08/08/2025
Dear Reader,
This Editor’s Message appeared two decades ago in the first issue of Bloom. Bloomington has changed so much in the intervening years, but my feelings for the place have not. I hope you enjoy this bit of nostalgia and the entire issue which marks the beginning of our 20th year.
Malcolm
Welcome to Bloom Magazine. Over the past nine months, many people have asked me why I came to Bloomington and what motivated me to start a magazine.
The short answer is a love affair. In May 2005, I came here for a visit and was charmed by this magical place—its quaint neighborhoods and vibrant downtown, its extraordinary cultural scene, its warm and friendly residents. By the third day of my visit, I was already out with a Realtor looking at houses. The only question was: What could I do here?
The answer should have been obvious. For nearly 30 years, I had been an editor in New York City. Making magazines is my passion. Still, it took some weeks after my return to realize that I had not seen a cultural/lifestyle magazine in Bloomington.
For several months while still in New York, I did research on Bloomington itself and 75 city magazines. Although Bloomington was small, I knew that there would be plenty to write about and an intelligent, sophisticated readership. But would the business community support a new bimonthly publication?
On Hallowe’en, I made the 14-hour drive from New York City. I rented a student apartment at the corner of 10th St. and Lincoln (that’s a story for another time), and feverishly went to work. By early February, I was ready to begin making sales calls.
The response was overwhelming and immediate. In five weeks, I sold half the number of ads required to launch the first issue, and by deadline, 70 businesses had signed on. I hope that this magazine justifies their commitment.
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