LA Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt Named Winner of Green Car Journal's 2016

Chevrolet Volt Named Winner of Green Car Journal's 2016 Green Car of the Year

Finalists included the Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata & Toyota Prius.

By Karen Ostlund at LA Auto Show (last day open November 29th, LAAutoShow.com)

Downtown Los Angeles at La Auto Show convention center, winner Chevrolet Volt press conference prior to Green Car Journal Award

 The second-generation 2016 Chevrolet Volt, an all-new and significantly improved version of the automaker's groundbreaking extended range electric vehicle that first made its appearance in 2011, has been named Green Car Journal's 2016 Green Car of the Year®. The award was announced during a press conference at the LA Auto Show on November 19. Other finalists for the 2016 Green Car of the Year® award included the Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Prius.

Green Car Journal editors point out that the 2016 Volt has improved in virtually every way, with a sleek and sporty design, more energy-dense batteries, new electric motors, and quicker acceleration. It features a more efficient 1.5-liter engine-generator that creates on-board electricity to power the Volt's motors for a total 420 miles. Among its most important achievements is an increase to 53 miles of driving exclusively on batteries.

(L) Ron Cogan, Editor of Green Car Journal & Steve Majoros for Chevrolet

 

 

 

 

An increasing number of vehicle models are considered for the Green Car of the Year^® program each year, a reflection of the auto industry's expanding efforts in offering new vehicles with higher efficiency and improved environmental impact. Green Car Journal has been honoring the most important "green" vehicles every year at the LA Auto Show, since its inaugural award announced at the show in 2005.

"This is the first time in Green Car of the Year^® history that a vehicle has won the award in two succeeding model generations," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "Considering all the brands and models evaluated in the award program, that's quite a statement. The Chevrolet Volt was a standout when it won 2011 Green Car of the Year^® and continues in that role today as the 2016 Green Car of the Year^®."

The Green Car of the Year^® award is an honor widely recognized as the auto industry's most important environmental accolade. Green Car Journal has been the leading voice in the intersection of automobiles, energy, and the environment since the publication's launch in 1992.

Finalist Audi A3 e-tron 2016

"Chevrolet is bringing fun-to-drive, technology-loaded, and affordable electric solutions for our customers, and the 2016 Volt delivers on all fronts," said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet marketing manager. "For the Volt to stand out as Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year® reaffirms Chevrolet's commitment to delivering electric solutions to our customers that exceed their expectations."

The Green Car of the Year® is selected through a majority vote by an esteemed jury that includes celebrity auto enthusiast Jay Leno, plus leaders of noted environmental and efficiency organizations including Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Matt Petersen, board member of Global Green USA; Dr. Alan Lloyd, President Emeritus of the International Council on Clean Transportation; Mindy Lubber, President of CERES; and Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy.

Finalist Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2016

Finalist Honda Civic 2016

During the award's vetting process, Green Car Journal editors consider all vehicles, fuels, and technologies as an expansive field of potential candidates is narrowed down to a final five. Finalists are selected for their achievements in raising the bar in environmental performance. Many factors are considered including efficiency, EPA and CARB emissions certification, performance characteristics, 'newness,' and affordability. Availability to the mass market is important to ensure honored models have the potential to make a real difference in environmental impact, and finalists must be available for sale by January of the award year.

Last year, the Green Car of the Year winner^® was the BMW i3.

Finalist Toyota Prius 2016

 About Green Car of the Year^®The GCOY award is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission to showcase environmental progress in the auto industry. The magazine's CarsOfChange.com site presents 'green car' articles online along with a focus on connectivity. Green Car of the Year^® is a registered trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.

Hashtag: #GreenCarJournal

Maestro Dobel Tequila Pairing w/ Jane's Perry Farrell at Bagatelle

By Karen Ostlund in West Hollywood

Last Friday at Bagatelle Perry Farrell w/wife Etty

 Last Friday Jane's Addiction front man and Lollapalooza creator Perry Farrell accompanied by his wife Etty, hosted a long table of bloggers and insiders for a truly unique experience of Maestro Dobel Tequila pairing at restaurant Bagatelle in West Hollywood.

 Perry Farrell is featured in Dobel's ads and a spokes person for the same tequila, which was first introduced in 2008. Perry explained to his guests:"Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila is a blended tequila produced by Proximo Spirits. It is the first ever multi-aged clear tequila".

"Dobel Diamante was created by and named after Juan-Domingo "Dobel" Beckmann, the eleventh-generation leader of Jose Cuervo tequilas, in collaboration with master distillers ("Maestros") Marco Anguiano and Luis Yerenas".

Long table for Maestro Dobel tequila pairing at Bagatelle

 Guests were treated to a delicious four course seated dinner that featured four standout Dobel cocktails using the Silver, Diamanté, Reposado and Anejo expressions expertly paired with french Mediterranean dishes prepared by Bagatelle Los Angeles’ Chef Robert Liberato.
The menu featured Kusshi Oysters, Blue Crab Salad, Hudson Valley Duck and as dessert Reposado Infused Chocolate/Espresso Budino.

Hudson Valley Duck paired w/Maestro Dobel Anejo

 
Dobel Diamante is a blend of reposado, añejo and extra añejo tequilas, aged one, two and three years, respectively, in European white oak barrels, and then filtered to remove all color. The tequilas in the blend are distilled from 100% blue agave from a single estate in Jalisco, Mexico. Technically considered a reposado.

