Click here to book your room at the Marriott and get the Pen Show rate.

We are delighted to be returning to the beautiful
Manhattan Beach Marriott in 2010!

To get information about this and future LA Pen Shows (and only that), drop an e-Mail to with your name and mailing address.

Click here to open details
and to arrange attendance

Click for photos of past L.A. Pen Shows

 

 

We have reached a contract with the Manhattan Beach Marriott and will be returning there for the LA Pen Show in 2010!  As usual, the LA Pen Show will be held on President’s Day weekend.  Be sure to keep February 11-14, 2010 on your pen show agenda so you can attend.  This is a great opportunity to bring your valentine to a pen show since Sunday is Valentine’s Day!  For some reason, pens bring people closer together.  In fact, because Monday, February 15th is President’s Day which is a holiday, you can extend your stay and see the sites of LA or simply elect to avoid the Sunday airline fares and return home on Monday.  You might also extend your stay since the room rate in 2010 extends from February 8^th through February 16^th.   By extending your stay, you can see sites like Venice Beach and the Santa Monica pier.  Both are just a few blocks from the Manhatten Beach Marriott.  Venice Beach was ranked by ForbesTraveler.com as one of the top 10 American Boardwalks in the country to visit! Additionally, Santa Monica Pier is also nearby with arcades, a Ferris wheel, Star Wars at Playland Arcade, 200+ videogames, pinball machines and Skee-Ball!

Based upon the responses we have received, we feel we are not only one of the largest pen shows in the world; but also one of the best promoted, best run, best organized and best attended pen shows in the world.  In fact, we feel it’s both “The Pen Show You Can’t Afford to Miss,”™ and “The Show You Can’t Afford to Miss.”™

There have also been several changes that you need to be aware of.  First, we have reduced the fee for tables.  In 2010, the fee for a table will be lowered to $160.00.  Second, there will be no “Sunday buffet meal” in 2010, so you won’t have to leave the ballroom while our guests are buying pens.  You and your guests will have the option of grabbing a quick meal at the Marriott, at the beautiful Lido di Manhattan Beach Restaurant and Bar or at one of the local nearby eateries.  Third, we are providing discount coupons for meals during the Pen Show.

In honor of the Anniversary of The LA Pen Show, the Manhattan Beach Marriott provided a discount of 15% off the price of any meal at their beautiful restaurant during your stay last year.  They are doing it again for the Pen Show in 2010.  This year the Marriott is joined by the Lido Italian restaurant which is also providing a 15% discount off the price of meals at their restaurant.  So, be sure to take advantage of this benefit by printing your coupons and then presenting them when you pay your bill at either of these wonderful restaurants (alcohol not included).  Our thanks to both restaurants and their staffs.

To get the discount coupons, you can simply click the TAB at the top of the home page that reads, “L.A. Food” and it will open to a PDF file.  You can just download either or both and print them. You can just download and print as many copies as you desire.  Present the coupon when you pay your bill and the discount (not including alcohol) will be automatically applied. Our thanks to the Marriott and to the Lido and their wonderful staffs! Please check the website from time to time to make sure you have the most current information.

Numerous vendors will again be available selling inks, new fountain pens, ball point pens and all types of writing instruments.  Vintage writing instruments are also available for sale, for restoration, for identification and for purchase.  In 2009, our tables sold out far earlier than usual and will surely be sold out even earlier in 2010.  Make arrangements early by returning the brochure along with your payment, if you want to be sure you have a table!  It is a requirement that you sign and return the brochure along with your payment for a table.  If you don’t believe you need to make arrangements for a table early, consider the fact that we have already received payments for 5 tables in June, 2009.

Special features of the LA Pen Shows always include both seminars and rare pens on exhibit.  In 2009, there were 9 seminars given by experts in various fields.  The seminars were, as always, held on Saturday and were held on an hourly basis beginning at 9:00 a.m.  You were welcome to attend the seminars with your paid admission to the Sunday show.  However, your paid admission to the Sunday show does not allow you to enter the trading that is held in the ballroom and foyer on any day but Sunday.  That requires your payment as either a “Trader” or “Table holder.” The seminar topics and the times will be listed on the web site as we near the date of the Show.

The LA Pen Show is hosted by the patrons of The Los Angeles International Pen Show. The Show may be reached by e-mail to .  It may also be reached by phone; call Boris at .   Admission is $6.00 for adults if paid before February 1^st and $7.00 thereafter. 

Children under 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by a parent who pays one of the following:  (1) the “Saturday Seminar and Sunday Show only” admission fee, or (2) the “Trader" admission fee.  PLEASE NOTE:  Full details of Admission are in the brochure.  Numerous tables and people selling pens are already in place as early as Thursday.  If you want to attend any part of the LA Pen Show other than the Saturday seminars, and the Sunday show, you must pay the “Trader fee".  In making your decision, remember that numerous tables and people selling pens are already in place as early as Thursday.

At the Pen Show in 2008, we included a card for guests and tables holders to give us their thoughts about the show itself; both their “Likes” and “Dislikes.”  At the Show in 2009, we included a card for guests and tables holders to give us their thoughts about our seminars; again both their “Likes” and “Dislikes.”  We wanted both sides of the coin to see if things needed to be changed.  If you want a quick overview of how we are doing, click the link that will provide a summary of the “Results Of Comment Cards”.  If you cursor down you can read the feedback both about the show itself and about our seminars.

