November Pipe Club meeting

Mike B smoking his pipe at the November Pipe Club meeting

Howdy all, your friendly neighbourhood blogger here. Can't believe it's been so long since I last posted any updates. A lot has transpired since my last post and I'll try to document them in this blog post.

Well we've got a lot to speak on.  We had our annual summer picnic at Hank's house in East Brunswick NJ. A great time was had by all.  Plenty of food,  wine and beer plus other alcoholic beverages were on hand. We ate drank and smoked our pipes till the daylight faded. Our former president Vermont Via and his wife Susan paid us a surprise visit on their way to their upstate retreat.

But,  you'd have to be there to enjoy the loads of food and drink that was provided for the barbecue. My thanks go out to Hank for putting on such a glorious  spread.

We had our August,  September and October meetings at Circa  Tabac, now called the Soho Cigar lounge.  Finally I am now able to document,  in pictures and words our meetings.   I shall start with documenting the happenings since my last post and share pictures of our November meeting.

The second to the last meeting of 2014 had a great turn out to enjoy the great tobacco finds of our member Martin.  We got to sample four square tobacco,  three nuns,  original Balkan sobrani and many others.  Pictures from the meeting can be seen Here.

Late in November we had the pleasure of meeting Erik  Stoykebye at The Nat Sherman tobacco shop.   He unveiled the latest tobacco in the 4th Generation  tobacco family.  Afterwards some of us went to Circa Table to enjoy more smoking and enjoy a few cocktails. Club president Lou Carbone gave Erik one of our club pins making him an honorary member of the New York Pipe Club.

As I finish writing this long overdue blog entry we had our last meeting of 2014.  Hard to believe that the year is almost finished.  A few of us were talking and we may,  date and location to be determined, invite the members,  those who can attend, to a gathering to celebrate the holidays.

Well I think it's time to close this by wishing everyone a happy Christmas,  Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and holidays.

NEWARK PIPE SHOW AND MARCH MEETING

New York Daily News Reporter Jason Silverstein

Happy St Patrick's Day to all my followers.  Figured it'd be time that I get you caught up on the happenings that have gone on with the pipe club.

I'll start with the NY Pipe show held at the Whyndam Newark International Hotel in Newark NJ on Saturday March 8th, 2014.  The vendor turnout was smaller than it was the last time I attended.  Steve Monjure was unable to attend due to  getting snowed in the Carolinas (hard to believe as we had the first warmest week-end this way).  It was still a great turn out, with Master Blender Russ Oulette showcasing some of his newest tobacco blends.  One of which was a tasty aromatic called Erin Go Bragh.   This is an aromatic blend featuring American and African Virginias with some sweet Cavendish and some Burley tobaccos.  Topping it all off was a hint of an nice peaty Irish Wiskey. Russ even discussed a blend he's working on to pair with the Corn Cob pipes.  Interesting seeing what new stuff the blenders are working on.  Also some fantastic pipe makers were once again on hand displaying both Briar and Meerschaum pipes. I actually purchased two pipes at the show.  One was a yello bole pipe and the other was a Kaywoodie Pipe (both are great smokers).  The only downside was that the organizers decided to raise the entrance fee from $5 to $10 which didn't sit well with attendees.

Afterwards some members of the NY Pipe Club and the Philly Pipe Club drove over to JR Cigars in Whippany NJ where we smoked our newly acquired pipes and tobaccos.  Also we drank and ate as that was something they allowed in the location.  As always a fun time was had by all in attendance.  Here's a link to photos from the evening. Newark Pipe Show

On Tuesday March 11th, 2014 we had the monthly March meeting at Circa Tabac in NYC.  A great turn was on hand, roughly 25 members,  to welcome two special guests to our meeting.  One of the attendees was the gent who was selling Meerschaum pipes that he has carved and shipped from Turkey. The reporter, Jason Silverstein, and his photographer from the New York Daily News.  The Meerschaum pipe seller showed up about 7pm and stayed for a number of hour.  He was able to sell a few of his pipes to members who were unable to attend the pipe show in Newark.  The reporter came by the meeting around 9:10pm or so and did a lengthy interview with our president Lou Carbone and some of the members who were in attendance.  He was to meet with Lou the following afternoon at Nat Sherman tobacco shop to discuss the pipe club blends.  Again a great time was held by all in attendance.  Here are some of the pictures from the wonderful event. March 2014 Meeting

Well folks that's a lot to put in your collective pipes and smoke, so go ahead and, as always, check out our website and Facebook page for more pictures of these wonderful events.  See you at our next meeting which will be on April 8th, 2014. Hopefully by then we'll be moving on to the warmer weather.

