Sayonara Styrofoam

Hermosa Beach City Council voted 3-2 to prepare an ordinance to ban polystyrene food take-out  containers at local restaurants.

This welcome measure, which came as a recommendation from the Hermosa Beach Green Task Force last September, received broad support from environmental groups, educators, business, and local residents such as yourself.

Grades of Green, Surfrider, Santa Monica Baykeeper and Hermosa Beach community kids were all there to support, as well as staff from Heal the Bay.

One of the community kids was the star of the hearing, the 3rd grader told a story about seagulls breaking apart a Styrofoam container to get at his sandwich on the beach. And his closing comment was, “don’t even get me started on plastic bags!” – he had the whole room laughing.

Adobe Elegance 

In a land far, far away, in the driest desert in the world, there lies an oasis. 

It's called Awasi, and now through Oct. 13, this upscale, rustic eight-cottage boutique hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile is offering a promotion through the discount travel site Vacationist. 

Even with the special rate of around $1,200 a night, it's quite pricey at first glance. But take into consideration what you get. The all-inclusive rates include: 

• All hotel taxes and hotel fees
• 2-person occupancy
• Private transportation to and from the airport
• 3 GOURMET meals per day, snacks & picnics
• All beverages including name-brand liquor
• A 4 x 4 vehicle and personal tour guide

That's right, a PERSONAL GUIDE, who literally, will customize an itinerary to your desires and activity level. Want to find a secluded salt lake and soak in its healing waters for the afternoon? Done. Feeling like today's the day you might want to climb an 18,000 foot mountain? No problem. Hot springs? Salt flats? Geysers? Bike ride through the mountains? Star-gazing? What's that? You'd like to find a small Andean village and buy an alpaca wool scarf fashioned by a local on her very own loom? 

What time do you want to leave? 

As if that's not enough, then head back to the hotel where a new adventure awaits - a culinary journey like no other. Enjoy gourmet in-season dishes, bursting with flavor: everything from ceviche to home-made pasta and gelato; fresh cuts of beef creatively prepared and omelets made-to-order. 

For the truly adventurous, order up one of Oscar's pisco sours. Legendary.

When your thirst for activity has been quenched and your hunger satiated, settle in by the cozy fire pit, cover up with a wool blanket and enjoy one of the many excellent Chilean wines - also included in the price of the stay.

Getting there: 

- Step 1: From L.A., several carriers offer service with a short layover in San Jose, Costa Rica, Lima or U.S. cities. (We flew American through Dallas.) 

- Step 2: Fall asleep, wake up 9 hours later in Santiago (SCL). 

- Step 3: From SCL, grab a connecting flight to Calama (CJC), 1.5 hour north of Santiago by air. 

- Step 4: At this small, clean airport, your personal Awasi guide will pick you up and drive a little over one hour to Awasi, where cold towels and a welcome drink await. 

- Step 5: Relax

Photo of the Day

Autumn sunset, Hermosa Pier

Photo credit: Chad R.