Every 3rd Saturday, 11 AM to 2 PM

Bring Your Pens & Ink, Find a Pen Friend Pens & Pints at AleSmith

San Diego's casual pen, ink and stationery meetup. Every 3rd Saturday, 11 AM to 2 PM at AleSmith Brewing. Food truck outside, good vibes inside, pints optional. All experience levels welcome.

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A hand holding a bottle of shimmering gold Pelikan Edelstein ink
A card with a palm tree drawn in green ink splatter
A hand writing with an orange fountain pen
A bottle of shimmering gold Pelikan Edelstein ink
Quynh of @itsquynhvu smiling and holding a fountain pen

Welcome to SD Pen & Ink

Pens • Ink • Paper • People

Once a month we fill a few tables at AleSmith with fountain pens, bottled ink and good paper. Bring a $30 pen or a $3,000 one. Either way, you are talking pens with people who love them as much as you do.

  1. Bring your pens and ink, or just bring yourself.
  2. Find a pen friend. Swap pens, trade ink samples, compare nibs.
  3. Start a connection, and come back next month.

No dues. No membership. Just show up.

Hands On, Ink Everywhere

Pens and ink in action. Dip it, letter it, fill the page.

Dip it

Try inks you don't own yet. Bring a bottle to share if you have one.

Letter it

Bring your favorites, everyday or rare. Most people will let you try theirs.

Fill the page

Write, swap pages, and find a pen friend.
AleSmith Brewing · Miramar

Join us every 3rd Saturday

  • 11 AM to 2 PM, every 3rd SaturdayStay ten minutes or all three hours.
  • AleSmith Brewing, 9990 AleSmith CtFind someone with fountain pens, pull up a chair and introduce yourself.
  • Free, with a food truck and good vibesPints optional.
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Coming up

  • Every 3rd Saturday Pens & Pints @ AleSmith, 11 AM
  • Feb 18 to 21, 2027 California Pen Show, Torrance

From the Blog

Practical guides to pens, ink and paper. Every one links its sources.

Read the Blog

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to own a fountain pen?

No. Come curious. People bring everything from $30 starters to pens worth thousands, and most are happy to let you try one. If you want a first pen of your own, we can point you to a good one.

Does it cost anything?

No. The meetup is free: no dues, no membership. Food from the food truck and anything from the bar are on you.

Where exactly do we meet?

At AleSmith Brewing, 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126, every 3rd Saturday of the month from 11 AM to 2 PM. Find someone with fountain pens, pull up a chair and introduce yourself.

Do I have to stay the whole time?

Not at all. Drop in for ten minutes or stay all three hours.

Is this the same as the San Diego Pen Club?

No. SD Pen & Ink is an independently organized meetup and isn\'t affiliated with the San Diego Pen Club, a long-running group that meets on different Saturdays. Say hello to them too.