Posts filed under Store Visit

Mt. Fo’rest Shop Visit

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Mt. Fo’rest officially launched their brick and mortar store in Pasadena, California in early May of this year, and hosted a grand opening event in mid-June. I wasn’t going to be in town for that but I was going to be in SoCal the weekend after, so I absolutely had to check it out.

*The entrance to the Mt. Fo’rest shop is not on the street-side, it’s in the back, where there are also limited parking spots.*

*Note the store hours - glad I didn’t plan to visit on Sunday! You can check the website beforehand for current store hours.*

The store is bright and roomy with lots of natural light coming from the street-facing windows.

*A wall full of stickers and accessories - my kind of place!*

*Check out this map of Pasadena highlights, drawn by Jeff, who does most/all of Mt. Fo’rest’s artwork!*

It was hard to resist these adorable washi cutters! You wrap their limbs around a roll of washi tape and rip the tape across their bums (giggle, that’s what it looks like to me and yes, I’m 12, lol.)

*Are you #TeamCat (left) or #TeamDog? I think these stamps from the Portland Stamp Company are both awesome, but I’m on #TeamDog!*

*Love the variety of paper offerings, from Tomoe River notebooks, to pads and looseleaf Iroful, Yu-Sari, Yamamoto, and more.*

*Gel & ball pens, refills, pencils, notebooks as well as desk accessories like trays and organizers.*

*Check out this cupboard of cuteness! Figurines and accessories from Mofusand, mystery boxes, as well as pouches by [Anchal][0], a non-profit that empowers marginalized women in India.*

*Traveler’s Company notebooks and refills.*

*Kakimori dip pens, nibs, brush liners/markers, fountain pens, rollerballs. I love how their ink swatches, which Jeff made using an artist paint-sprayer.*

*In addition to stationery, Mt. Fo’rest also had accessories like totes, trays, keychains, etc.*

*Renny Liu (right), along with husband, Jeff (left), and team member, Diana, were super cheery and helpful.*

*Renny showed us this art from Jeff, which was the original concept art from their brainstorming days! So cool!*

*I was good and only got two washi tapes (one of which I gave to a friend, so there’s only one in this picture), and this cute tote bag!*

It is a lovely little shop with a nice variety of stationery products and is worth the visit. Mt. Fo’rest is located at 55 W. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105. The shop is open 10:30am - 5pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 12pm - 5pm on Saturday, but check the website to make sure. You can email them at hello@temporarylocation.com or call (909) 616-905. Mt. Fo’rest is also on Instagram as mt.fo.rest.

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Posted on June 27, 2025 by Kimberly Lau and filed under Store Visit.

Montblanc Boutique, Honolulu - Shop Visit

My family and I spent spring break in Oahu, Hawaii and I managed to finagle a few minutes away when we went to the Ala Moana Mall in Honolulu. Aside from getting lunch (which was their primary goal,) I also wanted to check out the Montblanc Boutique. The Ala Moana Mall is one of, if not the, largest outdoor malls and it is worth checking out, for all the food and shopping, even if you’re not into pens (but you are, which is why you’re reading this, amirite?).

*Montblanc Boutique, Honolulu at the Ala Moana Mall.*

Montblanc is a luxury brand, known for more than just pens, such as accessories, leather goods and watches.

*Sunglasses, suitcases, and other fancy things!*

*Leather accessories like wallets, portfolios, briefcases, etc.*

*Watches (if y’all think pens are expensive, watches are next level.)*

*This 1858 Geosphere will set you back $6,000.*

Let’s be real though, I didn’t stop in the shop to look at accessories and watches, I came to see pens!

*More limited edition pens on the wall, like Jane Austen, Gatsby, Maria Callas, and more.*

*The Origin Collection - The Coral ones on the right are extra stunning.*

*Around the World in 80 Days Collection.*

I knew about Montblanc’s Bespoke customization program but I thought it was just for special nib sizes. I had no idea they could do other fancy designs too! I wish I had more time to spend at the shop, because the staff can help design a bespoke nib for you on their computer. Maybe someday when I win the lottery.

*Check out this one-of-a-kind rabbit engraved nib with a set-in ruby!*

*They had these cool postcards and encouraged me to take one of each design as a souvenir!*

*Once I picked out a postcard to send to myself (something I forgot to do for the rest of the trip, oops), they asked if I needed a pen to write with!*

*I picked the BB (since I can’t write with obliques). What a fun nib!*

*Then you drop the postcard into their very cool mailbox and they will stamp it and mail it for you.*

Carl Saito was such a kind, friendly salesman, who answered lots of questions and showed me various pens that I couldn’t afford, lol. His personal daily carry is this stunning Montblanc Solitaire Le Petit Prince ballpoint! If you see him, tell him I said hi!

*They didn’t have the Renoir ink I was looking for but I thought this Coal Blue ink, along with my postcard, would also be good souvenirs of my visit!*

*Quick swatches of the Coal Blue ink - it’s much more of a grey than blue.*

The Montblanc Honolulu boutique is located in the Ala Moana Center, at 1450 Ala Moana Blvd Suite #2215, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. The store is open daily from 10am - 8pm. You can reach them by phone at 1-808-942-4810 or via email.

PS - if you do go to the mall and like poke bowls, head down to the garage level and go to Foodland. You won’t regret it.

*This was one of two poke displays, each with different kinds of poke. It was utterly mind-blowing, amazing and delicicious.*

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Posted on April 18, 2025 by Kimberly Lau and filed under Montblanc, Store Visit.

Shorthand Shop Visit

I visited a few stationery shops when I was in the SoCal area after the CA Pen Show in February. In addition to Paper Plant Co, I also went to the Shorthand shop in the Larchmont Village neighborhood (the other location is in Highland Park). Larchmont Village has several blocks of cute shops and restaurants, so this was a great location to walk around. Let’s take a look!

*Shorthand, Larchmont Village location.*

I gasped out loud (in a good way) when I stepped inside because it is such a visually pleasing aethestic!

*I love the airy, open feeling inside the shop. There is a lot of room to browse and you never feel rushed.*

*After gasping upon entry, I looked to my right and saw this color-coordinated window display from the inside.*

*There is a wall full of greeting cards to choose from. In fact, this is only half of what’s on this wall. You can also buy the posters displayed above the cards.*

*In the corner is this awesome wooden card catalog which holds all sorts of refills - from fountain pen ink cartridges, to ballpoint and rollerball refills, to pencil leads!*

*Look at all this colorful eye candy on the walls! My inner matchy-matchy heart was bursting!*

*I bet no one likes orange either, right? Maybe one guy, but he’s a lil sus. 🙂*

Shorthand isn’t a pen store, per se, but they did have assorted pens, including fountain pens, available.

*A few more pens, as well as custom stationery and other assorted items, in the glass case at the counter.*

Since I was just at the CA Pen Show a couple days prior, I wasn’t on the hunt for anything in particular. I still enjoyed looking at the products in my favorite colors and being able to talk to the staff in a relaxed environment.

*I couldn’t resist this awesomely colorful clutch pencil from Koh-i-noor, as well as their shop postcard.*

As I mentioned above, there are two Shorthand locations: this one in Larchmont Village at 126 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004 and the other in Highland Park at 5030 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Both shops are open daily from 10am - 7pm. You can reach them via their online contact form. You can call the Larchmont location at 323-640-1793 or Highland Park location at 323-642-9039. Shorthand is also on Instagram as Shop Shorthand.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Kimberly Lau and filed under Store Visit.

Mt. Fo’rest Shop Visit

Montblanc Boutique, Honolulu - Shop Visit

Shorthand Shop Visit

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