A personal recap of the APA 2025 Daredevil Wayzgoose
in Rochester, New York, June 5-8, 2025
By the APA Mailer, Nora YoUng, APA #981
Wayzgoose: A Word as Odd as It Is Wonderful
“Wayzgoose.” Nobody really knows where it came from, but it sounds like a long-lost Dr. Seuss character. Whatever its origins, it’s the perfect excuse for printers, book nerds, and lovers of ink to gather, eat, drink, and celebrate the craft that keeps us coming back for more.
This year’s APA Daredevil Wayzgoose in Rochester was nothing short of fantastic, thanks to the tireless team who pulled it together (you know who you are), the ever-energetic Geri McCormick and crew, and the robust Rochester letterpress community who flung their shop doors wide open to welcome us. More than a weekend of type and presses, it was proof that this community is thriving—and very good at throwing a party.
The Goose had it all—workshops, tours, lectures, auctions, and more type than a dictionary on steroids—but for me, the best part was simple: camaraderie. As the Mailer, I know everyone’s names and towns from the monthly bundles, but meeting the real people behind the colophons? That’s magic. This is my tribe—the best bunch of ink intellectuals you could ask for.
Thursday: Marbling, Tours, and Hot Dogs
Thursday was split between tours and workshops. While some explored Rochester’s print-rich landscape, I set up camp at the Flower City Arts Center—a refurbished firehouse with presses and type in the basement and pure fun upstairs.
I dove into Paper Marbling with Susan Doran, who taught the Ebru style (think antique endpapers gone psychedelic). Susan made it so foolproof that even if you sneezed mid-swirl, you’d still walk away with a masterpiece. I left with a stack I’ll turn into Christmas books.
Between workshops, most of us wandered to DogTown for lunch—yes, they serve hot dogs, and no, it’s not fancy. It’s the kind of joint where the menu fits on a napkin and the ketchup bottle sticks to the table. Zero pretension with plenty of laughs with print pals. Perfect.
That night’s meet-and-greet at Swiftwater Brewing had everything: beer, food, and the delightful chaos of printers in one room. I caught up with Heidi Mozingo and her husband Glen, finally met Jason Wedekind, chatted with Erin Beckloff and met the real Tony Zanni—formerly “one of the people I stalk on Instagram.” Smiles everywhere. A solid Goose kickoff.
Friday: Fonts, Films, and Frederick Goudy
Friday brought presentations at the Rochester Public Library. Jessica Spring’s talk on Daredevil Typesetting stole the show—her bold, visual examples lit up the room and left me itching to get back to the press. I sat with John Horn and met the Johnsons, John and Nancy Jane. Lunch was just down the street in a grand old train station—food was good, architecture was better, and the company topped them both.
Studio tours followed, though I ducked out for a board meeting. Still, Rochester’s printers were out in force, flinging open their doors to show off presses, type, and the sheer vitality of their local scene. Their generosity and enthusiasm were a recurring theme all weekend.
Later at RIT, Amelia Hugill-Fontanel graciously hosted us for a reception and a peek into the Cary and Stephen O. Saxe Collections, including treasures from Frederick Goudy. Hours later, back on campus, we previewed The Pantone Guy, a documentary-in-progress. If you don’t know Pantone, let’s just say your world is less colorful than it could be.
Saturday: Swaps, Auctions, and Necklaces
Saturday began with the Swap, our beloved ritual of trading and treasure-hunting. I was up early to set out my wares, and sales were brisk. Whether I came out ahead, broke even, or just converted cash into heavier luggage is anyone’s guess. I shared a table with Mike Moore and swapped stories with Lonnie Smith at the booth next door. Moore Wood Type also stole the show with a vintage vending machine stocked with plastic containers of “printer” candy—pure genius.
This year was also our first time covering the cost of attending the Wayzgoose for two people, thanks to the fundraising event and the sale of “Wayzzles.” With such great support, we’re hopeful this tradition will continue next year—another way our community puts ink where its heart is.
Then came the auction—pure, glorious mayhem. Auctioneer Mark Barbour kept the room roaring while Cathleen Cherry worked miracles at the sales table. Printers cheered, bid, and battled for treasures. Tony Guadagnolo’s “That’s The Ticket” project was on display, a shining example of how collaborative work can be elevated into something truly special.
Evening brought more tours, cocktails, and dinner, capped by keynote speaker Kiva Stimac, who entertained us with tales of running an arts organization in Canada. Somewhere in the mix, Cathy Clark Craig and her husband handed out 3-D printed California Case necklaces—wearable proof of how creativity and community go hand-in-hand.
Sunday: Pizza, Presses, and Goodbyes
Sunday was goodbye day for many, but Rochester wasn’t done with us yet. Geri McCormick and her Virgin Wood Type team opened their shop for tours and demos—another act of generosity from the hosts who made us feel at home all weekend. We also swung by Tony Zanni’s studio for a nickel tour of his presses and type collection, capped off with breakfast pizza that may or may not have stolen the show.
With eight hours of road ahead, we finally headed home, Wayzgoose 2025 in the rearview and fresh inspiration in our veins.
APA 2025 Daredevil Wayzgoose Group Photo at RIT [Click on image for full sized picture]
Thank you, Rochester. To Geri and her crew, to Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, to the local printers who opened their doors, and to the organizers who made the whole thing run – what a weekend. The Goose delivered: friendship, inspiration, laughter, and ink on our hands. Already counting down to next year.
