The new Scion iQ on a test drive in Los Angeles, California.

I’ve been car free for years. Having lived most of my adult life in large cities with excellent public transportation, I’ve never seen the need for one. And once I became an avid bike rider, I felt a certain pride in the ability to commute to and from work without harming the environment with nasty carbon emissions. However, this last year I’ve noticed a shift in my anti-car stance. I have found myself renting a lot of vehicles for travel and I’ve been making the most of my Zipcar membership.  While the convenience of an instant car has been awesome, the expense has put a dent in my transportation budget. Having recently moved to a new apartment with a parking garage, quite  a luxury in the city, the prospect of getting a car has become more and more appealing. So it must have been synchronicity that brought Scion calling, asking me to come to California to participate in a test drive of their new Scion iQ.

Little Scion iQs all in a row

How could I say no to two wonderful days in L.A. and an opportunity to test drive the Smart Car’s new competition? Scion flew photographer, Nick McGlynn from Random Night Out and I out to Los Angeles for the test drive, along with other bloggers and members of the press to learn more about the Scion iQ. In addition they also wanted to enlighten us to the various lifestyle initiatives Scion supports, such as; short films, art installations and Scion enthusiast’s events. Needless to say, it must be a lot of fun working for Scion’s marketing department! While we had a great time learning about the hip culture Scion cultivates, we were really looking forward to getting out on the road to see how the car performed.

When, I first saw the car all I could think was, ‘Wow, it’s so little!’ but one look inside and I realized it was actually quite roomy. Scion calls the iQ’s seating arrangement ’3 +1′  meaning you can comfortably seat 3 people and have a little extra room for cargo. If you really had too, you could squeeze 2 people in the back, but only if the driver is short. This is way better than the Smart Car, which only seats 2 with no storage whatsoever. So far, the Scion iQ looked pretty good. But how did it drive?

After attending a thorough briefing on the capabilities of the Scion iQ, it was time a test drive. Climbing inside I noticed the interior was nice, exactly what you’d expect from a new car but what surprised us even more was, we didn’t feel like we were sitting in a small car. In fact, the Scion iQ was a bit too roomy, if that’s possible! The only thing I wasn’t so keen on was the ’manta ray’ design of the navigation device. It was a little over done for my taste. I would have liked to have seen a simpler design. What we really wanted to check out was the turn radius, which Scion claims is 12.9 ft. My living room is 13 feet wide, could this car really turn a full circle in my apartment? You betcha! If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it, but sure enough, Nick did a u-turn in a narrow Venice beach alleyway with no problems whatsoever. Awesome.

One of the questions that kept coming up again and again was, how did the Scion iQ stack up against the Smart Car?  As we were taking our test drive we drove right past a Smart Car and couldn’t resist putting them side by side. As I mentioned before, the seating in a Smart Car is super limited. The lack of passenger and cargo room in the Smart Car was blatantly obvious once you got them close together.

The Scion iQ was an awesome ride. And we had a great time getting to know the people at Scion, a really fun bunch. They really have passion for their jobs and I can’t blame them, it seems like Scion is really committed to creating not only a fun car to drive, but an eclectic sub-culture amongst Scion drivers. So what about the iQ, would I buy it? I’d definitely consider it. It has everything I’ve been looking for in a car: plenty of room for me and a couple pals, great gas mileage(it gets nearly 40 mpg) and easy  to park, it’s so tiny it fits in half a parking spot. The sticker price is reasonable as well, at almost $16,000, it’s less expensive than other cars its size. Overall the Scion iQ performed really well, it was fast, easy to maneuver and would  make a great car for any urban dweller. Much thanks to the Scion crew for inviting us!

Hard to believe but the little house you see above wasn’t meant for adults, it’s for children. These miniature homes are from Smart Playhouses and were inspired by Danish design. They definitely remind me of my days in Copenhagen. Scandinavians know how to enjoy their leisure time, in fact, I often received lectures from Danes on how Americans needed to work less and enjoy life more. Not only are these little playhouses indicative of Danish design; modern, functional, simple, but they look an awful lot like the summer homes so many Scandinavians own. Unlike Americas obscene McMansions, Scandinavian families normally have a smaller second home they can escape to on weekends or long summer holidays. They homes are usually very modest dwellings with minimal amenities. Anything obnoxiously elaborate, especially for a second home, is considered by Scandinavians, to be in poor taste.  Oh how I miss Denmark!

