The Boston Phoenix suddenly folds

[ron_newman]

Boston Phoenix to close

Today's print edition, dated March 15, will be the last. There will be one more online edition, dated March 22. The Providence and Portland Phoenixes will continue publishing.

Without the Phoenix, we're going to lose a lot of coverage of music, theatre, visual arts, and other local culture.

Please use this post as an open thread for any thoughts or rememberances of this once-great publication.

Comments

[samcoren.livejournal.com]

I actually thought the "relaunched" version was doing well, but it's just the nature of the industry now I guess. So many bands I know got their first press mentions in the Phoenix too. Here's hoping the writers find new homes quickly.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Such a shame.

[elements.livejournal.com]

Terrible shame! I especially value the political reporting of David Bernstein - I hope he is picked up elsewhere soon!

[agharta75.livejournal.com]

I'm going to really miss the events listings. Is there anything online or off that can substitute for that?

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

That's heartbreaking. So many of my early experiences when I first moved to Boston were mediated by the Phoenix classifieds. Robert Nadeau's restaurant reviews were how I first learned to start thinking and talking about food. I guess that's also the first place I discovered Dan Savage. Occasional glimpses of great local journalism. I'm used to letting go of beloved institutions in the relentless march of time, but this smarts more than usual.

[tenshikurai9.livejournal.com]

Never paid attention to the radio station, but I did read the paper. First issue I bought was in 1999 from a place on Hancock St, Quincy and the main article was on starving artists or some-such, so there was a graphic of a painter on the cover.