The Magazines From the Midwest Every Editor Should Read

By Heather Taylor

Ready to amp up your reading list with magazines that branch outside of the Hearst/Condé Nast umbrella? Ed has rounded up some of his favorite midwestern pubs for whippersnappers who are hungry to add fresh mags to their stack of daily reads. These magazines will inspire editors everywhere with their coverage of everything from jet set travel to tasty #eeeeeats with plenty of local interviews, features, and profiles.

Michigan Avenue

Packed with all of the elegance the Windy City has to offer, Michigan Avenue celebrates sophistication by covering Chicago’s people, food, drinks, parties, real estate, style, and beauty. With a print frequency of six times a year, you can check in with Hamilton star Joshua Henry, indulge in delicious eats at Mott St. like a true local, and get tips from North Shore boutique owner Ashley Quicksilver on how to conquer the wind chill cold in style.

Mpls.St.Paul 

This monthly pub instantly won us over with their Prince tribute “Funkiest. Minnesotan. Ever.” Since 1972, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine has shared what to see, what’s new, and who’s who in the Twin Cities. Discover why wild rice soup deserves another chance on their “Foodie” blog, a Q&A with The Daily Show co-creator (and Minnesota native!) Lizz Winstead, and an in-depth profile on the dynamic city of Duluth.

Feast

Let’s eat! Covering the state of Missouri (specifically St. Louis and Kansas City), Feast Magazine is all about inspired food culture. From a taste of hometown favorites to trendy new restaurants, there’s something for every foodie to dig into. Check out the Christmas pop-up bar Miracle on Chouteau, get the scoop on what’s opening and shuttering in your neck of the woods, and find out which chefs are heading to your fave eatery. Hungry for more? Catch an episode of Feast TV, the Emmy-winning program that features a behind-the-scenes look at some of the region’s tastiest hot spots.

Artful Living Magazine

Adventure is out there and in the pages of Artful Living Magazine. Nicknamed the “Magazine of the North,” this quarterly publication takes readers on an aesthetically pleasing journey throughout Minneapolis. Each issue highlights art, culture, travel, fashion, food, and more. Peer inside the Winter 2016 issue, the annual travel issue with 236 pages devoted to whisking readers away on a trip to Cuba.

614 Columbus

614 Columbus puts the spotlight on the Ohio city’s unique offerings each month. While this pub covers plenty of familiar territory including food, arts, culture, and entertainment, they’re also all about celebrating the community. Dig deeper into Columbus history, marvel at Columbusonian cartoons, and meet the faces behind the city’s institutions in their interview issue series.

ALIVE Magazine

ALIVE Magazine had us with their Instagram bio: “Interesting people doing remarkable things throughout the middle of America.” This bi-monthly pub may be based out of Saint Louis, but it keeps up with what’s new and noteworthy for cities in the heartland like Nashville and Tulsa. Check in with the many talents featured in the magazine’s glossy pages including rising hip-hop star Mvstermind for a discussion on race and creativity, bicoastal ‘it girl’ Kate Greer on real talk about feelings, and chef Diane Yang, who shares a recipe for chocolate profiterole that’s perfect to perk up the winter blahs.

Hour Detroit

Ready to get glam with the Motor City? Hour Detroit has it all: fashion, food, events, real estate, culture, and more in this monthly lifestyle mag that highlights the cosmopolitan nature of the city and its readers. Get dressed and ring in the New Year in style, check out a recap on the Detroit Institute of Arts annual Fash Bash event, and find out how local grocery store Corktown is investing in bringing the community 100 percent locally sourced goods.

Heather Taylor is a former entertainment writer turned brand mascot aficionado (and head writer) for Advertising Week’s Icon Blog. She shares her thoughts on pop culture at HelloGiggles and has been published in Brit + Co, The Drum, and BettyConfidential. Chat with her about anything from SNL to the Pillsbury Doughboy on Twitter @howveryheather. GIFs highly encouraged.