So what happened to the information that was posted here? It was removed Tues/July 6th. The content was edited and compressed to become Issue #66 of FloatAbout. The issue posted Wed/June 7th. As new information is received, it will be posted here. In a few months, the information gathered on this page will be edited and enhanced to become issue #67. And so it goes from newsletter to newsletter.
Follow-up to Issue #65...
Mon/July 12, 2010
It's been a crazy... busy week. Kim Svendsen was the first to spot a discrepancy in the Bettie Page pens. The sneak preview featured Bettie in Eskesen's classic style. In reality, they are Eskesen twist n clicks! Craig Wilson pointed out the artwork on the display card and the pen differ a little too. Perhaps the delivery delay was due to the minor changes. It was way back in May the pens were announced. When they arrived on July 6th I was so excited I didn't notice either change. Sorry for the oversights.
Pens Out and About...
Just hours after... issue #66 posted, I heard from Joseph Schwartz. “While it is getting hard to find good floaties anymore I get surprised here in LA where they can be found just as much as where they cannot”. The Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, Getty Center, Petersen Automobile Museum, George C Page Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits and the Ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley all have custom floaty pens. There are a few landmark sites, like the Farmers Market and the Music Center that do not. “Maybe I'll take a day off and hit Hollywood to find out if there is enough to connect a LA Floaty Pen Tour”. Great idea Joseph. That would be a fabulous way to float through LA!
Wed/July 14, 2010
Have you been to the... Trailer Park Lounge and Grill in NYC? Katy Bennett has.
“Last night I was at a kitsch-themed restaurant in NYC and while I was in the restroom saw a poster advertising souvenir pens. I knew they'd have to be floaty pens. The waitress told me they were click and strip or twist and strip pens, the kind where the clothes fall off of course. She mentioned they weren't made anymore.”.
I would love to own that poster! At least get a chance to see it. Secondly... the waitress was correct. Eskesen no longer makes clicker style pens. They discontinued them about the same time they switched to digital imagery. However, we know that tip n strips are alive and well. These days they are wrapped in the classic or in one of the many variations of the twist n click style.
The restaurant is called the Trailer Park Lounge and Grill. Katy provided a link ( www.trailerparklounge.com ). Look for the blinking 'ENTER' sign. My visit was quick. When I clicked on Souvenirs it didn't take me anywhere. I did see cutie nudie pens on their souvenir menu so I assume they are selling the newer digital tip n strips. I asked Katy about the food. “Pretty good. I had a sloppy joe and sweet potato fries! I loved the decor really. The drinks were overpriced.”
Wed/July 25, 2010
Sorry I couldn't find time to post... this earlier. Finn Sørensen notified me about the new collectors pen over a week ago.
Finn forwarded an update a few days ago “Turns out collectors are quickly finding out about our new pen - and they like it! I am personally proud of my achievement with the design. So to have each country in the background - combing the country with the flag - works well. That Eskesen gave us that special permission to use their logo and their maskot Eskie really makes the pen unique. So - I sit back - very content with this fantastic outcome!”
I assume all of the collectors involved in the project have pens for trade, maybe even for sale.
Sun/July 25, 2010
Phoenix, AZ recently opened a new... and exciting Musical Instrument Museum.
After Doug's first visit to the MIM he proclaimed... “It is a wonderful new museum with a creative layout that displays instruments by country, in a vast space.
Instruments are not behind glass, but are installed behind low railings so visitors can get up close and personal with the instruments. There is also a room of instruments that you can touch and play. In every way this is a great place to visit in the desert, and I was delighted when the MIM contacted me and asked if they could stock my CD of music played on the serpent, the ancient wind instrument that has such a captivating sight and sound. I brought along some discs to drop off at the gift shop and imagine my happy surprise when I saw they had a MIM floaty pen! A classic E design in three colors - yellow, blue and black. The pen shows a piano floating across an image of the front of the museum between two other instruments. Score one for the Phoenix MIM! This is a brand new pen since the museum has only been open a few months.”
According to Doug, “The MIM pen features the outside of the Museum entryway/courtyard. The item on the left is an African drum, on the right is a guitar of some sort. Floating by is a grand piano. I can only imagine what the quality would have been during the photoramic era. I often tell people that my photoramic floaty pens have such clarity that if you get out a magnifying glass and look at the image of me floating by, you can see the small tag on my right rear pocket that says Dockers. Amazing!” You can tour the MIM from the comfort of your home ( www.themim.org ).
And Doug discovered an added bonus, “At Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, there were no floatys before going through security. But after security, at a shop called, Valley of the Sun I found three E designs - one classic and two C tops. It's nice to see an airport that is still stocking E pens instead of the hideous Chines knockoffs that have infiltrated places like Chicago's O'Hare Airport. In all this has been a wonderful trip on every level and coming home with a few pens is a happy bonus.”
On the Homefront...
Sun/July 25, 2010
If you have been following FloatAlong.. you already know about our son's situation. His apartment burned July 14th. Josh and his cats are fine, but he lost 85% of his belongings. The fire was deliberately set by a distrubed tenant that attempted to commit suicide. The building was demolished two days later, so there's no turning back now. We are extremely thankful there wasn't any loss of life. Josh had planned to be here in Mansfield July 16-August 10 so that is going just as planned. He is exploring the job markets in both Pittsburgh and Toronto and continues to send in applications. In the meantime, Josh will help us with our art fairs. He finds himself unemployed and unencumbered by worldly belongings. He can go anywhere. We are curious to see how his adventure will unfold and where he will land next.
Read Issue #66 posted Wed/July 7, 2010
Back up and read Issue #65 posted Mon/Feb 22, 2010
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