Bryan Minnich, an illustrator and graphic designer here in D.C., just started Popular Demand, a beautifully designed print magazine that showcases an unexpected collection of illustrations, stories, photography and artworks. It's presence is a testament to the District's growing independent design and publishing community, and we at the Runcible Spoon couldn't be more excited about having a top-quality homegrown magazine to add to our bookshelves. 

In his inaugural issue, there is a beautiful photo spread of oil spills on the road after the rain by Runcible Spoon editor Claire O'Neill, light and airy watercolor drawings of album covers by Katlyn D'Angelo, and even an impossible maze game. 

The magazine is not available to read online, so if you would like to purchase a copy, buy one at Redeem, the clothing boutique on 14th Street, or flip through it at Immortal Beloved. 

Let Bryan know what you think of his zine and leave him a nice comment below! But first, some photos:  

-Malaka

We were very excited to be a part of the 2nd Annual DC Zinefest at the St. Stephen's Church last Saturday. There were lots of awesome comics and zinesters there, including Moonroot, Hoax and Seed (and about 50 million others I can't remember the names of). 

An amazing selection of indie comic books. And oh look, there's me in the background! 

Dirk, one of the main organizers of the Zinefest, with his "Cool Story Bro" shirt. It cracked me up. 

Oh look there's me again! 

So many people! 

Some of you might wonder what the Runcible Spoon does for fun. The answer to that question is very obvious: We go to Runcible Spoon-y type events, of course! 

One such example of that is Sweetbread Jim's Potluck Spectacular, a dinner-and-show event coming up in just two weeks at St. Stephen's Church. Sweetbread Jim's, probably the most wonderful local band in DC, decided to do something really crazy for their next gig: instead of just playing music, they wanted to create an entire extravaganza of good, clean fun. 

While you eat your delicious food (catered by the likes of Red Rocks Pizza, Meridian Pint, Blind Dog Cafe, plus 1950s-style casseroles by members of the community, including yours truly!), a whole night of entertainment will unfold on the stage. There will be magic, comedy, music and even a little burlesque (not exactly "clean" but you get the idea). And I almost forgot... there will be booze! 

I think the best part of this all is that you'll get to hang out with some of DC's awesomest people -- because let's face it -- only the awesomest people would come to an event like this. Imagine a whole room, filled with balloons, pom pom garlands and 100 potential best friends! 

Tickets are just $25, and you can buy them here. 

And if that's not enough of an incentive, I think you'll be touched by the band's motives for the event. They're not making any money off of it, just breaking even. Why? Because it's a great excuse to bring the community together in a really fun way. The end. 

We came across these curious culinary hamsters on Flickr, and emailed the photographer. Elena Eremina, who lives in Russia, responded to a few questions.

The Runcible Spoon: Who are the Adventure Hamsters?

Elena Eremina: The photographs of my son hamsters. I started photographing them at his request, he loves when I make up stories about them. I take pictures at night and this morning he runs to the computer to see what new adventures have been in hamsters.

Are they not scared of you?

Hamsters are very tame, when I take them to be photographed, they rejoice, as it is possible to run and make a row in the new environment.

They are Russian, right? So do they like Borscht? Or vodka?

Borscht is very fond of my husband, I cook it every week .... And hamsters are very fond of milk.

Do they cook?

Cage with hamsters is in the kitchen and they are always watching with interest as I cook. I suspect that they know a lot of interesting recipes. Today, with his youngest son, we will make Japanese sushi may get photo shoot, as we helped the hamsters ...

Do you have a favorite?

Our most beloved hamster - Pusya. She is very curious, photogenic and loves to eat .... We also have 3 years living African snails Achatina .... This is also my son's favorite animals

See more on Flickr.

-- Claire

I just watched "The Little Paris Kitchen," a BBC cooking show, and had to share it with you all. It is adorable and chic and classy and Runcible and perfect. Watch the trailer here: 

If you googled "Little Paris Kitchen Full Episodes" I am sure you could find the full episode on some illegal Chinese website. NOT that we're endorsing that kind of behavior, but YOU know what we mean. 

