The NY-NJ Gem & Mineral Show is a brand new show, and has very quickly become an important and exciting show. The show's debut was last year in the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, but this new venue in the NJ Convention and Exposition Center was much larger and busier than last year's show. The show had a top-notch public exhibit of Minerals from New York and New Jersey, combined with a fluorescent "room" put together by the Franklin Mineral Museum, and a fine mineral section with high-end dealers. The show was this past weekend, starting on Friday April 12, through Sunday April 14.
I had organized a public exhibit for this show of local minerals, and also had a booth where I promoted Minerals.net as and sold some local mineral specimens. I had placed a TV screen at my booth which was looping several of the videos we produced. Many people stopped by to view the video, and the view of Glenn Rhein and his finds in Amity was especially popular. This show was lots of fun and I look forward to attending next year as well. I also put two articles in the show guide, one titled "Herkimer Diamonds from... Pakistan?" and the other on Glenn Rhein's recent finds in Amity, New York. To view the show guide online as a flipbook, follow this link.
I took many pictures, and because there are so many to post, I will divide them among several posts.
Here is part 1:
Hershel Friedman posing in front of his booth.
Glenn Rhein is being interviewed in the video that is playing.
Hershel Friedman and Glenn Rhein in the Minerals.net booth.
Glenn was a real celebrity at the show. He even had requests for his autograph!
Glenn and his wife Karen, posing together in the minerals.net booth.
Note the video playing is the video on Glenn, and is showing the Spinel finds!
Hershel Friedman with Eric Stanchich, in the Minerals.net booth.
Eric is one of the top collectors of NJ traprock minerals, a true expert and gentleman.
Over the years I have acquired many exceptional minerals from Eric.
My friends at the North Jersey club, of which I am a member.
The North Jersey club had a nice informational booth at the show.
Jolyon Ralph (R), founder of Mindat, and Justin Zzyzx (L), curator of the special exhibits,
posing inside the Minerals.net booth.
Jolyon came all the way from England to attend this event,
and Justin did a phenomenal job organizing and setting up the special exhibits.
Justin, Jolyon, and Brandy (Justin's wife) enjoying a Dum Dum lolly.
I was giving these out for free to all kids who stopped by my booth.
Alfredo Petrov manning the GemSnail.com booth.
