"Tip the world on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," Frank Lloyd Wright reportedly said. That looseness -- a spirit of experimentation, a refusal to be bound by convention -- will be on display June 23 when the MAK Center for Art and Achitecture hosts a tour of groundbreaking modern homes by Frank Gehry, Neil M. Denari Architects, Eric Owen Moss and artist Peter Alexander. — latimes.com

In Venice, Sandmeier wanted to tell the story of a whole neighborhood, not just emphasize the architectural merits of any one structure, and in doing so build a history of architects and artists working together. "Buildings are important for different reasons. Sometimes it's the architecture, sometimes it is the history, and sometimes it is the context," she explains. "Venice is a place with such rich cultural context that underlies the whole community, there is a lot to talk about." — kcet.org

The 70-foot channel has for years operated as a flood-control channel, wildlife sanctuary and escape valve for treated waste water befouled with chemicals and trash. Now, the soft-bottom swath of weedy islands, dense brush and willows draped with fast-food wrappers, plastic bags and clothes is one of the newest summer attractions in town. — latimes.com

Hop aboard the Portland Streetcar to discover the city's hidden architectural gems. Disembark along the route and reflect on the stonework of the Armory. Hop on the next car and travel a few blocks to Tanner Springs park. This photo essay is a sample of what one might see between the South Waterfront and Northwest portland. — photos.oregonlive.com

In its five-year history, DesCours has become my favorite annual art outing, but it hasn't become any easier to describe. You'd be accurate if you called it a self-guided nighttime tour of lighted experimental architecture installations set in little-seen downtown locations. — nola.com