So.
Two weeks ago, Miz In Cahoots and I were wandering around the Embarcadero, after a far-too-long hiatus from hanging out. Ice cream had been consumed, the bay had been viewed, and gossip had been swapped. Heading back to the subway station, I thought that life couldn’t possibly get any better.
I was wrong.
At Market and Steuart, I was stopped in my tracks by a Most Wonderful Place.
Have you visited The Grand Newstand? Have you heard about this project? If not, you should, because it’s AMAZING.
We met Courtney Riddle (one of the mistress-minds behind The Grand Newsstand kiosk) who explained to us that the newsstand stocked zines, small press editions, and the occasional artistic project (prints, broadsides, home wares) — housed in one of the vintage-ish newsstand kiosks lining Market Street. The two of us were immediately enchanted.
If you’re looking for gift to give a budding zine maker or an inspired per-zine to read on your daily commute…
…this is your kind of kiosk!! It was wonderful to see a variety of artists I know and love hanging out right there on Market Street. In a city strapped for art space and DIY culture, it was such a joy to bask in the ambiance at the Newsstand.
So: what are you waiting for?!?! The Newsstand is (usually) open six days a week; check out their hours on tumblr. Stop by, support small press, and get an eyeful of this quintessentially San Francisco endeavour.
–JH
I would love to do a zine, but I have a hard time thinking of a theme for it. Do you have any suggestions that might fire up my imagination? Thanks
Thanks for this fabulous news! What a great use of a kiosk, and how great to have zines in such an accessible place.
And, since there’s no BART this weekend, I won’t be able to get to the Zine Fest, but I can check out this kiosk on another day.
Hope you’re well! Best, Lucy
Another Room Book Arts
Lucy —
You should DEFINITELY check out The Grand Newsstand; I think you would love it from top to bottom! The use of a public space (newspaper kiosk) for art-based work (zines, small press) is fantastic…there’s so much local-level publishing going on in the bay area right now — I’d love to see ALL of the Market Street kiosks featuring different presses/artists/zinesters! HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!?!
–JH
Hincher-
you continue to be one of the devoted BANSHIISZ
of the MAILART WORLD…please do continue thusly-forever
Otto… who will mail out to vous tomorrow morning my latest efforts to RIGHT a very
upside down planet-CIAO4NOW
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Aww! I hadn’t seen this post! It was so nice to meet y’all back then- come back and visit sooooon!