Zindex 2026!
A CDMX travel highlight: Part 1
Written by: Jessica Darakjian (Synonym’s research editor)
What a way to start 2026! In early January we were so lucky to participate in Index art book fair in Mexico City. This year they expanded to include a new section, Zindex, which is where Synonym popped up for our first ever event in Mexico. And truly we had the best time! It was an amazing event, hosted in a beautiful space, packed with inspiring art, and full of friendly people. Hi! to any new friends we made there, hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
The amount of creativity in the building was honestly overwhelming. Every time you turned around there was something new and exciting to see. We took many laps around the space and might have done a bit (a lot) of shopping.
We loved talking to all the other vendors, chatting with anyone who stopped by (I mean Mexico City, you really showed up!), and just enjoying the good vibes of the event. We cannot wait to come back, so here’s to more events in Mexico in the future.
Of course we didn’t spend every minute of our trip at the event. We also spent a good amount of time walking, shopping, sipping coffee, and most importantly eating! So where do three people who treat eating as a full time hobby go when they are in one of the best food cities in the world? It’s partial planning and partial spontaneous, “What’s this? Should we try it?” while wandering through the streets. And honestly don’t skip doing just that, the architecture plus jungle foliage is enough to take make you never go back home. Check out the next newsletter for a rundown of how we satisfied our insatiable appetites.
REMINDER! SUBMISSIONS CALL!
A reminder that the deadline to submit any pitches for our next Issue:05, SWEETS is Friday, February 6th.
We’re still looking for pitches on the following prompts:
Dominican Cakes!
The Chinese or Levant (Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese) diaspora in the Caribbean from a food
Profiles of immigrant/third culture food makers, restaurants, chefs, someone’s mom or dad, etc.!
More art pitches: collages, illustrators! All of it!
NEWS & EVENTS!
LOS ANGELES:
Bahn Chung Collective: Saturday, Feb 14th at Alma Backyard Farms
SAVE THE DATE Lunar New Year Pop-up: Gu Grocery x Senses x Synonym
Tuesday, Feb 17th. Info to come.
Cookbook Swap: Bring a book to swap, make a dish, come and gather together!
Saturday, Feb 28th. 4-6pm, in East Los Angeles.
AUSTIN:
SXSW: our editor-in-chief, Caroline Hwang, will be speaking on a panel at SXSW.
Print’s Edge in a Culture of Immediacy Panel
Jennifer Prohov of Noema Magazine and Kyle Tibbs Jones of Bitter Southerner. Moderated by Vico Puentes from Tomo Mags.
March 18th
Do you want to collaborate with us? Advertise with us? Do an event together?
Reach out! info@synonym-mag.com
Actionable items against ICE
There is nothing we can say about what’s going on here in the States with ICE that would make anything better. So we’re putting action where our mouth is. Here are some resources and actionable items that you can do to support the community. We only have each other.
Coyote Media Collective put together this great guide in getting started in your local mutual aid group.
Support Street Vendors impacted by the Los Angeles ICE raids
“There are so many ways to help, so don't worry about the "right way" or the "best way" to help. Just help. We need all of us.”