Though the Philadelphia and Los Angeles Pen Shows are already in the books, the coming months - March, April, and May - are a busy time for pen enthusiasts. Upcoming shows include:
- Baltimore-Washington International Pen Show (March 2-March 4, 2018). This weekend I will be attending the BWI show at its new location on the inner harbor. Hit me up if you'll be there, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. This will be my third trip to Baltimore, and you can check out last year's recap here.
- Arkansas Pen Show (March 16-18, 2018). Sponsored by Vanness Pens, Shawn Newton, and Pen World Magazine, this smaller show offers the chance to visit the Vanness Pens store in person.
- Atlanta Pen Show (April 13-15, 2018). My "local show," since it's only a 3.5 hour drive from my house. I typically attend every year, even if only for a day. It's also the site of the live Pen Addict Podcast, which you can support here.
- Long Island Pen Show (April 21-22, 2018). Held on-campus at Hofstra University, the Long Island Pen Show tends to be a smaller, local event. This year, I've heard rumors that Japanese retailer Bung Box may be attending?
- Chicago Pen Show (May 3-May 6, 2018). The Chicago Pen Show has been around for a while, but has grown rapidly over the past few years. What a great excuse to visit Chicago and the new branch of Anderson Pens that will be open by that time!
- Triangle Pen Show (May 31-June 3, 2018). Now in its 15th year, the Triangle Pen Show is sponsored by Franklin-Christoph, Bexley Pens, and Anderson Pens, among others.
Review content may be a bit thin since I'm traveling for the remainder of the week, but be on the lookout for pen show pics from Baltimore. There's so much good stuff coming out right now that I can't wait to hit the shows and see it in person. If you're on the fence, and within driving distance of a pen show, you should strongly consider attending. Though it may sound counterintuitive, attending shows and being able to see pens in person (especially vintage) as opposed to buying blind over the internet has probably saved me a lot of money over the years, even taking into account impulse purchases at shows.
Those interested in attending a pen show might find my "Pen Show Primer" series helpful:
- Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show
- Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show
- Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show
Hopefully I'll see many of you at one of the shows this Spring!