Atlanta Pen Show

[GardenWeasel]

My calendar shows a Pen Show in Atlanta 13-15 April...we are going. Who else is tempted and going?

[mwpannell]

I have it on the calendar and wanting to go, not sure it will happen. (Just an hour and a half drive and I've a couple of reasons to gwt to ATL, but, you know, business and lethargy. I haven't seen a 2018 vendor list on the site, but that's not such an issue. I know who will likely be there. So what kind of answer is that to your question? LOL. Definite maybe. If I go, probably will mainly shop paper and ink versus big ticket pens.

[GardenWeasel]

Papier- Plumé folks are scheduled to be there, with a new ink called House of the Rising Sun.

[fountainpenlady]

My calendar shows a Pen Show in Atlanta 13-15 April...we are going. Who else is tempted and going?

I hope there is some way you can get this communication. If not just know that I too am attending the Atlanta Pen Show. Figured since I have never gone to the Atlanta one and the Triangle Pen Show will be at a new hotel, why not? I am half way there. I am in Augusta and will be there on Saturday and part of Sunday leaving from there back to Augusta and then back where I began. Take Care and Safe Journey to you.

[fountainpenlady]

Literally just returned from the Atlanta Pen Show 2018. I wanted to share some thoughts about my adventure:

 

First, if you have ever been to the Triangle Pen Show, this is set up the same, only instead of one ballroom, there are three of them. Pens and stationery items are still being sold outside by vendors in the lobby along the walls also. The registration desk has at least two women sitting behind it taking money. They give you a tote bag like the T.P.S. Also, the Pen World booth is in the lobby and the nice young woman was giving away copies of Pen World. I think if you actually purchased a subscription she also gave a couple other items, or at least on her table I saw two of them which she did not seem to give out to everyone. The Pen Show started at 10:00 am and ended at 5:00 pm every day. Believe on Friday, they had a cookout. I did not arrive until Saturday and stayed until Sunday.

 

I attended two workshops. One involved writing cursive better and the other was about inks. Both were nice, but I enjoyed the ink one more than the writing cursive better. I am not detailed oriented and if you have ever been to one of the writing calligraphy or the others, you practice with different paper having lines, etc.

I bumped into someone I would rather those of you who know him see a picture and guess. Also, I saw Michael Masuyama, but did not take his picture.

Also, Mark Bacas. There were also a couple other Nibmeisters there also. The Chocolatier gentleman was there, only not next to Franklin-Christoph representatives who was also there. Many of the vendors at the Triangle Show were there and probably others we are probably familiar with and some not. Three rooms so there was a lot to see and buy. Yes, there was a crowd and backpacks which hindered getting around. the Nock folks were there with a table to name one which I don't remember seeing at the Triangle Pen Show. There were also other places you could pick up a couple of their styles and colors, but the guys who actually make them were present at the show also. The hotel where it was held was also a five star. I stayed only one night, I stopped both coming and going in Augusta and did not complete both ways straight through to Atlanta, GA.

 

I loved the hotel, but it was kind of out of the way, very limited in choices of food, although the hotel had a shuttle which would take you to get something to eat up to five miles from the hotel. Also, an expensive restaurant inside. The streets were confusing for me to get anywhere and when my GPS led me to two apartment buildings instead of places to eat, I gave up. Well, I don't want to bore you, I know the Triangle Pen Show is coming up. I just wanted you to get a sense of what it felt like for someone from North Carolina who has gone to the Triangle Pen Show to actually attend the Atlanta Pen Show. I think it is bigger. Better? Depends on whether you wanted your pen tuned by Mike or not since he does not attend the Triangle Pen Show. I purchased a Cocobolo L-16 from Ryan Krusac and although I had pretty much purchased all I wanted on Saturday, decided to spend another $10.00 and have it tuned by Mark Bacas. I like him.He tuned two other pens of mine in the past so I trusted him and although he had a list, only two people on it, he told me to wait and he tuned my pen perfectly right there in moments and was reasonable. Worth my having stayed since torrential rain was there and all the way to North Carolina. I did not dare try to get around in Atlanta. Well, here are pictures I wanted to share with you. For those of you who shop online, guess who is in the picture with me? The hint is every time you order from his company, you get a handwritten note and a lollipop.

