Laura Snapes checked out Van Dyke Parks in London, where he was joined by members of Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes.

SPIN has new music from onetime Castanets guy Ray Raposa’s new project, Raymond Byron and the White Freighter.

Jerry Saltz laments the end of Artnet.com’s magazine: “It showed me criticism’s future. Walter [Robinson]’s Artnet magazine didn’t pant after the popular kids in the lunchroom ”

In today’s literary/foodie crossover beef: at the New York Observer, Eddie Huang has issues with Yes, Chef, Marcus Samuelsson’s memoir, and Samuelsson responds in a Paper interview.

Tom Spurgeon has an epic-sized interview with Ed Brubaker up now in which topics ranging from noir to creators’ rights are discussed.

Spencer Ackerman on the current state of Against Me!: “I want to see every punk band, particularly every punk band made of straight white nontrans men, covering “Transgender Dysphoria Blues.” Because solidarity is important; and because it’s an incredible song.”

Erika Anderson on the release party for the latest issue of Conjunctions.

The Center for Fiction is holding a short story contest.

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