Emily Lerman

Last years's Dwell convention floor | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist This weekend's Dwell on Design at the Convention Center features an extensive amount of activities, offering something for everyone, from mobile food to pre-fab homes, all in the name of sustainable design. LAist is looking forward checking out the 'On-Stage' portion of the event, featuring an excellent line-up of speakers, seminars and discussion panels. Topics range from green design, cars and renting versus owning...

The JUNKride duo, Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins, in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Anna Cummins, used with permission. On April 4th, two LA residents, Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins, set off an a 2,000-mile bike ride, the JUNKride, from Vancouver to Tijuana, to raise awareness and educate children and adults about the damage plastic is causing to our oceans. The ride has lead them through dozens of cities including Portland, Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Chico...

Just last week, the LAUSD's Homeless Education Program was at risk of becoming a victim of the many budget cuts. The program aims to "ensure that homeless youth have access to a free public education, equal to that of any other youth". General Jeff, Skid Row activist and founder of Issues and Solutions, sent an email to the director of these programs explaining the importance of these services and asked them to reconsider. In an email from LAUSD's Melissa Schoonmaker, he received word that his efforts paid off:

Thanks to Rachel Maddow for tweeting about the corporate anthem from Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom. It's quite remarkable. via Foreign Policy What's your favorite corporate anthem? Comment below!...

Karma Project's Zach Istrin at Shane's Inspiration. Photo courtesy of Zach Istrin. While many not-for-profits are struggling when it comes to funding and donations, one more positive fallout of this little recession is an increase in volunteer hours. LA's Zach Istrin and Justin Bird are perfect examples of this wave of volunteerism. With more time on their hands, they decided to start volunteering, a lot. With hopes of raising awareness and motivating other young...

On Monday night, the well-known cyclist and activist, who goes by Roadblock, was thrown from his bike after a driver rear-ended him going 45 miles per hour. The accident occurred on N. Glendale just before Park and the driver was said be in a dark gray sedan, plate number 6GYC11. Unfortunately, it seems like such stories are becoming much too frequent, especially in this part of town, around Glendale between the 101 and Sunset....

While we can debate over the burritos in LA vs. SF to no end, it is hard to argue over which city has a more prevalent beer culture. Perhaps this is because no one has ever really pushed such a culture here in LA. That is, until now. Last Saturday, the Los Angeles Craft and Artisan Beer Appreciation League (LACABAL) hosted their first annual Craft Beer Festival at The Echoplex and it was clearly a...

One of many photographs to be featured at tomorrow's Midnight Ridazz 'Pics or It Didn't Happen'. Photos by Jon Anderson, used with permission. For a city where the uninformed would quickly say "...but no one bikes in LA", a lot has happened over the past year. Cyclists took over the 10 and the 405. Crank Mob got a little crazier than usual. And on the less upbeat side, lives were lost, inevitably sparking rallies...

Photo by Solar Icon via Flickr. Tonight, Causecast.org and Ben Morrison (LAist interview) host "A Cause for Comedy" at the Hollywood Improv. This is the first show in a monthly series which will raise money for local charities. LA's own Project Angel Food (volunteer opportunities) is the first beneficiary. 100% of the proceeds will go to the organization dedicated to providing home cooked meals to those suffering from HIV, AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening...

Detroit Sprinkles is one of the 275 vendors at UNIQUE LA. Photo by Emily Lerman/LAist LA is an amazing and dynamic place. Complain if you want, but it's impossible to deny that the city is full of people doing great things to foster an increased sense of community and exploit LA's finest assets. Sonja Rasula, founder of this weekend's UNIQUE LA, is one such individual. LAist first met the Echo Park native at GOOD's...