January 24, 2009


     The magazines are catching up with the newspapers very quickly:  Time  has rushed to the stands a special issue commemorating the inauguration of President Barack Obama.  Newsweek has put out a "Special Inauguration Issue" ($5.95) and a "Commemorative Inaugural Edition" ($9.95).  In addition, People magazine has devoted its cover this week to a photo of our new President dancing with the new First Lady at on of the balls, both of them looking as happy as two people can be.  Life & Style Weekly has a "Special Inauguration Issue" that they claim is a "Collectors Item for only $2.99".  OK! Weekly is a "Special Collector's Edition" that rejoices, "OH, BAMA! The Celebration of the Century."  The January Washingtonian is a "Special Inauguration Issue" with a beautiful cover portrait of President and Mrs. Obama. 

     Now that the late Heath Ledger has secured the Oscar nomination so many people wanted for him, the cover story in this week's Entertainment Weekly is even more interesting.   Among the revelations: he turned down the role of Spider-Man and he was relieved that he didn't win an Oscar for his role in Brokeback Mountain."

     Hello! has Lisa Marie Presley and her new twins on the cover this week.

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

*01/20/09 Hot Bike Buyer's Guide: 100s of the latest V-Twin parts and accessories..
*01/20/09 Artists' Cafe: Best of Somerset Studio art & design..

 

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

      There are 2,378 stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame -- so far. -- January 26 TV Guide 
 
     This year will see the launch of the Celebrity Equinox, the world's first cruise ship to feature a half-acre lawn of real, growing grass. --  Jan/Feb Cruise Travel

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

BLAGO BEING ADVISED BY GHOST OF AL CAPONE

New evidence proves... TITANIC WAS SUNK BY VATICAN TORPEDO!

'GHOST OF AL CAPONE' TURNS OUT TO BE GHOST OF LOU COSTELLO

January 21, 2009

    On the day after the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama people are coming into City Newsstand and buying entire bundles of Tribunes and Sun-Times.  I don't know how long they'll last, but we still have some copies left of both as of this writing.  

     Speaking of Presidential history, February 12, 2009 marks the 200th birthday of President Abraham Lincoln.  Already there are two wonderful magazine specials on the market to commemorate this anniversary.  Time -- Abraham Lincoln A Bicentennial Celebration is an illustrated history of his life and times.  Lincoln -- America's Greatest President at 200 is a special from Smithsonian full of articles about our 16th President by such luminaries as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Christopher Buckley, and Theodore C. Sorensen. Also, the February issue of American History features the cover story, "Lincoln's Secret of Success" and History the History Channel Magazine gives us the story, "Grave Doings -- The plot to steal Lincoln's body" on their February cover.

     The cover of the January issue of Total Film, its 150th issue, features a robot from "Terminator Salvation" whose eyes actually light up and flash red when you press the 'button' above the nameplate. 

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

*01/20/09 The Best of America's Test Kitchen: Best recipes and reviews 2009.
*01/17/09 Tattoo Annual: Hottest tattoos of the year.
 01/16/09 Heroes: The official magazine.
 01/16/09 Scrapbook Trends: Get inspired!
 

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

      Artists with albums currently on The Billboard 200 include, Q-Tip, T-Pain, Ne-Yo, E-40, T.I., O.A.R., M.I.A., and AC/DC. -- January 24 Billboard 
 
     Abraham Lincoln and his then roommate, Joshua Speed, slept together in the same bed for four years. --  Lincoln -- America's Greatest President at 200

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

TRUMP DEFENDS "FOLLICLY SUPERIOR" BLAGO

THE LOCH NESS MONSTER PREFERS TO BE CALLED "BRUCIE"

MAN FOLLOWS RAINBOW TO OUTHOUSE -- FINDS "POT OF GOLD"

January 17, 2009

    In the market for a good used car?  The Auto Trader, which used to cost $1.25 is now free.  And speaking of free, don't forget to check out the new tabloid edition of the Chicago Tribune, starting Monday.     

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

 01/14/09 Make: A Chicago literary magazine.
*01/10/09 Southern Weddings: Inspiring details from across the country.
 01/10/09 CSI: Miami: The official magazine.
 