As a thank you, guests went home with a bottle of Dobel Diamanté- world's first multi-aged crystal clear tequila encased in the Limited Edition Drum Case as well as recipe cards of other signature cocktails. 

Oysters Kusshi paired with Maestro Dobel Silver

Jane's Addiction was the focal point of the Sunset Strip Music Festival 2014 a two-day long event celebrating the legendary strip's long musical heritage. Jane's was then honored at the West Hollywood House of Blues, and received the Elmer Valentine Award, for their legacy and impact on the Strip. Hit songs include, Nothing's Shocking (1988) and Three Days (1990).

Guests eating Blue Crab Salad

 

Myself among friends

Recap of LA's 3rd Annual WestEdge Design Fair

RECAP OF LA'S THIRD ANNUAL WESTEDGE DESIGN FAIR.

Upcoming event in West Hollywood, November 13:

Diemevent.com

West Hollywood District combined designers showroom at WestEdge design fair

 

  At 3rd Annual WestEdge Design Fair attendees enjoyed highlighted features, such as the Volvo ride-and-drive, Jenn-Air Master Class Studio panels, designer Chad McPhail's Sunbrella Lounge, the festive Opening Night Party, the West Hollywood Design District exhibition and auctioned, reimagined beach chairs.

Santa Monica, CA 
By Karen Ostlund
 The third annual WestEdge Design Fair brought a wealth of design talent to the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica this October 22-25, 2015. The fair opened Thursday with a Media Preview sponsored by Sunbrella and Architectural Digest, followed by the Opening Night Party, which welcomed 1,300 guests who came to celebrate design and support the evening’s beneficiary, the A + D Museum of Los Angeles. The festive evening, sponsored by Asahi Beer, Bang & Olufsen, Laurel at Sunset, Olsen Visual, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, included a silent auction of more than a dozen reinvented beach chairs from notable L.A.-based design and architecture firms, and featured KCRW DJ Raul Campos.

At WestEdge, West Hollywood Design District booth

 Throughout the weekend, WestEdge featured more than 150 exhibiting brands that showcased new designs and products to more than 9,600 attendees. 
Show-goers included interior designers, set decorators, architects, educators, art directors, speakers, members of the general public and media, among others. In addition to riveting displays of design and art, a multitude of panel discussions, geared to both the trade and consumer, took place in the Jenn-Air Master Class Studio. Jenn-Air sponsored an educational series of 15+ talks, which featured an illustrious group of industry leaders in design.
 
“WestEdge is the most inspiring and important trade show we have here in Los Angeles. It brings together new, luxurious, and important designers, artists, independent and local manufacturers and visionaries. WestEdge is where you will get up close and personal with key trendsetters and innovators making a difference in the world of design,” said Laura Schwartz-Muller, Allied ASID, CEO+Founder of FOUR POINT Design+Construction Inc. and ASID L.A. President 2015-16.

Baker showroom design by Mark Cutler

 

Bogart International Barrel art design

 Exhibitor Anna Pavao Zinn of blankblank agreed. “We are so grateful for the wonderful attention we received at WestEdge. It was a tremendous show and we're so happy to have met so many wonderful design enthusiasts who stopped by our booth to ask about our sustainable, California-made furniture, lighting, and art,” she said.

WestEdge highlights included the new and highly successful MADE:MODERN section, showcasing more than 40 independent designers and artists, as well as the Volvo Automotive Pavilion, featuring ride-and-drives where attendees could experience the all-new XC90 and S60. The Volvo Lounge, designed by DISC Interiors in partnership with Architectural Digest, allowed attendees to relax and enjoy Scandinavian design with furnishings from Carl Hansen & Son. 

New Volvo model XC 90 on display on convention floor

 The Sunbrella Perspective Los Angeles Lounge served as the show’s central lounge and bar, with luxurious vignettes outfitted by five talented design teams. Attendees also enjoyed a modern-day Speakeasy Lounge sponsored by the Set Decorators Society of America and Robb Report Home & Style. 
The show’s outdoor lounge, presented by The Wall Street Journal, Tidelli Outdoor Furnishings, Sticks and Stones Furniture, Modfire, Caliber Appliances, and Southwest Greens, offered a cool respite for guests to enjoy the California sunshine. In addition, a number of exhibitions as well as interactive special events took place throughout the weekend.

Vita Nova marble and mosaic

 “WestEdge is all about bringing people together to experience the best in class within the home furnishings industry,” said the event’s co-founder Megan Reilly. “We’re pleased to expand this platform for design and encouraged by the enthusiastic response from both exhibitors and attendees this year.”
 
The 2015 Sponsors included Jenn-Air, LeMeridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel, Snyder Diamond, Sunbrella, Volvo, and Wallpaperdirect. The 2015 Charity Partner was the Architecture and Design Museum: Los Angeles. The 2015 Industry Partners included AIA LA, ASID L.A., ASLA, BotArt, IIDA, The Leaders of Design Council, Modernism Week, West Hollywood Design District, the Pacific Design Center, and Wanted Design. 
Click here: 2015 Media Partners  the full list.
 
For more information on the highly anticipated next edition of WestEdge Design Fair, visit www.westedgedesignfair.com.