. Admission is free, no tickets or reservations required. The village is open 10am - 4pm daily during Modernism Week.

Take the de LaB Survey!

2012-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

We want to get to know you better!

Help us plan bigger and better events that meet the needs of LA's design-minded community. We've put together this short survey to help us understand who are, what you want and how we can make de LaB even better in 2012. The survey shouldn't take more than five minutes, and by taking the survey you get a chance to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming home tour!

Go here to take our survey!

See you in 2012!

January Recap > Inside Eames Words

2012-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

On a rainy-then-suddenly-sunny Saturday morning, 50 friends of de LaB gathered at the A+D Museum for a tour of the exhibition Eames Words hosted by co-curator Andrew Byrom. It was the final event in our Eames Themes series, exploring the many Eames-related shows as part of Pacific Standard Time.

As a designer who focuses on beautiful typographically-driven works of art, Andrew had a unique perspective for curating and designing the exhibition, which he did alongside the great designer Deborah Sussman, who worked at the Eames Office for many years.

One of the most distinctive elements of the exhibition are the large letterforms that spell out EAMES across the front of the space. The two E's continue into the museum and serve as shelves that run through the space.

Throughout the exhibition are quotes from Charles and Ray Eames as well as everyday objects that influenced their thinking and their work. The experience is like getting a peek inside their methodology.

For example, Andrew explained how toys were a very important part of the Eames Office, from observing and celebrating toy trains for a film, to designing their own toys like their House of Cards.

It made us all think differently about those Legos and Tinker Toys from our youth.

Food was another critical element for the Eames process, both as it related to understanding a culture and as it served as a creative medium.

One of the most delightful parts of the show was a tablescape inspired by Ray Eames, who used to arrange gorgeous and complex table settings for her guests.

And then the whole group solved a rebus written by Charles Eames. (It was hard!)

The exhibition is one of the most fascinating shows of Pacific Standard Time. Thanks so much to Andrew and to everyone at A+D for hosting us. If you still haven't seen it, head over to the A+D before February 20—the show has been extended!

January 24 > Going Hollywood > Hollywood Tower and Best Western

2012-01-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

Do neighborhoods evolve on a block-by-block basis? We think they can. Join us as we visit two very different renovation projects on the same block in Hollywood that are transforming a section of the neighborhood once bisected by the freeway.

First we'll get a tour of the historic Hollywood Tower, to see the recently renovated French-Norman apartment building. You already know the 1929 building, originally known as La Belle Tour, by its landmark art deco neon sign that looms over the 101. Now go inside the V-shaped building, designed by architects Cramer & Wise, that once served as the inspiration for Disney's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attractions. Joining us for the tour will be Alicia Scott, VP of Business Development at developer Alliance Residential.

Then we'll walk across the street to visit the newly renovated Best Western Hollywood Hills. Architecture firm Koning Eizenberg has given it a $2 million makeover, transforming the formerly frumpy building into a chic grey hotel. There's also a striking pointillist mural surrounding the now iconic "Last Cappuccino before the 101" sign. We'll be given a tour of the space with KE principal Brian Lane.

After the tours, join us at the 101 Coffee Shop for retro diner grub and that last cappuccino.

Tuesday, January 24
6:30pm: Meet at the Hollywood Tower, 6138 Franklin Ave
7:00pm: Talk and tour by Alicia Scott
7:30pm: Cross the street to the Best Western for a talk and tour with Brian Lane, 6141 Franklin
8:30pm: Head to the 101 Coffee Shop in the Best Western, 6141 Franklin

Cost: This event is free, and dinner at the 101 is pay-as-you-go, but please RSVP so we can get a headcount.

RSVP here.

Parking: Street parking only. Please check the signs.

See you near the 101!

January 21 > Inside Eames Words at A+D Museum

2012-01-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

You've sat in their chairs. You've watched their films. You've gawked at their house. But how did legendary designers Charles and Ray Eames actually work? What was their creative process? Where did all those ideas come from?

Those answers are found at Eames Words, the incredible show currently up at the A+D Museum which has just been extended until February 20. Within this "assemblage" of everyday objects ranging from a famous tumbleweed to a pastrami sandwich, you'll discover the Eameses sources of inspiration in "the uncommon beauty of common things." On Saturday, January 21, A+D is graciously offering de LaB a free tour of the exhibition hosted by co-curator Andrew Byrom, who will guide us through the Eameses methodology as well as the unique exhibition design.

Saturday, January 21
11:00 am: Tour of Eames Words with Andrew Byrom
Afterwards we'll grab lunch at one of the food trucks on Wilshire.
Free but you must RSVP

A+D Museum
6032 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(please do not contact the museum about this event)

RSVP here.

This is the third event in our Eames Themes, celebrating the contributions and legacies of Southern California's greatest designers in honor of Pacific Standard Time. Stay tuned to hear about the next events!

de LaB on KCRW's "DnA: Design and Architecture"

2012-01-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

If you were at our LACMA event you may have noticed the de LaB hosts slipping away for a few minutes with KCRW's Frances Anderton. We were recording a segment for Frances' show DnA: Design and Architecture on new made-in-LA design products that might make good locally sourced gifts for the holidays. The show aired in December, when we were honored to be included on the same episode as Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan (our heroes!). You can listen to the entire episode online, and here are our picks for some of the most intriguing local design products of the year. Many of the designers will be familiar faces, as we've featured them at recent de LaBs! Thanks to Frances for having us on the show.

The Dustbin by Brendan Ravenhill: This ingenious trash can not only keeps a dustpan and brush at-the-ready, all of its parts were manufactured in Los Angeles by companies ranging from a 60-year-old metal stamper to a brush maker who produces parts for the Mars Rovers. $220 at BrendanRavenhill.com

California Design: Living in a Modern Way 1930-1965 designed by Michael Hodgson and Ph.D: The gorgeous catalogue for the definitive exhibition on California design includes hundreds of objects produced in the state during the midcentury modern movement. $60 at the LACMA Shop

Rodarte by Laura and Kate Mulleavy, Catherine Opie and Alec Soth: This art-fashion photo book is a collaboration between the Mulleavy sisters, renowned Pasadena fashion designers, and photographers Opie and Soth. It features the Rodarte clothes against the California landscapes which inspired them. $80 at Hennessey + Ingalls

toHOLD designed by Kara Bartelt: Part modern art, part terrarium, Bartelt's delicate pieces use succulents and airplants to create beautiful living sculptures that look right at home on a desk, a coffee table, even as a unique necklace. Starting at $8.50 at Etsy and other LA locations

Design your own present at KnowHow Shop LA: Visit this Highland Park workshop with your own gift ideas and their skilled proprietors will help you navigate their fabrication wonderland filled with laser etchers and CNC milling machines to bring your creation to life. Contact for prices

Geoff McFetridge's collection at Heath Ceramics: The Los Angeles designer and illustrator dabbles in clay for the first time with a limited-editon line of custom-painted dinnerware and accessories covered in McFetridge's signature doodles. Various prices at Heath Ceramics, 7525 Beverly Boulevard

Thank You For An Amazing 2011!

2011-12-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

As 2011 comes to a close, we wanted to take a few moments to say thank you for all your love and support this year. This year we explored new neighborhoods, even occasionally venturing (gasp!) WEST of La Brea to seek out the most interesting, innovative and inventive design across this great city. We also upped our events this year, hosting nearly two per month. We're so grateful for this community and can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

Here are some of our favorite people, places and things we saw this year...

We started the year off right, getting our drink on at the Falls' 1970's inspired bar downtown.
In February we headed way east, to Palm Springs for Modernism Week to host a panel of distinguished designers.
In March, we ventured into Inglewood to see FER Studio's master plan for the city's downtown revitalization, and engaged in a lively panel discussion at LACE in Hollywood about urban graffiti and placemaking.
In April we visited George Ehling's amazing self-made Tile House in the Hollywood Hills for Obscura Day, and toasted the release of author Sam Lubell's latest tome on Julius Shulman in Burbank.
In May we gathered at the zinc-topped bar at Hollywood' Osteria La Buca to hear how designer Brendan Ravenhill remade the spot, and we walked through West Hollywood to honor our friend and mentor, John Chase, who was responsible for so much of that city's great urban design.
In June we held our annual Design-n-Dim Sum bike ride, this time passing through Frogtown, and toured Steven Kanner's final project for HOLA in Lafayette Park.
In July we walked through the urban farms in Compton and met a couple of local cowboys (and their horses)!
In August we had the pleasure of co-hosting the Moving Beyond Cars party at the A+D Museum to celebrate LA's alternate transit future, and toured several studios to see what's new at the Brewery Arts complex in Lincoln Heights.
In September we once again celebrated Park[ing] Day - this time with the incredible park designed by Standard LA in front of LOCAL. We also raised more than $800 for the Neutra VDL Studio and Residence with a reception and lecture by Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner.
In October we gathered under the incredible temporary pavilion dubbed Netscape in SCI-Arc's parking lot with Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu of Oyler Wu Collaborative and spent another afternoon in Highland Park with the boys at KnowHow Shop for some high-tech pumpkin carving.
In November we began the first of our "Eames Themed" events at JF Chen's exhaustive collection of Eames designs for Pacific Standard Time. We also trekked out to Lincoln Heights for our latest-starting event yet - a walk through the alternative art space Night Gallery for Samara Golden's piece Rape of the Mirror.
And we began December taking to the streets once again, with a tour of one of the most bike-friendly cities in SoCal: Long Beach.

And we can't wait to wrap up the year tomorrow night at LACMA to see the museum's groundbreaking exhibition, California Design, 1935-1960: Living in a Modern Way, hear from the show's curator, and celebrate the holidays with drinks and cheer at Stark Bar.

Thank you again for a great 2011!

December Recap > Long Beach Bike Tour

2011-12-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

On an absolutely beautiful Sunday morning, friends of de LaB gathered in Long Beach for a tour of the city's bike-friendly design improvements hosted by bicycle advocate Charlie Gandy.

Attendees came from all over the region, some driving, some biking, some riding the train. Architect Gwynne Pugh and his friend rode all the way down to Long Beach from Santa Monica!

First stop were some of the incredible dedicated bike lanes that zip through Long Beach's downtown—the first to be installed in Southern California.

The group got a brief tour of Bikestation, the first facility of its kind in the U.S. Here you can park, store, or fix your bike in a gorgeous new facility designed by Fernando Vazquez.

Long Beach has some incredible bike infrastructure, including bike corrals that can park a dozen bikes in the same space as a car.

We then headed through some gorgeous Craftsman neighborhoods, which looked even prettier all decked out for the holidays.

Gandy talked about how certain neighborhoods, like Belmont Shore, asked the city to install bike lanes because they knew it would increase foot traffic.

One of the most exciting bike improvements is the Vista Bike Boulevard, where roundabouts have been installed to calm traffic and make streets safer for cyclists.

Finally, we heard from April Economides about Long Beach's bike-friendly business districts in Retro Row, where two parklets are planned to be installed.

And what would biking be without beer? We were delighted to be among the first people to experience the new outdoor patio at Beachwood BBQ, a fantastic barbecue and craft beer joint in downtown Long Beach.

Thanks again to Charlie Gandy, Melissa Balmer, April Economides and Bikestation for taking the time to visit with us, as well as the City of Long Beach for providing us free bike rentals for the day! You can check out more photos here.

Our Local Holiday Shopping Guide

2011-12-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

From the endless holiday parties to feverishly trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list, we know it's hard to do it all this time of year. In the spirit of supporting local and independent designers and makers, we've rounded up our favorite holiday shows - mostly east of La Brea - for you.

Unique LA

December 3-4

Self Help Graphics & Art: Holiday Craft and Art Fair

December 3-4

Echo Park Pottery Holiday Open House

December 4

81/2 by 11 Paper Pop-Up Shop
Opens December 9, various hours

Renegade Craft Fair

December 10-11

Remodelista Holiday Market

December 10

Poketo Annual Holiday Sale

December 10

And if crowds just aren't your thing, consider visiting the following holiday guides while you armchair shop!

Our Favorite Holiday Guides

Core 77's End of Year/End of Days Must Haves

Handful of Salt's "The Holidays: Curated"

Or Just Give Generously This Season

Shift My Gift

Happy Holidays from de LaB!

[Images: Courtesy of Remodelista.]

November Recap > Samara Golden at Night Gallery

2011-12-01T09:27:00.001-08:00

At 9:30pm on a Thursday night—at what was maybe our latest-starting de LaB ever?—dozens of intrepid art-seekers opened a nondescript door in a Lincoln Heights strip mall, stepping into what felt like someone's living room in 1980's Malibu.

This is Night Gallery, which is only open from 10pm to 2am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Owners Davida Nemeroff and Mieke Marple explained the concept behind their space and walked us through Samara Golden's piece Rape of the Mirror, which has transformed the usually all-black walls into an immersive experience inspired by movies like American Gigolo and The Long Goodbye.

Golden's piece creates a haunting narrative. One one side, a peaceful beach house, sleek contemporary furniture, waves lapping against the beach. At the center are monitors connected to cameras which capture real-time imagery of people walking through the space, making the audience become part of the art—and instantly implicating them.

Moving through the space is like wandering into a nightmare, with other side of the room showing the aftermath of a violent fight, strewn with shattered mirrors and overturned furniture. Glowing throughout the room are videos shot by Golden on her iPhone, including a montage of all the photos taken with her phone from the beginning of the year.

To add to the surreal nature of the piece, all the furniture is built with an insulating material called Thermax, which also serves a practical purpose: It made each piece light enough so that Golden could move it herself. After taking in the various scenes, the crowd wandered the space with beers in hand, like voyeuristic guests at a house party gone wrong.

Outside, the dark storefront and pitch black sign revealed no clues to the art happening inside. Golden's piece is up until December 8.

December 13 > California Design and Holiday Cheer > LACMA

2011-11-16T11:03:00.001-08:00

Usually we focus on all things east but we'd be failing our mission as design citizens if we didn't make a stop at the incredible extravaganza of modern design, California Design, 1935-1960: Living in a Modern Way, currently on view at LACMA. The show features over 300 made-in-California objects from ceramics to swimsuits—plus the entire contents of the Eames House living room!—that influenced the material culture of the entire country. So consider this a special exception to see some design west of LaBrea as we tour this groundbreaking exhibition, hear from the show's curator, and celebrate the holidays with drinks and cheer at Stark Bar, recently named one of the top restaurants in the country by Esquire!

