S.f. Pen Show, Oct. 14-16, 2011

[Mango]

I ended up not going today--apparently I haven't been following my monthly discretionary budget spreadsheet I made for myself very well for the last several months , so I can't walk out with anything I didn't walk in with. SO told me to go tomorrow because he has to go to the office in the morning, but do I really want to frustrate myself on my birthday? Perhaps I'll go and just take photos of pens.

 

Just a question for anyone who has BARTed over--Do you really have to walk the 1.3 mile loop from the station to the hotel? Or are there underground (there's a freeway in between the station and the hotel) pathways?

[GregMinuskin]

Bert Oser and Jim Stephens with an assist from Roger Cromwell¹ are hosting the San Francisco² Pen Show this October!

 

In addition to enjoying the pens and personalities at the SF Pen Show, there are many other fun things to in San Francisco and vicinity. There is a page on the SFPS website that shows a couple of options: Fun Things to Do When You're In Town.

 

But that's not all, right, SF Pen Posse Pals?!

 

What else can visitors enjoy in San Francisco when they're in town for the Pen Show?

 

We have restaurants and comedy clubs and the ballet (although I think SF Ballet's season is now) and micro-breweries and art galleries and museums (SFMOMA, the De Young, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Asian Art Museum, to name only a few). Here, wait, look:

Museums in San Francisco

Restaurants in San Francisco

Comedy Clubs, Art Galleries, and other Fun Things to Do

 

There's Sausalito, Tiburon, Larkspur, and San Quentin (if you're into that). There's the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. There's Napa Valley with their many lovely wineries. There's Pen Posse. (I'm just sayin'.) There're stories to take back to your own cities (probably). (Maybe Pen Posse can come up with a Tour of Sketchy Places to Visit in Groups. We'll see if there's a buzz for that. Ha ha ha.)

 

What I'm saying is this... Vendors, reserve your tables (and bring something to batten them down with). FP aficionados, make your reservations now, and bring your cameras.

 

That's all I'm saying.

 

http://sanfranciscopenshow.net/

 

 

Who's in?

 

Hi,

 

I just heard that there is a huge marathon in S.F. this weekend, with lots of people, sponsored by Tiffany & Co (they are giving out free sterling charms/necklaces to all that participate.)

 

How is that affecting the show, traffic?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¹This is how I understand it.

²Actually, at the Holiday Inn in Dublin, which is very close to the City.

[GregMinuskin]

Planning to go on Sunday, and maybe the very end of Saturday if I am lucky...

 

Pretty exciting, first pen show!

 

Hi,

 

I just heard that there is a huge marathon in S.F. this weekend, with lots of people, sponsored by Tiffany & Co (they are giving out free sterling charms/necklaces to all that participate.)

 

How is that affecting the show, traffic?

[GregMinuskin]

Jon, sorry you won't make it. I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday, but have some weird time constraints.

 

 

 

Hi,

 

I just heard that there is a huge marathon in S.F. this weekend, with lots of people, sponsored by Tiffany & Co (they are giving out free sterling charms/necklaces to all that participate.)

 

How is that affecting the show, traffic?

[GregMinuskin]

PEN SHOW!

 

 

*Excited!*

 

 

I'll be partly Pen Posse and partly Team Mottishaw. Actually, I'll be Pen Posse AND Team Mottishaw but splitting time and space between the two, because the other way goes against the laws of science.

So the rumor that you will be grinding fines into broads is false?

 

Hi,

 

I just heard that there is a huge marathon in S.F. this weekend, with lots of people, sponsored by Tiffany & Co (they are giving out free sterling charms/necklaces to all that participate.)

 

How is that affecting the show, traffic?

[kkshadow]

Plan to come in from San Francisco proper to the show tomorrow. Quite excited.

 

Hope to meet some of the pen posse.

 

My first show, awwwwww geeeeee. I get to be a newbie at something!

 

Ken

[winedoc]

Sorry to miss the show today. Late Thursday found out my girl's school golf team made it to play off for the first time in like... forever. Naturally, she was all excited as a contributing member of the team. She asked me to gave her some final moment coaching before the play off starts on Monday... well, you know me... can't really say no to her. So, sadly, had to skip Friday and took her to the course instead.

 

BUT, I will be there Sat and Sunday, so see you all soon! Can't wait!

 

Kevin

[lsmith42]

The Posse is on...!

[JonSzanto]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkbrad1xgQY

[HeartMan]

From what I can tell the foot race is going to be on the west side of the city. Will not affect traffic in Dublin at all.

[pen2paper]

packing bags - where do I apply?

favor stick shift, and green.

[plc123]

The marathon is in San Francisco, but the show takes place outside of SF, in Dublin, which is in the East Bay. The traffic will probably only affect those coming from SF.

 

hope this helps,

plc

 

PEN SHOW!

 

 

*Excited!*

 

 

I'll be partly Pen Posse and partly Team Mottishaw. Actually, I'll be Pen Posse AND Team Mottishaw but splitting time and space between the two, because the other way goes against the laws of science.

So the rumor that you will be grinding fines into broads is false?

 

Hi,

 

I just heard that there is a huge marathon in S.F. this weekend, with lots of people, sponsored by Tiffany & Co (they are giving out free sterling charms/necklaces to all that participate.)

 

How is that affecting the show, traffic?

