After I published my recent post, "Top 5 Fountain Pens for Beginners," I received the inevitable questions about TWSBI, and more specifically, the recently released "Eco" fountain pen. I don't have a TWSBI Eco in my collection, but at the recent D.C. Pen Show I had the opportunity to both handle and write with the pen. I was impressed. If TWSBI has resolved the quality control issues that have plagued them to date, then the Eco could place TWSBI in a position to be the "no-brainer" option for those looking to upgrade from a "beginner" fountain pen to something slightly more complex, such as a piston-filler.

Traditionally, the range of fountain pens priced between $30 and $75 has been tricky to navigate. At the top of that range ($75 or so), you are in a place where you can spend an extra $50 and get an iconic Lamy 2000 with a gold nib. Even at the bottom of that range, you may find yourself asking the question, "why do I need to spend an extra $10 or $20 when my Safari works just fine?" Both of these are valid concerns, and that's why there are only a couple brands that I will go on the record as recommending in this price range. As you might expect, TWSBI features prominently.

TWSBI 580: The TWSBI 580 can be considered TWSBI's flagship pen. It's a large piston-filler, and the cap doesn't post. (Well, you can post a TWSBI, but it's not particularly comfortable.) The biggest upside to investing in a TWSBI, besides the reasonable $55 price tag, is the fact that the nibs are interchangeable. Even as a relatively experienced fountain pen user, I use my TWSBI regularly, fitted with either the stock 1.1mm stub nib or some custom nib units that I had ground at this year's D.C. Pen Show. Don't forget to check out the Aluminum versions; certain colors are being discontinued. Grab 'em while you can.
TWSBI Eco: TWSBI recently released their new "Eco" model to much acclaim. The Eco (short for "economical") is priced right around $30 ($31.99 shipped via Amazon), so it could legitimately threaten to enter the "best first fountain pen" category, but I would still recommend it as a second or third purchase given my preference for recommending cartridge/converter pens to beginners. As the reviews come in, the Eco may displace the 580 as the number one pen on this list. And the cap posts!
TWSBI Mini: For those who want a smaller pen, consider the TWSBI Mini, which also features interchangeable nib units. The Mini is still a piston-filler, so you're not looking at any price difference from the 580. While I sold my Mini a while back (to pay for my Aluminum 580), I'm tempted to buy another, because I love the form factor. It's a great pocket pen, with a cap that posts.
Lamy Studio: I consider the Lamy Studio to be the best cartridge/converter pen falling into this price range. A sturdy, metal pen with a round metal section that comes in a variety of colors, the MSRP on the Studio is around $90, but PenChalet is currently selling them for $71 (or less with a coupon code). The standard pen features a steel nib, but you always have the option of upgrading to gold.
Lamy AL-Star: If you are a fan of the Safari, but want something with a touch more heft, check out the Lamy AL-Star. Priced at $37, it's a modest upcharge from Lamy's entry-level pen but is made of aluminum and uses the same nibs as both the Safari and the Studio, so you can swap the nibs among your growing Lamy collection.

It goes without saying that these recommendations only represent my personal opinion. I'm always looking for new pens to try, so if you think there's a pen I haven't discussed here but should be looking at, give me a shout through the "Contact Me!" link or via Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase a pen from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase a pen you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

In no particular order, here are my top five stationery stores in New York City, which you shouldn't miss the next time you visit.

CW Pencil Enterprise is located on Forsyth Street on the Lower East Side.

C.W. Pencil Enterprise. The newcomer to the New York stationery scene opened this spring, after previously operating online-only, and already has been written up in the New York Times and New York Magazine, among others. The shop is tiny, in a good way, meaning that it is carefully curated and every product featured in the store was personally chose by the owner, Caroline Weaver. I am primarily interested in writing with pencils, but there is much to interest the artist as well. The selection of Caran d'Ache (high-end Swiss pencils) is second-to-none, including my personal favorite, the Caran d'Ache Swiss Wood. The store also carries a wide variety of notebooks, sharpeners, and books about pencils. I could spend hours here (which unfortunately was impossible this past weekend).
Kinokuniya Bookstore. A Japanese book and stationery retailer located on the western edge of Bryant Park. While the majority of Kinokuniya is devoted to books and magazines (both English and Japanese), the store also has a phenomenal stationery department, including an entire wall of Japanese notebooks and paper, an aisle devoted to fine-tipped ballpoint, gel, fiber-tipped, and brush pens, mechanical and wooden pencils, erasers, and a few novelties. Even if I don't buy much, or simply browse for an hour, I visit every time I am in town, without fail. Since Art Brown Pen Shop closed down a couple years ago, Kinokuniya is also one of the few options for fountain pens in New York City.
McNally Jackson. A popular, if pricey, independent bookstore in SoHo which also has an office supply branch around the corner. If you can afford them, the office supply store carries some beautiful items. The bookstore has a "stationery nook" that stocks various high-end journals and pocket notebooks, including the limited edition Baron Fig Maker Edition, which I immediately grabbed. In the past, I've had decent luck finding rarer "colors" editions of Field Notes stocked here, but couldn't find the elusive "yellow" version of the Field Notes Two Rivers Edition.
Blick Art Materials. I always visit the Nolita and SoHo outposts of Blick when I'm in town. They carry a great selection of pencils, colored pencils, pastels, paints, and other art supplies. They also have a huge selection of sketchbooks and notebooks from Moleskine, Rhodia, Semicolon, etc. Prices are competitive, and they will order anything for you if they don't have it in stock. DaVinci Artist Supply is another great one, but I don't find myself there as often.
Fountain Pen Hospital. When I am in the City during the week, I try to make the trek down to the Financial District to visit FPH. The last dedicated fountain pen store in New York City, it has occupied the same space since 1946. The store is fairly large, carries both modern and vintage pens, and offers pen restoration and repair services. The selection of ink is also very good. Closed on the weekends, which is a bummer.

A shot of Kinokuniya's "Gel Pen Aisle".  Never seen anything like this in the states, have you? — A shot of Kinokuniya's "Gel Pen Aisle". Never seen anything like this in the states, have you?