THE END OF 2006: THE END OF KS?!

Hi there, fans and friends of Kitchen Sink. We suppose you’re wondering what’s going on with us—in particular, where is KS15? Well, folks, the Sink’s backed up. These are tough times for independent media—we’ve seen some friends struggle and others succumb, and of course we’ve got problems of our own. Chief among them is that our distributor is behind on payments for previous issues, and with our current national distribution model, we rely on these payments to fund future issues.

KS15 is on hold at the printer until we can afford to have it shipped. This delay is also affecting KS16, which will conclude volume four. For now, you’ll have to take our word for it that both of these issues are amazing: gorgeous covers by Andrew Schoultz and Camille Rose Garcia, delicious insides by our staff and editors, as well as new contributors like Geraldine Kim, Gravity Goldberg, Julia Wertz, Rodney Koeneke and Stephanie Young.

We can’t wait for you to see these magazines, so we’re asking for your help. We need to raise $1,000 to get issue 15 shipped in January, and we also need to raise money for an expanded KS16, which will be our final issue.

That’s right, we’re going out with a big bang. Kitchen Sink will conclude its four-year run as Neighbor Lady Community Arts Project’s pilot program with a super-sweet issue 16. Your contributions will not only help us get KS15 in our readers’ hands, where it belongs; your generosity will also allow us to expand KS16, so we can bring you more of the award-winning cultural criticism and think-too-muchness you’ve come to expect from Kitchen Sink .

Here’s how you can help us raise the $1,000 needed to get KS15 to the newsstand:
Make a donation. Those $5-$10 dollar donations add up, so don’t hesitate to donate in a way that’s affordable for you. Donations are tax deductible!

Buy back issues! Now’s the time to complete your set of KS or pick up your favorite of our 14 issues! While supplies last!

If you prefer snail mail, send a check, money order, or well-concealed cash to:

Neighbor Lady Community Arts Project
5245 College Ave. #301
Oakland, CA 94618

We’ve been doing this thing for four years now, the whole elastic-section-definition thing, the all-volunteer thing, the new writers thing, the copious illustrations thing, the subjective-takes-on-everything-from-Buffy-to-Bush-to-what-have-you thing. After KS16’s big bang, we’ll catch our breath and decide what to do next with NLCAP. Stay tuned for news on future publishing projects, as well as an expanded reading series and community education programs. And if you’re a subscriber, don’t fret; we’ll be sending you information on how we’re planning on fulfilling our commitment to you, offering you back issues or transfers to other publications.

In the meantime, please consider dropping a little of your December money on Kitchen Sink—every little bit will get issue 15 closer to you, and give issue 16 a fighting chance of seeing the light of day come spring.

Stay tuned for news about our upcoming party to end all parties. We’ll celebrate like it’s going out of style—don’t miss it.

And keep thinking too much.

Sincerely,
Stefanie Kalem, editor in chief
Jeff Johnson, senior editor
Kaya Oakes, senior editor
Carla Costa, publisher
Jen Loy, publisher

contact:
Stefanie Kalem (fanny@kitchensinkmag.com)

Please send tax deductible donations to:
Neighbor Lady Community Arts Project
5245 College Ave #301
Oakland, CA 94618
or donate right here!