Hey there! My name is Alissa. I’m a writer, a gelato-eater, and a walker in LA.
You can learn more about who I am, what I write, why I walk, and even see where I live and work. Last year I was honored to be named as an USC/Annenberg Getty Arts Journalism fellow. You also might like this talk I gave about how to do the work you love.
Welcome to Gelatobaby
Follow me at @gelatobaby
- @JinxMcGillicudd Crested Butte, Colorado
- Due to last night's blizzard, the snowbride is now wearing a fashionable veil. http://t.co/PiYYUYB0
- @GetDianeFarr Ha! Thanks, I like to keep my readers on their toes.
- What's a park, really? My story on Southern California's first parklet, located in Long Beach, is in today's @LAWeekly http://t.co/HWgVcrtY
- My story at @ForYourArt on Suzanne Lacy's powerful public performance artwork @3WeeksInJan http://t.co/R2sWn7XL #RapeEndsHere
Come say hello
- GOOD Design for Cities
A new event series hosted by Alissa and supported in part by ArtPlace is coming to Portland and St. Louis. Here's how creatives can apply to be part of it.
- GOOD Design for Cities
Check out our next de LaB
- Design East of La Brea is a monthly party I co-host with Haily Zaki, Marissa Gluck and Erin Cullerton. Almost always east of La Brea. Learn more about past de Labs and sign up for our monthly newsletter.
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Click on some recent posts
Read my articles elsewhere
You can find my writing most days at GOOD, or at Fast Company's new design site, Co.Design, or over at Dwell. You can also read about my 13 favorite stories from 2010.
- Waaaaay Back to the Future
Fast Company, August 2011
Nike's 23-year journey to make Marty McFly's AirMag shoes real. - Meet the Makers
Details, July 2011
Profile of Saul Griffith, an engineer and inventor who could change the way we make... everything. - Sasaki's Heartbeat
Dwell, June 2011
A studio visit with the Japanese-born artist Sasaki, who has been drawing people's heartbeats for 15 years. - Is LA's Public Transit a Joke? This Comedian Sure Hopes So
GOOD, June 2011
For comedian Kristina Wong, living car-free isn't just an act. - Middle School Students Tell LAUSD: No More Styrofoam
GOOD, April 2011
A group of sixth graders mounts a campaign to rid their school of the evil white foam. - The Future of Reading Online [Video]
Fast Company, March 2011
At SXSW, I interviewed designer Khoi Vinh about tablets, pay walls, and browsers. - How LA's "Farmers Field" Could Boost Urban Agriculture
GOOD, February 2011
Let's turn the city's new football stadium into the world's biggest urban farm. - BOOM! Palm Springs Plans a Wacky Old Folks Community
Fast Company, February 2011
10 architects have collaborated on a very unique new kind of retirement home for gays. - The Design Difference
GOOD, January 2011
How can design help create change in the underserved community of Brownsville, New York? A three-part series. - Why We Don't Need Any More Anonymous Critics
GOOD, January 2011
Let's stop the dining in disguise and make food critics powerful, public voices for real social change. - The Rise of the Bus-Riding Celebrity
GOOD, October 2010
Why don't more eco-minded celebrities in LA take public transit? - Can Design Save the World?
Fast Company, October 2010
Profiles of superstar emerging designers Candy Chang and Bobby C. Martin, Jr. - Where My Ladies At?
GOOD, August 2010
Why aren't there more women in industrial design? - At Home with Ed Begley, Jr.
Dwell, June 2010
I visited LA's greenest celebrity to talk about gardening, solar panels and riding the bus. - Why I Write About Design Now
GOOD, May 2010
How we need to cover the design industry: Without a chair in the world. - Here's Why the Banksy Movie is a Banksy Prank
Fast Company, April 2010
The world's most famous street artist makes a documentary? I'm not buying it. - If You Lived Here, You'd Be Urban By Now
GOOD, Spring 2010
The case against fake "walkable urbanism" developments which are neither walkable or urban. - Why Can't the World's Best Architects Build Better Websites?
Fast Company, March 2010
Loading... - The Fake Freeway Sign that Became a Real Public Service
GOOD, January 2010
Artist Richard Ankrom's act of guerrilla public service improved the commuter experience.
- Waaaaay Back to the Future
View my photos
Try some gelato
- Catch up on my latest gelato adventures, or find gelato using my Gelatobaby GeLAtomap.
Monthly Archives: December 2010
My 13 favorite stories of 2010
Forget resolutions, poo-pooing the past 12 months, or drinking heavily to delete the shortcomings of the year. 2010 was actually an incredibly fun, productive time for me as a writer, and I can only hope that 2011 will bring as … Continue reading
Posted in Coudal, Dwell, Fast Company, Good, Studio 360, USC/Annenberg Getty, writing
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So this is Christmas
Four years ago, I wrote a piece for Design Observer, “War Is Over, If You Want It,” about my favorite Christmas song, which also happens to be one of my favorite advertising campaigns of all time. When I wrote the … Continue reading
Posted in advertising, designing, watching
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O Star Wars Christmas Tree
Yes, it’s that time of year again. When it starts to feels like Hoth outside, we snuggle inside our tauntauns and gather round our Star Wars Christmas Tree. With its twinkling light sabers. Miniature Death Stars. And of course, the … Continue reading
Posted in crafting, creating
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Conehead
It was a treat enough to speak at today’s CreativeMornings Los Angeles, and get to meet such awesome people, and eat Coolhaus’ brown butter and candied bacon ice cream at 8am, but I was also surprised to receive this little … Continue reading
Posted in gelatoing, speaking
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Chicagoland
I spent last week in Chicago for the CEOs for Cities Connectivity Challenge. We were examining ways that a city can help its residents fulfill their daily needs without a car, and where better to do that than a place … Continue reading
Posted in building, riding, traveling, walking
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Eat Pray Love, but no gelato
During an exceptionally-long journey from Chicago to Los Angeles last night, I finally saw the movie Eat Pray Love, mostly since I was strapped into a seat and held captive against my will. I didn’t put much faith in the … Continue reading
Posted in gelatoing
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Unique LA is this weekend!
This weekend is Unique LA, the incredible independent local gift and design fair run by my dear friend Sonja Rasula. I’ll be there all weekend, helping to man the GOOD booth, and we’ll be looking for your input on a … Continue reading
Posted in crafting, creating, designing, speaking
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I’m speaking at CreativeMornings LA on December 17!
What’s better than ice cream? How about breakfast ice cream? On December 17 I’m going to be speaking at the third-ever CreativeMornings LA, a new speaker series that has just arrived in Los Angeles. And thanks to my good friends … Continue reading
Posted in speaking
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It’s a sign
Two days ago our friends and neighbors posted a story about this sign a few blocks from our house. It is a sign any Silver Laker will know if you ask them. From its highly-visible perch on Sunset Boulevard, the … Continue reading
Posted in Street Walker
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Walking in a winter wonderland
Last night I returned, fingers still numb, from a chilly evening Silver Lake stairwalk with my BIG PARADE friends. (If you join the Facebook group, you’ll find out about future strolls, too.) It’s been a long time since I walked … Continue reading
Posted in Street Walker
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