Tuesday, December 13
6:00pm: Meet at Resnick Pavilion, tour California Design on your own
6:30pm: Talk by curator Bobbye Tigerman at Resnick Pavilion entrance
7:00pm: Tour California Design on your own
8:00pm -11:00pm: Meet at Stark Bar for the de LaB Holiday Party

LACMA
5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036

LACMA is free to LA County residents after 5pm (did you know that?) so just show your ID at the box office and you'll receive a free ticket.

Since the holidays are a time for giving, we're also hoping you might take this festive opportunity to make a small donation to de LaB. In 2011 we produced 20 events, half of which were completely free to attendees. In the next year we'll continue to bring you two events per month, plus secure our nonprofit status and debut a brand new website designed by Derrick Schultz. And we even have a few surprises up our sleeves. If you'd like to help support a successful 2012, there's an opportunity when you RSVP to add a donation. Any amount will help us to continue bringing you the best design programming east (or west!) of LaBrea. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!

RSVP and make your donation to de LaB here

This is the second event in our Eames Themes, celebrating the contributions and legacies of Southern California's greatest designers in honor of Pacific Standard Time. Stay tuned to hear about the next events coming up in January!

Top image: California Design, 1935-1960: Living in a Modern Way, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, © 2011 Museum Associates/LACMA

Bottom image: At Ray's and Stark Bar, photo by Lesley Balla

December 4 > Long Beach Bike Tour

2011-11-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles may have an ambitious bike plan in the works but if you want to see a truly bike-centric Southern California community today, you'll have to head south to Long Beach. The city recently declared itself one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the country and they've got the infrastructure to prove it: separated bike lanes, miles of bike paths, the area's first bike boulevard, even official bicycle-friendly districts. So on Sunday, December 4, we're heading to Long Beach for a ride around this bike-friendly town to check out all its two-wheeled glory with Charlie Gandy, former mobility director for the city, and president of Livable Communities.

Highlights in the approximately eight-mile loop include: Bikestation, a landmark for biking in Long Beach; the Broadway cycle-track, the bike boulevards of Belmont Shore, roundabouts and traffic circles, the East Village bike-friendly arts district, and downtown Long Beach's new protected bike lanes.

Sunday, December 4

11:30 am: Meet at Long Beach City Hall

333 West Ocean Boulevard

Long Beach, CA 90802

City Hall is the massive Brutalist building that's hard to miss. There's a large plaza on the east side of the building with this bike sculpture on the wall. We'll meet there.

12:00 pm: Ride begins! Follow us at @de_LaB for updates.

3:30 pm: Ride ends with drinks and snacks at Beachwood Brewing
210 E. 3rd Street
Long Beach, CA 90802

RSVP here

For those of you in the Los Angeles area, we recommend taking your bikes on the Metro Blue Line to Long Beach. If you get off at the Long Beach Transit Mall stop, it's just a few blocks to City Hall. The ride from downtown takes 55 minutes on a Sunday, so please plan your trip accordingly at Metro.net. You'll want to be at the 7th and Metro station by 10:15 am.

If you want to make a day of it in Long Beach, Sunday is the Pacific Standard Time focus day for Long Beach's museums. Many institutions will be offering special events and free admission. Check out Alissa Walker's guide at ForYourArt.

We have 10 bikes that can be rented for free, thanks to the City of Long Beach. If you want to reserve one, please be sure to RSVP with the "I need to rent a bike" ticket. We'll contact you to find out your height.

Please bring water, sunblock and a helmet if you choose to wear one. Helmets will not be available to rent.

Space is very limited so if you RSVP but cannot make it after all, please let us know so we can release your space.

RSVP here

November Recap > Collecting Eames

2011-11-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Upon entering through a non-descript back alley door (which added a bit of exclusive mystique), de Labbers were treated to what can only be described as heaven for the modern design collector. Legendary furniture dealer JF Chen welcomed us into their latest show, Collecting Eames, the largest and most diverse gathering of Eames objects in the US. Daniel Ostoroff - dedicated Eames collector, curator, and editor of Eames Designs, a virtual encyclopedia of all things Eames - was our guide.

Daniel walked us through the timeline sharing with us the stories behind the objects and the history behind the prolific and talented design duo. From the iconic chairs to the very cabinet that served as Ray and Charles' impromptu changing table, the tour was an intimate look at how the Eames lived, worked, and created. Daniel even shared fun little anecdotes, such as to design-savvy rapper Ice Cube's apt assessment that "the Eames were masters of sampling." Indeed.

Among the highlights, an Eames-designed tube radio and their unique take on dorm living. For anyone with a chair addiction (you know who you are!), note that all the original pieces featured in this show are for sale.

If you missed the event, you still have time. Collecting Eames will be on through January 14. Show hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 12pm to 5pm, closed on Sunday. View more photos on our Flickr page or add yours there.

October Recap Bonus > A Film of Pumpkin Carving at KnowHow Shop

2011-11-11T16:42:00.000-08:00

We have one more excellent report from our Halloween event! Check out this gorgeous film made by Dru Korab of our CNC pumpkin carving party that took place at KnowHow Shop in Highland Park. We especially love seeing the Jeff Koons piñata getting bashed to bits at the after party!

Thanks again to KnowHow Shop for hosting an incredible day of DIY fun. You can check out our photos here.

October Recap > CNC Pumpkin Carving at KnowHow Shop

2011-11-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

On the last Saturday before Halloween, dozens of de LaB friends gathered in Highland Park at the KnowHow Shop for some ghoulishly creative high-tech pumpkin carving.

Guided by our lab-coated hosts, we sawed our pumpkins in half...

...scooped out the guts...

...and chose one of several designs that the CNC milling machine would use to transform our gourd into a decorative pumpkin sconce.

We admit, there was something pretty creepy about letting a robot do our carving work. (Plus we had to stay clear of the CNC machine in action to prevent pieces of flying pumpkin from hitting us in the face.)

But the end results were absolutely amazing, with rich textures and precise shapes that you just can't get from old-fashioned carving.

Here, two satisfied customers show off their creations, which they etched out deeper by hand to let more light shine through. KnowHow Shop also gave everyone LED candles so they could safely hang their lit sconces.

The more advanced carvers took to the laser etcher, where they printed photos of architect faces, like this one of Frank Gehry. Or shall we say SCARY GEHRY???

The party continued into the evening, with a keg of Bloody Bitter English Pale Ale (handcrafted, of course).

Thanks to KnowHow Shop for teaching us about what they do, and for helping us impress all our neighbors with our fancy pumpkins. Let's do it again next year!

More photos are here and here. If you have any, please post them to our Flickr group!

November 17 > Samara Golden at Night Gallery > Lincoln Heights

2011-11-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

In a quiet strip mall in a former party supply store sits the nocturnal art space, Night Gallery. Only open from Tues-Thurs from 10pm to 2am, the black-clad walls house some of the most experimental art you can see in Los Angeles. Join us for a special night at the gallery, with owners Davida Nemeroff and Mieke Marple as they explain the concept of a nighttime only gallery. We'll also be joined by artist Samara Golden, who will lead us through her show, "Rape of the Mirror," at the gallery.

Rape of the Mirror, Samara Golden, 2011

According to the gallery's press release, Golden's show is inspired by movies like The Long Goodbye and American Gigolo. "Golden constructs an architecture of luxury made entirely of silver insulation material known as Thermax. Reflective furniture, a jacuzzi and a queen-sized bed fitted with light blue sheets occupy the gallery space. A video of breaking waves crashes over the installation, illuminating the darkness while stretching the space to the other side of the earth. The gathering gloom watch as lights fade from every room with Golden's perpetual state of sunset plaguing the scene with a foreboding red hue. Night Gallery is reborn as an ocean side villa dangling from a cliff in the sixth dimension."

Join us for a late-night de Lab on November 17th (hey, it's a Thurs. You can be late for work the next day) to view the space and meet the gallerists and artists creating an alternative art scene in Lincoln Heights.

Thursday, November17

9:30 pm Meet at Night Gallery

10:00 pm Tour and lecture with gallerists Davida Nemeroff and Mieke Marple, artist Samara Golden

This event is free but please RSVP on Eventbrite.

RSVP here!

Night Gallery

204 S Ave 19
Los Angeles CA 90031
650 384 5448

There should be ample street parking around the gallery. See you then!

November 8 > Collecting Eames at JF Chen > Hollywood

2011-11-01T08:50:00.001-07:00

Our next de LaB ducks into the showroom of legendary furniture dealer JF Chen for their latest show, Collecting Eames. The show features 425 products designed by Charles and Ray Eames, making it the largest and most diverse gathering of Eames objects in the U.S. In addition to the pieces of furniture for which the duo was best known, the show also includes rare posters, toys, and graphics, and extremely unique pieces like an Eames-designed tube radio.

Our tour will be guided by curator and editor of EamesDesigns Daniel Ostroff, who will point out some of the gems in this fascinating collection, and talk about the book which is being published about the show. You can check out more photos of the showroom here. Afterwards, we'll head across the street to Street, for eclectic drinks and savory snacks inspired by street food around the world.

This is the first event in our Eames Themes, celebrating the contributions and legacies of Southern California's greatest designers in honor of Pacific Standard Time. Stay tuned to hear about the next events coming up in December and January!

Tuesday, November 8

6:30 pm Meet at JF Chen

7:00 pm Tour and lecture with curator Daniel Ostroff

8:15 pm Walk across Highland to Street

This event is free but space is limited so you must RSVP.

WE ARE AT CAPACITY FOR THIS EVENT.

JF Chen

941 N. Highland Avenue

Hollywood, CA 90038

View Larger Map

October Recap > Oyler Wu's Netscape

2011-10-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

On a breezy October evening, de Labbers gathered in the SCI-Arc parking lot for a tour of Netscape, the incredible temporary pavilion designed by Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu of Oyler Wu Collaborative. Dwayne and Jenny were commissioned by the school, where they both teach, to create a structure that would comfortably seat 1000 people for the fall graduation ceremony.

As the sun began to slip lower in the sky, Dwayne and Jenny explained how, with the help of 15 SCI-Arc students, they had transformed 45,000 square feet of rope, 6,000 feet of steel and 300 square feet of jersey fabric into a canopy that could gracefully shade the crowd in the early September sun.

The structure was actually knit using traditional techniques, with the students creating giant 4o-foot looms in the parking lot to make the panels of rope. The steel trusses were welded together and assembled with the help of two forklifts. The louvers, which are made from the same material as sports jerseys, were placed at the exact right angle to completely shade the structure at the moment the ceremony began.

We got to watch as the shade crept over the parking lot, right on schedule. A huge thanks to Jenny and Dwayne for taking the time to guide us through their creation. You can read more about Netscape and watch a short video about the process over at Fast Company's Co.Design.

Afterwards we walked down the street to Wurstkuche for our own mini-Oktoberfest, complete with rattlesnake sausages, truffle fries, and big old goblets of beer.

Mmmmm, beer. A few more photos are over at our Flickr group! If you have any, you can add them there.

September Recap > Neutra VDL Studio and Residences Lecture and Reception

2011-10-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible evening of education, conversation, and libation at the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences on September 29th. The evening was a fundraiser for the famous compound, which is currently undergoing important restoration work, and we are pleased to announce that de LaB raised more than $800 that evening!

Though the studio and residences are open to the public every weekend, we were treated to a special lecture by Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner, the firm selected to oversee the compound's repair and restoration. Leo shared many interesting historical tales, including the fact that the original plans for Neutra's famous Kaufmann House are rumored to have burned during the 1963 fire at the VDL compound.

Thank you again to the many students from Cal Poly Pomona who acted as docents that night, as well as Interim Director Robert Alexander and Caretaker David Hartwell, for creating such a memorable evening.

To support the ongoing restoration efforts at the VDL compound, click here; to learn more about upcoming events and programs, click here. And thanks to all who attended!

October 18 > Oyler Wu's Netscape > SCI-Arc, Arts District

2011-10-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 18 we'll be in the downtown Arts District to check out Netscape, the temporary pavilion installed in the SCI-Arc parking lot by our friends at Oyler Wu Collaborative. Using 40,000 feet of polypropelene rope, 600 feet of steel, and 300 square feet of jersey fabric, Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu's creation offered shade to hundreds of SCI-Arc students at their graduation ceremony in September. Dwayne and Jenny will give us a tour of the structure and show us how they created Netscape's unique texture using 40-foot looms and traditional knitting techniques!

Photos by Scott Mayoral

After our walk through this tangled web, we'll head across the street to Wurstkuche for our own version of Oktoberfest as we dine on their exotic sausages and craft beers. This event is part of Design Week Los Angeles, a city-wide celebration of design that takes place October 15 to 23. Check out all the Design Week events here!

Netscape Tour at SCI-Arc with Oyler Wu

Tuesday, October 18

5pm-6:30pm Tour in SCI-Arc parking lot

6:30-8pm Sausages and beer at Wurstkuche

SCI-Arc (meet in parking lot)

960 E. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Wurstkuche

800 E. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

This event is free, but please RSVP so we can get a headcount for Wurstkuche.

REGISTER HERE

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October 29 > CNC Pumpkin Carving Workshop + After Party > Highland Park

2011-10-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

For a special pre-Halloween event, de LaB is heading to Knowhow Shop LA, the awesome DIY workspace in Highland Park, for an afternoon of CNC pumpkin carving, followed by a ghoulish after party!

For this seasonally-spiked workshop, all that's required is that you bring your own pumpkin (round, non-heirloom varieties preferred). In exchange, Knowhow Shop will be using their digital fabrication equipment (think CNC router, laser cutter and engraver) to help us create architecturally patterned Jack-O'-Lantern sconces. The afternoon will culminate in drinking, music by Paul Grain and prizes for either best costumes (that's right, come dressed to impress), or best Jack-O'-Lantern sconce!

Photo by Scout Regalia

Knowhow Shop LA is a collaborative workspace and design studio providing tools and expertise to design practices, professionals and enthusiasts. Founded by architects Joshua Howell, Justin Rice and Kagan Taylor, Knowhow Shop is now run by Justin and Kagan, whose design agenda stems from their crafts-person's sensitivity, genuine good humor, feral strangeness, and belief that what they make can redirect their discipline from the hyper-digital to the real-surreal.

