Author Archives: Roberta Cruger

About Roberta Cruger

"I'm a writer, but then nobody's perfect." - Billy Wilder Roberta Cruger, a journalist for more than 15 years, has contributed to an array of publications including Smithsonian, The Believer, HOW, Robb Report, and the Los Angeles Times magazine, websites such as Salon and Treehugger, and has written for National Geographic Traveler and in-flight magazines from Alaska Airlines to U.S. Airways. She was the founding editor of the media section at Creem magazine and worked in programming at MTV from 1981-'88. Her beats cover arts/culture and entertainment, the environment, design, food, and travel, and her books include the "Hungry? Seattle" guidebook and a chapter in the "Rock, She Wrote" anthology.

What LA Could Have Looked Like

  Multiuse Apartment Building Plan Over 405 Freeway Last chance!  This weekend is the last time to see the fascinating exhibition Never Built: Los Angeles at the A+D Museum. An imaginative look at 100 ideas, renderings, blueprints, and models of … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Design | Comments Off on What LA Could Have Looked Like

Squirrels Use Napkins

Squirrels polished off a bunch of figs from the tree in my yard this season. It was a bumper crop so I didn’t mind sharing. I’d watch as the critters held the fruit in their little paws and quickly chomped … Continue reading

Posted in Green ways | Comments Off on Squirrels Use Napkins

Motor City Nails It

It’s the last day of the New York Auto Show and lots of new vehicles rolled out – including plenty of hybrids and electrics, and the zippy Ford Fiesta. I’m reminded of my report on test drives of green vehicles … Continue reading

Posted in Green ways | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Motor City Nails It

Dragonflies, Bugs and Finding Found Art

On the way to the Audubon Center at Debs Park in LA, a big blue bug looms at the entrance to Avenue 52 off the 110 Freeway.  Standing about 20+ feet high in the grass of a front yard, the … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Design | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Dragonflies, Bugs and Finding Found Art

Spring Shopping on PBS

It’s easy to miss great programs on PBS with so many specials and so much umbrella programming, like POV’s documentaries and the American Masters’ profiles. If I don’t stay on stop of the schedule, I invariably regret missing something excellent. … Continue reading

Posted in Pop AnThrop | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Spring Shopping on PBS

He Got a Line on Me

While watching the “In Memoriam” part of this year’s Grammy Awards, among the many faces and names of musical talents lost last year, I saw Ed Cassidy flash past—he was the remarkable drummer of the band Spirit, which had a … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Pop AnThrop | Comments Off on He Got a Line on Me

Getting “Square” at Buster’s

  A ginger scone and organic coffee would taste delicious, I thought, rushing to meet a friend at 8 am a couple weeks ago at Busters in South Pasadena, a favorite local cafe for Fosselman’s handmade ice cream. But I’d forgotten … Continue reading

Posted in Media | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Getting “Square” at Buster’s

Taking Brian’s Photo at the 9/11 Memorial

“Would you take my photo here?” an Irish voice asked as I stood looking into the black abyss in the footprint of the South Tower, quietly paying my respects to those who’d perished. I gladly snapped the redheaded man’s image with the serene waterfall behind him. The simple black … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Design, Travel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Taking Brian’s Photo at the 9/11 Memorial

The Real Video Babes of Music Video

A panel of women, starting with Penelope Spheeris, regaled a packed house on lecture night at the “Who Shot Rock’n’Roll” exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in L.A. The film director showed excerpts of her Decline of Western Civilization … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Pop AnThrop | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Real Video Babes of Music Video

Women Designers Join the Cowboys at The Autry

Along with exhibits of Western landscapes and Hopi Katsina dolls at the Autry Center in Griffith Park, there’s a terrific show of 46 pioneering female artists: California’s Designing Women (1896-1986). It’s filled with 240 examples of elegant arts & crafts ceramics, sleek mid-century … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Design | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Women Designers Join the Cowboys at The Autry