Twin Cities Zinefest

It's time for Xerox machines everywhere to beam with pride; the fruits of their loins are being celebrated this weekend. Steven's Square Center for the Arts' annual Twin Cities Zinefest is a three-day celebration of the quirky and crafty DIY publications, with arts and crafts demonstrations and lectures to help zinesters perfect the art form. Mike Haeg, the mayor of Mt. Holly, Minnesota, will discuss how he created a town with a population of four (him, his wife Tammy, and their two children), and he'll debut his latest creation: a zine vending machine. Zine makers from around the Twin Cities will sell their handmade wares and swap them in the trading post. Emma Allen from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts will demonstrate binding techniques for easy zineing, and Sean Carswell, editor of the L.A. punk zine Razorcake, will close out the festival with a reading from his new book, Train Wreck Girl (he also reads on Sunday at Arise!; see p. 45). Zinefest marks the end of the "Zines from the City" exhibit at Stevens with displays of rare Twin Cities zine examples from the past.
Sat., July 12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., July 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2008