CNC Pumpkin Carving Workshop + After Party

Saturday, October 29th

3:00-6:00pm Workshop

6:00pm-Onward After Party

Knowhow Shop

6019 Echo Street

Los Angeles, CA 90042

This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP!

REGISTER HERE

We'll have some beer and snacks onhand but if you have any seasonal treats, we'd love it if you could BYOB some pumpkin beer or candy corn.

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September Recap > Park(ing) Day LA @ LOCAL PARK

2011-09-27T14:27:00.001-07:00

Besides a small mishap with the "K" that was quickly resolved, Standard's LOCAL PARK design was a huge hit on Park(ing) Day LA.

No kid was immune to the call of the sandboxes. That includes us.

Some even brought their own beach toys!

Our host, LOCAL owner Jason Michaud, was so smitten with the topiary statement, rumor has it that the park might just be parking semi-permanently at LOCAL in the very near future.

Among our many visitors, our friend Stephen Box - the mayor of Park(ing) Day LA himself - stopped by to say hello. Kill Radio also sat down in our beach chairs for a bit and did a quick interview with Silvia and Jeff. You can catch their film of Park(ing) Day LA at the Bike Oven this month. And Mike Manalo, a media design researcher at Art Center took these amazing photos as he went on Park(ing) Day LA walkabout throughout the city.

If you missed it, don't worry. LOCAL PARK will be making an encore appearance (along with other Parking Day LA installations) at the ULI Live Conference, October 26-28 at the LA Convention Center as part of The Square, a showcase of place-making, LA-style, curated by Frances Anderton.

For a round up of all the spectacular pop-up parks that sprouted up this year around town, check out City Watch's round up.

Huge thanks to Silvia and Jeff and entire Standard team (especially Alex and Kazu)! The entire day went off without a hitch. And only one of us got a parking ticket!

September 29 > Neutra VDL Studio and Residences Lecture and Reception

2011-09-02T11:08:00.001-07:00

Join de LaB on September 29th for a special tour of the Richard Neutra VDL Studio and Residences in Silver Lake. The evening will include a brief lecture by Leo Marmol, FAIA, of Marmol Radziner on the current restoration process, followed by a reception on the grounds. Join us for the whole evening, or just the reception!

A Little Bit of History...

The VDL Studio and Residences were designed by Richard and Dione Neutra for a 4,200 sq. ft. lot, overlooking the Central City Reservoir of Silver Lake. Built in three waves between 1932 and 1966, the compound remains a seminal example of modern urban design, featuring new building materials, specially-designed built-in furniture, and innovative climate-sensitive elements, including cooling rooftop reflection pools and automated sun louvers.

In 1990, Dione Neutra bequeathed the compound to the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, whose faculty and students preserve and maintain the property, using it as an educational and community resource. In fact, the VDL compound is the only Neutra residence accessible to the community at large.

Recently, the CED launched a $1 million fundraising campaign for repairs and on-going maintenance to the house. Marmol Radziner, known for its meticulous restoration of the Neutra-designed Kaufman House in Palm Springs, was selected to oversee the compound's repair and restoration. Leo Marmol will share his insights on the restoration of the historic site and will give an overview of the work that is currently under way. Since de LaB helped finance the renovation with a fundraiser in 2008, raising $3000 in a single evening, we're thrilled to head back and check in on the progress.

Neutra VDL Studio and Residences Lecture and Reception

Thursday, September 29

7:00 pm, Lecture and Tour ($20) | 8:00 pm, Reception ($10)

2300 Silverlake Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90039

Buy your tickets

Note that space is limited for the lecture and tour portion of the evening, so we recommend that you purchase your tickets early. All proceeds go to the VDL Fund for Preservation, Maintenance and Stewardship.

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{Photo: David Hartwell.}

September 16 > Parking Day LA > LOCAL PARK

2011-09-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

Parking Day LA returns to the streets of LA on Friday, September 16th and as always, de LaB is heads back to our favorite spot at LOCAL. Silver Lake architects Standard will be our "park-itects" this year, transforming a simple spot into a statement. Their design is both literal and symbolic; an invitation and a reminder of Parking Day LA's rally cry this year that "streets are for the people." In their own words:

Taking cues from Parking Day’s theme, the iconic Hollywood sign, and the context in front of Local restaurant, LOCAL PARK is four large “topiary” letters that spell the word P-A-R-K. In combination with the existing storefront behind, the sign reads LOCAL PARK. Directed toward Sunset Blvd., the installation grabs the attention of the driving and bus-riding public and leaves the enigmatic impression of a green PARK at the side of the boulevard. Not in search of a fixed message, the sign might be read as a cheerful request to park your vehicle, and as an expression of the need for more green space in the city. The sign reverses the manmade vs. nature relationship of the Hollywood sign and turns the lettering into a landscape within the urban context. The letters are ballasted with sandboxes to create a temporary space for relaxing, expanding the space of the sidewalk.

So pop a squat, enjoy a plate of chilaquiles, and tell us what LOCAL PARK means to you.

For a full map of all the pop-up parks, click here.

Can't play hookie on Friday? You can still catch some of the parks at ArtCycle in East Hollywood for "Parallel Parking" on Saturday, Sept. 17th.

What: LOCAL PARK by Standard for Parking Day LA
Where: LOCAL Restaurant, 2943 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
When: 11am-ish to 4pm-ish

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Aug Recap > What's Fermenting at the Brewery > Lincoln Heights

2011-08-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

On a semi-sweltering August day, de LaBbers met at the massive arts complex known as the Brewery in Lincoln Heights for an in-depth studio tour of some of the artists and architects living and working there.

We started at the office and residence for Carl Smith and Melynda Eccles' architecture firm Telemachus Studio. Carl and Melynda have worked on a number of residential projects in Los Angeles including a number of multi-family residences on the Westside of town. While Carl talked about several of the firms' projects, de LaBbers got a glimpse of how Telemachus has integrated its work and living spaces, using industrial materials and sliding doors to separate the two.

Also joining us - new roving sandwich truck, Holy Aioli.

Once we had our fill of fresh sandwiches and even fresher design, we moved on to the studio of sculptor James Hill. James, a California native, works in metal, steel and bronze and has been commissioned to design public installations by The Western University in Pomona, The Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, to name a few.

After James' studio, we walked over to Kasey McMahon's newest studio, where she makes her wearable art. Kasey's work explores the intersection of technology and art, and her studio reflects her eclectic interests. As cofounder of the art collective known as Psycho Girlfriend, Kasey repurposes materials to create incredible one-of-a-kind clothes that double as art, while infusing her work with wit. Her fully function birdcage dress comes with this description: "Perfect for casual Fridays at the office. Steer clear of cats, coal mines, ferrets and weasels."

Last but definitely not least, we visited the gallery and studio run by jewelry designer Claudia Endler. Claudia's jewelry is clearly influenced by art and architecture, and her handmade pieces are simultaneously timeless and completely contemporary. And the gallery is a Brewery-collaboration, with Telemachus designing the space and the showroom.

Much thanks to all of our hosts at the Brewery and to Holy Aioli for hanging out with us all afternoon!

Check out more photos here.

July Recap > de LaB heads to Richland Farms

2011-08-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

On July 31st, de LaB teamed up with the A+D Museum for a very special urban hike to Compton's Richland Farms neighborhood. Over the last year, we had heard that something special was happening in this anything-but-usual neighborhood and we weren't disappointed by what we saw.

More than 60 people ventured out for the tour to catch a rare glimpse of the special neighborhood through the eyes of people who live there.

Our guide Dr. Lloyd Wilkins, who has been dubbed "the village chief" for his efforts to educate the public, and sometimes his fellow residents, about the importance of saving Richland Farms, began the tour with a brief overview about the history of the neighborhood. Dr. Wilkins gave us insights into just some of its economic difficulties, including the fact that Compton is one of the few neighborhoods in Los Angeles where home prices consistently depreciate no matter the state of the economy.

He also alerted us to the City of Compton's strict street parking policies. Although Richland Farms is nowhere near a local retail or business corridor, the city aggressively tickets residents who park in front of their homes without a permit. A move, according to Dr. Wilkins, that symbolizes the City's desire to revoke the neighborhood's unique agricultural status, which grants residents anywhere from a third of an acre to a full acre of property.

When the tour began, Dr. Wilkins proudly led us through the streets to see some of the neighborhood's latest "mansions" and to meet an array of local residents.

Our first stop was a tour through this new home (on the left), where we were ceremoniously joined by a few urban cowboys.

Some of us even hitched a ride!

Next up, we headed to meet Mayisha Akbar, the amazing founder of the Compton Jr. Posse, whose motto is "Keeping Kids on Horses and Off the Streets."

Mayisha left a successful career in real estate to start this program, which now serves a growing number of the neighborhood's kids. Her goal is to empower the kids in the neighborhood to become young leaders as well as outstanding contributors to their community.

Mayisha believes that the skills the kids learn taming and riding horses can apply to every aspect of their life, enforcing important, nonviolent communication skills.

Lucky for us, we were treated to a show by several students, who showed off their beautiful horse riding moves.

We were sad to leave, especially since the Compton Jr. Posse greeted us with refreshments and food and really made us feel like part of the community.

But leave we must, because Richland Farms' infamous cowboys were patiently waiting for us to join them on the next part of our adventure.

As we followed them through the streets, watching their horses gallop and dance along the way, we realized...

...that the whole neighborhood had started to join our tour!

At our next stop, we were treated to the dancing horses of Richland Farms. The horses are trained by Ramon Franco, who has been teaching horses to dance for more than 20 years.

The tradition is not only an important one in Mexico, but it has now become an important part of the neighborhood's culture.
From there, we ventured off to our next stop: one of the resident's backyards. (Which, yes, was a farm!)

These turkeys, cows, and goats live on one of the largest properties in Richland Farms--a full acre of land.

From the street, the house looked like any other on the block. But once we were past the garage, the farm came to life.

And for some of us city dwellers, it was the first time we got to play with farm equipment!

Or marvel over the tools of the trade.

We want to thank Dr. Wilkins, and all of the residents of Richland Farms, who so graciously opened their homes, farms, and businesses to us for a very special behind-the-scenes tour.

For anyone who wants to continue to support Richland Farms, you can learn more about their educational and cultural activities here. For more information about how you can support the Compton Jr. Posse, you can learn more here. We encourage you to lend your support and to spread the word about this incredible community in the heart of LA. [Photos by Melanie McGraw.]

August Recap > Moving Beyond Cars > A+D Museum

2011-08-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Around 150 people walked, biked, bused—and in one case, in-line skated—to see the Rethink LA exhibition at the A+D Museum as part of our Moving Beyond Cars II party (the sequel, since we did this last year as well).

Folks perused the exhibition about LA's future while those who rode had their photo taken by Tommy B in a bike-thru photo booth outside. And bike-friendly New Belgium supplied the beers for those needing a refreshment after their journeys.

As always, we had plenty of ways on-hand for attendees to document their journeys, from emailing photos they had taken in-transit, to a Post-it wall where people could write stories about their travels, to a giant map of LA where anyone could draw their route.

And of course we gave out some prizes! Best Journey Story 2011 went to Ron Milam, who wrote about randomly meeting up with another group of bikers who were also heading to the museum. Best Method of Travel went to Gary Kavanaugh who in-line skated there (and also came in second place taking transit in the famous bike vs. JetBlue Carmageddon race. Plus we named Elizabeth Timme the winner of a project sponsored by GOOD to reimagine a street without cars. We even retroactively gave an award from last year. Ann Kovara had the Best Journey Story from 2010 (taking two buses, the light rail and Angels Flight) and we managed to track her down at this year's event!

The party was covered by the LA Weekly where writer Sophie Duvernoy noted that the event was attended by "not just with hipsters on fixies, but people from all over town interested in urban design (as well as in scoring some complimentary 'I heart Metro' tattoos)." In addition, Frances Anderton passed her microphone to several attendees who told their transit stories on KCRW's DnA: Design and Architecture along with an interview with curator Jonathan Louie.

Thanks to Rethink LA for asking us to be part of such a great event, and to LACBC and their bike valet skills. The show is up through September 4 at the A+D Museum. Check it out!

Top photo by Wild Don Bell, map photo by Jonathan Louie, bottom photo by Tommy B

August 28 > What's Fermenting at The Brewery? > Lincoln Heights

2011-08-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

Sure, you've probably been to the Brewery Artwalk once or twice and roamed the massive complex's artist studios in what was originally the Edison Electric Steam Power Plant turned Pabst Brewery. But how well do you know any of the artists or designers?

(Photo by flickr user j.r.mchale)

Join us on Sunday, August 28th at 1pm for a tour of four diverse studios with the artists living and working in the art colony. We'll start at Carl Smith and Melynda Eccles' architecture firm, Telemachus Studio, for snacks and beverages and to hear about their latest projects. Then we'll head over to jewelry designer Claudia Endler's studio, visit the massive sculptures of artist James Hill, and gawk at the incredible wearable art of multimedia artist Kasey McMahon (one of LA Weekly's Best of LA People).

What: What's Fermenting At the Brewery?
When: Sunday, August 28  1-3ish pm
Where: The Brewery Arts Complex: Meet at Telemachus Studio
672 South Avenue 21 | Unit 2
Los Angeles CA 90031
Cost: Free

RSVP here via Eventbrite.

August 11 > A+D Museum > Moving Beyond Cars

2011-07-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Moving Beyond Cars

Thursday, August 11

 7–10 pm

A+D Museum 

6032 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

$10 at the door / $5 for students

Purchase tickets here

• 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!

Tips for safe biking and links to routes from the LACBC 

Tips on how to ride and plan your trip from Metro

 Tips on car-free commuting from the Coalition for Clean Air

SHARE on Facebook

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

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

2011-07-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

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.

RSVP HERE!

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

What to do in July > Three Summer Design Events

2011-07-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

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!

TOPO/GRAPHY @ Edward Cella Art + Architecture Gallery > Opens July 9

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.

Little Toyko Design Week > July 14-17

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

June Recap > HOLA > Lafayette Park

2011-06-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

On the first day of the Los Angeles Design Festival last month, de LaB organized a tour of Heart of LA's Lafayette Park community center, one of the most exciting new public buildings to be completed in LA. HOLA, in partnership with Kanner Architects and the city's parks department, worked together to create a landmark for recreation and community in the neighborhood, but also to make it as green of a building as possible.

