Pricey Periodical Preview: The Chicagoan Hits Windy City Streets Next Week

copyright  2011 J. CrockerBorrowing its moniker from a cultural magazine published in the Second City from 1926-1935, The Chicagoan hits Chi-town  next week, the Website TimeOutChicago.com reports.

The glossy journal headed by 36-year-old Publisher/Editor-in-Chief J.C. Gabel, will debut with a 194-page issue devoid of ads and carrying a hefty $19.95 sale price. The periodical, which plans to publish twice a year, initially will be available at roughly 50 locations, mostly restaurants, salons and boutiques, the TimeOutChicago article reports.

The magazine's inaugural issue is anchored by a 47-page, 25,000-word piece about the relationship between famed Chicago film critics Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel. The book is divided into three sections: Tales from the City, A Literary Supplement and Into the Great Wide Open: Dispatches from the Midwest, and will be replete with articles, poems, short stories, essays, artwork and photographs.

Without advertising revenues, The Chicagoan will operate as a nonprofit backed by membership fees, donations and subscriptions. Members will pay annual dues of $99, according to TimeOutChicago.

A noble experiment for the culturally rich Windy City, but having formerly resided in Chicago for several years, the homesick staff of  "TUOL" believes Chi-towners won't  fork over $19.95 for a periodical, no matter how literary, unless it comes attached to a half-rack of ribs.

New Owners Take a Shine to Sun Times

Image via WikipediaThe Chicago Tribune reports that Sun Times Media, parent of the Trib's chief rival, The Chicago Sun Times, is about to change hands.

Former Newsday publisher and chief executive Timothy Knight is expected to take the helm of the tabloid Sun Times, whose origins date back to 1844 with the Chicago Evening Journal. Current Sun Times shareholders, such as Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, are hanging around, but the new ownership will be fronted by Michael Verro of Merrick Ventures, a technology holding company based in Chicago, according to the Tribune account.

The Sun Times, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2009, is also entering the pay-for-a-peek at some of its online content era embraced by most  metro dailies. The tabloid remains home base for renowned film critic Roger Ebert.