I'm really excited about going to my first pen show. I've been looking at the site at pencentral.com but there doesn't seem to be a list of exhibitors there. Does anyone know if this sort of list exists somewhere?

Thanks, I look forward to meeting some of you in person!

Steph

Steph, I'll be there! I don't sell, I just walk around in a daze, admiring and occasionally buying! As far as a list, just about everyone (almost)will be there! Are you staying at the hotel or just visiting during one of the days?

Vacumania will be there with couple hundred vintage pens, hunting more of course

regards
david

This will be my first too - I look forward to meeting "in the flesh" many of the lovely people I know here on FPN, in addition to just walking around goggle-eyed at all the pens. At least my friends from Pen Haven will be there!!!

Erick

I'll be getting in on Saturday and staying at the hotel. I'm really, really excited about it, but I'm hoping to hold on to enough sanity to not totally drain my bank account! I signed up for the basic pen repair seminar on Sunday morning - nothing like hands-on fun with pens!

Maybe there should be a meet-up for FPNers at the show?

Hi Steph:
The promoter os the Washington show has never, to my knowledge, published an exhibitor list. See ya there!

Joe Nemecek

it is the largest u.s. show!!
about 250-300 exhibitors.
sadly kevin chang won't be there--his wine parties that he and his family host were wonderful.

resistance is impossible!!
have fun!

elaine and i will be there on thursday!

What, you can only do one day this year?

d

Unfortunately, do a change in plans (instigated by SWMBO) I will not be at the show on Saturday as originally planned...

Hope you all have a good time....

Sorry you won't make it, Tom. Looked forward to Sushi dinner.

-d

Darn, Tom and I was accumulating lots of liberal newsletters for you to use as target practice.
Jeez, please note this is an attempt at humor.

Steve

I hope to be there Saturday 3-5pm and Sunday 10am-1pm. I'm probably available for dining out opportunities on Saturday night.

I also hope to go there on saturday.
This is the first time to see a fountain show in my life.
I need to go there from philadelphia.

If anybody who would go from philadelphia area, I hope I could go there together.

If you see one asian(Korean) guy is there on saturday, it's me!!!!

an edification for the vac doc:

we-elaine and i will be at the show thurs. fri. sat., sun.

So Rebecca, are you going to send that Imperial to me so that I can fix the darn thing before I go to the show? I have the barrel that you need. Here. In Syracuse.

I'm honored I could get her to change her plans

d

So... question for DC show veterans: is there an auction at the show? Is it open to the public?

No auction. LOTS of pens though.

regards
david

A rookie question if you don't mind concerning the DC Pen Show:
Are there the same number of vendors on Thursday and Friday...or...is Saturday the prime vendor day?

My schedule is better to get down to the show on Friday but having never attended a pen show I don't know if Thur. & Fri are vendor set-up days. Is the public allowed in on Thur. & Fri.?
Is it possible to bring a small number of pens to sell/swap? What's the accepted practice?
Assistance/advice would be appreciated. I certainly don't want to be remembered as committing a social gaff at my first show.

Rebecca.... You'd better hurry and get that Imperial fixed. Sounds like Ron Zorn is more than ready to fix it!

ron shamed me into going to the post office this morning on the first of the month. now, i do not know how your p.o. is on the first of the month....but here there are loooong lines. it is the day the va checks are received, the ssi checks were delivered yesterday and everyone is at the p.o. for money orders.

but being courageous, i perservered and sent the two pieces of my sat upon sheaffer imperial (sob!!') back to ron for a barrel replacement. this is the second time my a*s has broken a pen. he will fit my beautiful stub nib section and feed into a new barrel and i will pick up the pen at the washington pen show.

thursday and friday are trader days. it is informal and fun!! no pressure. not every exhibitor sets up those 2 days--but a lot do. i scored some great vintage pens--a beautiful mandarin yellow parker vest pocket pen. last year on friday i bought 2nd and 3rd teir yellow pen--i bought 7 of them. i cleaned th e vendors of all their yellow pens! sat. and sunday is more formal. all the vendors are there. it is formal and crowded. thursday and friday are more informal. you can shmooze with the dealers.

every day is a good day at the D.C. pen show!

What are the chances that there will be a good, user quality vac left by Sunday? Last year was my first show and I can't wait for this one! Should be a great time.

Rebecca, I'm very proud of you for enduring the long lines at the post office and taking care of that poor pen!

Friday will have far more venders. Trading is big part of the show. Bring your old pens. Worry less about social gaffs. Just don't grab pens without asking. Beyond that pretty well anything goes If you have vintage pens, i'd be happy to see 'em.

david

Chances are about 100%. I usually bring 200-400 pens to show and am quite happy if 50 sell.

regards
david

"Just don't grab pens without asking" ?
Umm, it's my first pen show but I've been out in public quite a few times.

Understood, but you would be surprised what some people who have "been out in public quite a few times." do.... it ain't always pretty... and really ticks off sellers.

This conversation is starting to remind me of a girl at my high school who became famous for telling one of her dates, who grabbed without asking, "If you don't have anything better to do with your hands, put them in your pockets!"

maybe, if the legacy I am expecting comes through by then...and is big enough...I will make it next year.....if the World hasn't ended

Would it be a good idea to bring a pen of my own (flushed and dry, of course) for ink sampling?

Ya'd be serprized.

-d

This will be my third DC show and every year I find out that many FPN'ers attended and probably were inches away from me most of the day, yet I never knew it at the time. Last year I arranged beforehand to meet a FPN'er and we actually were able to meet him (Luckygrandson) so that was one successful arrangement.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to where we could meet - lobby - a popular dealer's table - etc. at certain specific times and days? That would be so lovely and we could also arrange to meet for dinner or lunch or even breakfast! I am already looking at certain restaurants in the area and have one good lead that serves all three meals and is close to the hotel.

Steph - we are also staying at the hotel.

If anyone wants to meet me and my better half please PM and we can arrange where/when, etc!
We are attending all 4 days!

My favorite restaurant on the planet-Clydes, is just minutes away. I don't think they serve a breakfast. But I think (might want to call and find out) that on Sat & Sun's they have half-off burgers. This means about 6.00 for a monster burger that tastes GREAT!

Dave

http://www.clydes.com/main/RestaurantsDeta...mp;Section=Main

My lovely bride and I are going to try and make it to the show for one day... probably Saturday, but possibly Sunday.

I think I'll just take a name-badge sticker thingy and write FPN on it and wear it. Say hi if you see me...

Bill

Come to think of it, does FPN usually have a table at the show? I see that in years past FPN inks have been available at the show. Does another vendor sell it or does an FPN admin have a table? Does anyone know if Starry Night will be sold at the show this year?