[tenney]

I loved my first ever pen show. Some of the SF Pen Posse folks said "oh this is nothing... DC is three times the size". Well, it was a wonderful experience -- lots of great people to meet; I learned a lot (still way way more to learn!), and Ward and Pendleton opened my eyes to italic nibs. For some reason, ages ago when I was using Osmiroids I felt that italic nibs were only for calligraphy -- but no! Italic nibs CAN be used everyday. D'uh.

 

Love the Pen Posse dinner, but I had way too much to do last night to hang around afterwards.

 

Amazingly (I guess I was just so "involved" in the people, the pens, etc.) that I only took one picture (very unlike me).

 

Here's Pendleton at work at the show: http://www.think.org/Pendleton.jpg

 

Thank you everyone who made the show great, those from whom I bought stuff, and especially those who taught me so much.

[travberg]

Had such a great time on Friday that I drove the 180 miles round trip again on Saturday! Only regret, won't be there Sunday, wait, it is only Saturday night. I might still make it there Sunday, mmmmmmmmmm.

 

Great people, great time, even if it was too short.

[JonSzanto]

Thanks, Tenney!!! Go PB!!!

[kkshadow]

Thank you everyone who made the show great, those from whom I bought stuff, and especially those who taught me so much.

 

+1 here. Also my first show.

 

Pendleton Brown tuned the nibs on the three pens I had brought to the show. Of course I had no alternative but to buy a Levenger Argento with a "Pendleton Point".

 

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the local Pen Posse.

 

I also got to meet and talk with Teri of Peyton Street Pens, also a pleasure.

 

Worst news: My brain fried. OK I was warned it would happen.

Best news: I did not go over my budget. But man was it ever tempting.

[jlepens]

Had a great time at the SF Pen Show. Thanks for the great hospitality from the Pen Posse.

Great to see you all the vendors and collectors I knew and met anew!

Special shout out to Lisa and Jae and John Mottishaw for getting me closer to

my first Nakaya. Thanks Pendleton for giving my Polar Lights character and

for the sweet Pilot Falcon BB!

Thanks Mike and Susan for looking after my wayward Carene. I love it now!

Dublin is beautiful and I picked up some Vinyl at BOOKS HALF OFF.

Steve and Andy, your notebooks are really nice and I will show them

around.

Bert, great to see you again and GREAT SHOW!

SEE YOU ALL IN LOS ANGELES 2012!!!!!

[jomielll]

As a pen newbie at 10 pens, I didn't know what to expect and found the room a little overwhelming to look at! Pens, ink, paper, everywhere! I walked around the tables twice before deciding my plan of attack.

 

My picture came out blurry but I thought I'd show the final products from the show:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6176/6251572304_52571294c5_z.jpg

 

I was really impressed at how my Lamy 2000 came out--John Mottishaw was able to repair the broken nib even though the damage from the hardwood floor was pretty terrible (John called it "dancing"), Pendleton Brown ground it to a nice cursive italic, and I picked up a bottle of Platinum pigment blue.

 

Also much thanks to the people who I was not able to pay but gave me a lot of help and conversation:

- Rick Propas helped me shellac the loose nib/feed of my Geha. I tried to offer some tips clumsily but he was very nice about it

- Kevin and his brother Dan talked with me about the show, showed me their Danitrios even though they are way out of my budget at this time, let me handle them and write with them. They are awesome pens, would definitely keep them in mind in the future.

- Ron from penopoly was right next to Pendleton, and was very friendly and told me about Pen Posse meetings.

 

There were some nice leather journals at the front of the entrance but I totally forgot to go back and look at them...

 

Much thanks to everyone who was there, you were all friendly and very accommodating. I was definitely nervous about going to the show but it turned out to be a great experience. I think part of the nervousness was walking around and seeing all these "famous people" from FPN right there in front of me! But it was great, and you guys are the kindest lot of people.

[indigirl]

Keep the reports coming!

Next best thing to being there.... sigh....

[Mickey]

Being mostly a user and only an occasional pen voyeur, my experience at the show was probably a bit different. We (I and she who must be obeyed) arrived Saturday a bit after 10. The rooms were only sparsely populated, so it was pretty easy to get around. Less than 15 minutes after our arrival we scored the one thing on our shopping list, an ink well (with a bonus: the set included a rolling blotter). It looks to be from the 20s, not that that matters. (It's for use, not decoration. No one, other than I, go in my office.) The well / pen rest are suitably heavy and the price was right. Not only that, we had a very pleasant chat with the fellow who sold it.

 

Mission accomplished, we were now free to cruise the rest of the exhibits, a task made more difficult by the many new arrivals. We lusted after many pens (she wanted a Parker 51 and an Aurora America LE: she likes blue) whereas I lusted after the Nerouno in rose gold, naturally with matching watch and cuff links. (Actually, I don't need the watch, as we already have two rose gold pocket watches, complete with chains.) We agreed that the Stallone pen should probably not be allowed on airplanes as it appears (and feels) to be more dangerous than your average box cutter. (Short men)

 

By this time, we had been at the show for two hours and the Holliday Inn's air conditioning was showing itself not up to the passions of modern FP collectors. (I begin to understand the fascination with kilts.) Feeling a blood sugar crisis coming on, we retired to the nearby Hooters for a couple of Cobb salads and ice teas. Figuring a return to the show would only increase our lust for purchases we couldn't really justify, we drove home (via Trader Joes), pleased to have found what we wanted and only tempted enough to keep us interested.