Given the Richmond Pipe Show & my anniversary occurring on the same weekend last saturday, the turnout for pipe club wasn’t exactly what we were looking for. Here’s how we can make up for it:
Let’s all go this saturday!
The washington co. guys are planning to show up with their finds from the CORPS show, so let’s all show up for a relaxing fall morning at Allegheny Smokeworks.
I woke up bright & early yesterday morning at 5:30 to make the trek to Columbus for the annual NASPC pipe show. Joel & Dave came along for the ride to experience their first show. We got there about 10 minutes after the show started and started to browse the selection.
My initial reaction was “woah, there’s definitely less vendors here than last year” and that was a bit sad to see. Smokingpipes.com, the old “bag of pipes” guy, and some other great dealers from last year were not to be found. Another disappointing fact was that many of the returning vendors were selling many of the same exact pipes that I was looking at last year. Again this year I was seeking my first Castello, but there really weren’t that many estates present that weren’t there last year.
Enough with the bad news; I’ll get on to the good stuff. Pipes & Pleasures from Columbus was there, and just like last year she had a pipe I simply couldn’t pass up. I picked up an absolutely gorgeous Charatan Distinction with beautiful straight grain. It is incredibly small, but I prefer a small pipe much to the dismay of many of my colleagues. In my typical fashion, I debated much too hard over the decision of what other pipe or pipes to purchase, and in the end I ended up buying a lovely blasted Parker Poker.
Dave picked up two great estate Don Carlos’, while Joel snagged two estate Parkers and an incredibly tiny Kaywoodie Campus with a screw in tenon. We all came home with our pockets full of tobacco samples from C&D and particularly Hearth & Home, where Russ Ouellette was more than gracious in handing out samples of his fantastic blends. I already tried out his ‘Ten to Midnight’ and was blown away by it.
Overall the show was a success, but I think I may start going every other year to see more of a new selection given my experience this year. Well, it’s time to go try another Hearth & Home blend in the new Charatan.
I made my second ever trip to the famous Boswell Pipes this weekend, and walked away with two simply gorgeous pipes. The second I picked up the rusticated black freehand I knew it was mine, but then it took me a good long while to decide between the white stemmed freehand and another pipe which is still at Boswell waiting for another lucky customer. As always, everyone at Boswell was simply as nice as can be, and it was just a great experience. I can’t wait to go back again.
Yes, you read that right. Move fast and order your tins today before they sell out. Limit of 3 tins per customer. Get them here. I just ordered 3 tins for myself!
Update: It’s sold out already!
I decided to get out the camera today for a photo shoot with my Le Nuvole. Click here to view the high resolution version of the photo below to use as a desktop background on your computer.
I’m happy to say I’ll finally be attending my first pipe show this weekend in Columbus, OH. I’ll be driving out bright n early tomorrow and meeting up with a big group of club members. I’ve been instructed of the following game plan:
I have some ideas on what I’ll be looking for, but am not completely set on any particular goals. I’d like to finally get a castello, preferably sea rock and smaller in size. Another possibility is a patent era shell dunhill, and yet another thought is grabbing several old “high grade” Eldorado or Viscount Dr. Grabow’s. Yeah, I said Dr. Grabow :) I have an old one and it’s seriously one of my favorite pipes.
Just gotta make it through Friday first…
Wow has this weather been awesome!! I have been outside smoking my pipes on a daily basis. On Friday the 2nd I smoked 4 different pipes out on my back patio. After a long and stressful winter (family health issues), I am just so enjoying this Spring!
Our monthly gathering at Allegheny Smokeworks in Blawnox, PA will be on Saturday, April 10th from 10AM until noonish. Come on out and sample some tobacco, drink some coffee, and enjoy the fellowship of other pipe smokers. Hope to see you there!
Yep, today’s the day. Be sure to to enjoy at least one bowl, if not more, of your favorite tobacco(s) today. I personally may be stopping by Leaf & Bean to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Well, we can’t say we didn’t see it coming. The greedy US government wants to bring pipe tobacco into the already insane taxation of cigarettes, cigars, and roll your own tobacco, in order to waste more taxpayer money on bailouts, wars, and general idiocy. Two Democrats from Texas and Tennessee have introduced Bill H.R. 4439 to raise the federal pipe tobacco tax from $2.8311 to $24.78 per pound. Here’s how that works out for us:
$2.43 increase per 50gr
$2.74 increase per 2oz
$4.86 increase per 100gr
$10.98 increase per 8oz
$21.95 increase per 16oz
$24.15 increase per 500gr
We have to do something to fight this, in this so-called democracy we live in where we are being increasingly controlled every day. Please visit Pipes Magazine in order to send an automated email or letter to your congressman and senator. Additionally, here is an online petition.