SNEAK PREVIEW

Lou, Hank and guys at JR's Whippany NJ

Howdy all,  just a quick post to let you folks know what's happened and will be happening with the NY Pipe Club.  On Saturday we went  to The Whyndam Newark Airport International Hotel for the annual NY Pipe show.  We met a nice gent from PA who sells some of the most beautiful meerschaum pipes I have ever seen.  Since he's not that far away we invited him to join us at our upcoming meeting to be held tomorrow @ Circa Tabac.  He will be showing and have for sale some of his fine pipes.

Also, as an added bonus, a freelance reporter and pipe smoker from the NY Daily News is coming to our meeting with a photographer to take pictures and write a feature article on the club and the hobby in general. He is doing this since there's been a upswing in the usage of the new E Cigarettes as well as the fact that states are legalizing marijuana for medical use.  He is also going to talk to Lou, in depth, about our four pipe club blends.  Should be a fun article.

If you see this post in time please join us for a truly spectacular evening tomorrow, Tuesday March 11th, 2014.

I will have a full review of the Newark pipe show plus the happenings at our March meeting.  Happy smokes to all. As always smoke 'em if you got 'em.

INTERNATIONAL PIPE SMOKING DAY

The front entrance to Nat Sherman's Tobacco & Pipe Shop on E 42nd Street.

Howdy folks and a Happy belated New Year.  How time's flown since I last posted anything new.  Well this month, February, has a few things worth talking about.  We've gone thru 2 monthly pipe club meetings plus celebrated International Pipe Smoking Day.

We had our January and February meetings at Circa Tabac in Tribecca.  As always the atmosphere was inviting and the people friendly as ever.

This past Thursday February 20th,  was the official International Pipe Smoking Day.  To celebrate I went to see the Erik Stokkebye pipe event where he was on hand selling his 4th generation tobaccos, the revived Comoy pipe line as well as a few freehand Danish Pipes.  A great time was had and I was able to sample two Virginia blends plus an English blend from his 4th Generation tobacco collection.  Each blend  carries a year instead of a name which Eric explained was to celebrate the birth year of the gentlemen in the Stokkebye clan.

The New York Pipe Club, as always, celebrated International Pipe Smoking Day on Saturday February 22nd.  This year we were invited to celebrate the day at Nat Sherman's Cigar / Pipe Shop located on E 42nd Street.  Newly hired pipe and tobacco aficionado  Chris McGrath invited the pipe club to celebrate the day at his exclusive smoking lounge.  He even blended a special English Blend, named 702 Dragoon, for the occasion. He has also agreed to, if requested, blend tobaccos based on NY Pipe Club member requests.  As at past International Pipe Smoking Days the host, this year Nat Sherman, offered discounts on pipes, tobacco and related products which a few of the members took advantage of.  We were at Nat Sherman's from 3pm - 7pm and a good time was had by all in attendance.  Afterwards a few of us went over to Merchant's Cigar Lounge where we smoked a few more bowls and had some food and drinks. Pictures were taken by your's truly as well as by Club President Lou Carbone.  My pictures can be seen here, IPSD,  and Lou's can be seen on the club's Facebook page.

Well folks, as always will be keeping my ear to the pipe ash to see if anything develops.  See you at the New York Pipe Show, our next event taking place at the Wyndham Newark International Hotel on March 8th, 2014.  Those interested can join us afterwards at JR Tobacco Shop and Lounge in Whippany NJ where we'll smoke our pipes and enjoy some great food and drink.  Our next Pipe Club meeting is scheduled for March 11th, 2014 @ Circa Tabac in Tribecca starting @ 6:00pm - onward.

Till next time happy smoking to all.  I will make my way homeward by enjoying a bowl of the 702 Dragoon from Nat Sherman Tobacco and Cigar Shop.