Like a Local: Late Sunday Afternoon
(UPDATE: 01/08/18 - Interview with Late Sunday Afternoon about Tiny Home living and blogging here.)
Looking back at 2017, one of the experiences we loved the most was a collaboration with our incredible friends at Late Sunday Afternoon here in Venice.
I first fell in love with this unique shop the moment I stepped through its gorgeous doors here in Venice. But after meeting its founder, Matthew, I discovered the wonderful depth of LSA.
The team, products and give-back mission behind LSA all made me eager to collaborate. (Read more about everything here.) So we were thrilled when they approached us about a brand ambassador photo + video shoot.
The scarves we have from LSA have traveled thousands and thousands of miles with us, and West's blankie was made by them as well. We also have hats and books from their shop, all of which we enjoy often.
LSA sells original and small-batch items from their beautiful indoor/outdoor store and gathering space in Venice. They also hand-create and donate comfort blankies to young children in the foster care system, and they use their excess fabric scraps to produce dog beds that they then donate to local animal shelters.
Late Sunday Afternoon is an Instagram dream. But it also operates with a tangible sense of community and responsibility, and for that, we admire and adore them.
We're featured in Chapter 2 of the video below (starting at 1:19), but we recommend watching the entire thing-- it's completely delightful!
Canal photos © Sebastian Artz, with selects by Thomas Brodahl. Video by Chance Foreman. Ambassador shoot content courtesy of Late Sunday Afternoon. (Thank you for the dreamy day of canoeing, biking, and strolling the canals with friends, LSA crew!)
Lil' video from the Cottage
A little hello from our tiny home in Venice! 👋
(Thank you Shotgun Honeymoon for the wonderful music!)
The "Company Car" - Our Cottage Cargo Tricycle
A couple years after moving into the Cottage, Adam and I realized that we didn't have to confine our downsizing efforts to just our home. At the time, we had two cars-- a compact 4-door, and an SUV. We decided to donate the SUV to our local NPR station, KCRW. The goal was to rely more on our bikes, and on public transportation. Years have passed, and we've never regretted this decision.
Shortly after West was born, we started looking for cargo tricycles. There are so many wonderful designs out there, but we fell in love with one in particular-- the Virtue Schoolbus+ from Virtue Cycles in San Diego. Not only does it have enough space for #StubsandSoph, but it also has seat belts for up to four children, and can fit West's car seat. (And coincidentally, it even matches our house.) We call it our "company car," and even added a "Tiny Canal Cottage" decal to one side of the cart.
We ride it all over the west side of Los Angeles. (We've even passed a few others at the farmers market and by the beach!) For those who are interested, here is my honest, bullet-point experience with this bike:
- It is a wonderful size if you're regularly hauling children, pets, shopping, and/or plants.
- It's beautiful, from it's leather accents, to its muted green hardware, to the wooden cargo hold.
- The ride is smooth, sturdy, and steady.
- The electric assist (an option) is EXTREMELY helpful when starting the bike, and when going up inclines.
- The steering takes some getting used to, but after an hour or so of test-drives, Adam and I both got it down.
- You can't stand up on the pedals while turning, nor should you take sharp turns at a high speed, as the cargo hold can actually tip.
- It's initially intimidating to maneuver the bike around tight, winding and/or urban spaces. Again, give it an hour or two of practice, and it's easy to master with confidence.
- I regularly switch between my standard bike and this cargo tricycle. It's an easy transition between the two-- I never feel as though I have to relearn one or the other.
We enjoy this bike daily-- especially now that Adam works full-time at the Cottage, too. We're absolutely in love with how it has improved our lifestyle. It keeps us moving, outdoors and healthy, allows us to leave our shared car at home, and encourages us to experience new adventures with our little family here in Venice and throughout West LA.
(Browse all of our bike photos via the #wlmbike series on Instagram.)
#LoveMyCity Venice with Shinola
Our friends at Shinola invited me to partake in their #LoveMyCity campaign in celebration of their new Venice location, which opens this April on Abbot Kinney Boulevard (just a 5 minute walk from the Cottage). Adam and I are both sincere fans of the brand, so I was delighted to join in. (And you know I love any excuse to share photos of our beloved 90291...)
Based in Detroit, Shinola is dedicated to producing American built products of the highest quality. I've tried their watches, leather goods, pet products, and their bikes. Everything I've used is beautiful and meticulously crafted.
Here are some recent pix that Adam and I snapped of our Shinola favorites around town (at the farmers market, canals, beach, and local businesses).
Venice Beach Bike Series
Adam and I have shared a car for nearly 3 years now, which means that I usually use my bike as my "company car" around Venice. I absolutely love it, and my bike IG series is cheerfully rolling along! Thank you for following! (And thank you, Wendi & Nicole of The Wall Group for gifting me my beloved bicycle!) 🚲