These little houses make me want to be a kid again. Or just a very small person! :->I so wanted a playhouse when I was a kid. I remember one family down the street from me had a pretty elaborate tree house, I was so jealous of those kids!

I imagine the price tag for theses lovely minis is pretty hefty, since I couldn’t seem to locate the actual cost on their website. But if you can afford one, go for it. You’re child will relish his playhouse memories and talk about what a great parent you were for years to come!

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I usually ride my bike to and from work during the summer. I find the morning ride over the Brooklyn Bridge and the evening ride home, gives me a more energy then a double espresso from Starbucks (and a butt you could bounce a quarter off of). And you just can’t beat the view, although I could do without the tourists. But come late July, the weather in New York City becomes so unbearably hot and humid, riding your bike is about as much fun as taking a spin class in a sauna. On those days I take the subway, which comes with it’s own degree of unpleasantness. So I’ve been looking to invest in some type of motorized transportation to get around this urban metropolis.  I’ve thought about buying a car but looking for a parking is just no fun and I really like the sensation of riding a bike. The wind in your hair and the freedom of weaving in and out of traffic jams and the ability to squeeze into a sliver of available parking space,  gives me satisfaction no car can replicate. I’ve been researching Vespas, but that requires training, more specifically a motorcycle license, and rightfully so. But what about a lighter, sleeker version of a Vespa? Something more akin to a Segway but without the balance issues or geeky label?  Could this ride exist? Well, not yet. But soon, in the not to distant future, I  may be able to plug in my Three Wheelie Scooter at night and make my commute through the urban jungle in the morning.  That is if designer, Hyun-Seok Kim’s, aptly named Three Wheel Electric Scooter ever hits the assembly line.

Two small front wheels guarantee equilibrium for the balanced challenged, like myself. And the petite seat is meant, I believe, for perching than for comfort. But, hey, what if you could customize to whatever groovy color or pattern your personality desired?

A detachable rechargeable battery pack to the left of the bike makes charging up a beeze. And brightly colored displays let you how much energy you have left.

It even comes with its own locking mechanism. A magnetic, rubber encased locking cable adds security to the parking system. Although, being a jaded New Yorker, I’d like to see something a little stronger for urban areas with more determined criminals.

I am a huge fan of all things miniature. Miniature people, miniature houses, miniature horses… the list goes on. I am also fond of terrariums. I have tried once or twice to make one on my own, needless to say I could never quite get the hang of it and my creations were abandoned in favor of less demanding pursuits.  I am moving to a new apartment soon (yay!) and have been looking for a terrarium I can introduce to my future abode’s decor. I was delighted to find  Twig Terrariums, a Brooklyn, New York based company run by two old friends, Michelle Inciarrano and Katy Maslow. Their terrariums are unique as each one is home to some rather unusual occupants.

Each terrarium contains miniature figurines in various scenes ranging from tranquil to down right illegal! From peaceful sheep grazing on hillsides to angry punk rockers and Central Park muggings. The terrariums are available for purchase on their website. If you’re in the New York City area, they also hold classes on how to make your own terrariums. I might just have to sign up! Check out more unusual terrarium  scenes after the jump…

Escape from East Berlin?

Naughty, naughty! Nude sunbathers soaking up the summer rays near a babbling brook.

This may be one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. It’s like something out of a James Bond movie. This dome is covered in algae because it is underwater. The only way to access it is to enter a mansion. You must find a secret wooden door that leads you down some steps where you  row a boat through an underground corridor before reaching two large doors that open into this enormous domed room under a lake. Did you get all of that?

In 1889 Whitacker Wright a British mining mogul who was very eccentric built this as a secret billiards room. It is over 125 years old but still in pretty good condition. All the light is natural, using a series of glass skylights to let sunlight down into the secret rooms.

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Fireplaces are awesome. Sitting around them is relaxing and warm and wonderful. Having a fireplace outside is even better! Especially if it’s by a pool. This one is exceptionally beautiful. Designer Brandon Williams handcrafted this fourteen gauge steel into a very cool design.

The metal is of dual construction so the outside stays cool to the touch. They come in a variety of high gloss colors to go with any decor.

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I have always had a thing for Airstream trailers. Combining the gorgeous vintage design of the outside of an airstream with the clean classy new look of a modern renovation makes this truly a beautiful project.

Architect Matthew Hofmann has used mostly sustainable materials like bamboo floors to redesign the 158 square foot space of this classic 1970 trailer.

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