Silver Lake's Zineorama sells magazines, books and the daily paper--but its crown jewel may be the largest selection of independently published 'zines in the city. At any given time, the store stocks from 100 to 200 small-scale do-it-yourself magazines, often idiosyncratic labors of love written, edited and laid out by dedicated, creative sole proprietors.
Store owner Frank Sosa, an ex-publicist for bands such as the Pharcyde and the Brand New Heavies, is a former customer who bought the shop in March after hearing that the previous owners were considering shuttering it. Sosa, who also has a background in political activism, beefed up the 'zine selection, added a stage for poetry readings, launched art and photography exhibits and began selling "books that support a culture of resistance." "It's a place reflecting how media can play a positive role in society," he says.