Once again we had something special on exhibit.  The Show in 2009 featured rare pens on exhibit dating from 1900 thru 1920 and in some instances were the only versions known to exist.  One could only speculate on the values, but it would be accurate to say that most people never had a chance to see such a display before the LA Pen Show.  Click to see Photos of SOME of the items that were on Exhibit in 2008 and/or 2009

For those who are traveling to attend and need overnight lodging, special rates have again been arranged at $125/night(+tax).  In making the reservation, you should advise the Hotel that you are requesting the "Pen Show" rate.  If you want to secure this special rate, you had to book your room reservation on or before the cutoff date of January 18, 2010.  If, for any reason you did not get the Pen Show room rate, please be sure to drop us an email (to ) as soon as possible with your name, date of arrival and date of departure and we'll see what can be done to secure the Pen Show rate.

For many years, The LA Pen Show has been sponsored in part by our close friends at Delta (Italy) and MonteVerde.  We are delighted that they will be with us again at our 22^nd Show in 2010!  Through their support, the Show attendance has increased every year.  In appreciation of their sponsorship, and so that you can see their products, we encourage you to visit MonteVerde / Delta at Yafa.com.  At the Show in 2010, these wonderful sponsors are again providing some great prizes!  To get the details and photos of the prizes you have a chance to win, click the link Yafa Promotions.  Feel free to drop our sponsors a note of thanks for their support. 

In 2008, we were delighted to announce that we have a wonderful new sponsor at the LA Pen Show.  Our long time friends from Stylus Magazine and the companion publication, International Watch, decided to join us at The LA Pen Show.  We will welcome them back again in 2010 with open arms and we encourage you to also visit them at Stylus Magazine.  We are grateful for their sponsorship and feel they were a wonderful addition to the Show.  Both magazines have an incredible circulation and their sponsorship will surely increase attendance at the LA Pen Show.  To get a quick start on their sponsorship, both magazines included full page ads in several issues just before the Pen Show in 2008 and 2009. Indeed, they have done the same thing again this year!  A copy of their ad before the show in 2009 can be seen at Stylus and International Watch Ad.  At the LA Pen Show in 2010, they will again give away hundreds of free copies of magazines, special deals on subscriptions at incredible prices, various pens, and miscellaneous other items.  Details and photos of some of these items provided in 2009 are included if you click the link:  Stylus Promotions.

In 2009, the LA Pen Show itself decided to celebrate our 20^th Anniversary as one of the largest and most successful pen shows in the world.  After our long heritage with this incredible event, a decision was made to let our guests know how much we appreciate your attendance at the LA Pen Show.  With the help and support of a few friends the first 1,000 paid adults (limit 1/family) will get a beautiful calendar free of charge.  Details about the calendar and who made it possible are available if click the link: "Free Calendar"  This was so well received that we will be doing it again at show in 2010.  In fact, we hope to make this a yearly promotion.

If everything above hasn't enticed you to attend the LA Pen Show, there are many other reasons to make the trip to Los Angeles!  Even the Manhattan Beach Marriot is beautiful.  If you plan on making a road trip, you can see some wonderful sites along the way; as evidenced by a yearly trip made by Sam and Frank Fiorella, dear friends of the LA Pen Show at Pendemonium.com.  On the other hand, the flights to and from LA usually present some incredible views.  While in LA; stay over (or come early) and take in the beauty of Los Angeles.  The sights encompass nearly everything a person might desire; including movie studios, Disneyland, wonderful scenery, incredible views at night, a great skyline, icons from the past, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica and views of the ocean that everyone can appreciate!  When we departed LA, we also found a wonderful place to eat - The Proud Bird.  The lunch buffet is very reasonable and there seemed to be no type of food that wasn't available.  We feasted on shrimp, smoked salmon, fajitas, fruits, salads, deserts and more than we can even remember.  The establishment is interesting because of the large number of planes on display on the grounds there.  To add to the wonderment, it is adorned with original photos of many of the great pilots and some of the ladies involved with them; specifically, Marilyn Monroe.

What is a “Trader” and what does it allow you to do?  “Traders” may attend every day the Show is open; from Thursday through Sunday and attend the seminars on Saturday.  It allows you to take ½ a table on a space available basis to display and/or market items for sale from Thursday through Saturday but does not require you to do so.  It does NOT allow for any table space on Sunday.  If you’re a true pen lover it’s a wonderful way to get to know people, attend the seminars and buy the pens you want before the crowd arrives on Sunday.  Simply put, it’s a great opportunity for a new collector or pen enthusiast since the fee is fairly modest.

By registering as either a “Trader” or “Table Holder” you agree that you have read and agree to the terms of the LA Pen Show set forth herein and on the brochure, and you will not display or offer for sale merchandise with a trademark that is either (a) used without the explicit approval of the trademark owner or (b) not manufactured by the trademark owner; and further that your failure to comply with these terms may result in you being required to leave the Show and/or remove the items not in compliance.  In order to become a trader or a table holder, you must legibly fill out and return the brochure along with your payment. 

Please note that placement and use all posters and banners must be approved by both the LA Pen Show and the hotel.