Stories

The Devastation, And Slow Recovery, Of Asheville’s Arts District

“About 350 of the displaced artists are working again in the district. Some are actively involved in the continuing recovery process, waiting to return to the home that welcomed them. Others have decided not to return. For them, the risk of another storm outweighed anything else.” - The New York Times

Oh TIFF, Not Another Scheduled, Canceled, Rescheduled Documentary

“The decision — in both directions — has angered a number of critics and moviegoers over the festival’s clear lack of consistency and conviction.” - Vulture

Could We Maybe Get Some Positive Climate Fiction?

"Should writers try to offer a restorative or rousing spirit for the times we live in, an opposition to eschatology? Can literature actually be a tool to encourage something better – creating eco-topia on the page, so it might be imagined off it?” - The Guardian (UK)

Five Beautiful Objects An Artist Wishes He’d Made

Sometimes, you just have to admire the pencil. - The New York Times

A Dedicated Volunteer Exposed A Long-Running Wikipedia Fraudster

“From December 2021 through June 2025, 183 articles were created about Woodard, each in a different language's Wikipedia and each by a unique account. These accounts followed a pattern of behavior.” - Ars Technica

Carnegie Museum Employees Wonder How, Exactly, This Conservative Group’s Fundraiser Wasn’t Political

“Weeks after last month’s event, the museum network’s chief executive, Steven Knapp, acknowledged to employees that it was a violation of policy, accusing the fund-raiser’s organizers of providing misleading information.” - The New York Times

St. Rat In Seattle: Art And Theology Experts Weigh In

“Hot Rat Summer features St. Rat, a kind of patron saint for those at the bottom of the societal heap: Furries, gay people, trans people, and anyone else who doesn’t fit into the typical mold.” - The Stranger (Seattle)

He Was Once A Bus Conductor. Now He’s One Of India’s Biggest Movie Stars, With A 50-Year Career.

Rajinikanth even worked briefly as a porter in his youth before checking bus passengers’ tickets. Now he’s Tamil-language cinema’s number-one superstar and one of the best-paid actors in Asia, with 170 film credits, 50,000 fan clubs and even a temple or two dedicated to him. - BBC (MSN)

An Indie DC Bookstore That Became A Publisher. And It’s Thriving

The longtime independent bookseller on Connecticut Avenue runs an in-house publishing operation, called Opus, that allows authors to self-publish their work. This side business has by some metrics been a huge success. - Washingtonian

The Problem Of Being An Edinburgher During The Fringe Has Gotten Worse

Not so long ago, if you lived more than half a mile from the castle, it wasn’t hard to avoid the crowds and madness if that’s what you wanted. Not anymore, and that’s not only because of the Fringe’s massive growth; it’s that no place can remain a secret anymore. - The Observer (UK)

Has The Digital Age Led To A Golden Period Of Reading?

The fact that social reading goes beyond the individual requires an astute consideration of digital community, because “interactions and bonds between individuals meeting via digital media can occur in different ways.” - PublicBooks

As More Libraries Ban Books, California Libraries Offer A Solution

To combat book censorship, some Southern California public libraries, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, are joining libraries nationwide to provide access to online library cards. - Los Angeles Times

Live Music Is Booming. And Hip Hop Acts Are Selling Out Big Shows

This summer Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Tyler, the Creator, GloRilla, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne and Wu-Tang Clan have packed arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums in the United States and abroad. - The New York Times

Historic Painted Houses Of Burkina Faso Endangered By Climate Change

The wavy-walled houses of Tiébélé, covered with distinctive geometric patterns, constitute one of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Burkina Faso. They’re made of earth, straw, and logs; the unpredictable rains brought on by climate change are causing the walls to deteriorate and making repair more difficult. - The Guardian

What AP Dropping Book Reviews Means To Publishing

Historically, AP arts coverage has been particularly important because smaller and local papers tend to syndicate AP reviews, which are written for a wide, non-partisan audience. Absent their standard blurbs, smaller outlets that can’t afford to staff a books section may be forced to stop circulating literary news full stop. - LitHub

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