L Magazine

The L Magazine was created in 2003 by brothers Scott and Daniel Stedman and editor Jonny Diamond in Dumbo, Brooklyn.{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/011925/the-l-magazine |title=The L Magazine |publisher=Gawker.com |date=April 14, 2003 |accessdate=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010105921/http://gawker.com/011925/the-l-magazine |archivedate=October 10, 2012 }} The brothers named it for the L train, a subway line that connects Brooklyn to Manhattan.{{cite web |last1=Husni |first1=Samir |author1-link=Samir Husni |title=Brooklyn Magazine: Born From The Womb Of Its Mother, The L Magazine, This Artistically-Focused Magazine With A Regional Title Is Much More Than A Dart On A Map As It Showcases The Creative Movement That's Alive & Well And Living In Brooklyn – The Mr. Magazine™ Interview With Daniel Stedman, Co-Founder and Publisher, Brooklyn Magazine |url=https://mrmagazine.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/brooklyn-magazine-born-from-the-womb-of-its-mother-the-l-magazine-this-artistically-focused-magazine-with-a-regional-title-is-much-more-than-a-dart-on-a-map-as-it-showcases-the-creative-movement-th/ |website=MrMagazine.Wordpress.com |access-date=26 November 2020 |date=20 December 2016 |quote="Scott and I got this idea for The L Magazine, which admittedly has been a difficult brand name over time; people thought it was a lesbian magazine, or people have confused it with Elle, the fashion magazine, but the significance of the name I think was always appropriate in the subway that connected Greensburg with the East Village, or you could say more broadly, one of the trains connecting Brooklyn and downtown."}} It ceased publication in July 2015, with resources shifted to sister publication Brooklyn Magazine.

The L's launch coincided with that of New York Sports Express,{{cite web|last=Taibbi |first=Matt |url=http://www.nypress.com/article-9828-rip-nysx.html |title=R.I.P. Nysxr.I.P. Nysx |publisher=Nypress.com |date=July 27, 2004 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} an offshoot of New York Press. The distribution boxes used by Express and The L looked very similar; both were bright orange, and they were the same shape and color.

While most likely a coincidence, Express editor-in-chief Jeff Koyen decided to print a series of barbs{{cite web|url=http://www.nypress.com/article-8192-entertainment.html|title=EntertainmentEntertainment|work=Nypress.com|accessdate=November 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826133848/http://www.nypress.com/article-8192-entertainment.html|archive-date=August 26, 2011|url-status=dead}} against Scott Stedman, The L's publisher. Stedman responded with a full-sized ad in The L challenging Koyen to a boxing match. On October 25, Koyen and Stedman boxed at Gleason's Gym in Dumbo,{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/013784/koyen-v-stedman-pictures |title=Koyen v. Stedman Pictures |publisher=Gawker.com |accessdate=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010105915/http://gawker.com/013784/koyen-v-stedman-pictures |archivedate=October 10, 2012 }} Brooklyn to settle the score. The match ended in a draw, and no re-match was rescheduled.{{cite web|last=Elzweig|first=Matt|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a877.asp|title=Articles: Boxing Writers|publisher=Mediabistro|date=October 29, 2003|accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/nyregion/neighborhood-report-ny-up-close-news-boxes-in-a-face-off-sort-of.html|title=NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: NY UP CLOSE; News Boxes In a Face-Off, Sort of – New York Times|work=The New York Times|date=August 3, 2003|accessdate=November 10, 2011}}

The boxing match was re-created on the TV show Bored to Death. Jonathan Ames claims in his blog{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/bored-to-death/index.html#/bored-to-death/episodes/2/16-super-ray-is-mortal/blog/jonathan-ames.html|title=Bored to Death: Homepage|publisher=HBO |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Chaudhury |first=Nadia |url=http://mysticchildz.blogspot.com/2009/12/brooklyn-boxing.html |title=Green, how I want you green: Brooklyn Boxing |publisher=Mysticchildz.blogspot.com |date=December 28, 2009 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} that the season finale was based on this match.

In 2005, The L Magazine launched Summer Screen,{{cite web|last=Parks |first=Richard |url=http://www.greenpointnews.com/entertainment/reality-bites-but-l-magazines-summerscreen-film-showings-do-not |title=Greenpoint Gazette:Reality Bites, but L Magazine's Summerscreen film showings do not |publisher=Greenpointnews.com |date=July 16, 2009 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} a free weekly film series in Brooklyn's McCarren Park.{{cite web|last=Ries |first=Brian |url=http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/weather-1-bowie-0-labyrinth-summerscreen-rescheduled-due-to-rain/ |title=Weather 1, Bowie 0: Labyrinth SummerScreen Rescheduled Due to Rain |publisher=FREEwilliamsburg |date=July 14, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite news|last=Ray |first=Kate |url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/26/31_26_cinema_under_the_stars.html |title=Cinema under the stars |work=The Brooklyn Paper |date=June 28, 2008 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}