Our tour began across the street at the leafy patio of HOLA, where executive director Tony Brown introduced the program and the impact it has made in the neighborhood. In fact, HOLA runs an incredible program called "Send a HOLA Kid to Camp" which allows people to donate as little as $25 to send a child to a basketball clinic. Read more at HOLA's website. Then Neil Drucker and Jerry Montero from the Department of Parks and Recreation and City Bureau of Engineering explained the unique public-private partnership which allowed the community center to be funded and built as the first LEED-certified city of LA structure.

With that, we set off on our walk around the community center, set as the cornerstone of a busy and well-used Lafayette Park. The center looked stunning in the evening summer light. Project manager Jaime Contreras explained how the beautiful barrel roof of the original building was preserved, and brought up to date with the concept that the community center should embrace the park. The challenge was to make local residents feel welcome at any time, but also to help them feel safe in a sometimes violent neighborhood. The designers had to incorporate unfortunate but necessary elements like anti-vandalism surfaces, paint colors that could easily cover graffiti, and bullet-proof glass.

Inside, the building was warm and surprisingly well-lit with natural light, even at sunset. Jimmy explains how the gymnasium was opened up to the park by adding windows that allowed people inside to get a glimpse of palm trees. Even over on the left-hand side, you can see how glass block elements bring in more light and break up the monolithic wall of padding. Along the ramp is a cool recycled metal curtain that's almost like chain mail, which keeps stray balls from hitting pedestrians. And that floor? Yes, that's a certified Lakers logo laid in a beautiful bamboo floor. We didn't think we'd ever seen a bamboo basketball court.

Afterwards we headed into the heart of Koreatown to Beer Belly, designed by our good friends at MAKE Architecture. Owner Jimmy Han greeted us as we sampled over a dozen local beers on tap and even enjoyed beer-battered delicacies like fish and chips and artichokes.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the first night of the Los Angeles Design Festival a success!

Los Angeles Design Festival: What to Do June 16-30

2011-06-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

Standard's Tree House will be featured on Dwell on Design's Eastside Home Tour on June 25th. Photo by Benny Chan.

de LaB is thrilled to be part of the first-ever LA Design Festival. From June 16 to June 30, LA will be alive with design parties, panels, and yes, even a parade (a Big Parade walk, that is!). So to help you plan out your social calendar for the next few weeks, here's a round-up of our top picks of events produced by our friends and collaborators (and don't forget our own HOLA/BeerBelly double header on Thursday, June 17!).

SATURDAY, JUNE 18th

M&A Eastside Studio Tours - 12:00 to 4:00

An inside peek at some of the Eastside's creative studios. Westside tour on Sunday.

Big Parade Bridges & Tunnels - 2pm to 4pm

Walking tour of downtown LA with Dan Koeppel, LA's stairmaster and good friend of de LaB.

I.D Action - Public Art and Placemaking - 4:30 to 6:30

Special guest Andre Dekker will be on hand all the way from the Netherlands to share his perspective on placemaking at this panel at ATX. With Geoff Manaugh, Oliver Hess, and Edward Lifson.

Chinatown Design Night - 6pm onward

Galleries, studios, and shops will be open late hosting a mix of receptions, parties, sales, etc.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21st

Designing for Demographics - 7 to 8:30pm

de LaB's Marissa Gluck will be moderating a panel on designing for demographics, hosted by LAIAD at Telemachus Studio at The Brewery.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23rd

Architizer City Talks - 6 to 8pm

de LaB's Alissa Walker will be in conversation with ZELLNERPLUS's Peter Zellner and Architzer's Marc Kushner at the Standard Downtown.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24th

The Design Truck

Friday 6-9 pm at Stussy, 112 South La Brea

Saturday 6-9 pm at Covell, 4628 Hollywood Blvd

A mobile gallery following some of L.A.'s best food trucks. Design Truck will feature the work of 12 Los Angeles-based designers, bringing comfortable chairs, beautiful tables and designed lighting to the hungry masses.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25th

Dwell on Design - 10am to 6pm

Check out all the latest and greatest on the show floor at the Convention Center, Eastside Home Tours, and much more. On Sunday, June 26th, de LaB's Alissa Walker hosts two back-to-back panels, one on biking in Los Angeles, one on growing school gardens.

NeutraVDL Tours

Check here for exact times that this incredible house in Silver Lake which was once the home and office of architect Richard Neutra will be open to the public.

Creative Mornings (At Night) - 6:30 to 8pm

You've seen de LaB's Alissa Walker speak at this popular breakfast lecture series for creatives. Now they're adding booze and music. It's like "a Justin Bieber concert for design dorks"... how could you miss this?

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29th

Strangeways Academy - 2 to 5pm

Join your de LaB hosts at this awesome experiment in Chinatown to produce art and design for clients for $1/minute. Come "hire" our expertise for two minutes or two hours (walking tours around Chinatown? dim sum guide? personal shopping at local stores?) or offer your own skills. Basically, come hang out with us!

THURSDAY, JUNE 30th

LABC Architectural Awards - 11am to 2pm

Frances Anderton will be emceeing this annual awards show that honors the city's most beautiful and civic-minded projects.

June Recap > Design-n-Dim Sum Bike Ride

2011-06-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Once again, de LaBbers took to the streets, this time by bike, on our annual Design-n-Dim Sum ride. On June 5th, about 40 riders met at bike shop Flying Pigeon as we ventured from Highland Park to Frogtown to Chinatown, visiting design studios along the way.

After owner Josef Bray-Ali tuned up bikes, put a few together for borrowers, and tested the megaphone, we on the road for a gloriously sunny, crisp day.

In years past, we usually headed straight for Chinatown but this year we rode along the LA River bike path up Elysian Valley to Frogtown, passing the riders on the LA River Ride along the way.

Our first stop was RAC Design Build, a design and construction services firm founded in 1989. Principals Rick and Tracy Cortez gave us a tour of the studio, from their fabrication workshop to the upstairs offices. The firm does residential and commercial design, and with a machinery studio in house, have the luxury of producing their own prototypes.

Our next stop was Tracy Stone's studio, just around the corner. The small firm works out of a lovely, eco-sensitive live/work space, with the studio on one side and Tracy's home on the other, separated by a shaded patio (with an outdoor shower!).

Tracy talked about her residential and commercial projects, and perhaps most notably, some of her biggest fans are her smallest clients. Tracy has done a substantial amount of work for animal facilities, such as North Central Animal Services. Tracy is also one of the founders of the Frogtown Art Walk, a self-guided tours of studios and galleries along the LA River.

After seeing Tracy's studio we hopped back down the river towards Chinatown to visit architecture firm Johnson Fain. Business development director Dana Smith gave us a tour of the massive studio, showcasing projects that span architecture, master planning and green design. One of the firm's biggest local projects is the renovation and expansion of Dodger Stadium, set to be completed by next year.

Unfortunately, we were running a little late so we missed our window to visit artist Zoe Crosher's studio in Chinatown, but you can check out her work here.

So our last stop was Golden Dragon for dim sum. Because nothing satisfies a bunch of hungry bikers like a bao. And roast pork. And shu mai.

Even babies love biking and bao.

Thanks to everyone who came out last Sunday and to Josef, Rick, Tracy C., Damien, Tracy S., Dana and the fine folks at Golden Dragon!

All photos by Alissa Walker.

May Recap > John Chase's West Hollywood Walk

2011-06-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

On May 21, what would have been John Chase's 58th birthday, about 200 friends, co-workers, and design fans joined us for John Chase's West Hollywood, an adventure on foot through West Hollywood to honor the city's late, great urban designer.

We met at the West Hollywood Gateway at La Brea and Santa Monica at 10:00 am and marched throughout West Hollywood until 5:00 pm, stopping at over a dozen locations: buildings and streets John had written about, places where he lived and worked, and gorgeous examples of architecture that John's work for the city had helped make a reality. (And yes, we only venture west of La Brea for certain events—John was definitely worth it!)

At each location, architects met us to talk about the projects and how John helped bring them to fruition. Here at the bright red and orange condo project Formosa 1140, developer Richard Loring told one of the most memorable stories: When the project's proposal came under discussion at the city council meeting, John showed up to the hearing in a red seersucker suit. It was a clever and sly way to show he was fully in support of the project, without saying a word.

Throughout the day, friends and co-workers of John read excerpts from essays that he had written about the city. Frances Anderton read a passage from John's book Exterior Decoration, which talked about how the design and decorating community in West Hollywood used clever, affordable touches to distinguish their simple stucco and Spanish-style homes when they didn't have the money to execute a full renovation.

We made one stop by John's own house, a tiny bungalow that he lived in before moving to a house with his husband, Jonathan Cowan. Katherine Spitz, his friend and former classmate at college, talked about how they worked together to create a garden for entertaining that felt like an extension of the home. The brightly-colored plexiglass panels they added to the garden were still there, although a bigger hedge blocked much of the view that John had worked so hard to keep open to the street.

Public spaces were very important to John and he was responsible for helping to create one of the most vibrant and best-used spaces in West Hollywood, Plummer Park. For the community center he worked with Brian Lane, who headed up the project at Koning Eizenberg. Brian talked about the plan for the center and played a video of John where he talked about the project, calling it "West Hollywood's living room." Just hearing his voice in the space was incredible.

West Hollywood's excellent initiatives to create affordable housing for groups ranging from seniors to people living with HIV was championed by John. Here, Ric Abramson talks about the Sierra Bonita Affordable Housing project designed by Patrick Tighe, a stunning example of how affordable housing can be architecturally outstanding, sustainable, and good for the neighborhood.

John wrote a lot about the vernacular architecture of West Hollywood, including the ever-present dingbat apartments which are found on every street. While facing an aqua dingbat that actually appeared in one of his books, Christopher Hawthorne read a passage called "Stucco Box" from John's book Glitter Stucco and Dumpster Diving that explained the cultural impact of these little pastel cubes.

On Sunset Boulevard we got a huge surprise. Joe Shooshani, the owner of a building on Sunset with a video wall had previously shown a photo of John on the signboard in the weeks after his death. Joe not only put that photo back into rotation (the top image on this post), he also added a second slide commemorating the walk and John's birthday. Everyone gathered outside the Andaz hotel and snapped shots of John on the big screen again.

Afterwards Merry Norris talked a bit about the Andaz's renovation, and how John was a part of turning the "Riot Hyatt" into a classy, design-focused hotel. Merry also explained the art program that she helped curate there, including the public art that graces the exterior. And then, she took us inside for free iced tea, soda and water courtesy of the Andaz at one of their communal tables. Thanks so much to the Andaz!

Definitely one of the most emotional moments on the tour came when Jennifer Davis, who worked at the planning department of West Hollywood with John, told the story behind their quest to save Mel's Drive-In, which was then known as Ben Frank's. Their persistent, witty urging—basically giving a crash course in design education by bringing in books and photos—helped preserve this Googie structure by convincing the owner of its significance.

Mel's was extremely generous to let a group of sweaty urban hikers inside to see the plaque itself. It reads: The Googie Style Architecture of this building has been preserved by the City of West Hollywood City Planners Jennifer Davis & John Chase"

Not all the architects talked exclusively about the buildings. Julie Eizenberg, who designed the Hancock Lofts project that she's standing in front of, also told stories about attending college with John, where he was always up for a drink and a late night conversation.

John was also responsible for many improvements to West Hollywood's streetscape. Here, landscape architect Pat Smith and John Keho, from WeHo, talk about the various infrastructure decisions and landscaping choices that make the city's streets more amenable to pedestrians. We also stopped at a very special space outside Koo Koo Roo to hear the essay that John had written about it as a victory in creating a kind of informal public plaza for the city.

A very special moment for the tour occurred at Habitat 825, the fantastic condo project of architect Lorcan O'Herlihy and developer Richard Loring. Due to its location next door to the Schindler House, the project was extremely controversial. At one point, Lorcan and Richard (from left) were at odds with Bruce Kaye (right), who was working on behalf of a preservation group for Kings Road. But, as they remembered, John encouraged them to work together and served as a uniting voice for the project. Bruce also read an incredible remembrance of John.

Due to John's penchant for wearing bright colors and outrageous patterns, everyone was encouraged to dress as if John had picked out their outfits. We swear, even the jacarandas seemed a bit brighter that day! Deborah Murphy definitely won for best dressed, with a photo of John attached to her bag and matching pooch-wear!

At the end of the day we gathered at West Hollywood institution Barney's Beanery, where we toasted John's birthday over pub grub and beers.

There were so many incredible moments throughout the day that it's hard to sum them up in a post. So thanks to the LA Forum, we will be helping to produce a map and poster of the day's stops, along with details from the tour, to help keep John's legacy alive in the city he loved. Look for that later this year, as well as information on how you can get one. Until then, you can see the Google Map of all the locations to help guide your own tour.

Thank you again to everyone who made this such a fantastic day, including: Frances Anderton, Christopher Hawthorne, John Keho, Sharn Ure, Jennifer Davis, Katherine Spitz, Allyne Winderman, Deborah Murphy, John Kaliski, Margaret Crawford, Lorcan O'Herhily, Richard Loring, Merry Norris, Andy Liu, Wade Killefer, Pat Smith, Joe Shooshani, Brian Lane, Julie Eizenberg, Bruce Kaye, Campbell Architects, the City of West Hollywood, all the buildings and residences who allowed us inside, to John's sister Laura Chase, and of course to John's husband, Jonathan Cowan.

You can see more photos taken by Alissa, a set from Daveed Kapoor, and more from John's husband Jonathan Cowan.

June 16 > LA Design Festival: HOLA & Beer Belly > Lafayette Park & K-town

2011-06-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Photo by Nicolas O.S. Marques

As part of the first-ever LA Design Festival - a citywide series of events that celebrate our fair city's creative talent - de LaB is hosting a double-header on opening day, June 16th!

HOLA!

First, join us for a tour of Kanner Architects' Heart of LA building at Lafayette Park. Heart of LA (or HOLA) provides an oasis of safety and encouragement to under-served inner city at-risk youth. The center was Los Angeles architect Stephen Kanner's last major project.

Formerly a senior center, the newly renovated 15,000 complex boasts a light-filled gym and interconnected classroom spaces and community rooms. Originally designed by modernist architect Graham Latta, the best of the center's original features - such as the barrel arched concrete canopies - are highlighted by the remodel. The new center is the City of LA's first LEED-certified building and the result of a successful partnership between the LA Department of Parks and Recreation and HOLA. There's been no shortage of buzz about the the building. Check out these stories in the LA Times and The Architect's Newspaper.

