Junior serves up creative dish in Groove Kitchen

When Anittah Patrick, JE '99, feels a creative urge, she starts planning for another copy of her "'zine," Groove Kitchen. Underground publications like Groove Kitchen are forming a new subculture among high-school and college-aged students across the nation.

Patrick conceived of Groove Kitchen, formally published as Balls, in 1995, the summer after graduating from high school. "'Zines exist because our mass culture makes individual expression very limited," Patrick explained. "[They] offer us another method of expressing our opinions, ideas, and emotions."

Having already published 11 issues, Patrick is an experienced 'zine writer. A typical issue of Groove Kitchen includes an introduction stating the theme of the issue, a top ten list of some sort (e.g. things in a backpack), and an assortment of articles that often address cultural and gender-related issues.

Her 'zines are collages of personal insight and reflection. One recent issue opened, "Well, go figure, Anittah grows up. And so it is that another year passes by my life and some more lessons are learned."

Submissions from friends and readers are also included in Groove Kitchen. "One time I received some really bad poetry from a 38-year-old man in England," Patrick noted. "That was kind of strange." One fan from Wisconsin wrote, "Dear Anittah...Yr [sic] writing is intelligent, witty, smooth...I like that you don't down to yr [sic] audience, or simplify things...`out of this world' was particularly moving to me--I've come to a similar conclusion about the irrational."

Liz Oliner/YH Patrick uses her 'zine, "Groove Kitchen," as an avenue for self-expression.

In her latest issue of Groove Kitchen, she chronicled her summer travels and adventures. The cover features a beautiful woman with striking features. On the back is a picture of a man in a U.S. military uniform. These are actually old photographs of Patrick's parents; she decided that such pictures would evoke feelings of nostalgia and go well with the issue. "'Zinesters are usually creative people. [Writing 'zines] is an art form," she said.

Whether 'zines are an art form or not, these publications are gaining popularity. Patrick has over 50 subscribers, many of whom have 'zines themselves. Sassy magazine featured Groove Kitchen as their Nov. 1996 'Zine of the Month. When Clueless director Amy Heckerling read about Patrick's 'zine in Sassy, she sent two dollars for a copy. Patrick charges this subscription fee to cover mailing and xeroxing costs.

Patrick hails from Middlebury, Ind., a small Amish community--although Patrick herself is not Amish (she is actually half Thai). In addition to writing Groove Kitchen, Patrick ran track and rowed crew for one year each. She presently directs U.S. Grant, a program that she described as offering "bright, low-income middle-schoolers the opportunity to come to Yale over the summer for a challenging, fun educational experience."

Patrick finds that Groove Kitchen is a product of a creative side that she needs to express. "Writing a 'zine is a lot like eating a Blizzard from Dairy Queen," she explained. "It has a specific flavor with lots of different tastes. And each one is a little different."

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