Greenpoint Star & Weekly Northside News

The Greenpoint Star is what I might call a fakepaper.
It’s a weekly, granted, but it shares some content with the Queens Ledger, Brooklyn Downtown Star, Glendale Register, Queens Examiner, and several other papers — which means that each week’s edition is a mélange of neighborhood-​specific news reporting and shared content.
I’ve been getting the paper by subscription for free for ages because I responded to a photograph-​identifying contest they held: What is this bit of graffiti? Tell us, and win six months for free. Six turned to 12 turned to however many, and I’m happy to still get it in my mailbox. Seriously!
Despite my reservations, the Star is worthwhile for several reasons. It often breaks über-​local news before the Manhattan dailies. Its Brooklyn and Queens politcal analysis and commentary is spirited and spunky. And it has several outstanding features.
The Christa Cuts column, penned by a young woman who seems to have recently moved further down Long Island, is full of attitude. The «Been Mugged Recently?» clip-​out response form seems to yield few responses. And the «Back in the Day» offers a slice of historic life unparalleled by other area papers.
I can understand how the Ledger/​Star Newspaper Group wants to capitalize on interpaper synergy, but I can’t help but feel that half of the paper isn’t intended for me.
That said, I still read it every week, and if you live in Greenpoint, I still recommend you pick it up. You’ll make a better citizen and resident.