2021 DC Show Info

[Frank]

Taken from the email I received today from Barbara Johnson (Co-Coordinator of the DC Pen Show)
She also informed me of the passing of Bob Johnson (Brother) over weekend
(Bob founded the Show nearly 30 years ago- the 2021 Show will be the 30th Annual Show)

"Dear Pen Community,




We were disappointed with the necessity of canceling the 2020 SUPERSHOW due to the pandemic. BUT in anticipation of the world wide health crisis being under control in 2021, we have scheduled the 30th anniversary of the SUPERSHOW for August 5 - 8, 2021, at the same location, the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia. We will hold a special celebration to honor Bob at that time.


We will shortly be updating the DC Fountain Pen SUPERSHOW website and encourage you to register as soon as possible to reserve your table for the 2021 SUPERSHOW. We look forward to seeing you at the SUPERSHOW.


Please discontinue using Bob's Pencentral website and email, cell phone number, and South Carolina address.


Current contact information for the SUPERSHOW:
Website: www.dcpenshow.com
Email: info@dcpenshow.com
Address: PO Box 5021, Falls Church, VA 22044
Phone #: 703-214-8148


Thank you for all of your past support of Bob and the SUPERSHOW,


Barbara Johnson, Bob's sister
Jeff Hancock. Bob's nephew"

-Frank

[Barry B. Gabay]

Very sad. I received the same email from Barbara, Bob's sister. She helped Bob with the show for quite a few years. Bob ran the world's largest pen show for nearly 30 years. He will be missed.

[Frank]

The site has been updated- the show is A GO!
Will be held August 6-8 at the same location as in 2019!
We will be in the Small Ballroom(Ink Table/Pen Maker's Room), as in prior years!

Looking forward to seeing Pen Pals In August!
http://www.dcpenshow.com

Frank

[whorne]

It is so nice to see that some of the shows are coming back in 2021! I may be able to finally attend my first pen show!

[CrayonAngelss]

I'm thinking of attending this, it will be my first pen show :)
I live in south central PA, not a bad drive. What should I anticipate as far as DC traffic goes? I'm no good at city driving lol. But I'd really like to meet some more people here!

[Detman101]

Oh heck yeah!!!
This is GREAT NEWS!!!
Thanks!!
I will DEFINITELY be going!!!
Time to start saving up!

[Boston Brian]

I attended the DC show for the first time in 2019 and loved it, really hope to get there this year! Hope the CA show next Feb restarts, at least I can drive there.

[CrayonAngelss]

Oh heck yeah!!!
This is GREAT NEWS!!!
Thanks!!
I will DEFINITELY be going!!!
Time to start saving up!

So awesome! I am really hoping to meet people from this forum :D :D maybe I'll need a name tag with my username hahah!

[Wile E Coyote]

Oh heck yeah!!!
This is GREAT NEWS!!!
Thanks!!
I will DEFINITELY be going!!!
Time to start saving up!

So awesome! I am really hoping to meet people from this forum :D :D maybe I'll need a name tag with my username hahah!

Just a nametag with your avatar.

[Detman101]

Oh heck yeah!!!
This is GREAT NEWS!!!
Thanks!!
I will DEFINITELY be going!!!
Time to start saving up!

So awesome! I am really hoping to meet people from this forum :D :D maybe I'll need a name tag with my username hahah!


Hah! Now the challenge of fashioning my avatar photo into a nametag/badge...lol

[guyy]

Now that my schedule is cleared up for August, it looks like i can go to the DC show. Unfortunately, the hotel is already booked up and getting around the Falls Church area without a car looks like a complete pain in the ass. Or is there something i don't know?

[Detman101]

Now that my schedule is cleared up for August, it looks like i can go to the DC show. Unfortunately, the hotel is already booked up and getting around the Falls Church area without a car looks like a complete pain in the ass. Or is there something i don't know?

The entire DC/NOVA area is a cluster...
I wouldn't go if I didn't have my own transportation.
I ventured into the DC area from Silver Spring, MD via the Metro/train system back in the early 2000's...
It was a challenge back then, I can't imagine trying it now.
Public mental health post-COVID-lockdown and the lack of it being the primary concern...

[guyy]

The entire DC/NOVA area is a cluster...
I wouldn't go if I didn't have my own transportation.
I ventured into the DC area from Silver Spring, MD via the Metro/train system back in the early 2000's...
It was a challenge back then, I can't imagine trying it now.
Public mental health post-COVID-lockdown and the lack of it being the primary concern...

I could drive, but i don't want to, given that it would involve New York traffic on both ends as well as driving through NJ. I'd rather sit on the train and read.

I've stayed with friends in Silver Spring and done the Metro thing. It wasn't too bad on the metro & all, but i was going into DC, not some chunk of suburban sprawl nestled in the armpit of a freeway cloverleaf.

I ride the subway here in NYC. I can't imagine the DC Metro and/or buses being too much worse in terms of riders. I could imagine the schedules might be less convenient.

[Detman101]

The entire DC/NOVA area is a cluster...
I wouldn't go if I didn't have my own transportation.
I ventured into the DC area from Silver Spring, MD via the Metro/train system back in the early 2000's...
It was a challenge back then, I can't imagine trying it now.
Public mental health post-COVID-lockdown and the lack of it being the primary concern...

