Time Magazine

"There's a special gut-check moment the first time you write a scene in which somebody casts a spell," says novelist and Time book critic Lev Grossman, over drinks at a hotel bar in the Time Warner Building. "I remember ['Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' author] Susanna Clarke telling me about the first time she wrote a scene with a fairy in it and saying to herself, 'Am I really writing a book with a fairy in it?' It's definitely a naked-lunch moment where you're going through the portal and declaring yourself as a fantasy novelist."

Time magazine reported online this week that President Obama and his family had found a new church: Evergreen Chapel at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Apparently, Time got it wrong. "The president and first family continue to look for a church home," White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said. "They have enjoyed worshiping at Camp David and several other congregations over the months, and will choose a church at the time that is best for their family."

Commencement speeches, the cartoonist Garry Trudeau once theorized, were invented largely in the belief that graduating students "should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated." This is the time of year when young people clad in gowns and mortarboards sit through endless, platitude-filled talks. Which raises a question: Has there ever been a short graduation address? Who gave the shortest one?

When producer Zvi Howard Rosenman arrived at the recent academy screening of "Milk," he found someone occupying his reserved seat: Jack Nicholson. The actor ended up sitting right behind Rosenman. When the film was over, Nicholson leaned forward, tapped Rosenman on the shoulder and said, "Boy, oh, boy, you did a good job." Having produced dozens of films over the years -- including "The Main Event," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Family Man" -- Rosenman is used to accepting accolades at movie premieres.

LA will bring you a unique perspective, stunning original photography and evocative writing. It all starts Sunday with the inaugural Fall Fashion & Style issue. -- Eddy W. Hartenstein publisher and ceo los angeles times

Neil MacNeil, 85, a congressional correspondent for Time magazine for nearly 30 years and an early presence on public affairs television shows, died of lung cancer June 7 at his home in Bethesda, Md. After an early career as a Washington reporter for the United Press wire service, MacNeil joined Time in 1958 and became its chief congressional correspondent. He stayed there until retiring in 1987. In 1964, his public affairs show "Neil MacNeil Reports From Congress" began airing on WETA, a public television station in Washington, D.C. Three years later, he became a founding panelist on "Washington Week in Review," now called "Washington Week," and remained affiliated with the public broadcasting program for 11 years.

The Los Angeles Times editorial staff will stop producing its money-losing monthly magazine after the July issue, Editor Russ Stanton said Tuesday. The paper's business side was finalizing plans for a new incarnation of the magazine under the direction of the Los Angeles Times Media Group, according to Stanton and Publisher David Hiller. The Media Group publishes several other titles outside of the newsroom, including Hoy, MetroMix and the Times Community Newspapers.

Dear Readers, With this issue, we bring back a familiar and respected name for the publication you now hold in your hands: the Los Angeles Times Magazine. The name change reflects who we are and where we're taking the magazine as part of a yearlong evolution. You may already have noticed some of the changes.