Tired of all the boring commercialized presents out there?  Want to support a good cause, but would also love it to be something artistic, and damn, there are so many out there how can you know what’s legit or not?

Well, here are three great places to give $5 or $500 bucks this Christmas season.  Do it for yourself, or give it to someone else.  Either way, you know your money will be well spent.

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1. Clare Means (pictured)

This LA based, soulful singer-songwriter has been on our show, and performs regularly on Universal City Walk and 3rd Street Promenade.

If you like unsigned music and want to support a local artist, this is as good as it gets. And her CD is only $8.99 here on CD Baby

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2. The Make.Shift Music Project

These guys are trying to provide a space for musicians and artists up in Washington to rehearse, perform, etc. And they’re doing it!  Throw these indie pioneers some love…even if it’s only a buck or two.  Every bit helps.

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3. Plastic Paradise

Acclaimed reporter (ESPN, Current TV, Yahoo!) and UCLA alum Angela Sun is making a  documentary about the mass pollution of plastic in modern society, and the great pacific garbage patch.

Go to the IndieGogo Page for Plastic Paradise and support the effort!  There’s a great video on there that I can’t quite figure out how to embed in this blog.  So please click the link.

Just do it. I’ll tell Santa.

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And…

Thanks! It really means a lot to me, and to those out there getting projects off the ground.

Merry X-mas to everyone out there creating something.

-DJ Octoon