5 Magazines That Are Worth The Paper They’re Printed On

Every few months, there’s a new thinkpiece or three bemoaning the “death of print magazines.” And then there are retaliatory articles that say: “No, dummy, print magazines are alive and well.” And the cycle continues. So which is it? Are magazines headed towards becoming the dodo of the media landscape? Or – to continue with the bird metaphors – are they rising phoenix-like from the ashes of the Internet age?

We don’t know the answer, but one thing’s for sure: magazines in the 21 ^st century are vastly different than what they once were. The best print publications these days are a more “boutique” experience, offering carefully curated content, sparkling design and in-depth explorations of niche topics. They’re meant to be savored, not merely consumed. With that in mind, here are five magazines that make us want to put away the iPhone, settle into an armchair and get lost.

Cherry Bombe

This biannual publication is a colorful celebration of two worth celebrating: women and food. With features on chefs, growers, foodies, restaurateurs and all points in between, Cherry Bombe is gorgeous to look at … and almost certainly appetite-inducing. cherrybombe.com

The Pitchfork Review

Did the Internet’s leading music website really need a print edition? If it’s as beautifully designed as the Pitchfork Review, sure, why not? And the diverse range of coverage can’t be beat either – one recent issue included long-form pieces on Alice Coltrane, Prince and NYC proto-punk in the 1970s, not to mention a surprisingly fascinating dig into the history of music notation. A music nerd’s dream come true. thepitchforkreview.com

The Believer

First emerging out of the McSweeney’s empire in the early 2000s, The Believer is now an old standby for the “print’s not dead” partisans. And it’s easy to see why: each issue is a pleasingly eclectic grab bag: quirky advice columns, off-beat infographics, and best of all, extensive, absorbing interviews with authors, filmmakers, artists, stars of the rock and movie variety … and anyone else worth talking to. We believe! believermag.com

Kinfolk

 Slow down. Simplify. Cultivate. In an increasingly complex and fast-paced world, Kinfolk is devoted to going in the opposite direction. The quarterly magazine features ways for readers to do the same, building community, spending time with friends and keeping things simple. Taking it slow has never looked quite so good: Kinfolk’s clean design, inspirational photography and clever graphics make it an uncommon pleasure to page through every time a new issue arrives. kinfolk.com

[wherever]

The big travel magazines – Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar and others – remain essential for readers with incurable cases of wanderlust. But [wherever], a lovely biannual “out of place” journal brings something new to the table, with stories that are all about the uniqueness of each traveler’s experience, whether it’s a writer waxing rhapsodic about the aromas of an East village café or a naturopath’s travelogue composed from her journeys through India, focused on spirituality and healing. Wherever [wherever] takes you, it’s sure to get you thinking about your next global adventure. wherevermag.com