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Author Archives: Elisa Leonelli
Go Solar
We attended the Reynier Village solar workshop organized by Open Neighborhoods at PermaCity, and gathered lots useful info that we want to share. It’s never been as affordable as now to install solar panels on your home. You get rebates … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Local Businesses, RVNA
Tagged Go Solar, Open Neighborhoods, PermaCity
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Farmers market
We all know by now that locally grown fruits and vegetables are better for our health (more nutritious) and for the environment (less pollution). So why don’t we make it a weekly ritual to visit the Farmers Market at 1801 … Continue reading
Posted in Food & Dining, Garden, Local Businesses
Tagged La Cienega Farmer Market, pupusas
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Garden Class at Hami Garden
Good News! Master Gardner George Pessin will conduct another series of classes. The 4-week session is every Sunday Dates: Sept 18, Sept 25, Oct 2, Oct 9 Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM Hamilton School Garden 2955 S Robertson Blvd (entrance on … Continue reading
Culver City Art Walk
Each month we discover more art galleries, places to eat and shops popping up on the stretch of Washington Blvd, between La Cienega and National, that used to be quite deserted. The best time to visit was yesterday, during the … Continue reading
Posted in Art & Culture, Culver City, Local Businesses
Tagged Culver City Art Walk, Industry Cafe & Jazz, Pinches Tacos
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RVNA Celebrates
The Reynier Village Neighborhood Association held a brunch for its members on May 15 at Reynier Park to celebrate the election of the new board: Co-presidents Phoebe Neil and Lisa Barnet, Treasurer Hector Garza, Secretary Steve Cawelti, Communications Elisa Leonelli, … Continue reading
Posted in RVNA
Tagged park nights, Reynier Park, Reynier Village Neighborhood Association
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Backyard farming
You want to grow vegetables in your backyard, start your own small farm, but don’t know how to begin? Take a look at what Farmscape Gardens can do for you. We went to see how they work at a demonstration … Continue reading
Mar Vista Gardens
You don’t want to miss the expanded 3rd edition of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, which has now become a giant eco-festival, celebrating Earth Week, Saturday April 30 – 11am to 4 pm Explore examples of drought resistant landscaping … Continue reading
Victory Gardens
Victory Gardens, once a government program created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and first lady Eleanor to help feed Americans during World War II, are promoted again today by various organizations, such as Edible Gardens and the community garden movement, … Continue reading
Hardwood floors
The 1930s Spanish homes in our neighborhood used to have gorgeous hardwood floors. Unfortunately, decades ago, many of them were covered up with carpeting. A couple of weeks ago, with the new year, I finally decided to remodel a spare … Continue reading
Green Living
On September 23 we attended a Green Living Workshop, sponsored by speaker Karen Bass, presented by Sustainable Works and the Culver City Garden Club. Many members of the SORO Green team were present. Mini-seminars were offered with useful tips on how … Continue reading
Lawn alternatives
Last Saturday (August 21), we went on a fun tour aboard a Santa Monica Blue bus to look at examples of how to plant, in your backyard or front lawn, new types of grasses, which require much less water and … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Garden
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Green preschool
A brand new preschool has opened in our neighborhood! Welcome news to those of us who remember the now defunct but wonderful Palms-Westminster Nursery School. And this school is amazing! The building is painted green, it’s called Green Beginning, and … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, Local Businesses, Robertson
Tagged green beginning, pre-school, Veronica Cabello
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ART WALK Culver City
This annual event gets better and better. This year we decided to explore the area of Washington Blvd between National and La Cienega, East of the more popular downtown Culver City, and found a flourishing neighborhood, full of art galleries, … Continue reading
Mar Vista gardens
After picking up a map, and a green bag, we went on Tour # 4 of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase. We met proud homeowners and landscape designers, we learnt many new things about drip irrigation, solar panels, garden … Continue reading
Mar Vista Gardens
The Mar Vista Community Council celebrates Earth Day on Sunday April 25, from 2 to 6 pm, with the second edition of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase. We attended the first one in April 2009, see video by Samantha … Continue reading
How to remove your grass lawn
LAWN BE GONE is the clever title of a class from the GREEN GARDEN ACADEMY. This fun and informative series on Sustainable Gardening, organized by the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment, takes place once a … Continue reading
Happy Holidays!
