Upcoming type-ins: Massachusetts, Michigan, Virginia, Alaska

It's good to see that the type-in continues as a fun, healthy way to meet others who think outside the technological box—an event needed more than ever in the age of hypersurveillance and generative AI. Here are a few upcoming events in the U.S.

This bittersweet event will mark Tom Furrier's retirement and the end of Cambridge Typewriter.

This event is happening in Lansing, Michigan on March 27. Typewriter Fox writes: 

Come help make a joyful noise at SHIFT LOCK: a Metaphor for Changing Perspectives, the areas first typewritten event! 

A collaboration of Struk Studio and Typewriter Fox Studios, the gallery will be transformed for the evening into “The Typing Room,”  a live art installation where you are invited to come experience a wide variety of vintage typewriters. 

Custom stationery, incorporating the talents of local artists, will be available for you to write a letter, a poem, or whatever the muse dictates. 

There will also be a screening of the documentary California Typewriter.  And since a movie is more fun with snacks, free popcorn will provided by Cravings Gourmet Popcorn and refreshments by Toms Party Store of East Lansing. 

So shift your perspective and come unplug for a night of typewriter shenanigans! 

What: Shift Lock: a Metaphor for Changing Perspective

When:  Thursday, March 27 5-9 PM 

Where: Struk Studio  

2916 Turner St.  

 Lansing, MI

Free admission, materials, and snacks! But donations cheerfully accepted.

This type-in in Annandale, VA looks like a fine opportunity for a momentary escape from the stress of D.C.:

Mark your calendar, dust off your typewriter, and join us for an open house-style type-in in Annandale, VA. We'll share a variety of typewriters from our small collection and we'll save space for you to share yours. If you're interested in typing on vintage typewriters or if you have never seen a typewriter, this is the event for you.

Finally, if you can make it to Fairbanks, Alaska, you can enjoy this type-in at the Noel Wien Library:

Join us for the Great Alaskan Type-In event celebrating National Poetry Month! It's going to be great! Bring a typewriter to share or click & click on ours on the table!

Meanwhile, I'm already looking forward to the Big One: QWERTYFEST in Milwaukee, October 3-5.

The most surreal of typewriters?

1959 Rooy (more info here and here)

 

Vintage Communications Weekend: call for volunteers

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, PA is hosting a Vintage Communications Weekend on March 15 and 16.

Kristen Fredriksen (kfred@patrolley.org) writes: 

We had over 40 typewriters on display [in 2024] (with most available for typing)! ... Like our previous event, I'll be inviting vintage telephones, radios, cameras, broadcast equipment, the printing press (they've already confirmed!), ham radio club/special event station, victrolas and phonographs, and others. If you have any connections within driving distance of Pittsburgh, please feel free to share! 

Typewriter lover Dave Cannon will be bringing some typewriters and helping with the type-in. He'd love to have others join him. Interested? Send him an email. (Sadly, I can't attend.)

Here are some photos Dave sent me of last year's event.