The tour is FREE. However, we ask that you bring school or art supplies as a donation to support the work of this great organization.

Photo via Curbed LA

BEER BELLY ANYONE?

Following the tour, we'll head over to K-town to quench our thirst at Beer Belly, the new simple and slick craft beer bar designed by our friends at MAKE. Just in case you need help finding the door (or your car), owners Jimmy and Yume Han have provided some helpful signage. Mmmm, beer.

Thursday, June 16

Heart of LA / Lafayette Park Recreation Center

625 South Lafayette Park Place

Los Angeles, CA 90057

6:30pm (the tour begins promptly at 7:00pm)

Beer Belly

532 S. Western Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90020

8:00pm

The two locations are about a mile away from each other, and both are easy to reach by Metro. Just sayin'.

RSVP here so we can get an accurate headcount

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

MORE ABOUT LADF

Whether you know it or not (de LaB does!), LA is a global design capital and the LA Design Festival (June 16 - 30) is meant to recognize this fact. The Festival is a citywide series events taking place over two weeks, or in other words, a moment during which we can all collectively celebrate our city's awesome creativity. Other Festival events include showroom parties, design discussions, studio tours, and the biggest design event on the West Coast. Check out the full calendar of events here.

John Chase's West Hollywood

2011-05-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

This map was created to illustrate, to celebrate, to capture the influence of John Leighton Chase on the architecture, urban design and places of the City of West Hollywood. John was West Hollywood’s first-ever city urban designer from 1996 to 2010. But he was much more than that. John Chase was an architect, a writer, a flâneur, a social commentator. In short, he was modern day dandy who could see in the details of building and pavement the hidden treasures of space and beauty. From new windows to new development, from historic preservation to landscape design, John’s touch blessed the city’s built environment, making it, through his incremental differences, a better place to walk, to eat, and just to be. John Leighton Chase died on August 13, 2010.

A beautiful map designed by Keith Scharwath and produced by the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design and design east of La Brea includes 31 West Hollywood destinations that John designed, protected, enabled, approved, admired or frequented, along with descriptions, stories and anecdotes written by John's friends and collaborators. It's printed on newsprint in an eye-popping hot pink that was sourced from one of John's outfits and is the perfect guide to a day of walking in LA. See more images.

The map is available for purchase using the PayPal link below. One map is $5 and three maps are $10. Prices include shipping. If you'd like to buy four or more maps, contact us at hello[at]designeastoflabrea[dot]org You'll also be able to find the maps soon at LA Forum events and other locations.

The Walking Tour
On May 21, 2011 over 200 people embarked upon a walking tour of West Hollywood to visit many of the locations on the John Chase map. See photos and a recap from John Chase's West Hollywood Walk.

Books by John Chase

The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture
John Chase
(The Museum of Art & History)

Exterior Decoration: Hollywood's Inside-Out Houses
John Chase
(Hennessey + Ingalls)

Glitter Stucco and Dumpster Diving: Reflections on Building Production in the Vernacular City
John Chase
(Verso)

L.A. 2000+: New Architecture in Los Angeles
John Chase
(The Monacelli Press)

Las Vegas: The Success of Excess
Frances Anderton and John Chase
(Konemann)

Everyday Urbanism (Expanded)
John Chase, John Kaliski and Margaret Crawford
(The Monacelli Press)

John Chase on the Plummer Park Community Center

DnA: Design and Architecture episode on John Chase
After he died, host Frances Anderton dedicated a segment on her KCRW radio show to John Chase's legacy. The show features many of his friends, coworkers, collaborators and contemporaries speaking about his influence on West Hollywood. You can listen to the show online.

More Memories of John Chase
John Chase Dies at 57; Writer, Urban Designer for West Hollywood (Los Angeles Times)
John Chase Leaves Us: West Hollywood Urban Designer; Dear Friend (DnA blog)
West Hollywood's John Chase Passes Away (Curbed LA)
John Chase, West Hollywood's Urban Designer, Was 57 (LA Observed)
Remembering John Chase, the King of Public Space (Gelatobaby)
John Chase's West Hollywood (DnA blog, which was the progenitor of this map)

Contributors

Frances Anderton
Siobhan Burke

Jennifer Davis

John Kaliski

John Keho

Christopher Hawthorne

Deborah Murphy

Alissa Walker

Special thanks to John's sister Laura Chase and John's husband Jonathan Cowan

Sponsored By

Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design

design east of La Brea

Learn more about the John Chase Memorial Fund. Donations are tax-deductible.

Design and illustration by Keith Scharwath

June 5 > Design-n-Dim Sum Bike Tour > Chinatown

2011-05-15T22:33:00.000-07:00

It's back! Get ready for our annual Design-n-Dim Sum bike ride on Sunday, June 5th for another day of studio visits, biking and bao. And for the first time, we'll be riding through Elysian Park on the way to Chinatown. We'll be meeting at bike shop Flying Pigeon in Highland Park at 10:30am and will be on the road by 11am. Our itinerary for the day:

Start: Flying Pigeon LA
3714 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90042

1st Stop: RAC Design Build
3006 N Coolidge Ave Los Angeles, CA 90039

2nd Stop: Tracy A. Stone Architect
2041 Blake Ave Los Angeles, CA 90039

3rd Stop: Johnson Fain
1201 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012

4th Stop: Artist Zoe Crosher's Studio
970 N Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012

Final Stop: Golden Dragon Restaurant for dim sum

The logistics:

If you have a bike, please bring it. We have 10 bikes available for rental from Flying Pigeon, for $15 for the day. Bikes are on a first come, first serve basis via RSVP.

Please bring water and sunscreen. It can get hot out there!

Please bring CASH only for the dim sum. We estimate the cost will be about $20 per person.

RSVP here. We need a headcount to reserve the restaurant so if you need to cancel your reservation, please let us know as soon as possible.

And finally, if you want to join us for part of the day, follow us on twitter. We'll be updating our location throughout the day.

May Recap > Osteria La Buca > Hollywood

2011-05-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

On Monday, May 9th, we gathered around the zinc-topped bar at Osteria La Buca on a formerly desolate stretch of Melrose near Paramount Studios to meet designer Brendan Ravenhill. After enjoying our Negronis and bar snacks such a pork-roasted almonds and house-pickled vegetables (as well as some killer pizzas), Brendan explained how he transitioned from designing a simple bottle opener to an entire restaurant.

Owner Graham Snyder spotted Brendan's bottle opener in an article and called him to meet the designer. When the two met, they discovered they shared a similar philosophy around their passions. Brendan believes in the integrity of materials and allowing them to shine, while Graham brings a parallel philosophy to his restaurant, preferring to let local ingredients sing, rather than needlessly adorning them.

While most of the renovation was cosmetic rather than architectural, Brendan knocked down a wall as La Buca took over a third storefront for its expansion. He also designed all of the seating, including new banquettes, chairs that mimic the barstools (some of the most comfortable hard-backed stools we've ever sat in), and the round-topped stools at the communal table that allow diners to swing easily to see what's going on in the rest of the restaurant.

Brendan also prefers materials with a natural patina, or surfaces meant to age with use. The zinc bar (which Brendan said had an "awkward adolescence" its first 3 months) was meant to stain over time, much of the wood is recycled barn wood with naturally variegated tones, and the stools are meant to withstand shoe scuffs.

The renovation (which closed the restaurant for all of eight days in April) was also a family affair, with Brendan's wife contributing the hand-painted signage both inside and on the exterior of the restaurant. And most of the furniture and lighting manufacturing was done in LA, which Brendan notes has a wealth of great fabricators.

Local food, local design.

Check out some more photos here and here.

Next up, please join us for our memorial walk for John Chase on May 21st. And get ready for more great events in June, including our annual Design-n-Dim Sum Bike Ride!

May 21 > John Chase's West Hollywood > WeHo

2011-04-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

It still stings for us to think about the great urban designer John Chase, who passed away last year. As the urban designer for West Hollywood for 14 years, John left an indelible mark on one of LA's most vibrant cities, and as an enthusiastic friend of de LaB, he supported and nurtured our little organization into a thriving community. He's seen above with Rico Gagliano and Frances Anderton just before he read at our City Listening II event last summer. He's the one on the right, and yes, indeed, he does have his facial hair dyed blue for the occasion.

We've been wanting to do something special to help remember John and were thrilled when Frances (his best friend) asked us to partner with her on a very special event that would bring John's West Hollywood to life. On May 21, John's birthday, we're joining forces with KCRW's DnA: Design and Architecture, and the LA Forum, who has set up a fund in John's name, to lead a tour through the city, stopping at all the buildings, parks and places that John helped bring to life. More details will be coming soon, but we want you to save the date and time, and get ready for an incredible walk through West Hollywood to honor one of our favorite Angelenos.

John Chase's West Hollywood: An Architectural Walking Tour

Saturday, May 21, 2011

10:00 a.m.: Tour departs from West Hollywood Gateway

7100 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood

Meet in front of the Starbucks in the courtyard

5:30 p.m.: Drinks at Barney's Beanery

8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood

You can take the 704 or 4 bus back to the start

Presented by KCRW's DnA: Design and Architecture, design east of La Brea and The Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design

The late John Chase was the City of West Hollywood's urban designer for 14 years. During that time, he made his mark on every corner of West Hollywood, helping transform Santa Monica Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly strip, shepherding high-quality development, commissioning well-designed signage, and carving out much-needed pocket parks. On May 21, John's birthday, a group of his friends, family, co-workers, and collaborators will lead a walking tour across the city to experience John's legacy. Architects and city leaders will meet the group at the various projects to talk about working with John and offer advice on how designers and developers can collaborate on successful urban spaces. The walk will conclude with drinks at Barney's Beanery, one of John's favorite places in West Hollywood.

Stops include: Formosa 1140, Plummer Park, The MAK Center, Habitat 825, Holloway Park Veteran's Memorial, Sierra Bonita Affordable Housing, 8140 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood City Hall, the urban design and streetscape of West Hollywood, a closer look at the dingbats and "exterior decoration" that John described in his books and essays, plus many more (and a few surprises!). The walk will conclude at Barney's Beanery for drinks and more memories around 5:30 pm.

Speakers include: Frances Anderton, Christopher Hawthorne, John Keho, Jennifer Davis, Katherine Spitz, Deborah Murphy, John Kaliski, Margaret Crawford, Lorcan O'Herhily, Richard Loring, Merry Norris, Andy Liu, Wade Killefer, Pat Smith, Bruce Kaye, and more to be announced.

A printed map of John Chase's West Hollywood designed by Keith Scharwath will be provided by the John Chase Memorial Fund, recognizing a great friend and supporter of The Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design.

RSVP here so we can get an accurate headcount. If you RSVP you'll also receive more detailed information via email by Thursday, May 19 about the route, timetable, and where to meet us along the way.

We've also put the itinerary on Tripline, a cool new mapping app (whose offices are in West Hollywood!). You can download the app and follow along there.

Remember if you can't make it at 10:00 a.m., you can always follow us on Twitter at @de_LaB to find us along the way. We will stop for lunch around 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Blvd. and plan to finish at Barney's Beanery around 5:30 p.m. for drinks.

View John Chase's West Hollywood in a larger map

Photos: City Listening photo by Monica Orozco; Sierra Bonita Mixed Use Affordable Housing Project for People Living with Disabilities, one of the project John helped enable. Photo by Art Gray via Wikipedia

May 9 > Osteria La Buca > Hollywood

2011-04-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

Osteria La Buca has come a long way, baby, since it was a hole in the wall with Mamma in the kitchen. The once tiny restaurant has expanded up and out twice in the last few years - most recently with an overhaul by relative newcomer Brendan Ravenhill.

Ravenhill is a designer with a degree in sculpture from Oberlin and a masters in industrial design from RISD. A trip to LA turned into a permanent move for Ravenhill and his wife last year. And an article on his "rustic but refined" bottle openers turned into a meeting with La Buca's owners, who promptly hired him to redesign the restaurant.

Join us on Monday, May 9th for a peek at the redesign and to meet the designer. Brendan will talk to us about how he's gone from designing bottle openers to an entire restaurant, and the challenges of renovating a restaurant that hasn't closed during the process. Plus, we'll have food and drink specials courtesy of Osteria La Buca.

First Look at La Buca

Monday, May 9th

Join us for drinks and snacks at 6pm

Discussion and tour at 7pm

Osteria La Buca

5210 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038

RSVP here, space is limited.

Due to seating constraints, we have limited availability for this event. Please save your spot through Eventbrite!

April Recap > Sam Lubell and Julius Shulman and Los Angeles

2011-04-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought you'd seen all of Julius Shulman's famous photographs, a new book comes out and completely changes the way you see the photographer himself. Last Friday, about 75 architects, students, friends, and fans at the Julius Shulman Institute in Burbank were wowed by many of Shulman's rarer images at a panel discussion of Sam Lubell and Douglas Wood's Julius Shulman Los Angeles: Birth of a Modern Metropolis.

Through his lens, Shulman had witnessed a very unique period of LA's history: from a city reliant on public transportation to an auto-centric megalopolis; from a place that borrowed architectural tradition to one that reinvented the type of modern design we identify with it today. And the entire time, Shulman was snapping photos documenting the changing city. Lubell and Wood spent over a year digging through the archives at the Getty Research Institute to find new and unseen photos that could help tell this story.

The panel included Shulman's gallerist Craig Krull; the Getty Research Institute's Anne Blecksmith (who knows the archives better than anyone else on the planet); Shulman's daughter Judy McKee; Lubell and Wood; and moderator and architectural historian Alan Hess. Among the special guests in the audience was Dion Neutra (above), son of Richard Neutra, who admitted to being recruited to hold tree branches in the frames of Shulman's shots so the photos would look more vegetated!

Afterwards, the group was treated to drinks and delicious appetizers by Large Marge Sustainables while Lubell and Wood chatted with fans (including Sam's parents!) and signed books. We highly recommend buying the book, which was designed by friends of de LaB Volume. Even for someone who isn't an architecture fan, this is a beautiful and extremely surprising look at Los Angeles from one of its biggest boosters.

And who won the evening's giveaway? Jonathan Louie got our trivia question correct and received a signed copy of the book. (Even though he's throwing what look like some "Westside" gang symbols here, we still love him.) The trivia question was: Which architect designed Julius Shulman's home? Would you have known the answer?

