Pen club in Minneapolis/St. Paul area?

[ethernautrix]

Okay then... I'm in South City right now... but I'm leaving for the airport... so I hope you-all are prepared for Pen Posse & Pub Crawl... cos I'm bringin' it. See you there!

[jmbarnes]

-11 F. Wow. The walk to and from the LRT station is going to be coooold.

 

Anyone have a particular purchase in mind?

 

 

[jmkeuning]

...

Anyone have a particular purchase in mind?

 

I am planning on buying my freedom.

[ethernautrix]

-11 F. Wow. The walk to and from the LRT station is going to be coooold.

 

Anyone have a particular purchase in mind?

I'll probably buy something warm...

 

(Who'm I kidding? I'm not leaving this warm place to go outside and have my skin freeze off!)

 

(No, I'll see you there!)

 

I'll be the one who reeks of garlic.

 

Just sayin'.

 

 

_{(You need to be warned.)}

[jmkeuning]

It is warming up. -3.6

 

Are you staying downtown? Did you seriously come out here just for this?

[Robert Hughes]

Garlic? Eww. Please stand over there...

[ethernautrix]

Did you seriously come out here just for this?

Ask me at INK.

[jmkeuning]

I am across the street right now.

 

I smell garlic.

[Rainwalker]

I love garlic!

 

[Beardy]

I obviously have not been able to attend, as I ended up having too much homework and too many other commitments this weekend, (going to the Guthrie tonight ) but I hope you all had/are having a marvelous time!

 

Hopefully ol' Minneapolis can see more such events—I might actually manage to attend one!

[Rena]

GREAT time! This was a very nice event and I am so glad to have met those of you who were able to make it. I think we all agreed how neat it is to actually talk fountain pens in person with other pen people — and what fun to try out all the neat pens (and inks too) everyone brought along to show and tell! I know I've added at least 2 or 3 inks to my wish list. I had a chance to handle some lovely pens that I've always been curious about too. The store INK is very, very cool and Barry was a most gracious host. Thank you everyone!

 

Robert, thank you for coordinating this. I do hope we will gather again sometime, and some of you who weren't able to attend this pen posse can join us. I know some of you are still on the pub crawl... I'm here in my nice warm house now.

Edited January 24, 2009 by Rena

[jmkeuning]

I am thinking that this get-together set some sort of record for attendees. I could not believe the numbers!

 

I am also thinking that since most members have not come here and checked back in, that yes, the pub crawl is still going on, which might lead one to believe that other records are being set as well!

 

*disclaimer - I met the folks in the lobby, but did not go up to ink. The last time I went in there I tried to hide out in the back room and Barry caught me with a pen in each hand and 28 open bottles of Noodlers.

[philm]

It was a great time. For the record, I went on the pub crawl -- at least the beginning of it. I bowed out after the first pub as I feared that this suburbanite would not be able to keep up with the professionals. Seriously, I will echo what Rena said. Robert did a great job of organizing this and Barry was very patient and helpful to us all. It was great to meet so many knowledgeable pen fanatics in one place. To be able to play with everyone's pens and listen to their stories and recommendations was very helpful.

 

Thanks to all and I hope everyone made it home in the cold. Let's do it again sometime.

 

Phil

[betsypreston]

I second (third? fourth?) the "had fun, thanks for organizing" etc etc. It was way more than I expected to see and try so many different pens. And everyone was so nice! Plus I scoped out a few pens that I think I might have to circle back for (Pelican M1000 is NOT too huge despite the alarmist reviews I've seen).

 

What's the best way to track if/when there's another get-together?

 

Hey, Phil, I did test the "Summit" lever fill with water. Water came squirting back out, so I put in some ink a wrote a bit with it tonight. The water came out kinda bluish, so that's what I put back in cuz it seemed easier than trying to rinse out the mysterious invisible innards. So far, so good. It's a nice surprise that one of those pens was actually ready-to-go. And I'm excited to try to get some rehab done on the others.

 

Kris

[wpblaw]

What the others said! Thanks so much to all who shared their time, pens/ink, and stories, and to Barry Rubin for generously sharing his space, pens, and 45th floor view.

 

I didn't make the pub crawl, but I'm sure this crew took good care of the whiskey, beer and wine of the Minneapolis downtown area. And hopefully ethernautrix didn't find her shades frozen to her face...

Edited January 25, 2009 by wpblaw

[jmkeuning]

http://www.yumsugar.com/1500989

[wpblaw]

http://www.yumsugar.com/1500989

 

I KNOW! I saw thing cruising Nicollet Mall while having lunch one day. Surely the Minneapolis/St. Paul FPNers braved the subzero temps for a ride on this baby!

