For a quick organic burger on the go, West Hollywood’s O! Burger‘s the eco-foodie’s go-to spot. But if what you crave is a gourmet organic burger to savor and enjoy with a glass of hearty red wine, head over to BLD on Beverly Blvd.

I very rarely eat red meat, so when I stopped in to BLD a couple months ago, I decided to treat myself to the BLD House Beef Burger — which the waiter assured me was organic. This is one seriously decadent burger — The thick organic beef patty comes topped with a tangy and creamy Spanish goat cheese, flavorful oven dried tomato pesto, and a generous handful of peppery wild arugula, all on a buttery grilled bun. Here’s a closeup:

I opted for a fresh organic green salad over the tempting fries for my side — but the meal was still super heavy, if delicious and rich. The next day (more…)

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Los Angeles is known as THE car-centric, traffic snarled city. But if you’ve ever been in a car in New York City, you know that traffic there’s really, really bad too. So why aren’t New Yorkers constantly complaining about their horrific traffic? Because they don’t have to deal with it — they’ve got a great subway system and a newly expanded bike network too!

That’s why the news that building L.A.’s Subway to the Sea would only relieve traffic congestion by 1 percent doesn’t disappoint me at all. Once that subway gets built, it’s bye-bye to fighting traffic — and hello to hopping on a subway train that’ll get me from Union Station to UCLA — in just 25 minutes.

The 1 percent statistic was announced as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for the Westside Subway Extension — or to put it in layperson’s terms, a draft study of how extending the Purple Line down Wilshire (and perhaps the Red Line through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills too) all the way to the beach would affect the city.

Even if you’re a diehard driver, there are good selfish reasons to support the Westside Subway Extension. Think a 1 percent improvement’s too measly an improvement to be worth pursuing? Zach Behrens at LAist points out that without the subway, traffic will get a whole lot worse instead of very slightly better: “Population growth means more vehicles on the road. Metro estimates about a 26% increase in daily vehicle miles traveled within the westside subway extension area.”

Ready to start riding the subway? Well, it’ll be a little while. Steve Hymon at Metro’s The Source blog spells out just how long you may have to wait:

Under the long-range plan adopted by the Board of Directors of Metro last year, the subway would reach Fairfax by 2019, Century City by 2026 and Westwood by 2036 using a combination of Measure R sales tax money and federal funds. Why so long? Because the subway to Westwood is expected to cost about $4 billion and sales tax money flows into local coffers over time — not all at once. Measure R funds also have to fund a plethora of other projects promised to county voters.

However, there is a plan to speed up construction of the subway. The 30/10 Initiative being pursued by Metro — and backed by many other politicians, environmental, business and labor groups — would use federal loans and other financing to try to build 12 Measure R transit projects in the next 10 years. So there’s hope.

Want to help get the subway built sooner rather than later? Then you’ve got to get involved with making the Westside Subway Extension a reality. Read the executive summary of the draft EIR (PDF) — or if that 64-page PDF is just too painful, read Steve’s quick bullet points about the report at The Source.

Then get thee to one of the public meetings about the draft EIR! Those will happen from 6 pm – 8 pm on:

>> Mon., Sep. 20, LACMA West – Terrace Room, 5th Fl., 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

>> Tue., Sep. 21, Westwood United Methodist Church – Fellowship Hall, 3rd Fl., 10497 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

>> Wed., Sep. 22, Plummer Park – Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.

>> Mon., Sep. 27, Roxbury Park – Auditorium, 471 S Roxbury Dr., Beverly Hills.

>> Wed., Sep. 29, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

After Metro collects feedback until Oct. 18, Metro officials will select a route for construction on Oct. 28 — after which will come a final environmental impact report, followed by actual action to start building the subway (the process is more complicated than I’ve made it sound; see page 2 of the executive summary for the wonky details).

Earlier: Find out what the Subway to the Sea stations near you will look like

Images via Metro

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What would you do if the electric grid went dead tomorrow? If grocery stores shut down because trucks no longer had gas to make food deliveries?

Self-sufficiency and food security are popular topics in the environmental community today — making for the popularity of books ranging from the somewhat ominous The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook to the more sanguine Farm City. And now, a film called One Hundred Mornings takes a look at the kind of life we might have in a post-petroleum scenario, when society breaks down and people have to quickly learn to fend for themselves.

This film isn’t a doom-and-gloom documentary like Crude Impact, nor an overly-dramatized action thriller like The Day After Tomorrow. Instead, One Hundred Mornings focuses on two couples hiding out at a lakeside cabin in Ireland, 10 weeks after all the lights have gone out. In addition to the stress of dwindling supplies and social unrest enter both a self-sufficient hippie neighbor and suspicions of infidelity!

Watch the preview for a taste of the drama, then see the film during its week-long run at the Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main St., from Thu., Sep. 16 to Wed., Sep. 22.

