A Golden State Zine With Zing

Inspired by Desert magazine, early Sunset and New West, with a slightly more eclectic viewpoint, Great God Pan is a semiyearly zine designed to pick out bits and pieces of California that slip through the cracks.

Some of Great God Pan’s bits, or “gold nuggets” as its editors like to call them, are reprints of small stories specific to the California lifestyle culled from any number of publications.

A section called Site Specific introduces readers to little-known historical monuments and the stories behind them: the early Beach Boys rehearsal space (3701 W. 119th Place, Hawthorne) and the cabin where Woody Guthrie lived (1419 Topanga Canyon Road), to name a few.

The zine also contains reviews of offbeat books, records and live musical performances; features about historical landmarks, such as the now-defunct Ship’s chain of restaurants; poetry; and, in the most recent issue, a series called Rustic Canyon that asks 10 artists to give their perspectives on California.

Great God Pan, which is based in Hermosa Beach, can be found at bookstores and newsstands or by calling (323) 906-1959.