CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Cover star Gerard Butler and I spent half the shoot talking about our new shared passion—surfing; Having a little fun on set with HBO’s Ian Edelman and Bryan Greenberg; E!’s Melana Scantlin and Onelia Estudillo came out to support AOE; Celebrating the incredible work of the Art of Elysium (AOE) with Ali Larter in Malibu

Change is good. Frankly, I’ve always thought that was a fairly annoying saying and one I have definitely disagreed with at various points in my life. And yet I have to admit: Rarely have I not been able to see the benefits of change and the lesson it provided after it came and went. It may take time to see it—the lesson may be hiding in the shadows, forcing you to really look for it—but I’ve found that it is almost always lurking somewhere.

I bring up the concept of change because you will notice a significant amount of it when you flip through the pages of this magazine. We have new features, a new look and a new attitude. It’s an exciting example of change and one we hope you like. With this inaugural issue of the new Los Angeles Confidential, we present you with the magazine’s fresh face, and we hope you think it’s a beautiful one. We certainly do.

That’s the thing about change: It can—if you let it—bring out the best in you. It can challenge you, force you to push your boundaries, make you think outside the box, defy your own limitations. You see, change is good, but it is also hard, and that is why it is so often worthwhile.

But this month isn’t only about our new look—it’s also our annual men’s issue. For those who know me, it should come as no surprise that this is my favorite magazine of the year to create. That’s probably because every time we get to this issue, it actually becomes a large part of my job to think about men (tough gig, I know, but someone has to do it). What could be better for a female editor than a day spent thinking about those members of the male persuasion who fascinate us, inspire us, challenge us, or—even better—make us weak in the knees? In this issue, we celebrate many men who we think do all of those things. In fact, I’m still thinking about a few of them.

The result of all these changes and male-dominated thinking is a magazine we think is incredible, innovative and more than anything, interesting. We think it celebrates LA in a completely new, engaging way.

So, OK, I’ll admit it: Change is good. We hope you agree.

SARI ANNE TUSCHMAN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SAM JONES (BUTLER); ERIC WILLIAMS (EDELMAN/GREENBERG)