Zine Fest

Sun., Sept. 20, noon-6 p.m., free, Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234, phillyzinefest.com.

by Julia West

Before blogging, there were zines — those photocopied literary pearls that drift through the underground. Amazingly, despite how popular paperless publishing is, zines still abound.

Paolo Vidali, an organizer for Philly's seventh annual Zine Fest, says the event is meant to remind people of that fact. More than 40 vendors will present their works, including True Grit Distro's Uncle Enos, a zine dedicated to making instruments from scratch. (In case you're wondering, that means stuff like cigar-box guitars.) Other vendors include Wooden Shoe Books, an all-volunteer anarchist collective that sells books, pins and records; and Food Not Bombs, which will provide attendees with vegan food.

There'll also be workshops on topics like DIY sewing, page layout and publishing large-scale zines. But the real point, says Vidali, is to get people thinking, not buying. "People get excited about what they make, and then often swap with other zinesters — just to share ideas."