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>> The Bicycle Film Festival’s coming to Los Angeles! There will be screenings of lots and lots of bike-inspired films, a bike-inspired Joyride Art Show, a street party, and afterparties every night from Sep. 1 to Sep. 5. Films will screen at the Downtown Independent Theater, 251 S. Main St.; parties and other activities will happen all over the place — so check the BFF website for full details.

>> Mayor Villaraigosa wants motorists to give bicyclists 3 feet on the road — and says he’ll push to create a 3 Foot Passing Law in California. In the meantime, Angelenos will start seeing a “Give Me 3″ poster — winner of the Bike Awareness and Safety slogan contest — at bus shelters all over the city.

>> Metro’s picked 7 finalists for its Transit Flicks Video Contest, and you can vote on who you think deserves to win. My favorite was My Daily Metro Routine by Teo Biocina, a guy who does the bike-bus combo every day.

Image via Bicycle Film Festival

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We really need to have fundraisers for Streetsblog LA more often, because the events bring together from all corners of the city some of my favorite people! Above are Diane Meyer, the photographer behind Without a Car in the World, and Asuka Hisa, education director at the Santa Monica Museum of Art who organized Tour da Arts .

About 60 Streetsblog LA fans and local alternative transportation activists came to west Los Angeles to celebrate the blog’s relaunch last night. Below’s me and Damien, the main author of Streetsblog LA. He is quite tall — I’m wearing heels in that photo!

Above are Gary of Gary Rides Bikes, Jessica Meaney of Safe Routes to School. Below are Barent Roth, executive Director of Sustainable Works and Alex Thompson of Bikeside LA.

Also in attendance were Joe Linton of L.A. Creek Freak, Denny Zane of Move LA, Jessica Lass of NRDC, Bart Reed of The Transit Coalition, Sierra Club leader Darrell Clarke, and many other local activists. See all the photos I took on Facebook — and make sure you show up to the next Streetsblog LA party so you don’t miss out –

Last but not least, thanks to the many companies and organizations that donated items for the silent auction: LAXCarShare, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Big Blue Bus, Kigo Shoes, SHADES, FluffyCo, ReBinder,Dan Koeppel,  C.I.C.L.E., and Cafecito Organico (full list of silent auction items). Thanks to them — and to the generous attendees — we raised about $2,000 to keep a vibrant blog dedicated to complete streets, livable communities, and alternative transportation alive in Los Angeles!

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Pick up the August / September issue of Whole Life Times magazine and turn to the Eat Here Now monthly feature featuring Santa Monica restaurant Upper West — because I wrote it!

A restaurant named for a Manhattan neighborhood that opens its doors in a Southern California beach town clearly isn’t afraid of unexpected juxtapositions. And at Upper West, playful contrasts work in dramatic, delightful synergy. Walk into the new Santa Monica restaurant and you’ll see high loft ceilings that remind you of TriBeCa… and an open, airy patio that invites the California sun. A spacious, contemporary bar serves up the latest cocktails … to enjoy on tables made from reclaimed wood more than 100 years old. And comfort food’s given a modern, globally inspired makeover with local farmers market produce.

Here, expected dishes are given a surprising, sustainable twist, starting with the appetizers. Chicken Tawook combines fresh, local Brussels sprouts and cherry tomatoes with free-range Jidori chicken, raised in California’s Central Valley. Ahi Tuna Tacos are served in crispy plantain shells. And the tomato soup starter is all vegan — and all rich creamy goodness, accompanied by grilled ciabatta toast topped with a delicious buttery spread that could fool non-vegans into a dairy-free dinner.

See more photos of the delicious food — and read the rest of the review by picking up a free copy near you or by using the web magazine reader.

Upper West, 3321 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. 310.586.1111.

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>> Find out about pilot projects in the works to transform L.A.’s streets into people friendly places at Living Streets LA’s Pilot Streets Meeting, where L.A. City Planning Commission President Bill Roschen and local green organizations will be presenting, brainstorming, and sharing. The meeting happens Tues., Aug. 24 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the RailLA Exhibit, The Jewel Box/City National Plaza, 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles

>> The next Los Angeles EcoTuesday, a green business networking event, will feature Juan Matute, director of the UCLA Program on Local Government Climate Action Policies, as the speaker. Be there Tues., Aug. 24 from 7 pm at Casa Del Mar Hotel & Resort, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica. Cost: $5.

>> Don’t miss the Streetsblog L.A. Re-Launch Party and Fundraiser! There’ll be food, drinks a great silent auction — and me! Be there Wed., Aug. 25 from 7 pm to 11:30 pm at 11555 National Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: $20 suggested donation — but don’t let lack of funds keep you away if you plan to bid on the silent auction items!