The Little Paris Kitchen is a blog run by foodlover and Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rachel Khoo, and then it turned into a TV show on the BBC and a book somewhere along the way. Her thing is "really simple French cooking at home" and the results are wonderful -- puffs of meringue floating on creme anglaise, fish with a simple butter-caper sauce, quiche lorraine, oysters with mignonette sauce, etc. etc. Watch it. You'll love it. 

-Malaka

We had a chance to submit a story to our friends at Luri & Wilma, another great indie publication based in DC. The challenge was to create a tablescape (as in Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee, but not quite) for their Home  issue, so we decided to do it the Runcible Spoon way. 

Check out some of these amazing photographs by Roy Moody, then read the full article (AND PUBLICATION) here. 

-Malaka

There was a pie contest at work for our upcoming #pieweek coverage. The idea was to pick something regional -- and though I initially had very ambitious plans for something pecan-y or savory, I got lazy/cheap at the last minute. 

Here's why key lime pie (or in my case, just regular lime pie) is awesome:

• It costs about $12 to make.
• It takes no time.
• It is f*ing delicious.

Last week, we threw a launch party for the Runcible Spoon's SWIMSUIT ISSUE at Blind Dog Cafe, a pop up cafe at Darnell's on U Street. We were very happy to see that nearly 100 people swung by to show their support and pick up a new zine. Little beach-themed snacks and sandwiches were served by the Black Strap Baking Co., and we also had a craft for folks to make, too. Here are some pictures (courtesy of AJ Chavar):

Our craft. 

The crowd.

Making crafts is serious business.

Bubblegum blowing contest

Chatting.

It was a really fun event and we're looking forward to planning something for the summertime!

-Malaka

As I was biking to my house in Capitol Hill, I spotted a trio of 11-year-old girls sitting in front of a card table, selling Sno-Cones. Of course I had to stop and give them a little business -- firstly, I hadn't had a Sno-Cone in years, and secondly, I appreciate young, female entrepreneurs. And at just $1, I was getting a deal. 

One of the girls scooped out ice from a little cooler and loaded it into a mini ice shaver. I had my choice of six different flavors, and I was allowed to choose up to 3 kinds (strawberry, apple, watermelon). They scooped it into a tiny cone cup and stuck a straw in it. As I watched them prepare my Sno-Cone, I realized that what they had was a child's Sno-Cone kit, a la the Easy Bake oven -- which for some reason struck me as a bit sad. 

I asked them if I could take their picture. 

"Are you from some kind of magazine?" they asked. Well, as a matter of fact, I am, I said. I pulled out an issue of the Runcible Spoon to give them. I watched them thumb through the zine. 

"It's very colorful," one of the girls said. I beamed. 

The girls told me that in addition to making Sno-Cones, they were also bakers. One of the girls rattled off some of the baking books that she liked to read. I suggested that she make her own zine and put some of her favorite recipes in them, and try selling them with her Sno-Cones. She didn't seem too interested in that idea. 

I quickly slurped down my Sno-Cone (the thing was tiny) and thanked the girls, then biked away. 

When I got home I realized I forgot to pay them. 

-Malaka

The Runcible Spoon was invited to attend the Foodieodicals event at the Food Book Fair a couple of weeks ago in Brooklyn. About 12 independent publications, including Put A Egg On It, White Zinfandel, Remedy, Wilder, Gastronomica, Edible Brooklyn, etc., were all there to hawk their lovely pubs to food-lovin' readers from across New York. 

It was a wonderful event. The space -- Wythe Hotel -- couldn't have been any more perfect, and made for a cozy little environment in which to sell and talk about our zine. Here are some photos from the event: 

Alison and I in front of our little booth and craft section. 

Our food craft: Make a Favorite Food bookmark!

Our zines and pins. Fresh flowers always help. 

Tote bags for sale, courtesy Alison's mom. 

Some of the lovely pickled snacks at the event. 

Me talking to the guys at Put A Egg On It. They are cool! 

Some of the other vendors at the fair. 

You can also pick up our zine at the bookstore!

Photo credit: Food Book Fair, via Facebook. 

-Malaka