Friday and Saturday, 14-15 March 2008. I've just put it on the calendars for the four of us from my office most likely to head out on Friday; we'll hop a train from Penn Station and split a cab. (I'm rather looking forward to bringing Omar to his first real pen show -- it was so much fun watching him at the Fountain Pen Hospital Expo.)

So who else plans to make it out to Hempstead? And which days? I plan to come out on both again.

Too soon for me to know but I've noted it on my calendar because I want to attend. I'm on a pen-buying moratorium so attending could do me in. However, I need to get some nibs reground. Perhaps I'll attend the last day when it's less busy just so I can engage in the best part of any pen show -- and that's sit at the Binders' table.

elaine and i will be there with bells on.

I look forward to seeing you in bells

I do hope to be there. Things are getting crazy (good crazy) at hospital. They are tempting me to slip back into my old role of ER Doc and grab a few extra shifts. Still, i imagine i can get down for the show for two days.

david

I have a few interviews around about that date in the city. Manhattan. How long is the ride out, what's the cost, the options for return? If I can finagle it I'll get there.

The ride on the Long Island Rail Road is a bit under an hour, and mta.info will get you the schedule. I think they're pretty much one an hour to Hempstead during the off-peak time. The show itself is $10 per day.

As it gets closer, I'll email you about my precise plans to get there and back, if you like.

(I am considering joining the collective and buying a 51 this year....)

I'd like to go if I can make the time that weekend. Will watch for your detailed plans.

-Flow

You will be assimilated.

I am borg P of 51 ...

It is on my calendar for the Friday. I'm also on a pen buying freeze at the moment, but have some nibs to be reground by Mr. Binder. I agree the Binder's table is the place to be for enjoyable conversation and education.

I hope to see everyone there.

French

I'll be there. Heard about it from the Long Island Pen Club. Should be fun.

I'm going to try. I have a M1000 nib that needs looking at. Also on a freeze, but these shows are very dangerous in that regard, there is is always that once in lifetime deal thats discovered in the last hours of the show.

I'll be there, Friday morning only. Hope to be there early at Mr. Binder's table, then quickly peruse whatever else I can.

It does help that I work out on LI

I'd say more like 40 minutes or so from Penn Station to Hempstead and a 10 or 15 minute bus ride to Hofstra (MTA #70 or 71) there's also a University Shuttle bus on the nearest corner fom MTA terminal.
happy trails, see you there!
Daniel

no no no no no no no no no!

Exceeded pen expenditures for this month - have fun though!

Pen Show today! Whee!

I'll be on the 11:33 out of Penn Station this morning, and the 11:40 on Saturday morning. I'm looking forward to seeing folks, and to drooling over pens. (Let's see... do I have a bib?)

"Maybe" is the word.

Fred

Well, folx, the 2008 LI show is history. Here, for anyone curious, is today's Sweepings from the Studio entry, in which I have blathered about the show and the fun I had there.

Quick report on the Long Island Pen Show:
Though the show was going on all day Friday, i arrived Friday evening in time enough to see things still set up and make dinner plans with Paul Erano, David Isaacson, Richard and Barbara Binder, Tom Heath, and Daniel Kircheimer. Because of an unexpectedly closed restaurant rendezvous and lack of cell phone number to contact, we unfortunately lost the company of show host, Terry Brack. Dinner conversation was stimulating and fun, with conversation at both ends of and amongst the whole table. Managed to avoid politics and actually enjoyed much non-pen related conversation. Disappointment was shared by several about the upcoming Boston show about fallling attendance, table limitations accounting for Richard no setting up there this year.

Marriott hotel accomodations, a 5 minute drive from the site of the show, the Hofstra University Student Center, were comfortable and pleasant. Paul, David, and I managed to share one room and figure out how to split the cost, even if we could not agree on who snored the loudest.

The Saturday show was great. Though a small show in its second year now, I love the size, intimacy, friendliness, warmth of the hosts, Terry Brack and Mike Bloom, the family quality of being welcomed at the door by Terry's wife, Deborah, and Mike's mother, Eve, not having to feel frantic because of the size and number of vendors, and the quality of the venue. It is fun being on a college campus, being amongst the kids, sharing their multi-offering cafeteria (sushi, salads, coffee shop, breakfast food, deli, hot plates etc.) with great food at great prices within a 1 minute walk from the show room. This show reminds me of the gem of a show that some of us were lucky enough to enjoy in Providence, R.I. a few years ago organized by Pier Gustafson. This show should not be such a secret, though i'm afraid that if too many people discover it, it'll become as overwhelming as the the other big shows.

A few of those present were Gary Lehrer, Marilyn of Brown's Stationery in NYC, Steve and Maryann Zucker, Ron Zorn and his repair shop, Richard Binder and his nib shop, Bob Novak, David Ushkow, penmaster Brad Torelli, Daniel Flagerho, Ed Rohrlick, and my table neighbor of Lamy fame, Bob Nurin. My apologies to all those i left out in my hurry.

My favorite activity is trading and managed have fun working trades with Ed Rohrlick, David Ushkow, and couldn't leave without making a trade with Paul Erano. Also sold enough to recoup expenses.

Great show. Thanks to Terry and Mike.
flexinib
John Corwin
john@flexinibpens.com

Wow, I can't believe it--Bill Griffith showed up?? That's amazing. He does live within driving distance, in a small town up in Connecticut. So he sauntered on in, with no one the wiser? No press? No Zippy fans waiting for him?

Glad to hear it was a good show. I had heard it is usually quite small, so that's encouraging to know it is building up. I'll make a point to try for it next year.

~Gary

Hi Gary,

I have to say that for a "small" show it was a hot small show

Lots of pen conversation. Lots of trade. I sold well and bought well. I look forward to next year's show.

regards

david