How women writers and artists, from Virginia Woolf to Sophie Calle, found inspiration and freedom by navigating cities on foot.
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The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Shannon Gormley, Jasmine Sanders, EsmĂ© Weijun Wang, Kevin T. Baker, and Gabrielle Bellot.
What’ll It Be For The New York Diner?
Diners were once essential threads in the fabric of New York City life. Now they’re dying off. Their loss signals a fundamental shift in not only the city’s tastes and economy, but the city’s evolving identity and values. Thankfully, not all are giving up their 22 different hamburgers and 24 types of omelettes yet.
Regarding the Interpretation of Others
When attempting to write a review of the official Susan Sontag biography, our reviewer finds himself on shaky ground after learning new information about the author.
When ‘The Real World’ Gave Up on Reality
The true story of the exact moment in the mid-Nineties when reality television morphed from its best self to its worst.
The Dead End on My Record Shelf
I believed that there was no music existing in the world with an unbroken connection to its original context. I was wrong.
‘Country Music … Was Anything BUT Pure’: An Interview with Bill Malone and Tracey Laird
The co-authors of ‘Country Music USA’ – a revised edition of the genre’s definitive history – talk about the music’s African-American tributaries, its unpredictable politics, country radio’s woman problem, and working on Ken Burns’ forthcoming doc.
‘Country Music … Was Anything BUT Pure’: An Interview with Bill Malone and Tracey Laird
The co-authors of ‘Country Music USA’ – a revised edition of the genre’s definitive history – talk about the music’s African-American tributaries, its unpredictable politics, country radio’s woman problem, and working on Ken Burns’ forthcoming doc.
The Admission
Stacy Torres recalls the mixture of frustration and relief that came with checking herself into a New York City psych ward at the age of 20.
When American Media Was (Briefly) Diverse
An economic downturn in 2008 shuttered numerous publications and further marginalized people of color in an already minimally integrated industry. But in the 90’s and early-aughts, multicultural publications flourished, providing an alternative model for journalism that bears remembering.

