Pen And Ink Shopping! Mai-Do (San Jose) And Montblanc Boutique (Santa Clara)

[requiescat]

I visited my sister this past weekend because she took me to see Hamilton in San Francisco (which was fabulous, by the way), and since we had a little extra time, she took me ink-shopping.

 

The first place we hit up was Mai-Do in San Jose, which I had not been to before. I was very, very tempted to make off with about twenty different notebooks, since they had such a great variety, everything from Paperblanks to Leuchtturm to Apica and more besides. I limited myself to a single red Apica. They also had some beautiful decorative papers that I would have coveted back when I used to do bookbinding, including what looked like chiyogami.

 

But of course I was entranced by the fountain pens. Largely Japanese, unsurprisingly. I spotted a Platinum with a music nib, and some lower-end maki-e pen whose brand I can't remember with chrysanthemum motifs in gold going for about $400. Very pretty, but I'd already bought a vintage pen through FPN classifieds this month so I wasn't going to buy anything really spendy. (Yes, I know they get even spendier than that. ) I'm pretty sure I saw a decent selection of Sailor pens as well. A whole selection of Lamy pens, including two of the Lamy LX pens. I thought about getting the one in rose gold, since I love the color, but in the end I instead got a Kaweco Sport in the black chess color because it looked little and cute, and I sort of felt the need for a small knockabout pen that I could carry around when I don't feel like risking one of the expensive ones; I also found it more aesthetically appealing than the Lamy. I have a friend who swears by Lamy, but the aesthetic doesn't always work for me.

 

Mai-Do also had a reasonable selection of Pilot Iroshizuku inks, and I overpaid for a bottle of Take-Sumi in the spirit of supporting the store, even though it would have been a fair bit cheaper off Amazon. I like how well-behaved Iroshizuku inks are despite the price.

 

After that we hit up the Montblanc boutique in the Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara. To be honest, I was kind of terrified walking into a place with so many really expensive things in it, and this is despite the fact that I own a Nakaya and two Aurora Optimas. The thing is, I had to save for those things? I couldn't just casually (say) buy a Montblanc fountain pen, and also I was not dressed in fancy clothes. (I'm a science fiction writer. I don't own any fancy clothes--I used to have some for special occasions but they got destroyed in a natural disaster last year, and I still haven't replaced them.) I didn't even look at the pens. My sister and I went in and said we were looking for inks.

 

Anyway, despite my being dressed in a surplus military jacket [1] and jeans, the saleswoman and salesman at the boutique were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I needn't have worried. I said I was interested in red or blue inks, which sounds weird, but I wanted a red ink for myself, and the blue was for a friend of mine who is into fountain pens and who's having some rough times lately. After seeing the samples, I picked out Royal Blue for my friend and Burgundy Red for myself.

 

[1] The arms are too long for me, but it has the best pockets. I am probably going to be wearing surplus military jackets for non-formal situations for the rest of my life.

 

At that point, the salesman intervened and said that they had a bottle of the William Shakespeare LE ink in stock, and was I interested? I said I'd take a look, and lo, it was a red ink. So I added that to my purchase as well. Between the Burgundy Red, Corn Poppy Red (gift from my friend), Alfred Hitchcock (I snagged two bottles of it from Amazon.com when I saw them available a couple years back, and have not regretted it--it's my favorite red ink), and now the William Shakespeare, I think I'm set for red inks.

 

I've only once come into close contact with a Montblanc fountain pen, which was when sf/f author Max Gladstone let me try writing with his. I would have loved to take a look at what the boutique had, but there was no way I could have afforded to purchase anything in that store that wasn't an ink, so I didn't want to waste the salespeople's time, you know? Maybe someday when I am more prosperous.

[EclecticCollector]

I am not at all surprised by your experience at the Valley Fair Montblanc boutique, I have always had excellent service there despite usually being in sneakers, jeans, and a plain t-shirt. Happy to hear that you were able to snag a bottle of the Shakespeare ink!

[HollyDav]

Wow! Sounds you had a blast! What a fun shopping day. I wish we had some brick & mortar pen/paper stores around where I live. The internet has wiped them out. The only things we have around here are big office supply stores and the only fountain pens they carry are fine point Pilot Metros and cheap Cross gift sets, no ink, limited paper.

