Hi Guys,


Well I'm hanging at the Deep Blue Sushi Bar at Jet Blue's JFK terminal on a rather long layoever. First time in like 70 (heck, long ago lost count) pen shows that had to bug out before the Sunday mayhem, but tonight starts a holiday, and travel from Raleigh to Syracuse takes time.

Raleigh was grand this year, if bittersweet. My impression is that public involvement continues to grow. This year saw the loudest aisle buzz. Lots of pens traded hands. Sales were not at all bad, for me in the same zone as Philadelphia and Boston this year. I managed to come home with 90 finds. No complaints there. Even pulled an exotic (if rather nuanced and esoteric) scarce vacumatic for my own collection, found in table-mate Paul Erano's pile.

Terry's spoken tribute to Sonya was eloquent and powerful, greatly appreciated by show goers.

The tables were quite full. I don't recall white space. Very nice attendance by those who wished to play dealer.

The traditional Mawhorter-show dessert party was appreciated, as always.

I concede it's a bit weird thinking of Alan Hirsch as a North Carolinian, but hey, things change.

My only (and minimal) gripe is that i wish the Auction format could change just a bit. Some very nice pens were to be found, but a 3 hour auction, starting after the evening dessert, on a third night of a pen show, is not conducive i think to optimal attendance. Folks are tired, what with late night pow-wows and high energy days. I pooped out midway and left to take a snooze, passing on a couple grand Vacumatics, i think i'd've won had i been there. Oh well. A bit earlier start, and more rapid progression through lagging lots, would be appreciated by this writer. Still, it was pretty special that the auction had some grand Vacs (superb red Vacuum Filler, QUITE rare Vacumatic Secretary pen- the infamous clown-nose-Vac). The Columbus/Raleigh pen auction circuit has been pulling better pens each year.

Embassy Suites of course is about as ideal a show hotel as one could imagine. Easy access to EVERYTHING within. Free and excellent breakfast. Free (and excellent) double happy hour. Good food. Wireless. Suites that can hold three independent adults easily- making for affordable room share. I ended up paying $130 total for three nights lodging, what with sharing space with Brack and Erano.

It is my abiding hope that Terry and sons Matt and Ben go forward with the show and host Raleigh again next year.

I will be there. Hope to see other listfolk join in, too.

regards

david

Also, had a blast this year. My sister and my son were also with me. It was a pleasure to me you. My son loved doing the scavenger hunt, he loved getting a free pen and notebook even better. What an awesome way to keep the kids involved. I'm looking forward to next year's show.

I did not go to the Raleigh show, but it was a great show for me nonetheless -- thanks to David Isaacson. He did something very nice for me that I felt was beyond his duty as a seller, and I truly appreciate it. He knows what it is -- Thanks again, David! I will certainly buy more pens from you in the future.

QM2

I concur with David, the facility for the Raleigh Show is ideal. This was my first Raleigh Show and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It is great to get together with pen folk more than once a year (I usually attend just the Ohio Show every year). This show, which was dedicated to Sonya, had particular meaning and I hope that interest in the Raleigh Show continues. A special thank you goes to Terry, his sons, and friends of Sonya who made the Raleigh Show possible this year.