Mark Bacas is the other picture taken. For me, along with the adventure, bounty purchased and meeting some really nice people, I think meeting face to face these two folks were the highlight for me. Still, I enjoy the Triangle Pen Show much and will never think again it is big. It's size, up until last year (a new venue this year) is still perfect for me.

 

P.S. I asked and got permission from The Gentleman Stationer to share the following. Hope this gives you additional feel for the Atlanta Pen Show this year. Keep scrolling down and you will see Mike Masuyama and the young woman who was also at his table.

 

https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/

Edited April 16, 2018 by fountainpenlady

[fountainpenlady]

Papier- Plumé folks are scheduled to be there, with a new ink called House of the Rising Sun.

That was what those little bottles with the wax seal caps. Oops! I kept trying to decide about the wax seals he had and kept forgetting to look at the ink bottles closer. Now, you make me wish I had purchased one of them.

[Tasmith]

Literally just returned from the Atlanta Pen Show 2018. I wanted to share some thoughts about my adventure:

 

First, if you have ever been to the Triangle Pen Show, this is set up the same, only instead of one ballroom, there are three of them. Pens and stationery items are still being sold outside by vendors in the lobby along the walls also. The registration desk has at least two women sitting behind it taking money. They give you a tote bag like the T.P.S. Also, the Pen World booth is in the lobby and the nice young woman was giving away copies of Pen World. I think if you actually purchased a subscription she also gave a couple other items, or at least on her table I saw two of them which she did not seem to give out to everyone. The Pen Show started at 10:00 am and ended at 5:00 pm every day. Believe on Friday, they had a cookout. I did not arrive until Saturday and stayed until Sunday.

 

I attended two workshops. One involved writing cursive better and the other was about inks. Both were nice, but I enjoyed the ink one more than the writing cursive better. I am not detailed oriented and if you have ever been to one of the writing calligraphy or the others, you practice with different paper having lines, etc.

I bumped into someone I would rather those of you who know him see a picture and guess. Also, I saw Michael Masuyama, but did not take his picture.

Also, Mark Bacas. There were also a couple other Nibmeisters there also. The Chocolatier gentleman was there, only not next to Franklin-Christoph representatives who was also there. Many of the vendors at the Triangle Show were there and probably others we are probably familiar with and some not. Three rooms so there was a lot to see and buy. Yes, there was a crowd and backpacks which hindered getting around. the Nock folks were there with a table to name one which I don't remember seeing at the Triangle Pen Show. There were also other places you could pick up a couple of their styles and colors, but the guys who actually make them were present at the show also. The hotel where it was held was also a five star. I stayed only one night, I stopped both coming and going in Augusta and did not complete both ways straight through to Atlanta, GA.

 

I loved the hotel, but it was kind of out of the way, very limited in choices of food, although the hotel had a shuttle which would take you to get something to eat up to five miles from the hotel. Also, an expensive restaurant inside. The streets were confusing for me to get anywhere and when my GPS led me to two apartment buildings instead of places to eat, I gave up. Well, I don't want to bore you, I know the Triangle Pen Show is coming up. I just wanted you to get a sense of what it felt like for someone from North Carolina who has gone to the Triangle Pen Show to actually attend the Atlanta Pen Show. I think it is bigger. Better? Depends on whether you wanted your pen tuned by Mike or not since he does not attend the Triangle Pen Show. I purchased a Cocobolo L-16 from Ryan Krusac and although I had pretty much purchased all I wanted on Saturday, decided to spend another $10.00 and have it tuned by Mark Bacas. I like him.He tuned two other pens of mine in the past so I trusted him and although he had a list, only two people on it, he told me to wait and he tuned my pen perfectly right there in moments and was reasonable. Worth my having stayed since torrential rain was there and all the way to North Carolina. I did not dare try to get around in Atlanta. Well, here are pictures I wanted to share with you. For those of you who shop online, guess who is in the picture with me? The hint is every time you order from his company, you get a handwritten note and a lollipop.

Mark Bacas is the other picture taken. For me, along with the adventure, bounty purchased and meeting some really nice people, I think meeting face to face these two folks were the highlight for me. Still, I enjoy the Triangle Pen Show much and will never think again it is big. It's size, up until last year (a new venue this year) is still perfect for me.

 

P.S. I asked and got permission from The Gentleman Stationer to share the following. Hope this gives you additional feel for the Atlanta Pen Show this year. Keep scrolling down and you will see Mike Masuyama and the young woman who was also at his table.

 

https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/

Thank you for the great review!