Having Outdoor Luncheon at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

LAKE COMO: For an adventure in good eating inquire about having outdoor luncheon an outdoor luncheon served from the very modest locanda of Signer Nessi on the islet of Comacina, reached by rowboat from the hamlet of Sala. Perhaps he'll serve you a fish dish called Agoni alia Contrabandiera, with a white, dry Chianti called Lacrima d'Arno. Whatever you receive will constitute a memorable meal IF Signer Nessi is still there and IF you have a sunny day on which to enjoy it.

GOING GREEN: Eco-friendly style is gaining in popularity, but it's not always easy to find. Here in the Valley it can be had at Modern Outdoor, based in Van Nuys. Their furniture has a sleek aesthetic with clean, simple lines. And one key material they use is Ipe, a sustainably harvested wood that's three times as dense as teak. "It's one of the best woods you can use to make outdoor furniture," says company vice president Brett Himmel. "Our furniture is designed for heavy commercial use. A 20-mile-per-hour gust of wind won't blow your chair into the neighbor's yard."

Set up in 1997, OLAC is located close to Philips' International Competence Centre for Outdoor Lighting. It offers access to Philips' world-class expertise and application know-how in the field of outdoor Lighting and city beautification. By creating this life-size city environment at OLAC, Philips enables visitors to see directly how innovative LED Lighting can add extra dimensions to architecture and create varied, appealing ambiences.