Stop Smiling

dvertising itself as the magazine for high-minded low-lifes, Stop Smiling is one of my favorite magazines in Chicago, though it’s a bit bittersweet to feature it here. Their next issue will be their last, as they’re converting to a book press thanks to a deal with Melville House/Random House. I’m sure there are still great things to expect from them, though the magazine will be missed.

Each issue has a different theme, such as Chicago jazz, or hip-hop, or 20 interviews. The articles are well written, their website rocks, everything about them is great. I have to admit to loving their advertising scheme as well. The non-smiley gets me every time. JC Gabel, the editor-in-cheif, told me that the name may have been the kick start to their success. We were sharing at tent at printer’s row, and to avoid the biting cold (why does printer’s row always seem to be cursed with bad weather) he told me that their original marketing scheme involved stickers that had the word “smiling” in white on a red background that they would stick on stop signs. A lot of people were intrigued and started googling “stop smiling” to see what the deal was, and thus Stop Smiling gained popularity.

Anyway, while the magazine is no longer in production, they are selling their old issues in packs of ten for ten dollars. I’d say that the timelessness of each issue makes this deal worth it.