Weekly Dig

The newest «5 Drink Minimum» issue features Jillian’s, Hong Kong at Fanuel Hall, Flat Top Johnny’s, and Kings.
Really???
I know it is supposed to be sports themed or some shit but come the fuck on.
I miss how awesome it was back 4 – 5 years ago. Pretty much all the sections I used to love are gone.
Shitting on the The Phoenix and Stuff is getting really old. Especially when the Dig isn’t really that much better than them at this point.

Remember that show that was on TV where some people would intentionally watch a movie they didn’t like, then complain to one another that they were watching a movie they didn’t like, making jokes to one another so they felt like they were funny?
Now there’s a newspaper version.
The Weekly Dig used to have at least one article each issue — several, usually — that actually *added* something to the world, rather than simply comment on, complained about, or advertised it. But no, actual original content has fallen far down the ladder behind «personality» pieces — articles in which the real subject is the author him/​herself, and the purported topic is just the vehicle for this person to showcase their idea of how funny/​annoyed/​cool they want you to know they are. In fact it’s sort of like this one web site that’s popular nowadays, you know the one…
Seriously, it goes out of its way to make Stuff at Night look sincere. Is that really worth the trouble?

I hate to admit it, but the dig has really gone downhill since Joe Koehane left as editor. The writing used to be fearless and now it’s all a bit watered down. Still, the frame of greatness is still there — bean counter, media farm, defend yourself, oh cruel world, the comics, savage love… these hold the dig together and keep it by far the superior free paper in Boston.

Heart the Dig.
I preferred when Mr Keohane was in charge, as I thought the paper was far superior then. I loved the Burn Unit, but then that disappeared too. But regardless, I am still a big fan mainly because the paper didn’t lose alllll of its snark. I love when Wednesdays roll around and I can snag a copy of the Dig and know that I can have about one hour of uninterrupted pleasure-​reading time that evening. My favorite parts include Oh! Cruel World and Defend Yourself! and Bean Counter. I have been enjoying Ligaya’s Unilocal section too.
So even though it’s not as good as it once was, I still give the Dig a 5-​star review. It’s kind of a highlight of my life. Proving exactly how boring my life really is.

So the Dig just did a 1337-​speak issue in honor of ROFLcon, which was interesting in that it’s tougher to read than usual. That being said, I appreciate having a magazine that has events in it that I like, and places that I’d probably go to. I also like the fact that it’s free and weekly. My only issue is that it kind of tapers off about halfway through, when it becomes a lot more ad-​focused, but overall, it’s worth the cost to the consumer (which is just pulling down the door on the newsstand thingy.)

I’m looking at this star-​rating thing wondering what to say needs improving on The Dig to justify only giving in 4 out of 5, and I’m drawing a blank.
Too many adverts? Not really — compared to other freebie magazines it’s far more reasonable.
Too short? Nope — that’s a bonus for me — a svelte tome is much more up my street than a hefty wad.
Too immature and snarky? Come on, we’re on Unilocal here — that’s our style too.
So 5 out of 5 it is. Keep up the great work and the great artwork.
Now give me a job please.

I used to read the Dig weekly when I lived in Boston. There aren’t many choices– The Dig, The Phoenix, Stuff at Night (gag). My main draws were Secret Asian Man by Tak Toyoshima (the Dig’s Art Director) and Savage Love by Dan Savage (which I got hooked on years before I moved to Boston). Now that I’m outta Boston, I sure do miss the Hey You column and the music pieces.

It’s amazing how much a paper can change with a few editorial changes.
Compare last years Best of Boston with this years. Wow. Last years? Genius. I still own a copy.
This years was horrifically bland and humorless. This is sad. If I want that, I’ll read Stuff at Night.
I want to write for the Dig to try and bring that cynical style back, but who knows…
A lot of former Dig-​gers feel this way as well. Hopefully they will get some new writers with a better perspective than the Marlon Blandos they have now.
Get it? BLANDOS?!
Their music reviews are boringly obscure and half the time don’t even review the material and they really need to ditch that Beer snob section. Wow. You like beer. Welcome to America.
Really. Dig, get it together.
EDIT: They have gotten it together somewhat and I also write for them so that’s probably why :)

Snarky!
A fine collection of in-​your-​face journalism. I totally appreciate writers who aren’t afraid to write what they think, *after* they have done their homework and researched thoroughly. Of course — must give credit to the publishers that aren’t afraid to print it. Thank you, local businesses who support the Dig.
It’s so good, a former Bostonian friend of mine giggles when I mail him copies. I believe the exact quote was, «If I take three local Minneapolis papers and cut sections from them, I can *almost* put together a Dig.» It’s a good read.

Cute local newspaper with quirky articles but I was looking for a paper that would inform me of more local activities beyond movies, bars and clubs. Don’t get me wrong. It was enjoyable to read, but not that helpful for an out-​of-​towner. Still pick it up if you see one.

Best free weeky in Boston, but that’s not saying much. They have a good niche carved out for their snarky cynical selves, but I would really like to see them back the pose up with a little substance. How bout some real articles from time to time, guys? I’m tired of reading about places to drink and stuff to buy.
Still, they whomp the ass of all the other guys, and have one of the best comics sections ever. I’ll keep on reading.

When I moved to Boston a year ago, Shannon B. recommended the Dig as a way to find events around town, adding that it was snarky and sarcastic. Thus, I picked you up, and you have now become my favoritest weekly print publication in Boston. I’ve never liked the Phoenix’s style or writing, plus the paper is too damn big and falls apart easily (okay, maybe that’s kind of a dumb thing to say, but I read a lot on public transportation, so whatever), Improper Bostonian is boring, the Metro sucks hardcore, and I haven’t been motivated to pick up Stuff @ Night. Media Farm, Oh Cruel World, and Savage Love are my favorites. I also dig (ha ha) the live music and event listings, though admittedly they are not as comprehensive as the Phoenix’s. It’s a close-​knit staff of writers working for a paper with a distinctive personality, which I can totally get behind.
My only beef is that it’s almost goddamn impossible to get a copy on a weekly basis, since I don’t live or work near any of the boxes. I guess Medford and Roxbury, respectively, just aren’t keen on you, Dig.

