Chris Mullins and Jim Ziniel named their zine, the Soft Sandwich Chronicles, after the soggy, sweaty, homemade meals they’re prone to eating on long car rides. That weird, insider sense of humor permeates the offbeat publication, and–more than anything else–keeps it going. In these digital days they put out a zine that’s unapologetically old school, and even by the standards of DIY culture their production schedule is extremely leisurely: their first issue, which came out in the spring of 1998, was three years in the making, and number two is still in production.
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Mullins and Ziniel have been friends since eighth grade. They started the little magazine of literature and visual art as a release from their day jobs working with computers. With contributions from friends from their high school and college years, the Soft Sandwich Chronicles, Volume I contains poems, stories, essays, drawings, and photos reflecting the solipsism and hyperanalytical worldview of people in their 20s: the authors are simultaneously curious and melancholy about everything, especially the opposite sex.
This Friday, February 9, Soft Sandwich hosts a benefit party featuring “food, fun, dancing,” and work by local artists. It starts at 8 at 1937 W. Schiller, in the coach house; it’s free, but donations will be accepted at the door. Call 773-235-0706 for more.