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

      Dolphins, like humans, great apes, and elephants, can recognize themselves in a mirror. -- Discover presents The Brain 
 
     January 25th, 2009, is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the day John Dillinger was arrested in Tucson, AZ. -- January Arizona Highways

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

BUSH MAKES REPORTERS TAKE OFF SHOES AT WHITE HOUSE DOOR, 
CLAIMS THEY JUST GOT NEW CARPETING

MAGICIAN LOSES HAT -- LAS VEGAS OVERRUN BY RABBITS!

LEPRECHAUN BEATS CHUPACABRA TO DEATH WITH SHILLELAGH!

January 14, 2009

         It looks like winter is upon us full force now, so on those rare occasions when you venture our of your warm & snug homes to procure food and other provisions don't forget to stock up on the reading material as well.  A nice little stack of magazines goes a long way toward fighting cabin fever.  I sold a copy of Dive Training tonight and was momentarily jealous when I realized that the customer I sold it to will be mentally in the tropics while the rest of us are still dealing with the frosty arctic chill.

     The Chicago Tribune will be given away for free on Monday, January 19th only.  Why? Because starting that day, the newsstand editions of the daily Chicago Tribune will be printed in tabloid format, like the Sun-Times.  The home edition will still be a broadsheet.  The content in the two editions will be virtually identical.  It is believed that the Trib will be the first paper in America to be printed in both formats at the same time.  Judging by some of the responses at the Trib's website [ www.chicagotribune.com ] a lot of people seem to be very upset about this news for some reason but personally I don't understand why they didn't do this years ago.

     Random thought: Why doesn't the word 'engrave' mean the same thing as the word 'entomb'?

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

*01/09/09 Hybrid Mom: It's a revolution.
*01/09/09 Today's Black Woman presents Obama: His Life | His Vision | His Dream.
 

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

     John Tesh's "Grand Piano Christmas" has re-entered the Billboard 200 at #128. -- Jan. 17 Billboard  
 
     Deer don't like garlic. -- Jan-Feb Blue Ridge Country

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

TWO-HEADED ALIEN PROCLAIMS, "EARTH IS DOOMED!" -- "NO, IT'S NOT!"

GNOME IN ROSE GARDEN HIDES BEHIND BUSHES, FROM BUSHES

STREEP TO WINSLET AT GLOBES: "I'll see you at the Oscars, Friendo."

January 10, 2009

     I was looking at the new Entertainment Weekly today because Johnny Depp as John Dillinger is on the cover. The movie, "Public Enemies", was shot in and around Chicago last summer.  They even shot some of it right around the corner from City Newsstand at the Portage Theater, which benefited nicely from some of the fixing up the production company did.   Later in the year, the Portage commemorated the occasion with a 25-cent screening of "Manhattan Melodrama", the movie Dillinger saw the night he was gunned down by the FBI. They had a "Woman In Red" contest and live theatre organ music.  It was a really nice afternoon.

     The cover photo of Confederate general Braxton Bragg on the March issue of America's Civil War had me wondering if Beatle George Harrison was somehow involved in the War Between the States.

     With the inauguration just ten days away this may be a good time to remind everybody that City Newsstand has a large section of collectible Barack Obama commemorative magazines, books, calendars, etc.  We Chicagoans are very proud of our native son and his accomplishments and very excited that our nation is embarking on a new beginning.  Godspeed Mr. President-elect!

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

 01/09/09 Tattoo Scout: Germany.
*01/07/09 2009 Inauguration Special: BARACK OBAMA How He Changed Our World..
*01/07/09 Old Home Renovation: From the editors of Renovation Style..
*01/07/09 Show Latina: Jesikah in Paradise.
 

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

     Actor Johnny Depp wears the same size trousers as the late bank-robbing legend John Dillinger, who he plays in the upcoming movie, "Public Enemies."  -- Jan. 9 Entertainment Weekly
 
    The AK-47 was designed in 1947. -- Jan-Feb Mental Floss

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

LOCH NESS MONSTER WINTERING IN ST. BARTS

ELVIS HAD HIMSELF CLONED -- MOST ELVI REALLY ARE ELVIS!

BLAGO MAY GO OVER PAY-FOR-PLAY DOUGH

January 7, 2009

     I was pleasantly surprised to find today that AMI has resurrected the Weekly World News as both a website -- www.weeklyworldnews.com -- and as an 8-page insert in the Sun reprinting vintage material 'from the legendary magazine.' Now if they would only bring it back as a full-blown periodical we could all go back to being truly informed...