Dear Weekly Dig,
It has been over three months now since I left you, but I still love you. I used to love picking you up out of the most awkward newspaper box/​venus fly trap arm eater at the UMB Shuttle Bus T-​Stop at JFK/​U-​Mass early on Wednesday mornings, haggard, needing decaf coffee, and sinking into the pleasure of reading you page by page on a bumpy 10 minute bus ride before having to abandon you. Then I treasure our time together either on the 41 bus or the red line-​to-​orange line connection. The time spent in the filthy Downtown Xing station, listening to keyboards being mangled, nasty ass popcorn being devoured and seeing the re-​birth of SARS, was made more pleasant by you. I laughed, I gasped, I cried, I circled you dillegently.
You were my inspiration. I knew what was up b/​c I had you. I used as my little guide to New England life. When I despaired there was nothing to do, I fondled you, read you intently, and compiled emails to friends cut+pasted from your website. Apparently other people caught onto your charm, and events featured in your 7 days a week centerfold started to get overbooked and filled and I would mutter «DAMN YOU DIG», the hypocrite I am.
I’ve known you a long time. I remember reading you near Park Street at Curious Liquids in the basement, there was a picture of a rubber chicken being chocked and most of your articles were about weed. Oh, how you have grown.
I used to love your filthy crossword puzzles. I won your crossword contest once and got a big gift certificate to Grand Opening! (WOO HOO) and signed picture of your CrossLord with the inscription «Hang this in your favourite masturbating spot»!!!
Oh, how I love your Emily Flake! And Dan Savage returned! And I hate those pretentious Beer Guys (but yet I love their Beerfest!)! But there have been rocky times, Weekly. There was that time I went to that art and music fund raiser thingy at the Roxy? A year or two back? And I noticed you had NOT ONE female artist there. And I thought that was just pathetic. I talked to people at the booth, but they looked like I was crazy. That is a serious problem. There should have been women artists there, and you know it. That is just lazy.
Also…the covers. How unoriginal to keep putting literally naked women on it? How lame? Oh, sure, once in a while. But there was that one of two young women in their panties (yeah it was a drawing), and I wanted to throw up. Guys, your covers are KID EYE LEVEL-​put your sarcastic immature shittiness aside and fucking figure out it ain’t cool to repeatedly show the ladies naked where kids can see it eye level. And where I have to see it. I started ripping off your covers so I wouldn’t promote it on the subways (only on my copy-​no others-I’m not a facist).
Ok. I had to get that out. I’m sorry, WD. Hey, don’t apologize. Just work on it, okay? But one other reason I love you… you are the best pick up line in all of frigid New England: «Excuse me… are you reading the Weekly Dig?» IT IS FUCKING GOLD, SON! So innocent. So true. All sexes, genders, orientations, settings, it is GOLDEN and all SYSTEMS GO. Giveitatry.
Oh…I miss you, Weekly Dig. It is nice here all the time, never cold, and I ride my bike or drive here… there isn’t any real need for reading materials for non-​existant public transportation. But… I still read you every Wednesday on-​line. That is how much I miss you.
Love, Bonnie G.

The Weekly Dig is the best local paper in Boston. It still only gets four stars because it only takes about ten minutes to read, but the quality of the writing is way superior to any of the other rags this town puts out. Phoenix? Takes itself way too seriously, and attempts a hip tone but completely misses it. Improper Bostonian? Always wrong about everything. The Dig is it. Favorite features: The Quality of Life Index, which measures whether Boston is better or worse to live in this week than it was last week — it’s almost always worse — and Oh Cruel World, where random dudes get to rant at whoever’s pissing them off today (recent targets include poison ivy and «BU fucks»). Also fun is Media Farm, which is just the Dig making fun of all the other newspapers for their crappiness and failures to sound hip and edgy, like the Dig does.
Which, altogether, means that if you don’t enjoy snarky wittier-​than-​thou bullshit, you shouldn’t read the Dig. Or me, for that matter. Seriously, quit it.

I give the Dig five full stars because although it’s a smaller free weekly than the Phoenix, less is sometimes more, especially when the lines are punchier and the obligatory expletives are less forced. My first flip-​to page is the Media Farm section, a Herald– and Globe-​bashing roundup of other Boston coverage.
Also, the paper has what a lot of others lack: a real personality, or rather, a cast of characters. A small and close-​knit staff of underpaid and sarcastic writers publish the mag each week (even the copyeditors write items), which creates an in-​jokey feel that comes to include all longtime readers, whose letters are frequently published in the front section. It’s like watching Seinfeld if the cast all shared your interests (rock shows, cheap beer, new but unpretentious restaurants) and worked in a slew of helpful suggestions on what to do tonight throughout each episode. It’s definitely a go-​to resource for me.

I like the Weekly Dig, but feel it is slightly less complete than the Phoenix, therefore I have to ding it a star. If you have the option, grab both the Phoenix and the Dig for a true connoisseur’s view of upcoming Boston events.
The Dig features very similar content to the Phoenix: arts & entertainment listings, upcoming concerts, reviews, etc. One leg up the Dig does have is the Beer Advocate column — quite possibly the most robust beer event listing that a beer lover could ask for. Great commentary on beer etiquette, too.

All I have to say is the poncho advertisement in the w33k1y d1g issue is amazing. I want to frame it. look for it if you haven’t seen it yet.