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Short Takes

Museums & Attractions

  • The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is presenting the exhibition Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A.: Selections from the Cheech Marin Collection, which includes a number of widely exhibited works by such first-generation Chicano artists as Carlos Almaraz, Margaret Garcia, Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, Frank Romero, John Valadez, and Patssi Valdez. The collection features classic examples of Chicano art produced from the inception of the Chicano movement to the present, with a concentration in painting from the 1980s and ‘90s. This exhibition runs through Nov. 2. For more information, call 323.857.6000 or visit www.lacma.org.

  • Closed for renovations since 2004, Denali National Park's Eielson Visitor Center is reopening to the public this September. The center's new design had one priority: a 'platinum' rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Renewable energy sources and energy-efficient heating, ventilation and plumbing systems were used and portions of the original center were recycled into the new structure. If the building is awarded the platinum rating, as anticipated, it will be the first in the National Park Service. The $9.2 million building features more than 7,400 square feet and includes large indoor and outdoor viewing areas, an indoor dining area and space for ranger presentations and exhibits. For more information, call 907.683.2294 or visit www.nps.gov/dena.

Kudos
  • The Doubletree Portland was recently awarded a national Good Earthkeeping Award in the large property category from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The winning program had to demonstrate success in one or more of the following areas: energy conservation, solid waste reduction, effluents and emissions, water conservation, purchasing, and business issues such as guest demands, community issues, land use and development, training, and policy. A few accomplishments for the property include reducing overall waste disposal by 65 percent since 1996, diverting kitchen waste into compost at an average rate of 14-17 tons per month, reducing total energy consumption by 32 percent, and purchasing 65 percent of its food products from within a 500-mile region. In an effort to maintain transparency about its sustainable programs, the hotel has released Operating in the Green, its first sustainability report, which recaps its accomplishments to date, recent developments and forecasts goals for 2009. For more information, call 503.331.4905 or visit www.doubletreeportlandgreen.com.