ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170027
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE
Still mourning V? Get over it.
Two new magazines already are vying to take its place.
The Point, a twice-monthly publication on music and entertainment, printed its first issue earlier this month. So did ARTicle, a new monthly magazine of the arts.
Both are run in part by former V magazine staffers. ARTicle editor and publisher Richard Koehler worked for V briefly in Richmond - as did Joey Coakley, design and calendar editor for The Point.
Indeed, they used to date.
Emphasize "used to."
"He can't spell at all," said Coakley of her ex.
"They're telling me I can't spell?" shot back Koehler. "They spelled Dylan D-i-l-l-o-n."
In any event, those who liked V may find ARTicle comforting. Its first edition resembles the defunct magazine in size and content - minus the V List and the racy photos. ARTicle features, among other things, interviews with artists and a fashion layout.
"It should change the name to V part 2," opined Coakley, 25.
"V served its purpose," said Koehler who studied graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University. "I give V a lot of credit."
Koehler, also 25, said he hopes his magazine will "fill the gap between the Roanoker and the newspaper," with profiles of deserving local artists who might otherwise be ignored.
The Point is owned by Atlanta businessman Joe Torres.
His tabloid has an exclamation point on the cover and an inside menu of rock star bios, interviews and advertiser profiles. It also will cover local music and night life and include uncritical restaurant reviews, he said.
Torres said he heard there might be room for another magazine in town from photographer Karl Phillips, who told him about the demise of V. It is his first magazine venture.
"This is an experiment right now," said Torres, who has rented an apartment in Roanoke. "I'm pretty excited about it."
The Point had an initial press run of 5,000 copies, staffers said. ARTicle printed 10,000 copies of its first issue.
Koehler said there may be room in town for both magazines. "We'll see what happens."
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Cover of "The Point." B&W. 2. Cover of "Article."by CNBcolor.