Image by Flickr user Laughing Squid Image by 20090603-nytimes.jpg The Times' absence has been felt this year at Spoleto.

Each year The New York Times usually contributes at least a couple well done pieces about the Spoleto USA Festival, but this year I've found myself searching the site and coming up empty.

Get more coverage in our Spoleto special section. But The Charleston City Paper's John Stoehr points out the now obvious, there's just not money for the old Gray Lady to cover it this year.

Stoehr has some details about how the absence isn't for a lack of trying on the festival's part.