I could drive, but i don't want to, given that it would involve New York traffic on both ends as well as driving through NJ. I'd rather sit on the train and read.

I've stayed with friends in Silver Spring and done the Metro thing. It wasn't too bad on the metro & all, but i was going into DC, not some chunk of suburban sprawl nestled in the armpit of a freeway cloverleaf.

I ride the subway here in NYC. I can't imagine the DC Metro and/or buses being too much worse in terms of riders. I could imagine the schedules might be less convenient.

I'm from NYC as well and I can tell you the subway system here in DC was a lot worse than back home.
The trains come less frequently and were thus filled to capacity most of the time (back in the early 2000s...so my data may be null and void by now)
Kinda like when a train line is "single-tracking" thru Manhattan....ugh.
The only thing I hate about driving is the tolls. Nowadays I go up thru PA when going back and forth to NYC. A little longer road-wise, but a hell of a lot more peaceful and less costly.
However, your "Train" option would be sooo nice if riding Amtrack from NYC down to DC, then taking the local lines to the Pen show.

[Detman101]

Welp...scrap that event.
Too much risk involved to attend.
Sadly...it was probably my last hope at seeing a pen show.
Ah well...such is life.

[rkesey]

Welp...scrap that event.
Too much risk involved to attend.
Sadly...it was probably my last hope at seeing a pen show.
Ah well...such is life.

I haven't yet decided--if I go, it will be my first one too. I did cancel concert plans for this weekend, but I figure there will be less shouting and singing at a pen show... Vaccinated, masked, sanitizer--I'm still leaning toward going, but...

[Wile E Coyote]

I haven't yet decided--if I go, it will be my first one too. I did cancel concert plans for this weekend, but I figure there will be less shouting and singing at a pen show... Vaccinated, masked, sanitizer--I'm still leaning toward going, but...

Apparently, you haven't been to a pen show.

[CrayonAngelss]

Yea looks like I'm backing out too.

[guyy]

I'll be there.

[rkesey]

(starts practicing scales)

[Shrimpkin]

Anyone at the show? I'm planning to go for the day tomorrow, and just threw a bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag...

[guyy]

Anyone at the show? I'm planning to go for the day tomorrow, and just threw a bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag...

I am there. I’ll probably be there all day tomorrow.

[guyy]

That place was too small for the show, especially in 2021. The people who decided not to go made the right decision because they would not have felt comfortable.

The Marriot Fairview Park was about a mile walk from the nearest bus stops. I walked through a wooded park. It was a pleasant stroll even after hoofing around DC beforehand.

I see the Chicago show has moved from near O’Hare, which, if remote, was still convenient to the Blue line. The show will now be held deep in suburban hinterlands in Hoffman Estates. I wonder how big that hotel is. Probably not big enough.

[Boston Brian]

I attended the dc show and loved every minute of it, and bought several pens I had been looking for. I enjoyed the hotel and thought the breakfasts were excellent. A fun weekend for any collector.

[rkesey]

I was there on Saturday. It was maybe a little snug given the circumstances, but I had a great time and picked up two pens on the shortlist. Was very happy to get to meet a few people in person, including Bryant Greer. I was also happy to meet Rick Liebson, who had a beautiful bunch of Nakayas for sale, and who was very generous in introducing me to other people. Does anyone know if he's a member here?

[Jon Szanto]

Does anyone know if he's a member here?

He has certainly posted here in the past and is active on a couple of other places. I happen to know him and don't want to make public the connection to his screen name, but I'll let him know he was mentioned.

[whichwatch]

I was there on Saturday. It was maybe a little snug given the circumstances, but I had a great time and picked up two pens on the shortlist. Was very happy to get to meet a few people in person, including Bryant Greer. I was also happy to meet Rick Liebson, who had a beautiful bunch of Nakayas for sale, and who was very generous in introducing me to other people. Does anyone know if he's a member here?

Thanks for the nice words. Yes, I do post here as “Whichwatch”. I thought DC was a terrific show, as it always is. Down a few vendors from the past, but still as big as US shows get.

Glad to hear you had a good time.

Rick

[Shrimpkin]

I have to say that I always love seeing the genuine camaraderie in so much of the pen community, and that was what I enjoyed most about the DC show. Things can always be tightened up, but at the core I felt good people enjoying the company of other good people and there was a lot of positive energy flowing throughout the show.

[rkesey]

Thanks, Jon!

[rkesey]

Hi, Rick, and thanks again for showing me the ropes. I'll keep an eye out for your table at future shows--still looking for that perfect Decapod TW!

[whichwatch]

Hi, Rick, and thanks again for showing me the ropes. I'll keep an eye out for your table at future shows--still looking for that perfect Decapod TW!


I'll have a table at Chicago, Ohio, and Baltimore. Lots of Nakayas as well as many others. I'll look forward to seeing you again!

[rkesey]

Sounds great. Chicago might be possible, and Baltimore 2022 for sure.

[Gthry1]

Very sad. I received the same email from Barbara, Bob's sister. She helped Bob with the show for quite a few years. Bob ran the world's largest pen show for nearly 30 years. He will be missed.