April Recap > The Tile House > Obscura Day

2011-04-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, a group of de LaBbers hopped into a passenger van (sponsored and chauffeured by Willard Ford and Ford&Ching) and carpools to trudge up to the Tile House in the east Hollywood Hills for Obscura Day. Owned by octogenarian George Ehling, the house has been lovingly tiled by hand for the past 40 years by George himself.

The house, built in 1927 and bought by George in 1967 is covered from wall to wall by intricate inlays and complex mosaic patterns. The living room (above) also features family portraits (done in tile, natch) and a grand piano for George's piano virtuoso son.

George discovered his love of creating mosaics in his 40s. He not only designs them, he also cuts many of the found materials he uses - bottles, ceramic, discarded porcelain - into the tesserae he needs for his masterpieces. George entertained our group with stories of his days as a professional wrestler in Europe before WWII, and as an actor in Hollywood, as well as a carpenter for the studios.

Miss Obscura Day? Check out more photos of the house here and here.

And be sure to come to this Friday's book party for Sam Lubell's Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis at the Julius Shulman Institute at Woodbury University.

What To Do In April > Three Great Design Events

2011-03-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

If you can't make it to our de LaB outings to the Tile House April 9th or to the Julius Shulman book signing on April 15th, be sure to check out these other great events this weekend!

Silent Disco: Friday night, join de LaB board member Barbara Bestor at the opening of her show at SCI-Arc, Silent Disco. The gallery space has been transformed into a place where architecture students can slip away from the rigor of academia and experience a legitimate disco experience, featuring everything from a simulated mirror ball and lasers (yes, lasers!), to a downloadable soundtrack. That starts at 7:00pm on Friday, April 1.

Heartbeat Japan: A fundraising event to benefit Architecture for Humanity, Japan. Stop by Saturday afternoon to see Sasaki transform the human heartbeat into futuristic fine art. Get your very own heartbeat drawing or have your ticker added to a larger canvas. 100% of donations go directly to disaster relief. Hosted by Materials & Applications (1619 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026). Check out a video of Sasaki in action here.

LA ForumFest: Hosted at the St. Thomas the Apostle school recently completed by Griffin Enright Architects, this annual fundraiser will include tours of the building with the architects, a silent book auction, and the exciting announcement of a new annual event in honor of former LA Forum board member and great friend of de LaB, the late John Chase. de LaB, in collaboration with KCRW's DnA: Design and Architecture, will be hosting an architectural walking tour of John Chase's West Hollywood on May 21st, John's birthday, with a group of his friends, family, and collaborators. We're looking still looking for more stories about John and the buildings he helped enable. If you know of a structure or a project that should be included on the tour, let us know at hello[at]designeastoflabrea.org. Come out to ForumFest Saturday night to show your support for John's legacy. Purchase tickets here.

April 9 > The Tile House > Obscura Day

2011-03-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: This event is sold out! Thank you!

Join us on Saturday, April 9 for an extremely exciting adventure to The Tile House, one of the most beautiful homes in Los Angeles, as part of Obscura Day.

For the past 40 years, George Ehling has been transforming his Hollywood Hills home into a veritable magic castle. Working entirely by hand, Ehling has covered every surface of his residence with intricate tile mosaics. This wonder of craftsmanship is not open to the public, but for one afternoon only, we'll be getting a private tour of the home from Ehling to learn more about this modern-day Simon Rodia. This adventure is part of Obscura Day, where people all over the world lead outings to odd or out-of-the-way destinations.

The tour is limited to only 35 people, and you must sign up at the Obscura Day site (if that link doesn't work for some reason, try this one). We can only take a limited amount of vehicles to the site, so when you RSVP, you'll see more detailed information about where to meet and what to do.

Thanks to Ford & Ching for sponsoring this event, and to GOOD for giving us a great meeting place.

Many more photos can be found here and here.

Photo by Here in the Hills

April 15 > Julius Shulman and Los Angeles > Burbank

2011-03-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

On Friday, April 15, we'll be toasting Architect's Newspaper editor (and self-professed de LaB groupie) Sam Lubell on the publication of his new book, Julius Shulman Los Angeles: The Birth of a Modern Metropolis at the Julius Shulman Institute at Woodbury University.

This beautiful book is one of the most unique collections of Shulman's photography. Sam spent a year digging through Shulman's Getty archive to find unpublished and unknown photos, so these are not the typical shots you associate with Shulman's work. Many were taken for his advertising and developer clients, and, together with some of his more iconic pieces, they paint a remarkable picture of a changing Los Angeles.

A panel discussion will feature Sam and his co-author Douglas Woods, Shulman's daughter Judy McKee, gallerist Craig Krull, and the Getty Research Institute's Anne Blecksmith, all moderated by architectural historian Alan Hess.

Afterwards, Sam will be signing books and has promised to save one copy for a lucky de LaB attendee who can answer his toughest trivia question about Shulman.

Friday, April 15

7:00 to 9:00pm

Panel discussion followed by reception

Woodbury University

Ahmanson Main Space

7500 Glenoaks Boulevard

Burbank, CA 91510

RSVP to emily.bills [AT] woodbury [dot] edu

More details here. See you there!

March Recap > Making Place at LACE

2011-03-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

We hit the graffiti-laced streets of Hollywood on March 17th to support an exhibition inspired by, among many things, urban graffiti.

The Making Place exhibition, featuring local architects and designers Predock Frane, chee salette architecture office, and Florencia Pita mod, and curated by me, was the architecture-inspired third section of the year-long Painted Over/Under exhibition, envisioned by local artist Kim Schoenstadt.

Part closing reception, part intimate conversation about the exhibition, the evening featured a lively panel discussion, moderated by KCRW’s Frances Anderton (and de LaB Board member!), on everything from the current state of street art to the mutability of place. The conversation among the architects focused on how each of their pieces was in some way intricately connected to movement—in particular, the way movement around the city from the perspective of cars defines the typical Angeleno’s sense of place.

Three days later, artist Kim Schoenstadt’s final piece—a mutable, layered strip of vinyl that had been continuously placed beneath each of the former sections of the exhibition—was painstakingly revealed, replacing the Making Place exhibition, and rounding out her overarching vision. The LA Times captured the process and final reveal here.

The exhibition is on view through April 17th. If you find yourself in Hollywood, stop by to see how it all came together.

Photo credits: Andrew Hunter.

March Recap > CaliFERnication

2011-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

We had a (very) full house for our Inglewood visit with (fer) studio. Principals Doug Pierson and Christopher Mercier, both alums of Frank Gehry's practice, greeted 65 visitors to their studio tucked into a semi-hidden complex between La Brea and Crenshaw Blvds.

After drinks and refreshments, Doug and Chris presented their vision for a proposed masterplan for downtown Inglewood to a packed room. Centered on Market Street, and utilizing an empty 3-acre plot of land (that is currently in dispute between the city and a former owner who defaulted on a loan), (fer) devised a transit-oriented plan around a proposed Expo line stop. The plan aims to provide a cultural and commercial mix that draws on the existing infrastructure of the pedestrian-friendly street.

The masterplan also includes innovative eco-conscious elements, including solar wind systems, a self-contained water reservoir, planted towers, and vertical gardens. The architects are taking on an unusual role, as activist and advocate for the city. What began as an internal project bloomed into a larger plan, with the masterplan now submitted to Cascadia’s Living City Competition. Yet the firm has a long road ahead, as it pushes the vision to Inglewood's city council.

For more on the firm's vision for Inglewood, check out the Architect's Newspaper's excellent article here.

February Recap > Field Trip to Palm Springs Modernism Week

2011-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who braved the Mega Doppler-worthy storm last weekend to join us in Palm Springs for the closing weekend of Modernism Week. Luckily, everyone arrived safely at the ACE and the rain cleared just in time for our Saturday afternoon panel.

Seated in the gallery, surrounded by the photography of Leland Lee and Albert Frey, and the artwork of Nel Ivancich and Mathew Sumich, it was almost easy to imagine what it was like in mid-century Palm Springs.

The panelists each shared their design stories as well a few great personal anecdotes. But it was Albert Frey's long time companion Jean Farrar, now in her 90s, who stole the show. Looking almost exactly the way she did in the black and white photos with Albert (petite, lady like, and wearing her signature head wrap), Jean had some great stories. Apparently Mae West had beautiful hands and was a great business woman. Albert Frey had a propensity for fish heads and head stands. Jean herself once spent an uneasy otherworldly night in the bed in which Al Capone's Chinese paramour was slain. And, on playing leap frog with Albert Einstein, Jean remarked that "even geniuses are childlike at times."

All in all, pretty awesome. We look forward to hosting another event at Modernism Week next year. Special thanks to Palm Springs Life and Michael H. Lord Gallery.

More photos can be found at our Facebook page and in the de LaB Flickr group. Add yours!

Photos below courtesy of Loretta Vlach

Jean Farrar

Alissa and Keith in deep design conversation

Leland Lee

Mathew Sumich

Nel Ivancich, Leland Lee, and Jean Farrar

March 26 > CaliFERnication > Inglewood

2011-02-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

It's no longer true that Inglewood is up to no good. On Saturday, March 26th, we're heading south (but still east of La Brea) for a visit with (fer) studio. The architects behind Father's Office in Culver City and Zen Zoo in Hollywood are currently working on a revitalization plan for Inglewood's underutilized Market Street. The master plan centers on a proposed MTA stop and explores the possibility of an urban agriculture zone, adaptive re-use zoning, and a green belt and water reservoir.

Join us for a studio tour and talk with principals Christopher Mercier and Douglas Pierson on their most recent projects and proposal to redefine a neighborhood better known for gangsta rap than green energy. Learn more about their approach to architecture in Inglewood and beyond.

Sat, March 26th
1:30pm- 3:30pm
(fer) Studios
1159 East Hyde Park Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90302

View de LaB's Visit to (fer) Studio in a larger map

March 17 > Making Place at LACE > Hollywood

2011-02-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

This March, de LaB ponders ideas around placemaking and gets a little abstract in the process! Join us as we celebrate and discuss the completion of the Making Place: Painted Over/Under Part 3 exhibition with our newest de LaB host and Making Place curator Erin Cullerton. Featuring work by architecture firms Predock_Frane Architects, Chee Salette Architecture Office, and Florencia Pita mod, Making Place is the architecture-inspired section of a yearlong exhibition conceptualized by artist Kim Schoenstadt. Showcasing two-dimensional, abstracted vignettes of the Los Angeles cityscape as both an exercise in artful placemaking and a response to the powerful imagery of forgotten urban landscapes, Making Place explores the myriad ways Los Angeles has layered itself into a complex network of activity at once dense and urbanistically challenged.

Conversations on Making Place will explore the exhibition’s themes while broadly looking at the ways thoughtful placemaking has shaped the city of Los Angeles. The panel features Erin Cullerton, John Frane, Hadrian Predock, Marc Salette, and Florencia Pita and is moderated by KCRW's Frances Anderton. The event is sponsored by AIA Los Angeles and FORM Magazine.

Conversations on Making Place
Thursday, March 17, 6:30-9:00 pm
Cocktails from 6:30-7:30 pm
Panel from 7:30-9:00 pm

LACE
6522 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Free admission with suggested $3.00 donation. RSVP to RSVP[at]welcometolace[dot]org.

View Larger Map

January Recap > The Falls

2011-02-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

We started 2011 off in the best way possible, with a little education and a little inebriation. On January 24th, we packed a group into new-ish downtown bar The Falls to hear from owner Michelle Marini about the 70s-inspired design.

We began with cocktails, including the seasonally-appropriate special of the evening, The Falls Royale, a delicious vodka or gin, fresh squeezed blood orange juice, champagne, and simple syrup concotion.

Michelle told us about renovating the former bank space (that was previously also an art gallery) into a bar, choosing to come downtown after owning bars in Hollywood, and the dangers of dancing on the bar too close to the chandeliers - all while we snacked on freshly made popcorn. The bar was transformed from a white box to a glam mix featuring Nakashima-esque wood tables, stone and lumber walls, copper tiles and geometric glass. One the groups' favorite features? The great hand-glued door with wooden letters and numbers bought on eBay.

Thanks to Michelle and her staff for kicking off a great 2011!

All photos by Alissa Walker.

February 26 > de LaB Field Trip > Palm Springs Modernism Week!

2011-01-20T11:30:00.000-08:00

It's our first-ever de LaB field trip! Escape with us into the desert to catch the closing weekend of Modernism Week in Palm Springs. Join de LaB at the event "PS Modernists: Insider Stories," a very special panel co-hosted by our friends at Michael H. Lord Gallery and Palm Springs Life Magazine.

Ever imagine what it was like to hang out with Albert Frey or sip martinis with John Lautner and Julius Shulman? We do. "PS Modernists: Insider Stories" is a rare opportunity to meet the original modernists—long-time residents who lived and worked with key figures during the birth of modernism in Palm Springs.

Jean Farrar: Albert Frey's long-time companion and co-author, yogi, health advocate, and former Miss Palm Springs, Jean is the ultimate insider. Her knowledge of Palm Springs history and architecture is unequaled. If Facebook were around back then, her friend list would have included Albert Einstein, Cary Grant, Groucho Marx, Elvis Presley, Howard Huges, Mae West, Liberace, and many more...
Leland Y. Lee: Now 93, Leland worked with Julius Shulman for eight years. He was the first to shoot the Arthur Elrod house in 1968 for House and Garden Magazine. He had his first solo exhibition last year and will be showing four additional prints this year at the gallery.
Mathew Sumich: Artist and landscape designer who collaborated with all of the renowned Palm Springs Modernists including John Lautner, Donald Wexler, William Cody and Albert Frey. Reared in Southern California, he is now 79 and moved to Palm Springs in 1957.
Nel Ivancich: Artist and creator who also traveled the same creative circles. Her current project Paper or Plastic, will be on show at the gallery.
Moderated by Sam Heaton

After they dish on what it was like to live, work, and design back then, join us for a private reception. Frey, Lee, Sumich and Ivancich are all featured artists this month.

After the panel, we'll head back to the Ace Hotel Palm Springs, where we've secured a block of rooms and a special rate, to sip our own martinis, or perhaps their signature Figa cocktail, made with fig-infused vodka.

