Intersections

Los Angeles: The future, today?

* First I've heard of Hubculture and their Zeitgeist List but I won't question their methods: They've named Los Angeles the Center of the Universe in 2007. What a sexy list. Of the few cities they hype that I've visited, and what I've read or seen from the others, it seems to be pretty right on. New York is always going to be awesome, but London is the New New York. We all know Beijing will be our global capital in about 20 years. Along with all those hot cities in India and the Middle East. And down the stretch, who doesn't want to check out Moscow or Mexico City? But L.A. is where it's at, exporting its culture around the world and proving that the Pacific Rim and Latin America will be leading the charge into the uncharted 21st.
* Photo above: An L.A. woman at the 2006 May Day immigrant rights' march from MacArthur Park down Wilshire Boulevard.

I'll take a room underwater, please *

Coolhunter flags this amazing proposed design for a resort in Songjiang, China, which is either a district in Shanghai or in Heilongiang province. It's the sort of place that I remember daydreaming about and doodling when I was little: embedded into a quarry, with "underwater public areas and guestrooms." The blog reports it's soon moving into print. Congratulations to them.

* My favorite Coolhunter post remains this brilliant run-down of street fashion photo blogs from around the world. L.A. is noticeably absent. But, more pressing is the question: Could Helsinki be the most stylish place on Earth?