AIA and the City of Los Angeles have declared October Architecture Month. Since it begins on Sunday and I'm not there to take part in their many events, I'm going to celebrate by sharing some photos from my archives.

There's not hiding it. I. Love. LA. It is my home, my heart, and it will always be the best city in the world to me. As a native it's interesting to live outside of LA and hear what other people think, say, and ask. These are usually my responses...

Yes, there's traffic but you have it too and just as bad.

Yes, there are celebrities but no one cares about them.

Yes, it's "SO big" but it's got something for everyone and every mood, hobby, interest.

No, we don't decorate palm trees for Christmas, we get pine trees just like you do.

No, Santa Monica Beach is not littered with busty blonds. Sorry.

... I could go on but I'll spare you.

My point is that a lot of people, visitors and those who live there alike, never stop to take a look at the real LA. They simply trug along the Hollywood points of interest or are too jaded to appreciate what's right in front of them. That's why I love that AIA and the city have devoted an entire month to highlighting the Architecture of LA. Though it seems that they're mostly promoting modern and future developments, I'm going to champion what we already have. Sure our buildings are not as old as other cities' but they're ours and they're special too. For example, we have the epitome of an American Craftsman in The Gamble House, preserved Victorian homes at Heritage Square, a Downtown with layers upon layers of architectural history, and perfectly executed mid-century homes like the Stahl House. Each one of these tells a story about the history of the city and there are many more just oozing with beauty and intrigue if you take the time to look past the stucco strip malls.

So, for this weekend, I'm going to remind myself to be inspired by the buildings that surround me in my new home. Any detail, any sign, even if I've walked past it a hundred times, I may actually see it for the first.

Have a wonderful weekend!

This week's ~~three~~ one rad links ( it's the only one I really want to share) ... • Walking tours of Downtown LA by the LA Conservancy. I did one and wish I would have done the others too. Choose from Art Deco, Theater District, Modern Skyline and more.

Look familiar? It's apparently the most published home in the world. For the countless times I've seen the iconic Stahl House in photos, I never knew much about it other than it being a private home in the Hollywood Hills. When I found out that it's open for public viewings (ie. this fantasy place was much closer to reality) I went absolutely mad. A beyond excited "oh my god I must go there now!" kind of mad.

We were lucky to get a viewing before Joe left for London and it was SPECTACULAR!!! I literally choked up at the first sight of the angular home perched over the most perfect view of all of Los Angeles; the Griffith Observatory and Getty Museum don't have anything on this place! The day was so clear that we could easily see straight to Catalina Island, down to Long Beach, and everything in between. I would die to live there.

It was truly the perfect end to a great birthday weekend and definitely not a bad way for Joe to say goodbye to LA :) Click here to see more photos!