In 2009, The L Magazine launched the Northside Music Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/music/2010-06-28/northside-festival-/ |title=The Northside Festival Celebrates Brooklyn |publisher=Interview Magazine |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/04/2010_northside.php |title=2010 Northside Festival Lineup Announced! – New York Music – Sound of the City |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=April 30, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} Headliners included indie rock acts Cymbals Eat Guitars, The Dodos, Screaming Females, and Real Estate (band). In 2010, The L Magazine hosted the second Northside Festival,{{cite web|last=Rubenfeld |first=Samuel |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/06/22/northside-festival-celebrates-music-film-art-hipsters/ |title=Northside Festival Celebrates Music, Film Art, Hipsters – Speakeasy – WSJ |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 22, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Colter |first=Seth |url=http://www.theawl.com/2010/06/the-northside-festival-it-turns-out-punk-is-dead-to-hipsters |title=The Northside Festival: It Turns Out Punk Is Dead-To Hipsters |publisher=The Awl |date=June 28, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/floor_with_unearthly_trance_part_b7WHR3rzhQ26KOp38n6voN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620014635/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/floor_with_unearthly_trance_part_b7WHR3rzhQ26KOp38n6voN |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 20, 2011 |title=Northside Festival |work=New York Post |date=June 21, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/06/15/cos-presents-northside-festival-‘10-showcase-featuring-les-savy-fav-polvo/ |title=CoS Presents: Northside Festival '10 showcase featuring Les Savy Fav & Polvo |date=June 15, 2010 |website=Consequence of sound|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619073831/https://consequenceofsound.net/2010/06/15/cos-presents-northside-festival-%E2%80%9810-showcase-featuring-les-savy-fav-polvo/ | archivedate=2010-06-19}}{{cite web |url=http://gothamist.com/2010/06/28/northside_festival.php |title=We Were There: Northside Festival 2010 |publisher=Gothamist |date=June 28, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128173603/http://gothamist.com/2010/06/28/northside_festival.php |archivedate=January 28, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/2010/06/30/northside-festival-on-sunday-harper-blynn-the-art-of-shooting-jody-porter-the-canon-logic-and-more/ |title=Northside Festival on Sunday: Harper Blynn, The Art of Shooting, Jody Porter, The Canon Logic and More | Sentimentalist Magazine |publisher=Sentimentalistmag.com |date=June 30, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Weston |first=Hillary |url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/get-ready-for-the-northside-festival/20011 |title=Get Ready for the Northside Festival – Nightlife – BlackBook |publisher=Blackbookmag.com |date=June 23, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} featuring performances by Polvo, Liars (band), Elvis Perkins in Dearland, and The Fiery Furnaces.{{cite web|last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/04/2010_northside.php |title=2010 Northside Festival Lineup Announced! – New York Music – Sound of the City |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=April 30, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} The festival also hosted the films Feast of Stephen by James Franco{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2010/06/24/2010-06-24_the_second_annual_northside_festival_brings_the_fiery_furnaces_and_james_franco_.html |title=The second annual Northside Festival brings The Fiery Furnaces and James Franco to Williamsburg |publisher=NY Daily News |accessdate=November 10, 2011}} and Life During Wartime by Todd Solondz.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/06/indiescreen_is.html |title=Indiescreen is a new movie theater & music venue in Williamsburg (Brooklyn Film Fest happening now) |publisher=Brooklynvegan.com |date=June 7, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Linderman |first=Juliet |url=http://www.greenpointnews.com/entertainment/2439/northside-takes-over-the-northside |title=Greenpoint Gazette:Northside Takes Over the Northside |publisher=Greenpointnews.com |date=July 1, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}

In November 2010, The L Magazine art critic Paddy Johnson was nominated for Art Critic of the Year in the Rob Pruitt Art Awards{{cite web|author=Paddy Johnson |url=http://www.artfagcity.com/2010/11/17/rob-pruitt-awards-announced-paddy-johnson-lands-critic-of-the-year-nomination/ |title=Rob Pruitt Awards Announced: Paddy Johnson Lands Critic of The Year Nomination |publisher=Artfagcity.com |date=November 17, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/support/donate/2010-art-awards |title=2010 Art Awards |website=The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum |accessdate=2010-11-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115061301/http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/support/donate/2010-art-awards |archivedate=November 15, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|author=Artinfo |url=http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36363/rob-pruitt-art-award-nominees-announced/ |title=Rob Pruitt Art Award Nominees Announced |publisher=Artinfo |date=November 17, 2010 |accessdate=November 10, 2011}}

• {{official website|http://www.thelmagazine.com}}

Category:Biweekly magazines published in the United States

Category:Defunct magazines published in New York City

Category:Free magazines

Category:Listings magazines

Category:Magazines established in 2003

Category:Magazines disestablished in 2015

Category:Defunct visual arts magazines published in the United States