PS Modernists: Insider Stories

Saturday, February 26

1:00pm to 2:30pm: Panel discussion and Q&A session followed by reception

Michael H. Lord Gallery

1090 N. Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

View Larger Map

How do you RSVP?

Please email us at hello@designeastoflabrea.org to RSVP for the panel (it's free). Spots will be reserved for de LaB until January 30, after that, they'll open it up to the public. We'll need your name and number in your group. Facebook RSVPs do not count (sorry!).

Where can you stay?

Our friends at the Ace Hotel have been awesome enough to block off some rooms for us. Just let them know that you're with the de LaB group to receive a special rate of $179/night with no resort fee. To receive this rate, you must call 760.325.9900 to make your reservation. Do not book online.

What else is there to do?

It's closing weekend of Modernism Week in Palm Springs. There's tons to do! Here are a few top picks. Just remember that most Modernism Week events are ticketed so be sure to consult the official schedule for details. Buy tickets here.

Friday, February 25th

5-8pm: Palm Springs Preservation Foundation Retro Martini Party
6-8pm: The Photography of Albert Frey Artists Reception at Michael H. Lord Gallery with Jean Farrar
8:30pm: Charles Phoenix "Retro Vacation Tour of the USA" - live performance and book signing

Saturday, February 26th

5-7pm: Vintage Trailer Show and Cocktail Party

Sunday, February 27th

TBD: Celebrity Home Tour and VIP Reception
1-3pm: Just Fabulous Tiki Party

There are also Double Decker Bus architectural tours all weekend, and don't miss the Vintage Trailer Show.

See you in Palm Springs!

Other reminders:

Don't forget Falls Fever next Monday, January 24, our first de LaB of the year.
Take the de LaB survey by January 31! Let us know what you want to do/see/taste/experience in 2011, and one lucky person will win a membership to the Gamble House.Top image: Albert Frey, self portrait; poolside at the Ace

Top image: Albert Frey, self-portrait; poolside at the Ace

January 24 > Falls Fever > The Falls, Historic Core Downtown

2011-01-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Forget about post-holiday detox. This month, we're heading back downtown to relative newcomer The Falls. Joining us will be owner and designer Michelle Marini, who had previously made her mark on LA nightlife with the Lava Lounge and The Woods.

The Falls' design, shades of amber and orange, is meant to complement the 70s rock spun by DJs. Michelle commissioned Downtown artist MATTEO to design the bar's "waterfall" a video sculpture inside of hundreds of acrylic "ice cubes." Michelle will walk us through the space and explain the design concept, and has kindly offered to create a special cocktail for de LaBbers.

We'll start gathering at 7:30pm, and Michelle will give us the rundown promptly at 8pm. DJs begin spinning at 9pm so stick around and enjoy The Falls' vintage cocktail menu.

Monday, January 24
7:30pm Cocktails
8:00pm Tour with designer-owner Michelle Marini

The Falls
626 S. Spring St., Downtown LA
Between 6th and 7th Streets

View de LaB's Falls Fever in a larger map

Thanks LA Times!

2011-01-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

We are pleased as punch to be in the company of great organizations like TED, farmlab and Mindshare in this LA Times article. Thanks to writer Ramie Becker for putting us in such fine company:

Los Angeles, you're getting smarter. Or acting smarter, anyway. Judging by the runaway success of interdisciplinary idea-jam conferences like TED, intellectually spiked salons deLaB and farmlab, and the brainy bacchanal of Mindshare LA, the Los Angeles area has become a hub for gatherings that combine the social and the cerebral. It's a brave new world here for upwardly mobile Angelenos who want to simultaneously make business connections, feed their minds and fill out their virtual little black books.

For our next de LaB (details coming soon!) we'll be focusing more on the "spiking." Here's to a great 2011!

Thank You For An Amazing 2010!

2010-12-28T17:36:00.001-08:00

As 2010 comes to a close, we wanted to take a few moments to say thank you for all your love and support this year. Three years ago, we never had any idea that our humble little bar meetups would evolve into this thriving, vibrant community. We've got over 600 folks on this mailing list, over 450 Facebook friends, and, well, we still could use some more Twitter followers!

Here are just a few of our favorite memories of the year...

Riding a school bus to see the MAK exhibition How Many Billboards?
Gawking at the stunning Fat Fringe installation at The Fix
Taking a bike tour to Chinatown galleries and studios
Opening a de LaB pop-up store during the Downtown Art Walk
Raising an incredible $5000 at City Listening II, an evening of stories about LA read by the city's brightest design voices
Walking, biking and riding to the alt-transit event Moving Beyond Cars
Eating tacos and making vertical gardens at Homegirl Cafe
Sitting in our Sunset Boulevard park outside Local for Park[ing] Day LA
Serving as the supporting sponsors for the first-ever Design Week LA
Chatting about doing design work that matters at the California Design Biennial
Drinking in the impeccable branding at Intelligentsia Pasadena
Hearing from the amazing Michael Maltzan at Inner-City Arts (and yes, we promise to hold this extremely popular event again in 2011)
Filing for nonprofit status (pending!) to bring you bigger and better events

We'd love to make 2011 even better, so we put together this very short survey. If you can take a few minutes to let us know about your favorite events of this year and give us your ideas for what we should do next year, we'd certainly appreciate it. So much so, we're giving away one membership to the Gamble House to one lucky person who fills out the survey.

Now let's get excited for 2011! We've got some brand-new buildings eager to show us inside, lots of new neighborhoods to visit, a very special walking tour, and the first official de LaB Field Trip... hint: we're heading very east of La Brea!

Again, we can't thank you enough for being a part of de LaB. Happy 2011 to you and yours, and here's to another year of urban adventures!

Love,
Haily, Marissa & Alissa

Skid Row's Socially Conscious Architect: Talk and Tour With Michael Maltzan > Some Housekeeping

2010-12-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

We're very excited for this Saturday's event with Michael Maltzan at ICA! Below are some of the details on the event, for registered attendees only. The response to this event has been overwhelming and we're so happy so many Angelenos want to tour the school with Michael. Given the space constraints at Inner City Arts, we've had to limit the number of attendees and have a fairly long wait list, so we apologize to those who haven't been able to get in. We are working on another event with Michael for 2011, so be sure to sign up for our emails and join our facebook group!

For those who have a confirmed RSVP, here are some housekeeping details. First, we're very pleased to announce that Molly Rysman from Skid Row Housing Trust will be joining us to answer questions about Michael's work on the Rainbow and New Carver apartments.

Please meet at the library at 11am, with the lecture to begin promptly at 11:30am. Michael will be discussing his work at Inner City Arts as well as his projects with Skid Row Housing Trust. At noon, we will go on a tour of the campus with project architects from Michael Maltzan Architecture.

WHERE: Inner City Arts is located at 720 Kohler St, Los Angeles CA 90021. Please enter at the Merchant Street gate, NOT Kohler.

PARKING/TRANSIT: There is no on-site parking, just street parking. ICA cannot accommodate bikes on its campus so if you plan on riding, please know you will have to lock your bike on the street. The closest bus routes are the 60 and 720.

COST: Please remember, we are not charging for the event, but do ask that you bring a donation of art supplies for Inner City Arts. Not sure what to bring? A list of needed supplies is here.

MORE HOUSEKEEPING: The campus is in use that day and will be quite full, so please be a great guest! That means we're also on a tight schedule to see the library and theater before the kids need them. Also, only photography of the architecture is allowed (that means skip the photos of the kids).

Again, please DO NOT call ICA with questions. Email us at hello [at] designeastoflabrea [dot] org with your questions.

Thanks!

[image of ICA courtesy Iwan Baan and The Architect's Newspaper]

October Recap: Pro Bono Panel at PMCA!

2010-12-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

Back, way back in October, we hosted a night of responsible design in partnership with the Pasadena Museum of California Art and Intelligentsia Pasadena. We were thrilled to make our way to Pasadena for the first time, and ended up having two enthusiastic conversations about two very different aspects of the design world.

We started by gathering in the museum's gallery to see the exhibition Action/Reaction: 2010 California Design Biennial and participate in a panel on the pros and cons of pro bono design. Our host, Alissa Walker, who curated the product design category, picked two design teams working with different nonprofits in LA who were featured in the show. First, Stefan Bucher of 344 Design entertained us with his witty work for 826LA's Echo Park Time Travel Mart, where an almost-believable retail store works as a front for a children's tutoring center. Then Jenny Liang and Kim Karlsrud gave a behind-the-scenes look at the work of Project H, who has done work like the design enterprise initiative Abject Object with the Downtown Women's Center.

The conversation was incredibly candid, and it was amazing to hear about such different models that are used in the nonprofit world. From the extreme challenges of working with budgets and finding ways to fund and finance various projects, to the joys of creative freedom (which can sometimes become a burden), to the fulfilling work of co-creating with stakeholders, the designers thoughtfully discussed their experiences with the audience, resulting in a very meaningful evening for everyone in attendance.

Afterwards, we walked a few blocks to Colorado Boulevard to see the newest outpost of Chicago coffee empire Intelligentsia. As we ordered up lattes and glasses of the new Eagle Rock Brewery beer Stimulus (made with Intelligentsia coffee!) we checked out the beautiful space, which uses reclaimed materials, including locally-sourced church pews. Architect Ana Henton of MASS gave us a debriefing on the challenges and triumphs of designing Intelligentsia's first cafe that serves alcohol, from how it was designed to look like an alley, to making a space that could morph into more of a bar-like vibe, to creating two code-mandated separate serving areas, one for coffee, one for beer.

But that wasn't all! After surprising us with a full spread of complimentary nibbles, including the amazing lasagna cupcakes made by Heirloom LA, Intelligentsia's director of innovation Kyle Glanville gave an inspired and fascinating presentation on the philosophy behind the brand. He covered everything from their dedication to design and architecture, down to custom cups designed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios, to why they don't have outlets (we promise, it's for your own good!). It was a full night of engaged discussions, valuable insight, and fantastic food and drink...the perfect de LaB. Thanks to PMCA and Intelligentsia for hosting us, and for all our wonderful speakers!

Thanks to Christine Goo for the PMCA photos, more de LaB photos here!

What To Do In November > Some Amazing Events

2010-11-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

If the fact that we're taking the month of November off is leaving a giant, gaping hole in your architecture and design calendar, have no fear. There are some great events coming up this month organized and hosted by Friends of de LaB we'd like to alert you to:

Our October de LaB hosts at Intelligentsia are planning a very special night at their Pasadena location on Friday, November 19th. The good people at our favorite coffee bar are hosting an 8-course tasting menu dinner paired with coffee from progressive farm Finca Santuario. The food will be prepared by Heirloom LA’s Matthew Poley with wine by Matthew Kaner of Bar Covel. More details over here.
Another previous de LaB host, our friends at Neutra's VDL Research House II are planning a site-specific installation by Mexico City-based artist Santiago Borja. The artist, with a team of expert weavers from Chiapas, Mexico will stage an architectural intervention, turning the house into a temporary functional textile loom. The exhibition opens Nov 17th and runs until Dec 22nd. More info on Borja and the project here.
Have we mentioned we love pie? And the good people at Machine Project? Two great tastes that taste great together! Hammer designer Julia Luke and baker/For Your Art wonder woman Sarah Williams are hosting a pop-up pie shop at Machine Project on Nov 18th from 7-10pm. The two are hosting a complementary tasting and are selling DIY "pie kits" featuring featuring a jar of home made filling in one of 3 seasonal filling flavors. Even better, all proceeds will be donated to the LA Food Bank.

Skid Row's Socially Conscious Architect: Talk and Tour With Michael Maltzan > Dec 4th > ICA Campus, Downtown*

2010-10-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

*UPDATE: We are now at capacity but accepting RSVPs for our wait list. If you'd like to be added please email us at hello[at]designeastoflabrea[dot]org. Thanks!

Yes, we're taking a short break in November for turkey and travel but are pleased to announce our December event: a very special lecture and tour with architect Michael Maltzan on how he is working to transform some of downtown's most distressed areas. According to the NY Times:

...Mr. Maltzan may be the only American architect of his stature with significant experience in a far less glamorous field: providing shelter and other accommodations for his city’s poor. Over the past 16 years he has worked on several housing projects for the homeless and an arts complex for underprivileged children that are remarkable for their architectural sophistication and their spirit of public service.

On Dec 4th, join us for a talk with Michael about his projects on Skid Row, including the Rainbow and Carver apartments commissioned by Skid Row Housing Trust and the Inner City Arts campus. We'll be meeting at ICA and following Michael's lecture in the library, we'll be going on a tour of campus.

The lecture is free, but in the spirit of the season and event, we ask that attendees bring a donation of art supplies. What to bring? You can check ICA's list of needed items here.

11am Meet in the library
11:30 am Lecture begins promptly
12n Tour of the campus with project architects from Michael Maltzan Architecture

Inner City Arts
720 Kohler St, Los Angeles, CA 90021-1518 ‎

inner-cityarts.org

We'll likely head over to Yxta Cocina Mexicana afterwards for lunch/drinks.

Given the space constraints of the campus, we have to limit the number of attendees. RSVP's are on a first come, first served basis. You must email us to confirm your spot at hello[at]designeastoflabrea.org. (Sorry, Facebook rsvp's won't count for this one).

Please DO NOT call Inner-City Arts directly.

And don't forget this Thursday's event at the Pasadena Museum of California Art and Intelligentsia. See you there!

October 9-17 > Design Week LA

2010-10-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

de LaB is thrilled to be a supporting sponsor of the inaugural Design Week Los Angeles, a week-long, city-wide celebration of design with events being held by organizations across LA from October 9-17. Check out the lineup of over 50 events from a celebration of Julius Shulman's birthday to Forty Years of Sesame Street Illustration: Selections from the Publishing Archive of Sesame Workshop. During that week you can even get free admission to the California Design Biennial at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. (And then you can come back to the exhibition on October 28 for our October de LaB event!)

One event taking place during Design Week LA we'd particularly like to turn your attention to is CicLAvia, which we hosted at our Moving Beyond Cars event and advertised during Park[ing] Day. CicLAvia will turn 7.5 miles of LA roads into car-free routes on Sunday, October 10 (that's 10/10/10). So grab your bike, tell your friends, and hit the streets to prove to local leaders that CicLAvia should be a regular LA event! Then we'll see you at our October event at the California Design Biennial on Thursday, October 28.

