Kicking the oil habit, a commentary by Robert Redford

Today the American people are way out in front of our leaders. We're ready to face our toughest national challenges, and we deserve new and forward-looking solutions and leadership, says Robert Redford in a Commentary on the CNN website. He cites Austin, Texas, as leading a growing number of cities in calling for car companies to produce plug-in hybrid vehicles that can go hundreds of miles on a gallon of gas.

The big architects are in town

The sense that art and architecture can be a major lure is not lost on Robert Wennett, the developer for Herzog & de Meuron's Lincoln Road building and for another mixed-use project in Miami Beach.

"Your tourism base is not solely to go the beach," Mr. Wennett said. "Cultural tourism is extremely important. People will come to see the buildings."—Robin Pogrebin, The New York Times