>> de LaB and LA Commons have put together Vertical Veggies: Urban Gardening and Cooking at Homegirl Cafe — a delicious evening of urban farming, cooking, and eating. Take gardening and cooking workshops then enjoy an all-inclusive dinner from Homegirl Cafe made with produce from their on-site vertical garden while enjoying live music. The fun sprouts Thurs., Aug. 26 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Homegirl Cafe, 130 Bruno St., in Chinatown, Los Angeles. Cost: $15 for dinner plus gardening or cooking workshop. RSVP required to hello@designeastoflabrea.org.

>> Greenpeace wants to see you at a Hollywood DIE-IN for Chemical Security, a gruesome but green-sounding flash mob of sorts. “1 in 3 Americans live at risk from severe injury or death in the event of a leak or terrorist attack at a high risk chemical plant. Here in Los Angeles there are 16… high-risk chemical plants that threaten millions all over our city!” say the event organizers on their website. If you’d like to temporarily die with them, head over on Sat., Aug. 28 from 11 am to noon to the Hollywood and Highland Metro Stop in Los Angeles.

>> Local foodies won’t want to miss The Food Rendezvous, the first monthly gathering for local food lovers. There’ll be local artisan food, chefs’ demos, cooking contests, cookbook swaps, and more. Be there Sat., Aug. 28 from 4 pm to 10 pm at SPARC, 685 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

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Wednesday night is the official new beginning of summer weekends — so come spend the next one at the Streetsblog L.A. Re-Launch Party and Fundraiser with me!

When: Wed., Aug. 25 from 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Where: 11555 National Blvd., Los Angeles
Cost: $20 suggested donation — but don’t let lack of funds keep you away if you plan to bid on the silent auction items!

There’ll be food, there’ll be drinks, and there’ll be local celebs. You’ll get to meet L.A. River kayaker Joe Linton, Without a Car in the World photographer Diane Meyer, and Move L.A.‘s Denny Zane. And of course, all the green transportation bloggerati will be there — Be a Green Commuter‘s Sirinya Tritipeskul, Bikeside LA‘s Alex Thompson and Stephen Box, BikingInLA — and of course Damien Newton of Streetsblog LA and myself.

Plus, you’ll get a chance to bid on really great silent auction items — that could help you go car-lite or car-free, or make your already car-free life a lot easier — like:

>> Only keep a car around for emergencies? Win LAXCarShare’s “Start Car-Sharing Today!” pack and you can share a car for a fraction of the price.

>> Always out of change for the Bus? Win the 30-Day Big Blue Bus pass and ride hassle free for the next month.

>> Feet hurt from walking to work in heels? Win Kigo Shoes that’ll keep your feet comfy then fold away into your purse.

>> Feel like the only person at Critical Mass without some bike-related T-shirt? Pick from one of the 6 bike-friendly T-shirts that’ll be auctioned away.

Browse the full list of auction items here and come ready to place your bids! RSVPs on the party’s Facebook page are encouraged, though not required. Hope to see you soon –

Photos via FluffyCo

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>> Conquer your fear of sharks by seeing a new, unscary small shark at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. “At 2-feet long and with a habit of burying itself under the sand on the ocean floor, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s latest addition — a Pacific angel shark — isn’t exactly the menacing type. The frouforu (sic) species name doesn’t help either.”

>> Make bicycling friends and meet local bike celebs at Bikeside Speaks, where you’ll hear a series of 7 minute talks from Santa Monica City Councilmember Terry O’Day, Felicia Williams of CICLE, and many other activist. The short talks will be followed by a “bike-in” screening by the Disposable Film Festival, followed by an after party at the Hotel Erwin on Venice Beach. The fun begins Sat., Aug. 21 at 6:30 pm at Cynergy Bike Shop, 2300 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

>> Didn’t include a bikini in your six items or less closet challenge? Fight for the right for women to go topless — minus the nipple covers you’ll be encouraged to wear to prevent the event from getting shut down — at the Go Topless Day march, happening Sun., Aug. 22 at 2 pm, starting at Ocean Front Walk and Navy St. (via LAist)

Don’t forget about all the other green events also happening this weekend –

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WalkScore — a website that grades neighborhoods on walkability — is beloved by de-car’d environmentalists, traffic-haters, and simple living enthusiasts alike. But now comes a new website that’ll attract frugalistas and economists too. Abogo shows the dollar savings of walkable neighborhoods! (via Switchboard)

Plug in any zip code to find out the average amount of monthly spending per household for transportation in that neighborhood. If you live in walker-friendly Santa Monica or Hollywood, you’ll end up paying a lot less a month to get around than if you live in a neighborhood with cheaper rents but few amenities and bad transit connections.

I was surprised to see that Abego’s transportation costs are so much lower in Hollywood than Santa Monica — until I found out that household income, presumably higher in Santa Monica, gets factored into the equation. (more…)

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