October 28 > California Design Biennial Panel: Pro Bono Design > Pasadena

2010-10-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Giving It All Away: The Pros and Cons of Pro Bono Design

Designers want to use their creative skills to help a cause they believe in. But how to know where to donate your time in a way that's meaningful for you and the cause you want to aid? In discussing their work featured in the 2010 California Design Biennial, the designers behind 826's Time Travel Mart and the utilitarian urban living products Abject Object will discuss the importance of choosing a local nonprofit and working closely with its constituents over a long period of time. The designers will show how co-creating with the groups they're serving, whether its elementary kids who need after school tutoring or women living at a downtown shelter, helped them to design intelligent, engaging products that have gained widespread attention, enriched the lives of the nonprofit's stakeholders, and changed the course of their design careers.

Speakers:
Stefan Bucher, 344 Design
Kim Karlsrud & Jenny Liang, Project H Design
Moderated by Alissa Walker, curator of product design for the 2010 California Design Biennial

Thursday, October 28
5:00-5:30pm Viewing of California Design Biennial in main gallery (you can also arrive earlier during museum hours to see the show)
5:30-7:00pm Panel discussion in rooftop gallery

Free with admission to the museum
$7 for Adults
$5 Seniors and Students
Free for PMCA Members
Pay the fee at the museum

RSVP to hello@designeastoflabrea.org

Pasadena Museum of California Art
490 East Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-568-3665

Afterwards, we'll lead a walk to Intelligentsia Pasadena for refreshments and a tour of the space by its architects, Ana Henton and Gregory Williams, MASS.

7:30pm Gather at Intelligentsia, coffee and snacks
8:00pm Tour and talk by MASS, more coffee and snacks

Intelligentsia Pasadena
55 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91105

No need to RSVP if you're just coming to Intelligentsia. We'll have the space in the back. They close at 10pm.

See you there!

September Recap: Park[ing] Day at LOCAL!

2010-10-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like lounging along Sunset Boulevard for the day! On this year's Park[ing] Day we once again took over a parking space in front of our favorite neighborhood restaurant LOCAL, converting it into a public park for a day.

Our original plans for a performance space were thwarted by an architect stuck in jury duty but our friends at Ball-Nogues pulled through by supplying tables from their recent Table Cloth installation that just came down at UCLA. Rounded out with some greenery, the space was a perfect place for those who wanted to take their lunch or latte in a temporary park.

Tons of de Labbers stopped by to sample LOCAL's delish (and local) cuisine, bringing their dogs, children and bikes to help us populate the space. Everyone at LOCAL was so gracious and helpful and offered free water to anyone (human or canine) who came by—a godsend for all the bikers out there hopping from park to park. Also, we loved the free wifi!

In fact, our park was so popular, we were also featured in stories about Park[ing] Day on GOOD and LAist. Thanks to Lindsay William-Ross at LAist for coming by and snapping some awesome shots, including this one above!

We also used our park to help raise awareness for CicLAvia, which will convert 7.5 miles of LA streets into car-free routes for biking, skating, walking and strolling on October 10 (10/10/10). CicLAvia is part of LA's Design Week, and de LaB is honored to be a supporting partner for this exciting new event for LA. More on that soon!

August Recap: Moving Beyond Cars and Vertical Veggies

2010-09-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

August was packed with two, yes, two de LaB events! Our first event, Moving Beyond Cars, was held in partnership with GOOD, railLA, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, the Coalition for Clean Air. We took over the LA Beyond Cars exhibition in the Jewel Box at City National Plaza for a night of conversations about alternative transit in LA. As people compared stories on how they got there, and drew their routes and forms of transit on a large map of LA, the incredible James Rojas lead several of his urban planning workshops, asking people to build their ideal "beyond car" LA using found objects. Metro even gave us some awesome public transit temporary tattoos, which guests applied at the door.

We also would like to acknowledge three people who came to the event in unique ways. The grand prize went to Justin Bensan, who not only documented his multi-modal trip from Long Beach on Twitter, he also made a stop on the Blue Line to enjoy Watts Towers on the way up to LA. We love that! Our second award went to the most creative form of transit, a Pon-e Tribred, designed by Charlie Becker of the Silver Lake LA Trikke Shop. And third place went to a woman who left before we could get her name, but she very enthusiastically told us that she walked five blocks, took the 475 bus, then the Gold Line, Red Line and then went up Angels Flight! Talk about dedication!

Special thanks to Carren Jao, who wrote a beautiful recap of the night for the LA Downtown News. These photos were shot by the lovely Carla Choy, and you can see more of them on our Facebook page. And don't forget to go to CicLAvia on 10/10/10 when ten miles of LA streets will be closed to cars!

Then, the next week we gathered at the amazing Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown for Vertical Veggies! We started out with Homegirl's tasty all-you-can-eat mini tacos and delicious fresh sangria while Fandango Sin Fronteras serenaded us with live music. Then we broke into three workshops: container gardening, vertical gardening, and cooking with fresh, homegrown produce. Guests spread out into Homegirl's various gardens, including a massive vegetable garden by Woolly Pockets where they grow many of the ingredients for their restaurant.

Depending on which skill they learned, guests took home planters of pea shoots made from plastic containers, seeds tucked into folded newspaper containers, or yummy heirloom tomato salsa. Thanks to our workshop leaders, master gardener Milli Macen-Moore, Meg Glasser from Urban Farming and chef Patricia Zarate, who each donated their time and knowledge for the evening. And a big thanks to Trekking LA for partnering with us on such a fun night!

There are more photos from the Vertical Veggies event over at our Facebook page. And be sure to check out LA Commons, Trekking LA and Homegirl Cafe for more fun events!

See you on September 17 for Park[ing] Day!

Park[ing] Day LA > September 17th!

2010-09-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

It's baaaack! We're pleased once again to join our friends at Park[ing] Day LA as we transform a lowly concrete parking space into an eco-friendly pocket park on Friday, September 17th from 10am to 4pm. We will once again be in front of neighborhood fave, LOCAL restaurant, at 2943 Sunset Blvd. Come by, order lunch, have a lemonade, and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

This year, we plan to build a public performance space, with the help of talented architect Christian Chaudhari. Got a band? A guitar? Some bongos? Let us know! We're looking for musicians to play in our park all day.

Can't make it to our park during the day? Head to the Echo Park Film Center at 6pm where they'll be showing the movie Breaking Away in their ride-in theater park!

View Larger Map

Not familiar with Park[ing] Day? Here's more:
Too often, when people think of Los Angeles they envision a maze of asphalt, smog and traffic congestion. The automobile reigns supreme and as a result one’s ability to navigate through the City becomes compromised with the burden of too many vehicles clogging the road. Sidewalks have been narrowed and opportunities for open space, parks, civic plazas and public places have been sequestered into the hills, which unfortunately are often inaccessible to anyone without an automobile. Despite being home to one of the largest urban parks in North America (Griffith Park), Los Angeles significantly lacks adequate & accessible open space, urban parks, plazas and civic centers.

In 2005, the Rebar group, a small group out of San Francisco, opened eyes worldwide by transforming a metered parking spot into a park-for-a-day in an effort to make a public comment on the lack of quality open space in American cities. Their goal was to reprogram the urban surface by reclaiming streets for people to rest, relax and play and to:

Promote a critical dialogue among artists, designers, activists, citizens, corporations, and government regarding the need for urban open space and they way in which streets are currently used.
Energize civic life by questioning basic assumptions about urban space while offering provocative and meaningful alternatives.
Connect artists, designers, and activists with ways to permanently reclaim the street for people.

Vertical Veggies > Thursday, August 26 > Homegirl Cafe, Chinatown

2010-08-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is here! Join de LaB and LA Commons for an evening of urban farming, cooking and—most importantly—eating at Homegirl Cafe. Choose from several gardening and cooking workshops led by experts at Urban Farming and Homegirl Cafe that specialize in the art of growing (and preparing) edibles in small and surprising city spaces:

Cooking Workshop: Join the chefs from Homegirl Cafe for a workshop that shows how to put all that homegrown produce to good use. We'll be making a roasted beet salad with poblano pepper dressing and a roasted heirloom tomato salsa….all from the garden!
Container Gardening: With autumn fast approaching, let us help you plan your cool weather container garden! Master Gardener Milli Macen-Moore will teach you how to plan your autumn and winter container garden, speak about companion planting and growing food in small urban settings. Help us prep the beds at Homegirl Cafe + all participants go home with seedlings for their own garden.
Vertical Gardening: Join Urban Farming's Meg Glasser for an introduction to the do's and dont's of vertical farming. We will discuss some of the systems that are currently in use around Los Angeles such at Woolly Pockets and Green Living Technology + create DIY hanging containers for all participants to take home.
A brief tour and overview of Chinatown's "crack gardens" where produce is literally growing out of cracks in the pavement

In addition to the workshop, your $15 ticket also gets you an all-inclusive dinner from Homegirl Cafe made with produce from their on-site vertical garden (and including their homemade sangria!). Plus, live music by Fandango Sin Fronteras all night long! Proceeds benefit Homegirl Cafe and LA Common's Trekking LA program. See you in the garden!

Bring gardening gloves if you have them and don't want your hands to get dirty!

6:00pm Dinner and drinks (dinner service will continue throughout the night)
7:30pm Workshops begin
8:15pm Drinks and live music

RSVP in advance by emailing us at hello AT designeastoflabrea.org but you can pay when you get there.

Vertical Veggies: Urban Gardening and Cooking at Homegirl Cafe
Thursday, August 26
6 to 9 pm
Homegirl Cafe
130 Bruno Street, Chinatown
Metro Gold Line is right across the street, plan your trip at Metro.net
$15 includes dinner plus gardening or cooking workshop

Moving Beyond Cars > Wednesday, August 18 > Downtown LA

2010-08-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

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. So we're teaming up with GOOD, railLA, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and the Coalition for Clean Air for an event that shows how L.A. can move beyond cars. We're holding it at the exhibition LA Beyond Cars: A Global Perspective on Rail and Space which envisions the future of high speed rail in Los Angeles. 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.

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 #LAbeyondcars. 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. James Rojas will be holding his extremely fun interactive city planning workshops focusing on walking and biking. The folks from CicLAvia will be on-hand to talk about how they're planning a car-free street celebration this fall. Plus: There will be prizes awarded for the people who arrive in the most unique, alternative, or "beyond car" ways. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Moving Beyond Cars
L.A.'s Alternative Transportation Celebration
Wednesday, August 18
7 to 10 p.m.
The Jewel Box / City National Plaza
525 S. Flower Street, Downtown Los Angeles
Free, cash bar
RSVP and share the event information on Facebook

Update: Entrance to the building is on Figueroa. We will also have a bike valet thanks to the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition!

Tips for safe biking and links to routes from the LACBC

Tips on how to ride and plan your trip from Metro

Tips on car-free commuting from the Coalition for Clean Air

Sponsored by GOOD, railLA, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Coalition for Clean Air and de LaB

Graphic by Will Etling

Crimson Collective's City Listening Artwork Now On Sale!

2010-07-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Those of you who attended City Listening will remember the panoramic black and white mural of the 6th Street Bridge that set the stage for a night celebrating LA design. This urban frieze featured 13 laser-etched panels screened with creatures from koi to giraffes exploring the cityscape. The piece was designed by the geniuses at Crimson Collective, the same artists and designers who built the amazing Crane installation at this year's Coachella.

These panels are now being sold as 13 original artworks, your very own City Listening memento. Learn more about the incredible process to create these, then start picking out your favorite piece! Email Crimson with the name/number of the panel you'd like to buy, and remember, friends of de LaB get an additional 10% off! Click to view a larger image.

panel a:
title: ruff necks
price: $250

panel b:
title: p-nut-butter-n-jelly fish
price: $250

panel c:
title: wooo cares
price: $250

panel d:
title: just follow me
price: $300

panel e:
title: nature inspired
price: $300

panel f:
title: national security
price: $650

panel g:
title: blue cold feet
price: $400

panel h:
title: four steps ahead
price: $550

panel i:
title: in the valley of koi
price: $400

panel j:
title: out of the silent sky
price: $650

panel k:
title: from the heights two city lights
price: $450

panel l:
title: lifelong habits
price: $300

panel m:
title: next day air
price: $450

The panels can also be shipped with a section of the mural behind it for an additional cost. Email Crimson with the name/number of the panel you'd like to buy. Hurry, this deal for friends of de LaB won't last long!

A Big City Listening Thank You!

2010-07-01T20:08:00.002-07:00

Thank you to everyone who came out last Saturday for City Listening II—it was such an amazing event! We had over 300 people fill the grand former bank space at the Spring Arts Tower in downtown for a memorable night of loving and learning about LA. As one reviewer over at Architizer wrote: "City Listening II proves its value once again to Los Angeles."

Check out the photos of the event by demonica photo, and photos of the after party at the Crocker Club.

And now, we've got some thanking to do...

Thank you to our presenting sponsors!

Thank you to the designers and producers of our event!

Crimson Collective designed our event, including the beautiful laser-etched mural of the 6th Street Bridge that graced our stage. These panels will be sold at a 10% discount to friends of de LaB for a limited time only, all details here. All proceeds go directly to the artists.
Derrick Schultz of BustBright designed our lovely website and graphics
Xeriscape Records expertly handled our sound and music
Jason King of Somewhere Something designed our "barchitecture"
Commonstudio/Project H designed our seed bomb giftbags for de LaB Groupie ticketholders, complete with slingshot!
Oleg Korchinski provided general awesomeness
demonica photo took our amazing event photos
Modernica supplied our comfy modern seating

Thank you to our amazing readers!

Thank you to our generous silent auction donors!

Thank you to our door prize donors (did you win? check here)!

Thank you to our awesome volunteers!

Vanessa Teng
Sarah Lunsky
D'anna Olsen
Ashley Atkinson
Freya Bardell
Elizabeth Chang
Maggie Taurick
Gretchen Zalkind
John Hoffmann
Chi-yoon Chung
Stephanie Robbins
Melissa Holmes

Thank you to our east-of-La Brea eats and drinks!

Thank you to our media partners!

Thank you to our after party hosts!

The Crocker Club
Los Angeles Magazine's LA Circles Club

And that's probably enough thanking for one day, so we'd like to thank all of YOU for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!

We're taking July off (as you should be, too) but we'll be back in August with a very special event where we'll be helping to install a vertical garden at Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown. Sign up for our newsletter for details, and we'll see you then! Enjoy summer!