We want to thank all the neighbors who put up colorful lights and festive decorations. They bring warm holiday cheer to our Village. Best wishes to everyone and Happy New Year! Elisa Leonelli and Deni Mosser
Free trees from DWP
We are blessed with a wide variety of trees in our neighborhood; at this time of the year, they delight us with a gamut of colors, from reddish fall leaves to pink flowers. If you would like to add some … Continue reading
Home composting
Did you know that the green garbage bins supplied by the city are not just for garden trimmings and clean wood? You may use them to dispose of fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, egg shells, tea bags. I set up … Continue reading
Wall insulation
Now it’s a good time to get that insulation project done, walls and attic, to keep your house warmer during the coming winter and save on your heating bill. The Gas Company is offering a rebate until December 31 of … Continue reading
Posted in Garden, Home
Tagged attic insulation, energy star appliances, wall insulation
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RAL Reynier Park clean-up
The boys and girls of the Robertson Activity League (RAL) were at Reynier Park on Wednesday July 29 picking up trash and litter. The participants to this 10-week summer program at the Robertson Recreation Center, aged 12-16, perform community service … Continue reading
This old house new rose garden
We recently met new residents of Reynier Village. Huli and Raphael Sloane, a wife & husband of considerable artistic talent are transplants of Mar Vista. They brought with them 28 of their mature rose bushes and a large Bird of … Continue reading
DWP cash for grass!
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is on a mission to convince consumers to save water in these years of record drought in California, due to the global climate crisis. On June 1 they passed an ordinance that … Continue reading
Garden sharing
The waiting lists for community gardens in the Los Angeles area is growing longer. It seems that there are many would-be gardeners willing to work with no land available for their passion. Why not offer your backyard to someone who … Continue reading
Posted in Garden
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Gardening in small places
From our neighbors Lew and Lynn Rakowsky LEW: When we bought the house in 2002, we were drawn to the its Spanish Revival style. Unfortunately, the small backyard was entirely covered in concrete, surrounded by a 4-foot tall brick wall … Continue reading
Organic garden for your health
A note from Dr. Carl Rothchild “There is probably no better way to gain access to the healthy organic foods your body craves most than by growing them yourself. More and more people are getting on the home-gardening bandwagon as … Continue reading
Drought tolerant plants
From our neighbor Martha Groves, Los Angeles Times writer “Many years ago, with memories of the late 1980s drought fresh in my mind, I asked Susan, a horticulturist friend whose Santa Monica company is called Suzie’s Scapes, to help me … Continue reading
Front yard solutions
There’s such a variety of solutions that people have created for their front yards in Reynier Village. Many people have kept the traditional grass lawns, but are becoming more aware of the necessity to save water during the state-wide drought … Continue reading
Spanish homes colors
California architects of the 1930s were influenced by Spain, Italy and Greece, as well as by Mexican and Native American adobe, while creating the Spanish-Mediterranean style. The most distinctive features are red tiled roofs, arched openings, carved wood doors, wrought … Continue reading
Posted in Home
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Martha immortalizes “the Village”
Reynier Village, as described by Los Angeles Times columnist Martha Groves, “contains fine old houses, many of them Spanish Revival in style, loaded with original charm and relatively affordable, at least by the current dizzying standards”. For a delightful overview … Continue reading
Posted in History
Tagged Los Angeles Times, Martha Groves, Reynier Village, Spanish Revival
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SPANISH HOMES, CREATIVE GARDENS
It is truly amazing, when you go for a walk around Reynier Village, to see how many of our neighbors have replaced the water-wasting green lawns with colorful and inventive arrays of drought-resistant plants and flowers. It makes you wonder … Continue reading
While walking through the neighborhood, an idea was born
While walking through Reynier Village with my neighbor, we were admiring the beautiful spring gardens and architectural details of the 1930’s homes. We were discussing what we could do for volunteer work and started talking about community gardens. One thing … Continue reading