Blog Interrupted

Howdy folks, I was planning on updating the blog this week-end.  However in the wake of the horrific incident that occurred in Connecticut on Friday, I will instead take this time to mourn the loss of such innocent souls.

New York Pipe Club Monthly Meeting

Club Members enjoying a smoke

How time flies, here were are getting ready for another pipe club meeting when the last one was just around the corner.  As you see from the picture we had a change of venue.  Our usual haunt Florio's was closed, real reason unknown (we think issues with them not being able to renew their liquor license), so we decided to try another smoking friendly location.

It was decided that we would try out a place called Circa Tabac in Tribeca   This blogger had been there some years back and had always kept it on the list as a place where one could eat, drink and enjoy a smoke (cigar, cigarette or pipe).  This place, for you cigarette smokers, boasts the largest variety of cigarettes available (over 150 I believe). 

People arrived between 5:30 - 6:30pm and availed themselves of Circa Tabac's light bite menu and various cocktails that were offered.  The waitress was nice enough to keep everyone's check separate so that no one could complain about what they ordered.  Prices were reasonable for the cocktails food being served.

We had a good turn out for this meeting, what with the day being the 11th anniversary of the World Trade Center bombings.  About 20-30 people were in attendance and we raised a bowl in memory of those folks who lost their lives that fateful morning. People were also, as done at all meetings, showing off new pipes purchased and talking about events that they were at (the Chicago show and others).

A nice time was had by all and those in attendance feel that this venue could be a place where we'd want to host our meetings, in the event that Florio's doesn't reopen.  

Well gotta run to get ready to face the real world, not the virtual one, and before I close here's the link where you can see the pictures from September's meeting.

New York Pipe Club Summer Picnic 2012

50+ Year Old Tin of Escudo

Wow, hard to believe that summer's behind us.  Well it's been a while since I've posted so I thought it's about time I update the blog with the latest happenings.

As you see from the picture above we got to enjoy smoking a bowl from a 50+ year old tin of Escudo (compliments of Romeo Wood).  We enjoyed this at the annual New York Pipe Club Picnic held, this year, at Hank Saatchi's house in East Brunswick New Jersey on Saturday September 8th, 2012.

The usual suspects were in attendance, Lou, Hank, Mike, Allan, Dan, Bill and Les. Of course your truly was in attendance.  Hank was very generous in providing the backyard, the food and even the alcoholic beverages for us to enjoy.  Also in attendance were a few of Hank's cigar buddies and they brought along some hand rolled cigars which were shared by all in attendance.

For those who attending the picnic got to be part of a rare treat.  Bill (aka Romeo Wood) obtained a 50+ year old tin of Escudo which he'd been saving for a special occasion.  What better place to unveil and enjoy this rarity than to do so at the annual New York Pipe Club picnic.  We had the honor of watching Bill crack open the tin and then all of us got to enjoy the aroma before we fully opened the tin.  Afterwards we then completely opened the tin and then took photographs to preserve the contents, for those not in attendance to see.  We then proceeded to load our pipes with this wonderful tobacco and savor the complex flavors of this well aged tobacco.

As is customary with the picnic one doesn't think that it a few hours and done.  We were smoking, eating burgers, steaks, hot dogs and drinking beer till just about the witching hour then finally we were all smoked out and decided to call it a night until next years picnic.

This blogger has to give much props to Todd Platek for the years that he was able to provide his backyard to host the Pipe Club picnic and we have to thank Hank Saatchi for stepping up this year to host it when Todd couldn't accommodate us this year.

As always you can see the pictures here for your enjoyment.  'Till next time happy pipe smoking.

INTERNATIONAL PIPE SMOKING DAY

Avi, Lou Carbone and Alan Goldschmidt enjoying a bowl for International Pipe Smoking Day

Hey all, the New York Pipe Club got together on Monday February 20th, 2012 to celebrate International Pipe Smoking Day.   We met, as always, at De La Concha tobacconist located on 6th Avenue in New York City.

We had a good turn out of people from the club who got together to raise a bowl in celebration of this day of solidarity for pipe smokers world wide.  As always De La Concha provided us with seating in their smoking lounge and also provided us with discounts on pipes and pipe tobaccos from their wonderful selection.

A great time was had by all and we got to meet some pipe smokers who frequent the smoking lounge at De La Concha.

Here's some pictures from the event  International Pipe Smoking Day  Enjoy!!

JANUARY 2012 PIPE CLUB MEETING

President Lou Carbone, Harvey Silver and Hank Satchi

Hey all,  been a while since I've had a free moment to post some long overdue updates to my blog.  Been a busy four months.  I've been busy working on my family tree for my upcoming trip to Jamaica this Thursday to celebrate my grandmother's 100th birthday.  I still can't believe that she's hitting that milestone.

