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The Really Big Shew

Going to a pen show is more pilgrimage than trip. The anticipation of making a big find or seeing something new. There are so many metaphors. Some with religious overtones, some like treasure hunts, and some like obsessions. The Washington DC pen show is the big one. Reserved for the really big metaphors. The really big shew!

We're Here!

I actually arrived at the show Friday at 6:30pm, in time to walk around in the pre-show set up area and chat with several pen friends. I made the four hour drive up from Raleigh, NC with my dad, and we both went to the Pentrace / Stylus reception. Got to see numerous pen people while sipping wine and watching the pizza disappear. Who can turn down free food and drinks with friends!

We went back Saturday morning with my postcard in hand for early, 9am admission. Lots of folks must have had the same idea, as the line was quite long for sign up. Lot's of neat trinkets were given out, including a blue gel pen, ink to the first 200 guests, copies of magazines and several door prizes.

The hotel had several choices for lunch, including this lobby sandwich and salad sale. This was right in front of the show entrance, which spilled around the outside of the two large ballrooms and into the hallways.

I See Pen People

One of the first people you would have met at the show, in the hallway, was the ever cheerful and wonderfully friendly Bert Heiserman, here with his really charming wife. If there is a nicer person selling pens, you'd have to show me. Bert not only sells pens, but is so helpful with novices. I overheard more than one person talking about how Bert helped them identify and value pens they brought to the show. Nice vest, Bert! His store, Pen Haven, is in the DC area.

In the lobby hallway, one is immediately inundated with pens in boxes or on tables. One dealer literally had a pile strewn all over the table. A nudge and several dozen pens would have been sent flying onto the floor. My show "logo" is a shot of that amazing table. This is a shot of Chuck Swisher's tables, which were perpetually busy. Every time I came around, Chuck was nowhere to be found. He probably thought I was paparazzi and ran. You might catch him on his website, Swisher Pens.

Stylus magazine had a booth in the lobby near the entrance, and copies of the magazine, along with the publisher's watch magazines were available.

I was surprised at the size of the Visconti display. It screamed "trade show" more than "pen show", but it anchored the end of the lobby hallway, and it shows one of my favorite Visconti designs.

Steppin' In

Aurora was also at the show, but had a more modest set-up, but lots of pens. Fran would have loved this corner. He probably would have gotten stuck there, instead of moving at warp speed through the building.

Stepping into the room, one of the first people you see is Ross McKinney (and his wife - somehow absent from this picture), who always is cheerful and informative. He brought an information stand on the Triangle Pen Club and lots of pens. Every time I see him he has inky fingers. He is such an encouragement to the pen community in the Raleigh-Durham area. He has a great website at RossPens.com.

If you happened to step through the door to the main ballroom, the first person you would see is Deb Kinney. Ross and Deb Kinney are the founders and drivers behind the Triangle Pen Club, which we in the Raleigh Durham, North Carolina area much appreciate. Deb not only was there for the show, but was going to teach her seminar on pen collecting. You can see more of Deb's work at Deb's website.

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Cheers,

Jim Mamoulides

August 31, 2004