ABC's "Nightline" did a profile on James Deen, the porn star from Pasadena with a massive female fanbase. The show seems sort of freaked out that underage girls might be stumbling across porn on the internet...and actually enjoying it. more ›

If you've ever strolled through certain parts of Burbank, you know just how quaint it is to be walking along and happen upon an equestrian. There's no reason for that scenario to be limited to playing itself out in the city's peripheral, affluent suburbs, and that's why a group called the Compton Jr. Posse launched a program to bring horseback riding to kids living just south of Los Angeles. more ›

If Los Angeles is going to be the greenest city in the nation, making it walkable should be a major part of that effort. Part of walkability is planning a neighborhood or commercial district with the right mix of amenities and destinations. Another part is safety. Because if walking to the nearby grocery store means putting your life overtly at risk, then you're just going to start driving. more ›

Last week a celebration was held on the lawn of City Hall during the weekly farmers' market to rejoice thirty years of locally-sourced farm-fresh produce in Los Angeles, and to look ahead to a future where we make buying and consuming such produce a priority. Part of the event was to announce the winner of GOOD magazine's "Redesign Your Farmers' Market" contest, which invited entrants to articulate and render their vision for the next generation of farmers' markets and how they'll serve the public. more ›

Last Wednesday, GOOD and Knight Pulse partnered up to honor the five individuals they awarded for their involvement in various community projects addressing local and global issues. more ›

On the South side of Melrose, right after La Brea, a small office building displays the word GOOD in big block letters through the large windows. Fittingly, it is the home of GOOD, the magazine 'for people who give a damn'. Founded in 2006 by the then 26-year-old Ben Goldhirsh, GOOD seeks to 'inform' and 'inspire', covering issues from Van Jones and green-collar jobs to street food to providing laptops to children in developing countries to economist Jeffrey Sachs' take on the state of the planet. It's a tough time for journalism, with the recent end of the Rocky Mountain News, Plenty and the elephantjournal, but Goldhirsh is figuring out how to use the tools of today, the energy of today and the climate of today to actively engage people and drive change. The magazine also donates their subscription revenue to one of twelve not-for-profits each year and, according to the most recent issue, has contributed over $1 million to 21 different not-for-profits to date. more ›

The Watts House Project (video) goes way beyond your average neighborhood beautification projects. It is large-scale "collaborative artwork in the name of neighborhood redevelopment" that seeks to engage a variety of individuals, from the residents of 107th street, to artists, to educators and community members. The project, according to artist and director, will Edgar Arceneaux, transform and remodel all 20 residences on the street through a collaboration with an artist, architect and resident of the property. more ›

The Neighborhood Map hanging in GOOD's offices on Melrose (Photo by Emily Lerman for LAist) more ›

Why is it that there's always too much to do in December? Just look at this sampling of events happening around town tonight. Check out other events on LAist Agenda: December. more ›

GOOD (named in a fit of unwarranted self-deprecation?) is all sorts of adjectives more grandiose than its namesake. Think Awesome, Impassioned, Rad, Staggering, Inspiring...well, you get the gist. Created in 2006, GOOD is "a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward" through a magazine, blog, videos, and community events. The people at GOOD stand as lighthouses among the seemingly insurmountable fog that is our consumable detritus, gently encouraging us to use our money wisely for change (subscription proceeds go towards a charity of your choosing). I mean, seriously, they are that...swell. more ›

A NIGHT FOR HOPE Tonight, Our House hosts "A Night for Hope", their first annual fundraiser at Bodega Wine Bar in Santa Monica. Our House offers nonsectarian grief support for children, teens and adults. They seek to provide the community "with grief support services, education, resources, and hope." Throughout LA County, trained volunteers lead age- and relationship-specific grief support groups. They also visit schools to reach out to grieving children in low-income areas of LA. Tonight's $50 ticket sponsors one child or adult in a grief support group for one month. more ›

Historically, the first 100 days of a presidency can indicate what a newly elected leader is able to accomplish during his term. GOOD magazine has created a well-designed chart titled "The First 100 Days" illustrating the major milestones of the last 12 U.S. Presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt all the way to George W. Bush. Keep in mind, the illustration is simply a sampling of some important decisions that were made - not a comprehensive breakdown of every significant order that was passed while these presidents were in office. more ›

1. GOOD Magazine: This locally based do-gooding magazine has been impressing many across the country over the past year. In fact, a subscription to this bi-monthly publication is one of our favorite ideas. If GOOD is not your giftee's style, there are about a million other magazines to gift them.
2. Greendimes: Give the gift no more junk mail. Starting at $15, they will stop up to 90% of junk mail and plant 10 trees. Trust us, it works, we've been with Greendimes for over a year now and we only get one piece of junk mail from one company that won't listen and that's it.
3. Organic Delivery: No one will be delivering organic delivery you order to today, tomorrow, but announcing that they will be getting a box full of beautiful organic fruits and veggies delivered within the next few weeks is a nice gift that extends into the New Year. You can order a one-time delivery or buy a weekly delivery for a month. It's up to you! We do this occasionally for ourselves and we highly recommend Organic Express.
4. CFLs: Gift a few or more Compact Fluorescent Bulbs and you'll be thanked for saving them money. We replaced nine bulbs in our household and now save an average of $80 per bill (DWP bills every two months). So in theory, by giving CFLs away, you'll be giving money on a monthly basis -- it's like a long term investment strategy.
5. Online Donations: In their name, make an online donation to a non-profit. Green Living Magazine has some ideas.

GOOD Magazine launched 6 issues ago on September 12, 2006, raising $383,760 through subscriptions for non-profit Choose GOOD partners. Here's the good in Los Angeles from their first anniversary issue released this week: more ›

City Year is coming to Los Angeles this fall and is hosting their first annual "Alumni and Friends Fundraiser" Tuesday night in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. So what exactly is City Year? more ›

Come on and get your GOOD. GOOD Magazine, that is. The buzz is has been strong on this newly-launched magazine, the creation of Ben Goldhirsh. You maybe have read the inspiring piece on him in last month's LA Times - or you might have read the interview LAist had with him prior to that (thanks Adrienne!) He is also the founder of Reason Pictures, so yes a very busy guy. more ›

Our series of interviews with 20 cool Angelenos under 30 is winding down. But we were lucky to snag an interview with the busy Ben Goldhirsh, founder of Reason Pictures and GOOD Magazine (Ben is the fellow in the middle, posing with two friends in the above photo). more ›