The Minneapolis Star Tribune profiles brothers Tom and Mark Bartel, now operating competing publications, AAN-member City Pages (Twin Cities) and a new monthly, the Rake. Mark Bartel, publisher of City Pages, now seems secure out from the shadow of his older brother, reports Jon Tevlin. Tom Bartel and his wife and partner Kris Henning, are in their element spinning a new publication into existence.
The Portland Tribune reports that the three novelists who judged Willamette Week's annual short story contest are hopping mad. The Trib's Phil Stanford says WW's Arts & Culture Editor Caryn B. Brooks disregarded the judges' decision and picked the story she preferred. The African-American author of "Floozy," the short story the judges picked, tells Stanford it's "cultural preference."
The benefit compilation "Wish You Were Here: Love Songs For New York" was produced in the aftermath of Sept. 11. As the Voice's promo puts it, the paper "put out an emergency call begging punks, ravers, rappers, no-wavers, new agers, headbangers, reggae toasters, rai rebels, riot grrrls, emo eggheads, urban hillbillies, suburban folkies, and soulquarians for love songs devoted to New York City." Robert Christgau reviews the results and warns you to watch what you say when you talk about his paper.
A major international espionage saga is unfolding across the United States. It's been hush-hush so far, largely because the implications could be a major embarrassment for the government. The spy story is even more touchy because it isn't Saddam, Fidel, Osama or even what passes nowadays for the KGB spying on America -- but our "friend" in the war against "evil," Israel. Creative Loafing last week obtained a copy of the 60-page Drug Enforcement Agency report that provides the basis of the allegations, and CL's John Sugg writes the story in his Fishwrapper column.
