Adria Vasil answers readers' environmental queries in her "Ecoholic" column for the Toronto alt-weekly. While her just-released book shares its name with the column, it "takes a different approach, with in-depth discussion and advice covering fashion, beauty, home improvement, outdoor living, money and more," NOW reports. She says her approach is to counsel people on the small things they can do to be more earth-friendly. "Let's face it," Vasil says. "You can't achieve environmental purity unless you're Woody Harrelson and you have millions of dollars."

Continue ReadingNOW Writer Expands Ideas in Environmental Column for Book

Louisville, Ky., probably isn't the easiest place to live car-free, but Louisville Eccentric Observer staff writer Stephen George is giving it a shot. For the next month, he'll try to navigate the city that has only "a single viable mode of public transit." He's blogging the experience for the paper, in part "to prove getting around Louisville without your own ride isn't as hard as it seems."

Continue ReadingAlt-Weekly Writer Ditches Car, Blogs His Life Without It

When the Pulitzer Board's first award for criticism for food writing went to LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold, we have to admit we were less than surprised. Judging by the results of the major food journalism awards over the past few years, it's clear that alt-weeklies have scaled the upper ranks of publications that write and report on the subject of food.

Continue ReadingPulitzer Prize Reinforces Alt-Weeklies’ Food Writing Excellence

John Citrone had been appearing each Wednesday on WJXT-TV to preview weekly entertainment options in Jacksonville, Fla., but his segment on the show was canceled yesterday after he made comments on-air that were "very inappropriate and insensitive," according to the station. "Do we really care if Georgia burns?" Citrone asked jokingly about recent brush fires that have afflicted that state. Reached by AAN News, Citrone explains that the question was asked "in a Groucho Marx-y" way, and was in keeping with his on-air shtick as "the crazy alt-weekly guy." Folio Weekly's managing editor admits he was unaware of the severity of the fires, and says his only intention was to have a little fun with an interstate rivalry. He offered to apologize on-air later in the broadcast but WJXT declined, although they included his written apology in a story about the incident posted on their website. Citrone tells AAN News that when he has had an opportunity to apologize to individuals who were upset by his comment, most have been understanding and supportive.

Continue ReadingFolio Weekly Editor Booted from Regular Spot on Morning News Show

The Metro Council approved the legislation this week despite opposition from the Nashville Scene and other local publications. According to the Tennessean, the law takes effect July 1. It will restrict the placement of news boxes and require publishers to pay permit fees and maintain their newsracks in good repair. "I'm not sure what it's supposed to accomplish, other than that we'll all have to register with a government entity and keep the boxes in working order," Scene publisher Chris Ferrell says. The councilman who co-sponsored the ordinance says he would lead the charge to rescind it if local publishers developed a better, voluntary plan. An earlier self-policing plan submitted by publishers was rejected by the council.

Continue ReadingNashville Passes News Box Regulation