A Surprisingly Classy Magazine

I grew up in the Midwest and live there now, but I spent some years on the East Coast. Most people seemed to regard the Midwest as just a bunch of farmers and yokels whose idea of a good time was having a potluck where everyone swapped casseroles featuring Cream-Of-Whatever soup. Even I buy into that stereotype sometimes, and I expected this magazine to be full of "country decorating tips" and pound cake recipes and craft ideas using popsicle sticks and people sending in stories about the funny things their grandkids say. Wrong.

This magazine is up-to-date and intelligent. It covers gardening, dining, recipes, personal style, home decorating, and regional travel. It's not unlike Martha Stewart Living except on a reasonable (and regional) scale. Its articles reflect respect for the variety in the region. I particularly enjoy the travel features. They often highlight interesting places that I hadn't known about. The magazine leans towards the "getaway" -- a place you could go to for a weekend, with just enough interesting sights and activities to fill that short span. Overall, it's raised my own regard for what the Midwest has to offer.

My only complaint is that it does seem to be biased (perhaps unavoidably) towards the more populated and eastern-most regions of the Midwest. I see a lot more articles focused on areas close/accessible to me in Michigan than to my family in Nebraska. Still, my family there subscribes to (and enjoys) the magazine too.

It makes a great gift, by the way, for anyone you know in the region.

P.S. Nothing against cream-of-mushroom soup. I can eat my way through a church potluck as good as the next native....