GOOD Magazine moved into their new space on Melrose late last year, and officially introduce it to the public in two weeks of almost non-stop events called GOOD December. If you had not yet had a chance to visit, this was definitely the perfect time to do so. GOOD December included a whirlwind of musical performances, workshops, screenings, discussions, field trips, parties and more and I was able to experience the GOOD space when I attended the December 18th presentation, DesignLA.. In DesignLA seven Los Angeles designers were asked to bring their design skills to bear in the service of solving one of the seven Los Angeles problems put to them. One of these designers, architect Barbara Bestor, well-renown for her Modernist style, was also the one responsible for the design of the GOOD space. Bestor’s firm, Bestor Architecture, specializes in remodeling old buildings so they can have a new life and look awesome while doing so. The GOOD space fell into this category (someone told me it used to be a furniture store in a past life). How much of Bestor’s work was actual redesign of the building or if it was all just limited to interior design, I can’t really say. However the building looks totally Modern with its box-shape and floor to ceiling glass wall facing Melrose, which becomes floor to roof and wraps round the side at the corner stairwell to the second floor. All this glass makes the lobby clearly visible in its entirety from the street, the excitement inside attracting passers by or putting extra briskness in the step of someone already GOOD space bound. Upon entering, I went up a ramp sandwiched between the glass and wall painted fire-engine red (with December’s calendar huge in white), which leads a few feet to the lobby. Here a myriad of things catch the eye and hold the interest, some only yielding what’s most interesting about them with added scrutiny. One such piece, a map of Los Angeles, fills the wall that looks out onto Melrose. Covered with a menagerie of post-its of various colors and shapes, closer examination revealed their messages; here one said, “This is where I met Vicky” and there “I live here now but will be moving soon” or “Machine Project – Yaah!” - a map of a Los Angeles of human experience. To my right was a wall filled with a huge and crowded bulletin board under which was a television, flyers and magazines. Here I picked up a Guide to Art on the Metro System, an issue of The Architects Newspaper and a flyer to art in LA, which touted the California Biennial. Abutting and parallel to the glass wall and running almost the full length of the room was a table made from three large planks and a few sawhorses. Strewn over its surface were issues of GOOD magazine and its subscription cards (with its much talked-about Choose Good campaign where the entire fee goes to a non-profit). There were also buttons, two types of dark chocolate (I love chocolate so I got both!), crayons and coloring book pages of Los Angeles landmarks, which people seated on the Eames chairs from Modernica were having lots of fun coloring. At the end of the table stood a plywood-cutout Christmas tree decorated with colored energy-saver bulbs. On closer inspection I found these bulbs to be powered entirely by clean energy provided by a company called NRDC. It was at this point I realized that design is a big thing for GOOD, not unlike many other young companies, and GOOD’s mix of Modern and Low-Tech (even their graphics for GOOD December, designed by Keith Scharwath exemplified that Low-Tech feel) is definitely what’s hip right now. Next to the Christmas tree, against what is the far wall of the lobby from the entrance, was a crowd of people. The reason for this was that Hope was giving samples of it’s wine (created specifically to help raise money for charity) and next to them, Ben & Jerry’s was scooping out free ice cream in delicious Cheesecake and Coffee flavors. I had definitely been dipping into the alcohol bin pretty often at all the holiday parties, and knew I would do so even more before the season was over, so I decided to forego the wine and binge instead on ice cream – a perfect choice, the ice cream was delicious! As it was getting close to the time when the presentation would start (oh had I mentioned I got there pretty late?) I took my second helping of ice cream and went into a narrow hall, which I believe runs the entire length of the building. I’m not sure because I really didn’t explore it (did I say I was late – but note that I had time to get ice cream – what’s important people. What’s important). I followed the crowd into a large room filled with those colorful Eames chairs and at one end of which was a bar and the other a screen. Slipping into one of those smooth chairs I could feel a slight chill from the cold air wafting in, which brought with it the smell of tacos. It was coming from the doors that opened the room up onto a huge courtyard where people were getting some last minute dinner before the presentation – which reminded me it was time for more ice cream. From conversations I gathered that all the people there loved Los Angeles and were glad to be in a room full of people who felt likewise. These are sentiments I share and find that its quite easy for a lot of people to jump on the ‘Hate LA’ bandwagon without actually knowing very much about the city. The presentation itself was extremely interesting, made all the more so because we got not only a sense of just how talented these designers are, but also got a glimpse into their personalities as well So how do I feel about this new GOOD space? Well not having been to their old space and only hearing a snippet here or there about them, this experience not only formed my first impressions of the space but about GOOD itself. The space is wonderfully designed with lots to keep one engaged, but more than that is their ability to pull off the events they do. Obviously not all events will be of this magnitude and to expect that is to set unreal expectations. I have no doubt that the GOOD space in its life as a both offices and exhibition space will become a hub for connecting people and fostering a greater appreciation of the city via interesting events. And as such I eagerly look forward to upcoming events there. Look out Pink’s there’s now a new reason to go to the intersection of La Brea and Melrose! *** For more on GOOD Magazine events, visit: http://www.good.is/sections/blog/serie.php?tname=good-events