It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

The Flabob Express

The Flabob Express takes off while reenacting the first flight of a Douglas DC-3 during the American Aviation History Society and the Museum of Flying's commemorative  75th Anniversary for the historic Douglas DC-3 at the Santa Monica Airport on Saturday, January 29, 2011.

Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 08:00PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Art Los Angeles Contemporary 

West of Romes' Crazy Chicken pretends to attack Hollywood's celebrity gossip columnist Janet Charlton (right) and Jean Dickinson during the opening reception of Art Los Angeles Contemporary at the historic Barker Hangar on Thursday, January 27, 2011.


Posted on Friday, January 28, 2011 at 12:01PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

STATE OF THE CITY


Moderator Brad Cox interviews the panelists during the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 2011 State of the City at the Broad Stage on Thursday, January 27, 2011. Panelists left to right: Stephanie Moore from Revolution Fitness, Paul Kanan from Agensys, Rick Moos from Lobster and George Rose from Activision.
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The program addressed concerns regarding the impact of the current global and state economic situation at a local level. The panel discussed the future of our city and how future projects will transform the landscape of Santa Monica.

Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 12:29PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Jobs Through Recycling

Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor Jane Oates (left) and Santa Monica College Director of Sustainability Genevieve Bertone feed worms during SMC's launch of its new recycling and resource management job-training program at SMC’s worm composting facility on Wednesday, January 26, 2011.
 
             Dubbed “Jobs Through Recycling,” the program – which provides job training in the high-growth, high-demand field of resource management – began earlier this month with its first group of 100 students. By June, those students will be awarded industry certificates in recycling and resource management from the California Resource Recovery Association, a key partner in the California Works Alliance.
 
         “Jobs Through Recycling” is funded by a $4.87 million Community-Based Job Training Grant awarded last year by the U.S. Department of Labor.
 
         “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for SMC to work with some of the nation’s most experienced and passionate leaders in the field of zero waste in creating a highly skilled and prepared workforce in resource management,” said Genevieve Bertone, SMC’s sustainability coordination project manager.
 
         Bertone said “Jobs Through Recycling” will train and certify 660 students in the field of recycling and resource management and will place more than 400 highly skilled professionals in rewarding green jobs with upward mobility.
 
         She noted that the recycling industry is as large as the automobile industry in America, and that 25 percent of all green jobs in California are in recycling. In addition, she said, research has shown that for every 10,000 tons of solid waste going to landfills, one job is created. That same amount of waste – if diverted from landfills – can create four composting jobs, 10 recycling jobs, and 75 reuse-materials jobs.
 
         In addition to the certificate program, SMC has worked collaboratively with two other colleges, Irvine Valley and Golden West in Orange County, to develop a for-credit program in recycling and resource management. That program – believed to be the first of its kind – will be launched this fall and will provide students a state-approved certificate and also offer them the option to transfer to a four-year university, Bertone said.
 
         College officials hope that the regional job-training program will become a national model.
 
         Oates, who has been an enthusiastic supporter of SMC’s program, will give the keynote address at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Recycling Organization of North America’s National Conference, which SMC is hosting. Her address will be given at SMC’s Theatre Arts Main Stage on the main campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. It will be followed by an 11 a.m. informal ceremony – to be held in front of SMC’s worm composting facility outside the Student Cafeteria – to officially launch the program.
 
         The “Jobs Through Recycling” program is a natural fit for SMC because the college has become known as a leader in sustainability, particularly recycling. Its achievements include designing and constructing sustainable buildings, launching the Solar Photovoltaic installers training program, allocating funds for energy efficiency and solar energy projects, instituting a Zero Waste Events policy, and creating the Global Citizenship Initiative, which includes a cutting-edge ecological literacy component.
 
         In the area of recycling, the college diverts 75 percent of its waste, including three tons of food waste each year that is composted in its worm composting facility and used as rich fertilizer by campus groundskeepers. Also, SMC is generating 60 percent less waste now than it did in 2006.
 
         Oates, who is assistant secretary of employment and training administration, was nominated for the post by President Obama and was confirmed in June 2009. Her office works with states and territories, municipalities, labor management organizations, employers, educational institutions, fellow federal agencies, and other partners to assist workers in gaining the skills and credentials needed to enter careers that pay family supporting wages and offer opportunities for advancement.
Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 02:04PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | Comments1 Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Santa Monica

The sunset in Santa Monica on Thursday, December 23, 2010.
 
Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 06:31PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Jack LaLanne


Jack Lalanne - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

In tribute to Jack LaLanne, the founder of modern fitness. September 26, 1914 – January 23, 2011. Jack Lalanne receives  his second Life Time Achievement Award during the Muscle Beach Bodybuilding Championship in Venice on Monday, September 3, 2007. "If man made it, don't eat it" he said during the ceremony. 

 

Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 09:49AM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

EASY RIDER

Max, a White Shepherd, sits on his owners BMW motorcycle at Pacific Terrace on Saturday, January 22, 2011.

Posted on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 11:00PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Caught in the Net


Caught in the Net - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

The cast from “Caught in the Net” (by Ray Cooney)  perform  during special performance to  benefit the American Red Cross of Santa Monica at the Morgan-Wixson Theater on Friday, January 21, 2011.
 
Taxi driver John Smith leads a double life, keeping his unsuspecting families in two separate homes. But when his teenage children meet in a chat room, chaos ensues as he tries to keep his "arrangements" from unraveling. Ray Cooney's Caught in the Net, A fast-paced farce for the internet age!
 
Ray Cooney is one of Britain’s most successful playwrights and known as “the Master of Farce.” To date, he has had 17 plays staged in London’s West End including “Run For Your Wife” which lasted nine years and is its longest-running comedy there. His work has been translated into more than 40 languages and countless productions have been staged all around the world. Critics received his latest play, Caught in the Net, at the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End with absolute delight: “It’s sheer joy from beginning to end”, ‘It has been a while since I cried laughing at the theatre, and what a joy it is when it happens.”
 
The play is directed by Tina Polzin and runs from January 22 to February 19, 2011. Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.