Pressing Matters

For those of you who aren't acquainted with the magic that happens when small publishers, illustrators and printing presses transform banal paper into stunning literary objets d'art, let's put this scenario into perhaps more familiar terms for you: Imagine how small craft breweries turn barley and hops and other boring stuff into delicious, magnificent, hand-crafted beer -- get it now? To have a look at all sorts of print magic firsthand and to get introduced to the literary works of some talented folks, head to the St. Louis Small Press Expo, held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27 (the expo's launch party happens from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, September 26). At both Firecracker Press (2612 North 14th Street) and URB Artspace (2600 North 14th Street), 30-plus vendors -- among them Architrave, which prints and sells individual poems, and december magazine, a long-time literary journal -- set up shop to peddle poetry books, comics, journals and other beautiful papery goods at very reasonable prices. (In other words, you'll be able to take home some goodies and still have some beer money.) To learn more about the expo and for a complete list of vendors, visit www.stlouissmallpressexpo.com.
Sat., Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 2014