Since I have a free moment to work on my blog I figured it's about time I work on updating you on the latest happenings in the world of Pipes and Cigars.

Since my last post I traveled to Jamaica over the Christmas / New Year holiday to spend some time with my Grandmother and decided to start working on my family tree which has become almost a full time job.  But I digress,  I will update you on a few events that have happened since the last post.

The New York Pipe Club had the first meeting of 2012 on January 10th.  We got together to smoke some great tobaccos and talk about the final stages of the New York Pipe Club blends.  We had the opportunity to sample what will become our signature blends, unfortunately I am unable to say more about them at this time.  I will say anyone who will attend the Chicago Pipe show happening on May 5th, 2012.  There NY Pipe Club members will, in conjunction with Russ Oulette (the blender), unveil the blends for all to sample and purchase.

Here are pictures from the meeting for all to see and enjoy.  January 2012 meeting

Monjure Pipe Show et al

Author's new Brebbia Pipe

Howdy all, it's been a while since I last posted anything to this blog.  A lot has happened since my last post. I went to two pipe club events, one being the annual NY Pipe Club picnic and the November meeting.

The pipe club picnic featured, as always, the summer corn cob pipe in both straight and bent styles.  We had a few aromatics and other tobaccos brought by the club members.  We also had great food, pork chops, burgers, sausages and this time we enjoyed beers from a number of micro breweries.  As in 2010 the weather was perfect not too hot and we had a slight breeze blowing.

The November meeting was our pre-Thanksgiving leftover event.  We smoked tobaccos that were featured at previous meetings.  Some of the tobaccos that were featured included samples of the pipe club blends (still in progress) plus samples of the blends that were featured in the Balkan Sobrani showdown at the Chicago pipe show.  Two of those blends won and one, Blue Mountain (McClelland's entry), is available for sale.  The other by Russ Oulett is still in work and should be available soon.  It was a pretty nice event with a pretty decent turn out.  Pictures can been seen here November_Meeting.

The Monjure pipe show took place at Barclay Rex Tobacco shop, 75 Broad Street and 70 East 42nd Street, on December 8th and 9th, 2011. This is Steve's big event in NYC before the Christmas / New Year Holidays.   As always pipes from Brebbia, Ardor and Rinaldo were featured. Steve Monjure was on hand to answer any question regarding the pipes.  Yours Truly bought, yet, another Brebbia pipe.  This one was smaller than any of the other Brebbia pipes I bought in the past but it is great as I didn't have a pipe for a quick smoke.  Also on display was a gorgeous Rinaldo pipe which, is the custom, was to be raffled off.  As always I put my name into the hat not expecting to win.  Low and behold I get a phone call from the folks at Barclay Rex informing me that I won the raffle pipe from Steve Monjure.  I collected my pipe the next day 12/9/2011 and have been smoking it since. Here are pictures of the pipes at the show Monjure Pipe Show. Pictures of my Rinaldo pipe to follow.

As I write this I am sitting in the dining room of my grandmother's house in Kingston Jamaica in the West Indies.  The temperature here is in the low 80's.

As I close I want to wish all the people who take time out to read this a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous 2012.

March 2011 Pipe Club meeting

Michael and President Lou Carbone discussing pipes

Hi all, just got some time after a busy week and week-end to bring you up to date with the latest happenings in the New York Pipe Club.  This month we were fortunate to get two tins of Solani Pipe Tobacco, courtesy of Steve Monjure from Monjure International, for the club to sample. 


The blends we tasted were:


Blend 633 - A classic flake with bright Virginias and perique. This cool, slow burning blend has a natural sweetness and a wonderful room aroma.


Solani Aged Burley Flake - Blend 656- A skillful mixture of three aged Burley's - dark brown Burley from Kentucky, light Burley from Brazil, and white Burley from Malawi - Southeast Africa. A very natural blend with absolutely no additives or flavors - a true Burley blend.  


I had the opportunity to try the Blend 633 and as a fairly novice virginia smoker it was refreshing to try another virginia blend.  I found it an easy smoke and took care to smoke it slower than I normally smoke other tobacco blends.  For those not familiar with pipe tobacco blends Virginia blends have Virginia tobacco as either the only tobacco or one of the components (as was the case with the Blend 633).  The Virginia component is high in sugar which can lead to tongue bite if smoked too quickly.  Also the flavor component is not as sharp as other blends so smoking it slowly allows the subtle flavors to develop.


We had a great turn out for this meeting so a lot of folks got to try the blends as well as peruse the pipes Hank brought to sell.  i looked thru the pipes and purchased another Brebbia pipe (guess I'm drawn to this brand).


A great time was had by all.  Up next I'll be reviewing the NY Pipe Show that took place earlier this month in Newark NJ.