DoctorBre

The 2025 Chicago Pen Show is in Oakbrook, Illinois, this weekend, May 2-4. Official link: https://www.chicagopenshow.com

Last year was my first time and I'm pretty excited to attend again. I'll be checking inks and paper & a few leather goods best seen in person but it's the stuff you don't anticipate that is the most fun.

The show is at a different place from last year, fine by me as I found the other place disorienting. Here's a neat interactive vendor map from penshowmap. com: https://penshowmaps.com/maps/chicago/index.html

Related threads from the past few weeks: https://old.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/1k9l0ca/first_pen_show_chicago/

https://old.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/com

The store near Niles on Golf Road in Morton Grove, Illinois is closed as of today to finish construction into the former KBBQ next door. I stopped by yesterday (Sunday) and found the shelves at least 2/3 empty and a lot of freezers and refrig empty & already powered down. I went past tonight and it's closed.

Here's the layout and other details they got approved by the village.
https://www.mortongroveil.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AC_packet_240206.pdf

We have a ton of awesome groceries in the area (Fresh Farms, Tony's, Wal/Targ, Patel, Super HMart, Marianos, Jewels are all within a couple miles) and alternative Aldis aren't too far in Des Plaines on Lee or on Touhy in Niles, anyway,

It's that time of year! Boone County Fairgrounds, easy drive out on 90. Hit up Guitar Center or Duluth Trading on the way home!

Even though we could really use it, I hope the rain holds off till later in the day.

https://chicagofmclub.org/cfmc-radio-expo-2024/