A Retrospective of the 2023 SF Pen Show

[@aidanbernal]

Also, another highlight of the weekend was watching the Dutch Grand Prix with my girlfriend and Anabelle at 6 am. I thought some random dude was in the red bull garage, and Anabelle informed me that it was the king of the Netherlands. LOL

[@arlenet.1520]

Hi Aidan! New subbie today! Thanks for sharing the pen show festivities…I’m a pen newbie of a little over 4 months now. And I am glad to find that I now know whose writing that belongs to on my favorite YT shirts video with that Regalia Crossflex Nib which I will hope to acquire one day when I go to a pen show. Love your videos since I want to grow my pen collection and go back to my earlier days of calligraphy. Hope all is well and take care!

[@aidanbernal]

Thank you!!

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Someday I really want to get to a pen show! Thank you for helping me enjoy this one vicariously.

[@aidanbernal]

My pleasure! Definitely would be great to see you at one someday!

[@nibtailor]

It was great seeing you again Aidan! Thanks for stopping by to say, “Hello!” Since this is my only income, I don’t get to walk around during shows and miss such opportunities so I value when others extend the effort. ☺️ 4:24

[@aidanbernal]

Was so glad to see you!

[@brettcody76]

Great to see this, friend! Thanks for the video update.

[@aidanbernal]

Thank you, my pleasure!

[@jaystone4816]

Aidan, good comments on the San Francisco Show. I was there as well. I really liked the number of Japanese exhibitors - amazing pens. You showed the Sailor 1911S in urushi - and it was even more gorgeous in person. Toyooka Craft stole the show - as they did last year. I was there on Friday morning early, and the line was still long! The line was for people that already knew what they wanted to buy. The wait was only 20 minutes for me. You could walk up anytime to look at the amazing pen cases, trays and wood pen rests, but the line was necessary to prevent the Toyooka staff from being totally mobbed and overwhelmed. I too liked the overall friendly atmosphere at the show, and that helped on Saturday which was very crowded. Instead of crowded and rude, it was just crowded. But that still took away some of the enjoyment and interfered with sales. I haven't been to any other pen shows, but I've read recaps of them. The San Francisco Pen Show is generally considered to be the friendliest of the larger shows. I live in San Francisco, but I would never drive to a pen show that close to the city. Last year's show was in Redwood City, further south. I never advise people new to San Francisco or the airport (which is 12 miles south) to drive. San Francisco sits at the top of a 60 mile peninsula running roughly north to slightly southeast, between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The City itself is only 7 miles wide and 7 miles long, and car traffic - and parking - is horrible in the city and all the way to the airport. I took Lyft from my home to the show, stayed at the hotel, and took Lyft back. There are all kinds of ride shares and van shuttles from the airport to the show location, and the hotel's shuttle vans are free to and from the airport. If you arrive at the airport and want to go into San Francisco itself, take a van, shuttle or Lyft or Uber. The City is compact, walkable, and public transportation is good. Unfortunate, but that is the way it is. If you've never been here before, it's wise to check one of the numerous websites for travel to San Francisco. Save yourself a nightmare of traffic congestion and trying to find parking! The other big show is called the California Pen Show (formerly the L.A. Pen Show which had lots of complaints from exhibitors and attendees). It was taken over in 2023 by the same people who coordinate and put on the San Francisco Show, and it received generally good feedback. Their next show is in 2024. Aidan, you had a great haul and yes, the people are friendly!

[@aidanbernal]

Thanks! Definitely would like to check out the LA show someday. And yes, if I didn't have to drive up from the south bay, I totally would have gone without a car.

[@awesomebeautiful8782]

Chiming in late, but I always take BART to SFO and then take a hotel shuttle.

[@pokemonfan2000]

🎉 congratulations

[@jameskeener7251]

You're an interesting and engaging fellow. I might enjoy videos of interaction with some of the vendors or other attendees a bit more than a discussion of parking problems. Just me being snarky.

[@todgod]

NOOOO NOT THE INK!! ;(

[@aidanbernal]

😱😱😱😱 it was actually tragic

[@PaddyCake72]

Grand Theft Pen VI got leaked

[@aidanbernal]

releasing 2036, ty R*