Sacramento's own indie press company, Flatmancrooked, showcased a number of rising literary talents Thursday in Davis. Elijah Jenkins, executive director and founder of Flatmancrooked, took over the "Poetry Night Reading Series" at the the John Natsoulas Gallery and spiked it up a bit. The first 100 attendees received a complimentary beer or wine, and were rewarded with a second if they purchased a book for $5. The crowd was lubricated, the talent was hot and the venue was intriguing. At one point in the night, I traveled through a secret door to a disturbed man printing unknown documents at night (requiring an entire ream for his hush-hush project), traveled up a cascade of stairs lined

The first annual Sacramento Zine Symposium delivered what it promised in the program: it breathed new life into the Sacto D.I.Y. & alternative press scene. A fluctuating 100 zinesters, collectors, authors, writers and people without titles gathered in the Brickhouse Gallery for a day of workshops, networking, and discussion. Tables lined the main room of the gallery and came alive with colorful displays of zines, literature, pamphlets and fliers. Event-goers perused the selection of alternative publications and, in most cases, were able to discuss their purchases with the authors. Outside, a D.J. spun live music all day. Adjacent was a food table that served free lunch and dinner. Event-