The holiday season is all about giving. We know that. Somewhere in between waking up at 3am for the doorbuster deals, braving the mall crowds and boycotting consumerism all together, we can maintain our "holiday sanity" by buying gifts that support those organizations working to drive social change and improve the lives of others. We've divided this into two parts. Part I lists those gifts for when you actually need to present the recipient with a tangible good, otherwise, you ruined the Festivus...for everyone. In Part II, you'll find organizations that use your donation to give a gift to someone else less fortunate more ›

As you read earlier on LAist, nonprofit organization NextAid holds a Los Angeles benefit in their multi-date/multi-city World AIDS Day 2009 (WAD2009) campaign. Starting at 7 pm tonight at the Marrakesh House in Culver City, there’s a full slate of performers including comedians Whitney Cummings and Ben Gelb, and music by Louis Vega, Turntables on the Hudson with DJ Nickodemus + Nappy G & Brazilian Drum Troupe + Todd Simon on trumpet. The $75 ticket also includes open bar, light food and dessert. more ›

Next Tuesday, December 1, humanitarian organization NextAid, holds its Los Angeles effort in their multi-date/multi-city World AIDS Day 2009 (WAD2009) campaign. The festive series kicked off in San Francisco on November 25th and will crosses the states until December 31st. L.A.’s event, actually held on World Aids Day, looks to take the cake. more ›

Quotes of the week: “There are two kinds of people in this world, the givers and the takers. The takers eat better, but the givers sleep better.” – Danny Thomas "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle." - Benjamin Franklin “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Good Art California Design Biennial 2007 August 19 – September 30, 2007 Pasadena Museum of... more ›