Zine Fest Houston

Now that everyone and their cat has a blog, it’s hard to remember when being a self-published author took real effort: knowledge of typography and layout, rudimentary graphic-design skills and getting to know a Kinko’s employee willing to trade a free ream of paper for weed. But for those people whose scribblings and sketchings are too radical, disturbing or illegible for print media’s stodgier corners, and those who are too obstinate to go online, Zine Fest Houston is a lifeline. The festival gives them a chance to gather and swap issues and ideas the old-fashioned way, staining their fingers with ink all afternoon like the glorious wretches they are. Saturday’s event has been relocated from Super Happy Fun Land to Shady’s Tavern, where it shares quarters with the ongoing Secret Saturday Shows live-music buffet. Noon to 9 p.m. Shady Tavern, 1206 West 20th. For information, visit www.myspace.com/zinefesthouston. Free.
Sat., May 24, 12-9 p.m., 2008