I live in a Greenwich Village apartment. If you have one bedroom, you're considered fortunate; two qualifies as nearly palatial. Old means pre-war. Personally, I'm a fan of cozy, contained spaces. By contrast, whatever falls under the "house" label -- particularly if it can trace its lineage from the 18th-to-mid-20th century -- is the province of This Old House.» 0 Comments
Usually, I only read magazines whose content appeals directly to me: ones with glossy spreads of the top 50 newest lip glosses, advice columns on how to look hotter than and stop Googling your ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, what flea market in Brooklyn has the best cheese -- chick mags, if you will. So Popular Mechanics wasn't high on my must-read-every-month list. That is, until I saw the May 2011 issue wrapped in plastic with a supplement featuring what I thought were laptop accessories -- in other words, things to buy.» 0 Comments
Cooking LightPosted by Phyllis Fine on May 13, 2:15 PM
It's been quite a while since I gave Cooking Light short shrift in a 2006 review of a competing magazine. Since then, CL has revamped visually so its graphics are more appealing, and added well-known contributors like New York Times columnist Mark Bittman. It's become a truly excellent pub.» 0 Comments
I read regional pubs of places I refuse to visit; enjoy enthusiast mags on subjects I'd never pursue. There is something about glossy paper, great photography and the printed word that speak to me. But we live in a digital age -- so I pretend to stay current. Thus, when I was given a Kobo e-reader, I gave it a whirl. From a selection of magazines available, I chose Publishers Weekly; assessing a trade weekly on books on an e-book is just so post-modern! » 0 Comments
Keeping an eye on business and its machinations is the province of Bloomberg Markets, which utilizes the resources of more than 2,300 Bloomberg reporters worldwide to produce a rarity in today's news cycle: in-depth, investigative journalism.» 0 Comments
It's been over a year since Bloomberg bought the venerable yet ailing Business Week, and since then its staff has undoubtedly been grappling with questions like: How far down must a billionaire dig into his pockets to finance what Bloomberg Businessweek President Paul Bascober hopes will be "the most influential business magazine in the world"? And, is that goal impossible -- or simply irrelevant -- with the weekly print business pub possibly as dinosaur-like as the print newsweekly in the face of digital competition?» 0 Comments
Anna Wintour be damned. The September/October issue of Weight Watchers magazine features plus-sized models who look nice, but realistically chunky -- unlike fashion magazines where "plus size" means having the teensiest bit of stomach pooch.» 0 Comments
Outdoor magazines always amaze me. Yes, nature is lovely to look at -- but what do you think the Discovery Channel is for? First, it's the safest way to travel. Camping is a euphemism for no toilet paper -- or worse. Stephen Colbert isn't the only one terrified of bears. But for those humbled by its wonders, such as conservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir, the wilderness is transcendent. "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees." That's Muir; unlike me, he didn't dive into the nearest Greenwich ...» 0 Comments
The American guitar-collector phenom tracks the baby boom, the instrument's electrification and consequent graduation from rhythm instrument in big bands to solo instrument, and its explosive proliferation in style and variety. But the first instrument of today's law firm partners, plastic surgeons, bankers, account executives and yours truly was very likely an air guitar. That's Guitar Aficionado's reader base.» 0 Comments
Should Essence, one of very few magazines exclusively for black women, have hired a white fashion editor? After debate on this question recently simmered online, Editor In Chief Angela Burt-Murray defended her decision as a color-blind merit pick. She also noted that when the mag covers issues possibly more substantive than an editor's race, the public reaction is generally "crickets" (or, as translated by my people, "bupkes").» 0 Comments
