"This city has seen me grow and change and become more myself." > Completed for the 2014 Chicago Zine Fest, Brainscan #31 is a deeply reflective exploration of what it means to truly make a home. Moving to Portland at 22, Alex Wrekk tracks fifteen years of evolution—both personal and communal—within the city limits.

Through the lens of running a brick-and-mortar zine shop, Alex examines:

• Building a Life: Moving from childhood years in Texas and Utah to finding a permanent anchor in the Pacific Northwest.

• The Brick-and-Mortar Reality: What it means to hold physical space for zine culture in a rapidly changing city.

• Chosen Family: Growing up and into ourselves while creating the community we want to live in.

This is a nostalgic yet clear-eyed look at the intersection of place, identity, and the DIY work that sustains us.

• Format: [Include size/pages if known—likely half-sized based on the era?]

• Themes: Portland history, DIY business ownership, and the concept of home.