The Rake Magazine

Minneapolis (February 25, 2008) --- Rake Publishing, Inc. announced to its staff today that it will cease publishing the print edition of The Rake.  The March 2008 issue, available now, will be its last.

The Rake, owned by publisher Tom Bartel and his wife, associate publisher Kristin Henning, was launched in March 2002.  In remarks to the staff, Bartel cited lack of advertising and the increasing costs of printing and production as the reason for the change.  “There is nothing wrong with The Rake other than the bottom line. We’ve been really honored with wonderful writers and contributors, a hard working talented staff, faithful readers, and loyal advertisers.  We hope the Twin Cities’ curious continue to communicate with each other through rakemag.com.”

The Rake will continue to publish online at www.rakemag.com, with its “Secrets of the Day” emails, event calendar, searchable restaurant database, and select blogs. 

The Rake currently provides event calendar data to Meet Minneapolis, the Arts and Culture Partnership of St. Paul, and The River Centre Convention and Visitors Bureau.  It also publishes, with Walker Art Center’s mnartists.org, a quarterly arts supplement, 10,000 Arts, Minnesota’s Creative Quarterly. These relationships will continue.

Henning noted The Rake will continue to honor various partnerships, including its own Theater All Year voucher program, support of the Minnesota Book Awards, Pen Pals, the Loft Literary Center, the Twin Cities Fine Arts Organization, and events and promotions with local restaurants and theaters.