My day trip to Philly for The Philly Zine Fest was awesome! Only 2 hours by bus from NYC (very short compared to Boston, Baltimore, or DC!). Everyone was friendly and it was great to see what other zinesters are up to! There were some political zines, feminist zines, mini comics, and lots more! I shared a table with Werdy Girl who made both comics and zines and was really nice!
The Rotunda venue was really cool with murals near the ceiling, and was a cozy space. The size was in-between Pete's Mini Zine Fest and Brooklyn Zine Fest. I sold some of my mini comics and a few prints. I didn't do any drawings like at comic conventions, but it was nice to focus on the mini comics for a change, and to see people really liking them and talking about them. Because even though at the larger shows I make $ mostly from "drawing anything," I only sell a few mini comics because they're not the main focus. And the table cost at PZF was only $6, which took the pressure off and made everything more laid back.
Dre Grigoropol (right) and her mural outside Locust Moon Comics, with Mindy Indy.
Afterwards, I went to get a Philly cheese steak with fellow cartoonist Dre Grigoropol and friends! DELISH! Then some of us went by a mural Dre had painted in the windows outside Locust Moon Comics!
Another part of Dre's mural, featuring her character "Dee" from her comic "Dee's Dream" (which is awesome!) Dee has the same hairstyle as me! Hey, she's even left-handed too!
Locust Moon is the coolest comic store I've ever been to! Artsy murals cover most walls, they have a big gallery space (featuring their new "Little Nemo" exhibit), even a couch in the front for a reading area, a big tv in the back (playing Family Guy at the time), an aquarium, a porch outside, and they had indie stuff in the front rather than the back. Not to mention the whole store is huge! Sometimes getting out of NYC is a good thing... reminds me how life is in other places that actually have space.
Then back to NYC on a late bus - so tired! Great trip, but I need to go back to see all the other cool historic Philly stuff! Oh and I didn't make it to Jersey for Super Heroes for Hospice Saturday because I didn't feel well, but luckily it cleared up in time for the Philly trip.
