Fountain Pen Shops In The San Francisco Bay Area?

[Simius]

I am in the Bay Area for the next few weeks, and am looking for shops that sell fountain pens. The first discovery was Maido in San Jose. I realize there are a bunch of shops around San Francisco and Berkeley, but - what about the Peninsula? Are there shops around San Jose/ Cupertino/ Palo Alto etc? Would much appreciate any leads. Thanks...

[AltecGreen]

Not much.

 

Try Congdon and Crone in Palo Alto.

 

 

 

You are better off coming to one of our Pen Posses. We have one tomorrow and another in two weeks.

[Simius]

Not much.

 

Try Congdon and Crone in Palo Alto.

 

 

 

You are better off coming to one of our Pen Posses. We have one tomorrow and another in two weeks.

 

Thanks, will follow up.

 

Would very much like to attend a Pen Posse meeting, and will PM on details.

[JohnEbach]

is the Pen Posse a fountain pen club? Our daughter just moved out to Oakland/San Fran area. If there is a club out there I would like to forward her details. Can't wait to visit and see several of the shops around her.

 

John

[Bruno]

is the Pen Posse a fountain pen club? Our daughter just moved out to Oakland/San Fran area. If there is a club out there I would like to forward her details. Can't wait to visit and see several of the shops around her.

 

John

Yes, there is a pen club... PPPC (Pan Pacific Pen Club) which has been around for 20 years or so. They meet quarterly (give or take) and the next meeting has just been scheduled for March 16th in Oakland. Keep watch on the boards for official announcements.

 

-Bruno

[ethernautrix]

Pen Posse isn't a club, per se -- it's very informal, without membership fees or requirements or structure, really. Anyone can call a Pen Posse -- just name a place, date, and time -- and show up. I advise picking a place where you're comfortable spending some time alone in case no one shows.

 

Having said that -- Pen Posses have convened nearly weekly over the past month and a half, with another called for Sunday, February 10, at 1:00 pm at Peter's Cafe in Millbrae.

 

For those who have never experienced Pen Posse -- first of all, we would love to meet you! Second, feel free to ask questions. There's a thread in the Clubs forum about the 2/10 Pen Posse (called the Pre-LA Pen Show edition, where we'll talk about strategies for getting the most fun out of the LA Pen Show and try each other's pens and inks and papers and eat lunch, the usual Pen Posse activities).

 

The Pan Pacific Pen Club is an actual club, as Bruno said, with about quarterly meetings. It's a bit more formal, with pen trading/selling/buying and very knowledgeable fountain pen people. Some Pen Posse regulars are also members of the PPPC.

[studiohead]

I will be in the bay area for GDC in March, what is the likely hood of having to attend one of these?

[AltecGreen]

I will be in the bay area for GDC in March, what is the likely hood of having to attend one of these?

 

 

The miracle of Pen Posse is that if you travel to the Bay Area, there will always be a Pen Posse. Just let us know when you'll be in town and we'll call a Pen Posse. It can be a weeknight.

[FarmBoy]

I will be in the bay area for GDC in March, what is the likely hood of having to attend one of these?

 

 

The miracle of Pen Posse is that if you travel to the Bay Area, there will always be a Pen Posse. Just let us know when you'll be in town and we'll call a Pen Posse. It can be a weeknight.

As coincidence would have it, we are having Pen Posseg-GDC at Peter's that day. Feel free to join us... Just remind me what GDC is and which day we are having the Posse and I'll have Ricky do the rest.

[studiohead]

GDC is the Games Developer's Conference at the Moscone Center. The dates are actually from the 25th to the 29th.

 

At the moment I have yet to plan my schedule but I am intending to fly in lunchtime on the 24th and leave on the 1st April. But it seems that I might be busy on the 30 and 31st doing shopping with friends.

[tenney]

Haven't been to a GDC in ages...

Of course, in SF, you've got the MB Boutique to visit. But you might see more MBs at a pen posse.

[Mikale]

Flew in from Guam to experience my first visit of San Francisco, for 2 weeks. I am also interested in visiting pen shops while I am here.

First night in SFO I discovered the box of MB ink cartridges I packed was no good (water content had evaporated). I am so use to driving at 35 mph back home, driving around SFO the past few days has been intimidating, but I am slowly getting acclimated to the 65 mph speed limit. Anyway I paid visit to the MB boutique on Grant Avenue, on Yelp there are harsh reviews about this outlet saying it had terrible customer service. Fortunately that wasn't the case for me, the moment I stepped through the door I was greeted by the store manager (Elizabeth) and she was very helpful! When I asked to buy ink cartridges in Mystery Black and Royal Blue, she was out of Blue so I settled for two boxes of Black. What she did next made my day, when I pulled out my wallet to pay for the cartridges she told me I could have them for FREE. I said, "Are kidding me, seriously?" Elizabeth replied, "It is our complimentary gift to you for using our products." I felt so grateful and thanked her (Almost wanted to kowtow and kiss her feet). I wished I could have stayed longer because I spied the Albert Einstein fountain pen on display, but I was double parked out front with my friends waiting in our rental car. I had to say goodbye quickly.

 

I will try to visit those other pen shops mentioned in this thread...It is a shame I won't be here for the next pen posse, leaving on the February 9th. Do you have one planned at the end of the month?

[AltecGreen]

 

It is a shame I won't be here for the next pen posse, leaving on the February 9th. Do you have one planned at the end of the month?[/size]

 

 

 

If you want to Pen Posse on the 3rd let me know and I'll call one.

 

 

Right now, we have the Pre-LA pen posse on the 10th. Many of us will be at the LA pen show the following weekend. We will have the post LA Pen Posse probably on the 23rd or 24th.

[ethernautrix]

Um... Pen Posse Super Bowl? We should meet somewhere where some of us can glance at a big TV screen every once in a while.

 

Also, I might be riding my bike 60 miles that day. Not sure yet. Depends on Saturday.

Edited February 1, 2013 by ethernautrix

[AltecGreen]

Um... Pen Posse Super Bowl? We should meet somewhere where some of us can glance at a big TV screen every once in a while.

 

Also, I might be riding my bike 60 miles that day. Not sure yet. Depends on Saturday.

 

 

Oh. Forgot about that. This might be be a bad idea. Has that every stopped us before?

 

 

We can go back to Cafe Salina. They have a TV in every booth.

 

 

It all depends on Mikale.

[Mikale]

Um... Pen Posse Super Bowl? We should meet somewhere where some of us can glance at a big TV screen every once in a while.

 

Also, I might be riding my bike 60 miles that day. Not sure yet. Depends on Saturday.

 

 

Oh. Forgot about that. This might be be a bad idea. Has that every stopped us before?

 

 

We can go back to Cafe Salina. They have a TV in every booth.

 

 

It all depends on Mikale.

 

Unfortunately I am committed to a training class for my job that will continue through this weekend. I am grateful for the invitation. If I return at the end of February I would definitely would like to attend a pen posse.