I know its been a week already, and there is a separate thread on the DC Pen Show, but thought I would add another on my experience. I was debating about going, its about a two hour drive for me, and in my mind I was picturing maybe 8-10 vendors and about 20-30 people milling around the few tables. I mean, how much interest could a fountain pen show generate, right?!
Well, the rest of the family decided they could go to Tyson's Corner Mall and shop while I went to the pen show. Of course, with the rest of the family going it meant I didn't get nearly the early start I was hoping to, and I-95 North between Richmond and DC was miserable on Saturday. What should have been two hours was 3.5 and I was irritated!
I pull into the parking lot about 2:15 and the security guy asks if I am there for the pen show and tells me the lot is full, I'll have to park in the Walmart deck on the 4th - 5th level. He says its been crazy all day. Now I know this is different than what I was expecting!
I walk in and am just floored by the number of tables, the number of people, and the sheer number of pens that you can actually see, pick up, and give a once over in person. What a difference seeing them in person after spending so much time checking pictures and user comments on the internet. I just barely had enough time with 2.5 hours to get an adequate feel for what was shown at the show.
It was great to see and talk with Brian and his wife from Edison Pen, say hello to the Goulets, and watch John Binder at work on a nib, among many other things. I'll say that every pen was more impressive in person than what pictures could convey, I was blown away with all the pens I could see first hand.
I went there with a concise list of what I was looking for and I was going to buy one or two pens. I came away with three, but will leave that for a separate thread when I have time to post pics. I just wanted to add my thoughts as a person just one year into this hobby on how much I enjoyed my time. If you have a chance to attend a show, go, it will be worthwhile.
Driving back home I barely remembered the miserable three plus hour drive in the morning, I was just thinking about how much I enjoyed the show.
Thanks for reading.
Well, the rest of the family decided they could go to Tyson's Corner Mall and shop while I went to the pen show. Of course, with the rest of the family going it meant I didn't get nearly the early start I was hoping to, and I-95 North between Richmond and DC was miserable on Saturday. What should have been two hours was 3.5 and I was irritated!
I pull into the parking lot about 2:15 and the security guy asks if I am there for the pen show and tells me the lot is full, I'll have to park in the Walmart deck on the 4th - 5th level. He says its been crazy all day. Now I know this is different than what I was expecting!
I walk in and am just floored by the number of tables, the number of people, and the sheer number of pens that you can actually see, pick up, and give a once over in person. What a difference seeing them in person after spending so much time checking pictures and user comments on the internet. I just barely had enough time with 2.5 hours to get an adequate feel for what was shown at the show.
It was great to see and talk with Brian and his wife from Edison Pen, say hello to the Goulets, and watch John Binder at work on a nib, among many other things. I'll say that every pen was more impressive in person than what pictures could convey, I was blown away with all the pens I could see first hand.
I went there with a concise list of what I was looking for and I was going to buy one or two pens. I came away with three, but will leave that for a separate thread when I have time to post pics. I just wanted to add my thoughts as a person just one year into this hobby on how much I enjoyed my time. If you have a chance to attend a show, go, it will be worthwhile.
Driving back home I barely remembered the miserable three plus hour drive in the morning, I was just thinking about how much I enjoyed the show.
Thanks for reading.
