MIKE TORREY / American Society of Media Photographers San Diego chapter The Lux Art Institute in Encinitas won the Grand Orchid, both for architect Renzo Zecchetto's Artist Pavilion and Greg Rubin's native landscape design.

What's Inside The front porch City's park rangers deserve some credit More Home

Even in recessionary times when architects are scrounging for commissions and construction workers are collecting unemployment, the annual brag-and-nag fest Orchids & Onions must go on. Held last week at Balboa Park's Hall of Champions, the San Diego Architectural Foundation's jury lauded the do-gooders with bouquets of orchids and slapped the slackers with bunches of onions.

WASHINGTON – To milk all they can out of their final rent checks, first-time buyers often try to schedule their closings as close to the end of the month as possible. But there's another reason practically all buyers, not just rookies, prefer to settle up late in the month – interest. The later you close, the less interest that's due the lender. And that means the less cash you'll need to bring to the table.

Looking to save energy? Maximize the light wherever you are in your house by using light-colored lampshades and keeping the light bulbs and shades clean; dirt absorbs light, reducing its output.