Pelikan Hubs has been a leading pen enthusiast event since 2014. Its survival through the COVID-19 pandemic shows its enduring popularity. On September 27, the ninth gathering of the fine writing community took place. This year, Hubs were held in 254 cities across 47 countries, with about 8,702 participants registered, a notable increase from previous years. Nearly one-third of participating cities were in the USA, including my own Hub of Philadelphia, one of the original Hubs locations back when there were fewer than 1,000 participants. This year’s growth is likely due to a longer timetable and a simpler registration process, a definite improvement from last year. Missed attending a Hub? Keep reading for an overview of the event and a summary of my local Hub’s activities.

Before proceeding, it’s important to note that not every scheduled Hub went as planned. Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, causing widespread destruction as far north as Tennessee, claiming over 220 lives, and impacting countless others. Additionally, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eurasia cast a pall on some celebrations. To those who couldn’t enjoy the evening as intended, I offer my sympathies and a sincere hope for brighter days ahead.

Maps are a helpful way to visualize where Hub locations tend to cluster (click to view the gallery)

This year’s registration process was far simpler, with an elongated registration window that required interested parties to fill out a basic online form. I heard of some prospective attendees who weren’t contacted by their local Hub Master, which was unfortunate and hopefully just a glitch of technology. Each Hub was led by a Hub Master/Mistress, and in our case, it was once again Frank from Federalist Pens. As groups grow in size, finding an affordable and suitable space in a major city can be challenging. This year, the Philadelphia Hub was held in a private room at the Franklin Mills Dave And Busters, which offered ample seating and good lighting in addition to food and drink for purchase. Although it was farther from some of the more central locations of the past, it was a fitting venue none the less. The only major detractor was the large volume of city traffic en route, an inconvenience easily forgotten once things got started.

A private room at Dave And Busters in Franklin Mills served as the venue for this year’s Philadelphia Hubs event

The event took place in September, as it usually does. Attendees filed in at the appointed time, quickly filling the room. People gathered around the various tables, bringing out their chosen pens, papers, and inks. Soon, everyone seemed to fall into an easy cadence of conversation. Some attendees had not yet tried a Pelikan pen, and pens from other brands were plentiful. The beauty of the Hubs event is that all are welcome. Many friendly faces from past gatherings were in attendance as well as several newcomers. It was a delight to discuss all things Pelikan over food and drink. I particularly enjoyed discussion about Pelikan’s recent design choices especially when comparing them with past decisions.

Each year, I face the difficult choice of what to bring from my own collection. This time, I selected several Toldeos and a few M600 pens, including the rare M600 Tortoiseshell Brown. I also brought some vintage models including the Black/Green 140, 300, 400, 400N, 400NN, and 400NN M&K. The room was lively with around 35 attendees. Frank had various inks and many Pelikan pens for sale, including the beautiful M600 Glauco Cambon. Edelstein ink was available for sampling as well. While the Hub Masters/Mistresses are central to these events, Pelikan consistently comes through and provides great swag.

Attendees of the 2024 Pelikan Hubs event in Philadelphia, PA, USA

This year’s gifts included a bottle of Edelstein Golden Lapis ink and a notebook. The Hub Master’s gift was a white mug featuring the event logo. As usual, each Hub received a large flag for attendees to sign as a keepsake. The festivities ended around 8:30 PM as guests began to make their goodbyes.

A bottle of ink and a themed notepad made up the swag that Pelikan provided each attendee for the 2024 Hub event. Adjacent to that are a few of the M9xx Toledos that I brought along with me

Pelikan has made several improvements based on last year’s feedback, particularly by making the registration process easier for users. However, some people still missed out. The Hubs event was announced in late May, with registration closing at the end of June. While this may seem excessively early, I’m sure that it’s necessary to aid in organizing care packages for 254 separate Hubs around the world. Also, not every Hub gets a volunteer to help with coordination, so Pelikan needs to contact registrants to find someone to take on that role. Additionally, some Hubs have over 100 attendees, making it challenging to find a suitable venue, which can be stressful for the organizer. More lead time is definitely beneficial.

A look at how the Hubs event has grown. Last year stands out as an anomaly, perhaps due to a short registration window

Many people had difficulty contacting their local Hub Master. If that is ever your situation, Pelikan can help put you in touch by contacting them at hubs@pelikan.com. Balancing the Hub Master’s time and privacy while ensuring necessary communication for the event is a challenge. Another ongoing concern is finding suitable space to host the event, especially in major cities with a large and enthusiastic population of pen lovers. Finding affordable space in the post-COVID economy remains a challenge for many but one that likely has little remedy. As such, I do think we all need to give our hard working Hub Masters/Mistresses some grace should a location be found that is a bit further afield.

	DATE	TIME	LOCATION	HUB MASTER
1	June 13, 2014	7:30 PM	Sabrina’s Cafe – Art Museum	Dr. Muhammad Tahseen
2	September 25, 2015	6:30 PM	Goat Hollow	Dr. Joshua Danley
3	September 16, 2016	6:30 PM	Cooperage Wine & Whiskey Bar	Dr. Joshua Danley
4	September 22, 2017	6:30 PM	Cooperage Wine & Whiskey Bar	Dr. Joshua Danley
5	September 21, 2018	6:30 PM	The Victoria Freehouse	Frank Limper
6	September 20, 2019	6:30 PM	The Victoria Freehouse	Frank Limper
7	November 18, 2022	6:30 PM	Pub & Kitchen	Dr. Joshua Danley
8	September 22, 2023	6:30 PM	Drinker’s Pub	Frank Limper
9	September 27, 2024	6:30 PM	Dave And Busters, Franklin Mills	Frank Limper

Past Philadelphia Hubs locations and Hub Masters

Pelikan Hubs is one of the top pen events of the year. Few companies engage with their community as well as they do. I’ve attended Hubs events since they started (making me one of the few OGs out there) and have been impressed by their rapid growth and continued support of the community. Pelikan values feedback, so feel free to share your thoughts on how they might improve if you have any. To explore Hubs activities worldwide, check your favorite social media with the hashtags #PelikanHubs2024 and #Pelikanhubs. See you at the Hub next year…