 

I think there might be a Mont Blanc boutique in a fancy schmancy mall in Boston. Not that I can afford to walk in the place, or even pass by the door ... but maybe for some ink and peak around...

 

Enjoy your new ink!

[ac12]

Don't sweat the clothes.

This is Silicon Valley, the guy in a T-shirt and worn out jeans could be worth enough, that buying a MB is pocket change.

[requiescat]

I am not at all surprised by your experience at the Valley Fair Montblanc boutique, I have always had excellent service there despite usually being in sneakers, jeans, and a plain t-shirt. Happy to hear that you were able to snag a bottle of the Shakespeare ink!

 

It was delightful, and the salespeople were so kind! It makes me want a Montblanc someday, possibly from that specific boutique. My sister lives in the area and I visit her a couple times a year, so it wouldn't be impossible if, you know, finances ever permit.

 

Wow! Sounds you had a blast! What a fun shopping day. I wish we had some brick & mortar pen/paper stores around where I live. The internet has wiped them out. The only things we have around here are big office supply stores and the only fountain pens they carry are fine point Pilot Metros and cheap Cross gift sets, no ink, limited paper.

 

I think there might be a Mont Blanc boutique in a fancy schmancy mall in Boston. Not that I can afford to walk in the place, or even pass by the door ... but maybe for some ink and peak around...

 

Enjoy your new ink!

 

I live in Baton Rouge and the nearest brick-and-mortar pen store is Papier Plume in New Orleans. Which is fantastic, don't get me wrong; they have been friendly every time I've been there and I love their house line of inks, but parking in the French Quarter is kind of a pain.

 

I haven't lived in Boston in some years now but that was before I was into fountain pens, so I wouldn't even have thought to look!

 

Don't sweat the clothes.

This is Silicon Valley, the guy in a T-shirt and worn out jeans could be worth enough, that buying a MB is pocket change.

 

Thank you, I should remember that. My job doesn't exactly require me to dress up much (my editors don't care what I'm wearing when I do my writing so long as I hand things in on time!) so I get nervous about that sometimes. I can dream of a Montblanc pen in my future someday, anyway. Some of them are really lovely.

[FarmBoy]

 

It was delightful, and the salespeople were so kind! It makes me want a Montblanc someday, possibly from that specific boutique. My sister lives in the area and I visit her a couple times a year, so it wouldn't be impossible if, you know, finances ever permit.

 

 

I live in Baton Rouge and the nearest brick-and-mortar pen store is Papier Plume in New Orleans. Which is fantastic, don't get me wrong; they have been friendly every time I've been there and I love their house line of inks, but parking in the French Quarter is kind of a pain.

 

I haven't lived in Boston in some years now but that was before I was into fountain pens, so I wouldn't even have thought to look!

 

 

Thank you, I should remember that. My job doesn't exactly require me to dress up much (my editors don't care what I'm wearing when I do my writing so long as I hand things in on time!) so I get nervous about that sometimes. I can dream of a Montblanc pen in my future someday, anyway. Some of them are really lovely.

It would be a fun conversation if I had an editor ask me what I was wearing when I wrote this or that...

 

As to what you choose to wear, I know several millionaires that don't own a tie or shoes better than flip flops.

[ac12]

If you are still in the Bay Area,

 

There is the Pan Pacific Pen Club meet this Sat in Freemont.

It is like a mini pen show.

 

The following week is a Pen Posse at Peyton Street Pens in Santa Cruz.

[requiescat]

If you are still in the Bay Area,

 

There is the Pan Pacific Pen Club meet this Sat in Freemont.

It is like a mini pen show.

 

The following week is a Pen Posse at Peyton Street Pens in Santa Cruz.

Alas, I'm sorry to miss those! I'm back home in Baton Rouge--it was a very short trip. I flew in Thursday, saw Hamilton Friday night in SanFran, did a reading at Borderlands on Saturday, and flew back home Sunday. I didn't even think to check for this specific visit, but in the future I will have to remember to do so!

[ac12]

The next time you are coming to the SF Bay Area, go to the club section and ask for a SF Pen Posse meetup.

We usually meet in Millbrae, at a cafe right next to the Caltrain and BART station.

[bogiesan]

You did not overpay for your ink. You enjoyed the presence of experienced sales staff. You observed many pens and notebooks in person. You handled whatever you asked to see more closely. You experienced the direct benefits of an entrepreneur taking advantage of--and managing the risks of-- capitalism.