OFF! AND RUNNING: ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE, MAGAZINE ON INTERNET

"What's the H stand for?" "I can't tell you, it's really boring." Phil Denson still doesn't know what the 'H' stands for in 'Local H', a two-piece band of national renown.

But whether it's Local H, Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra, Sponge or some other musical group, you can read about it in Denson's "Ear Candy" column in OFF! magazine, an arts & entertainment publication offered by the Southeast Missourian.

Ear Candy spotlights and reviews musicians, newcomers or established, and is just one of the many columns that appear in the bimonthly magazine.

OFF! magazine, founded earlier this year as an "insert" for another special publication of the Southeast Missourian -- Add Sheet -- has outgrown its "stuffer" status and is now an entity of its own -- and growing.

"OFF! can now be found on the Internet at offmagazine.com," said Donna Denson, publisher of OFF! "All previous copies of OFF! can be accessed online."

Denson said that starting June 1, the online version will include even more pictures and articles than the printed product, and eventually "we hope to add video clips and music downloads."

The latest issue -- No. 8 -- includes an area calendar of entertainment events and columns by Jaysen Buterin and Chad Armbruster. Buterin also serves as the Web master for the online product.

Armbruster, ad salesman and OFF! coordinator, interviewed Clark Terry, and Buterin, who offers his views of the local scene in the "Dharma Bum" column, talked with Sister 7.

Other articles in the newest issue include "Ever Eat Here," "Reel News" and "From the Shelf," a book review. There's also the popular "Day Tripper" column by David Jennings, "Poet's Pub," and more.

Eric Woods serves as graphic designer for the publication and treats each issue as pieces of art.

The publication, which was the brainchild of Paul Walker, a member of the Missourian's Targeted Publications staff, is starting to become a platform for presenting the nightlife of Cape Girardeau, said Armbruster.

More than 6,000 issues of OFF! are available every two weeks and can be found on the university campus, various restaurants, lounges and entertainment areas. The magazine, running from 8 to 12 pages an issue, looks to expand to 12 to 16 pages.

"We're getting good feedback on the publication," said Denson. There seems to be a trend worldwide toward this caliber of publication.

"Sometimes it's not easy reaching the elusive younger market, but we feel that OFF! fulfills this niche very well," said Denson. "We are looking forward to a bright future for OFF!"

For additional information or advertising in OFF!, contact Armbruster, 335-6611, ext. 113. Event information may be submitted at offmagazine.com, or by mail to OFF! Magazine, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO, 63702.