coolHausTruck1, originally uploaded by veejaye.

Here in Los Angeles, gourmet food trucks are a growing trend, and recently the new Coolhaus truck is raising the bar on the typical neighborhood ice cream truck.  By following their Twitter feed you’ll find out where to track down Coolhaus around LA, and when you do, you’ll find custom home-made ice cream sandwiches named after famous architects and design movements.  Meet the girls behind Coolhaus in the video below.

Gelatobaby meets Coolhaus from Alissa Walker on Vimeo.

Enter the Dwell on Design Contest to invent and name your own Coolhaus ice cream sandwich.  The winner will be announced at the upcoming Dwell on Design show on June 26.

Now even though Coolhaus might be a bit too upscale for your neighborhood park ice cream truck, who doesn’t think there’s an untapped niche here?  My thoughts for a successful ice cream truck – a cool name, distinctive truck graphics, ice cream (of course), along with a healthy selection of snacks, fruit, juices, smoothies, and more.  And go green by having free filtered water on tap to save on plastic bottles and drinking from questionable park water fountains.

The goal is to be a truck that parents feel good about seeing in the neighborhood, rather than being an eyesore.  Who’s with me here?

[Read about the family couple behind gDiapers, the eco-friendly diaper alternative to cloth diapers - via Cookie Magazine]

Potty talk. Banned from most family dinner tables, it’s hard to avoid for Kim and Jason Graham-Nye, founders of the company gDiapers—which makes eco–friendly, flushable diapers—and parents to sons Fynn, 6, and Harper, 3. "We were at a barbecue two years ago, and another mom scolded Fynn for talking about poop," Kim recalls. "I felt bad for the poor guy, because we say the word fifty thousand times a day. It’s our whole business!"

It’s only fitting that Fynn’s bottom was the first to test their product before the Graham-Nyes launched it in 2005. The couple were living in Jason’s hometown of Sydney, Australia, when Kim became pregnant.

Read the full story here.

image: Cookie Magazine

[Read about the family couple behind gDiapers, the eco-friendly diaper alternative to cloth diapers - via Cookie Magazine]

Potty talk. Banned from most family dinner tables, it’s hard to avoid for Kim and Jason Graham-Nye, founders of the company gDiapers—which makes eco–friendly, flushable diapers—and parents to sons Fynn, 6, and Harper, 3. "We were at a barbecue two years ago, and another mom scolded Fynn for talking about poop," Kim recalls. "I felt bad for the poor guy, because we say the word fifty thousand times a day. It’s our whole business!"

It’s only fitting that Fynn’s bottom was the first to test their product before the Graham-Nyes launched it in 2005. The couple were living in Jason’s hometown of Sydney, Australia, when Kim became pregnant.

Read the full story here.

image: Cookie Magazine

Had the chance to tour Marmol Radziner’s newest pre-fab house (Flickr slideshow) this weekend in the Palms neighborhood in West Los Angeles. Lots of glass, high ceilings, and great design of outdoor living spaces incorporated throughout the house.  The lot was a bit tight and the large amount of glass makes privacy a bit challenging but overall it’s a great home.  Who knew pre-fab could be so cool?  At approximately $350/square foot, however, it’s more custom home pricing than pre-fab.

Free open house tours tickets available for 9/27 and 10/12.

Had the chance to tour Marmol Radziner’s newest pre-fab house (Flickr slideshow) this weekend in the Palms neighborhood in West Los Angeles. Lots of glass, high ceilings, and great design of outdoor living spaces incorporated throughout the house.  The lot was a bit tight and the large amount of glass makes privacy a bit challenging but overall it’s a great home.  Who knew pre-fab could be so cool?  At approximately $350/square foot, however, it’s more custom home pricing than pre-fab.

Free open house tours tickets available for 9/27 and 10/12.

This week, Ciaran Blumenfeld, editor of our sister site at Car & Caboodle, was in Las Vegas scoping out the ABC Kid’s Show for the latest  and freshest baby products coming to a baby store near you.  Check out what she found interesting in these three slide shows – ABC Kid’s Show Day One, Day Two, and Day Three.

What were your favorites?

This week, Ciaran Blumenfeld, editor of our sister site at Car & Caboodle, was in Las Vegas scoping out the ABC Kid’s Show for the latest  and freshest baby products coming to a baby store near you.  Check out what she found interesting in these three slide shows – ABC Kid’s Show Day One, Day Two, and Day Three.

What were your favorites?

Just discovered Dasparkhotel in Austria where they’ve repurposed drainpipes into rooms for the traveler looking for something different. Writes the greenUpgrader:

Although you may feel like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sleeping in the sewer the accommodations are very private, supplied with 220V power, double bed, skylight window, decorative wall art, double door, storage space, and some peace and quiet. The main building located on the premises offers all other hotel amenities (including the bathroom!).

Now, you and I may never get to Austria to try these out, but how many of you are thinking that this might be a good idea for a playhouse or time-out spot in the your own backyard?

via Guy Kawasaki @ Twitter

Just discovered Dasparkhotel in Austria where they’ve repurposed drainpipes into rooms for the traveler looking for something different. Writes the greenUpgrader:

Although you may feel like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sleeping in the sewer the accommodations are very private, supplied with 220V power, double bed, skylight window, decorative wall art, double door, storage space, and some peace and quiet. The main building located on the premises offers all other hotel amenities (including the bathroom!).

Now, you and I may never get to Austria to try these out, but how many of you are thinking that this might be a good idea for a playhouse or time-out spot in the your own backyard?

via Guy Kawasaki @ Twitter

Our friends at Mocoloco found these two new kid-realted items at ICFF this weekend.  A doll-house/storage/furniture system from Orbeck-Aase, and a new chalkboard desk from Argington.

images via Mocoloco