Featuring articles such as “1032's Hottest Battle-Axes” and “Four Lunar Cycles to Peak Pillaging: Our Exclusive Workout,” Viking Quarterly was a favorite of yesteryear’s fashion-forward Norsemen. Witness how much local-interest magazines have evolved since then with today’s Groupon. For $10, you get a one-year subscription to Louisville magazine (a $22 value). This subscription also includes three additional special issues: "Bridal Louisville," "Greater Louisville Medical Guide," and "Louisville Eats."

Unlike satellite-dish installation guides or the non-sports section of the newspaper, Louisville magazine—which is celebrating its 60th anniversary as Lou'ville's only city-focused monthly magazine—provides useful information while remaining entertaining. Loumag's always-popular “Best of Louisville” awards are a lifesaver when planning a last-minute weekend for visiting in-laws or thawed cavemen excavated from the backyard. Along with special issues chronicling the city's top restaurants, people, nightlife, doctors, shopping, schools, places to live, events, and more, the venerable magazine also runs stories on the city's latest economic and social developments. Past issues have included illuminating features concerning the state of public radio; an interview with the Cardinals' assistant coach, Scotty Davenport; and success stories of the new economy.

The Surgeon General warns that staring at glowing rectangles (TVs, PCs, operating microwaves, etc.) for an extended amount of time may result in readingitis and a moth-like attention span, minus the feathery beauty and gift of flight. Thanks to Louisville magazine, readers can decrease their technological dependency without throwing their wooden shoes into the gears of their Blackberry in a Luddite rage. With a one-year subscription, readers will quickly become regarded as the plan-making pointmen and pointwomen in their respective social circles, finally shedding their dependency on the questionable decisions of Magic 8 Balls, which are secretly just trying to get you to start fires anyway.