Outdoor at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

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.

In international competitions, British track achievements are on a par with other countries of comparable size and climate. However, a good many British athletes who take world honors— for instance David Hemery, winner of the 400-meter hurdles in the 1968 Olympics—were trained in the United States. Other Sports. Other outdoor activities engaged in by Britons of all ages are cycling, canoeing, orienteering (running an outdoor course aided by a map and compass), climbing, skiing, pot-holing (descending into underground caves), pony trekking, horseback riding, and team games such as hockey and lacrosse.