     Looking back on 2008, it was a year when City Newsstand celebrated its 30th anniversary... I personally celebrated my 50th birthday by visiting my 50th state... speaking of a 50th state, America elected its first Hawaiian-born President... the lowly Chicago White Sox, who struggled all season long, thrilled us by making it into the post season and actually winning a couple of playoff games while the mighty Chicago Cubs, who looked unbeatable during the season were unable to win a single playoff game... For more looking back at 2008, we recommend:

          The Economist - The World in 2009
          Entertainment Weekly - Best & Worst of 2008
          Sports Illustrated's Best Sports Pictures of 2008

     It's going to be a very interesting new year -- enjoy it!

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

*01/03/09 Food Network Magazine: Cook like a star!
*01/03/09 Stuffed: A gathering of softies.
*01/03/09 Silvershotz Folio Annual: International art photography.
 01/03/09 Australia & New Zealand: The adventure starts here.
*12/31/08 Reality Magazine: Real people. Real stories.
 12/31/08 Concrete: East Europe graffiti magazine.
 12/31/08 The Coastal Traveler: Quarterly.

THINGS WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

     Il Divo's "The Promise" is the #1 selling album in Sweden right now.  -- Jan. 10 Billboard

     The brain is about 70 percent fat. -- January Discover

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

NATION'S RETAILERS NO LONGER PUTTING THEIR HANDS OVER THEIR FISTS

DARYL HANNAH LEADS PROTEST AGAINST RESTAURANT THAT SERVES MERMAID!

BUSH TWINS ARGUE OVER WHOSE TURN IT IS TO RUN THE COUNTRY NEXT

January 1st, 2009
New Year's Day

Today starts a new year and and last night we decided to start something new.  We're going to start updating our website at least once a week.  You'll still get all that great magazine info but on a more timely basis.  All the latest stuff will be right here on our home page and there will be links to previous posts.  Again, I hope to post here at least once a week in 2009.  We'll see how it goes...

     Well the Blackhawks took it on the chin 6 to 4 today in Chicago's first Winter Classic in Wrigley Field.  Too bad, but it was fun seeing outdoor hockey and what did we expect -- Chicago teams that play in Wrigley Field have a long and glorious history of losing. Let's just hope that the Hawks aren't cursed for the rest of the season.

     I was reading tonight in American Road about some of the sights along US 50 in Nevada, America's Loneliest Road.  I took a look at a Rand McNally Road Atlas and all of a sudden I've got a hankerin' to take a road trip from Winchester VA to Sacramento, CA, all on US 50.  My guess is that it would be a great way to see a whole lot of the Real America.  

     I hope you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.  See you next week!

NEW MAGAZINES
All titles below are new to the store but those with a * are also newly published.

*12/29/08 Smithsonian Collector's Edition -- Lincoln: America's Greatest President at 200.
*12/27/08 The Complete Idiot's Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol: Strategies for a healthy heart.
 12/27/08 Penny Press Favorite Quick & Easy Crosswords: 143 puzzles!
*12/26/08 The American Dog Magazine: Your dog. Your family. Your lifestyle.
 12/26/08 The London Magazine: A review of literature and the arts.
*12/23/08 Northwest Coast: Celebrating the people, culture , and landscape of the Columbia-Pacific.
 12/21/08 Oyster: World fashion. Australia.
 12/20/08 Chopper Head Magazine: The voice for outlaw kulture tastemakers.
*12/17/08 Henna: Asian and beyond. UK.

THING WE LEARNED FROM READING MAGAZINES TODAY

     Nyctinasty is the scientific name for the phenomenon, found in poppies and other flowers, of opening at dawn and closing at dusk.  -- November 2008 BBC Focus

City Newsstand's HEADLINE WORLD  
Your incredible source for unbelievable headlines!

BURL IVES OUT -- POPE JOHN PAUL II IS THE NEW SANTA CLAUS!

BLAGO APPOINTS WIFE TO WHITE HOUSE ETIQUETTE POSITION

LEPRECHAUNS ELECT NEW KING -- TOM CRUISE TO BE CORONATED ON MARCH 17