The Planner That Wasn’t: The Second NYC Philofaxy Meet Up

Yesterday we had the second New York City Philofaxy Meet Up, only a few months after thefirst one.

My day started with a train ride to New York from Long Island.  Once there, my husband and I walked around for a while, just enjoying the beautiful weather that was bestowed on the wonderful day.  Just one block before Sam Flax (our meet up point and the Filofax retailer), we stopped at Barnes and Noble for a rest, a latte and a treat.  During this time, I experienced two fun things:

1.  A conversation between an employee and a customer – “Are you looking for something like At-a-Glance or something more like a Filofax?”  I had to contain myself from jumping up and inviting this unsuspecting woman for a day she’d never forget.  I don’t know what the customer said because I was too busy relaying this first statement to my husband.

2.  A guy sat at the table next to us and I noticed that he was toting a Timbuk2 messenger bag, the same brand of my choice bag for the day (more on this bag in another post).

Things were off to a great start.  Then, we got a text from Zoe, saying she was settled in her hotel and it was time to meet—yay!  Hubby and I started off towards the hotel, met Zoe and her guy, and off we went to meet the rest of the crew at Sam Flax.

Let the fun and games begin!

The group consisted of Colie (justenoughsalt), Mimi, Ingabambina, Zoe, Nan, and me.

I had a very small list of items to buy while there.  First and foremost, I wanted to check out the Flex—I was thinking I would purchase one for work.  After picking up a cover and a weekly insert pack, I perused the collection of binders with the rest of the crew.  Although the Filofax NYC rep had said that the new items would not be available until the end of the month, we were lucky enough to spot the Enigma and the Regency.  The Osterley was not to be seen anywhere.  (The Enigma is the only one currently listed on the US website, so none of us knew what to expect as far as pricing is concerned.)  It was cool to see these binders, though I had no intension of buying any of them. 

Until…

What I didn’t know was that the Regency comes in a compact size.  In addition to that, the pockets are breathtaking, the leather beautiful, and the thing lies perfectly flat.  Since I am soin love with the compact size, this thing immediately caught my attention.  What made me choke was the price tag—at $190, it’s not something I would have ever bought, no matter how much I loved it.  But those Philofaxers are a persuasive bunch.  I so wanted to buy the binder, and for a long time I walked around with it, just holding it, feeling it, opening it and wishing somehow I could buy it.  I was so incredibly close to buying it, but after a few texts with my husband, I had to put it back.  He said, “Use your best judgment, but how long will it be until this one sits on the shelf with the others and you’re off to another new one?”  Damn it, I hate when he’s right.  I have such a guilty conscious over such things.  I was very sad to put it back, but put it back I did.  In fact, I also put back the Flex, pretty much punishing myself for wanting to buy that as well, because truth be told, my library buys each staff member a calendar for the following year, so it’s not like I don’t already have one waiting to be used for this very purpose.

I bought nothing.

After a few more pouts and a couple of cries, we left the store and headed to Le Pain Quotidien.  Along the way, Mimi said me, “You look so sad.”  And I was, but it wouldn’t be long before I got over it.  At LPQ we had lunch, spread out our Filos, passed them around, talked about how we use them, and had a lovely afternoon. 

First thing I did was indulge in liquid goodness.

From then on, the pictures speak for themselves:

Colie and Mimi discussing

 

Nan with her Pocket Topaz (I believe)

The Enigma

Dividers sent from Jotje to Colie

A rainbow of love

Nan with her *new* A5 Cherry Classic binder

The array

The pile

Will the UK meet up result in more binders?

A row of beauty

These people kept giving us such looks

For my part of show and tell, I brought my Compact Chameleon, my Knitting Binder, and my Happiness Binder.  Since Malden is currently an archiving binder, he stayed home, and thus managed to stay out of trouble, unlike May’s debacle.

We did not have the same waiter as last time, though he was on duty.  It wasn't until we pulled out the Filos that he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at them, looked at us.  You could see his brain firing away.  I said, "You remember us don't you?"  He said, "Yes.  I didn't recognize you ladies at first.  But now that you brought out the books, I remember."

Outside, we got a group picture, minus the few who opted out of the photos.

Nan, Colie, Me, Mimi

With binders

My Grape Domino - what I purchased at the first meet up

After lunch, some of use headed back to Sam Flax for more perusing.  At this time, my husband had rejoined us, so I showed him the binder.  His response, in the flattest voice possible, “It’s wonderful.”  Once again, back that planner went, more crying and pouting ensued.  (At this point, I will put money aside, and depending on the price from Pens and Leather when it finally appears, I may buy the Compact Regency then—we shall see.)  I did buy some inserts for my friend, and a pack of vertical monthly inserts for me (whoopee doo dah).

After the rest of the group disbanded, my husband and I had a lovely dinner with Zoe and her guy.  We had great conversation and delicious food at Connelly’s, despite the long wait for our food to arrive, and Zoe’s having to wait even long since they added shrimp to her dish, which she’s allergic to and which she told them not to add.  That resulted in a free meal for her and a free round of drinks for all of us, however, so all was not lost.

Despite my disappointment at not buying a binder I didn’t even know I wanted, I had a great time!  I am looking forward to the next meet up!