[ethernautrix]

Oh. My. Gawd.

 

You-all are so much fun!

 

First, what everyone else said. Pen Posse at INK was FABULOUS. It's actually kindv hilarious how instant the rapport over fountain pens is--must be the type of person fountain pens attract. Or maybe it's Minnesota. But everyone at Pen Posse was super friendly and kind and fun, and the store itself is amazing!

 

(BTW, in an informal survey taken amongst the dozen or so of us in the elevator... not one of us was carrying a flashlight.)

 

I took some photos of the Pen Posse engaged in, ah, pen-posse-ing, and photos of the store and the view, which I'll post after I get home either later today or tomorrow.

 

Props to James for showing up at the beginning just to say hi before going back to work. I was glad to put a face to the name and hilarious commentary.

 

Also, I'll buy pens and inks from Barry Rubin any day. I didn't spend much time talking to him, but he seemed like a fascinating man, what with pens and art interests. I hadn't planned on buying any pens, but I had to commemorate Pen Posse Minneapolis with a souvenir pen. I know, I know, I don't really have to have a reason, but I don't REALLY need any more pens, so this truly was the motivating factor in buying an absolutely fantastic-writing Aurora Optima omg it's fabulous!

 

And, as icing, Kris had a Visconti Midi she wasn't happy with, and I really wanted a Visconti, so we came to a quick agreement, and now I am happy with the sweet! Visconti Midi, hooray!

 

Half of Pen Posse left in different directions after INK, having other plans. The half of us who went to Pub Crawl went to a tequila bar, Barrio. Wow. One word: Herradura Reposado. That has completely obliterated my residual fear of tequila which was formed about 20 years ago at an office party.

 

After Barrio, half of us went our separate ways, and the rest of us (all three of us) went to Dakota. And then we went to The Local. It was a lot of fun and talking and laughing... and you guys all get to do Pen Posse again, and I'll know what I'm missing.

 

Oh well... San Francisco Pen Posse will have to step up its game!

[Rena]

Oh. My. Gawd.

 

You-all are so much fun!

 

First, what everyone else said. Pen Posse at INK was FABULOUS. It's actually kindv hilarious how instant the rapport over fountain pens is--must be the type of person fountain pens attract. Or maybe it's Minnesota. But everyone at Pen Posse was super friendly and kind and fun, and the store itself is amazing!

 

(BTW, in an informal survey taken amongst the dozen or so of us in the elevator... not one of us was carrying a flashlight.)

 

I took some photos of the Pen Posse engaged in, ah, pen-posse-ing, and photos of the store and the view, which I'll post after I get home either later today or tomorrow.

 

Props to James for showing up at the beginning just to say hi before going back to work. I was glad to put a face to the name and hilarious commentary.

 

Also, I'll buy pens and inks from Barry Rubin any day. I didn't spend much time talking to him, but he seemed like a fascinating man, what with pens and art interests. I hadn't planned on buying any pens, but I had to commemorate Pen Posse Minneapolis with a souvenir pen. I know, I know, I don't really have to have a reason, but I don't REALLY need any more pens, so this truly was the motivating factor in buying an absolutely fantastic-writing Aurora Optima omg it's fabulous!

 

And, as icing, Kris had a Visconti Midi she wasn't happy with, and I really wanted a Visconti, so we came to a quick agreement, and now I am happy with the sweet! Visconti Midi, hooray!

 

Half of Pen Posse left in different directions after INK, having other plans. The half of us who went to Pub Crawl went to a tequila bar, Barrio. Wow. One word: Herradura Reposado. That has completely obliterated my residual fear of tequila which was formed about 20 years ago at an office party.

 

After Barrio, half of us went our separate ways, and the rest of us (all three of us) went to Dakota. And then we went to The Local. It was a lot of fun and talking and laughing... and you guys all get to do Pen Posse again, and I'll know what I'm missing.

 

Oh well... San Francisco Pen Posse will have to step up its game!

 

 

You have a safe trip home, Ethernautrix! You were a big contributor to the fun of the pen posse — I only wish I'd had more chance to talk with you, but time flew by, and there were so many of us! Wow! Thank you for making the trek here to this frozen north country to join in our fun!

 

 

[jbn10161]

It was like seeing people again after wandering stranded on a desert island—actually talking to other people who are interested in and knowledgeable about fountain pens! It was a fantastic meet-up with friendly people. Thanks to Barry for opening his shop, clearing his tables, and being patient. And thanks to all who shared their pens and pen stories. Particular thanks to Amy for the Original Post, Robert for coordinating, and Ether..trix for traveling to the tundra in the service of pens and posses. It was a very good time.