Pipe Clubs

[monbla256]

I found a B&M shop here in town that sold almost as many pipes and tobacco's as they did cigars and went to a "Taste Night" they have once a month where the shop furnishes a different blend for folks to try for free. First let me say that things have definately changed in the pipe world since I started over 40 years ago! I walked in with just my one old grp3 sized Dunhill Shell Bulldog, a few cleaners, one tamper and my 40 year old Dunhill leather roll-up pouch in my pockets and immediatley felt like I was a "newbie" There were about 10 guys there, the oldest next to me was 42 yo, the rest in their early 30s to mid 20s and they all seemed to have these sort of mini-cases full of pipes!! Most had at least 4 and a couple had 6 pipes with them and I swear they were mostly HUGE freehands that looked to be able to hold an ounce of tobacco !! My little Duhill seemed so out of place
Besides the size and number of pipes they had were the comments they all made about the tobacco they were trying. The blend was one of McClellands Matured Virginias #25 which I have recently been trying. A very nice, smooth tasty Virginia which most of them thought was bland !! And many thought it was bitey but then several of them had finished a HUGE bowl of it in the 45 minutes I was there and I was still sipping mine in my little Dunhill when I arrived home !! The owner of the shop told me he will continue to stock it as I'm not the only customer who likes it but he does have these events to do some "marketing" for blends to carry which I understand. It was a definate education for me, not un-enjoyable, just different than I am used to !! I will go back again, but will take one of my big Charatans next time

 

[R.A.]

Good story, I have been wanting to attend such an event, There is a local pipe club in my area I just haven't talked myself into it yet, For not wanting to feel like a newbie :lol:

Yea I don't even have a tobacco pouch, I load from a jar have a spoon rest with pipe cleaners and tamping nails, bottle of spirits on the work bench in the garage,

Sounds like I need to purchase a pipe accessory, Maybe one of those aluminum attache cases, Like the James Bond portable tobacco bar. 8)

 

[Dave_In_Philly]

My experience has been quite the opposite. Back when I first started posting at pipesmokerforum Les invited me to one of the Morley's Pipe Club meetings here in Philly and I have been going as regularly as possible for the past year or so. They usually have a pretty decent turnout, 25-30 members each month. Most of the folks have kids my age, but there are a few younger folks - it seems more and more as time goes on. I learn more from these guys in one evening than I can in an entire year browsing the internet.

 

[Boulder]

Sounds like a nice crowd, Glad you enjoyed yourself. :drunken:

Wish there were a real Pipe Club in NNJ.

 

[Dave_In_Philly]

Sounds like a nice crowd, Glad you enjoyed yourself. :drunken:

Wish there were a real Pipe Club in NNJ.

Where abouts in North Jersey are you? I grew up in NY not far from Mahwah. We have a few guys who make the trek down to Philly from Central Jersey (New Brunswick I think), but I know there is a really good sized club in NYC that you could hit up.

 

[monbla256]

Good story, I have been wanting to attend such an event, There is a local pipe club in my area I just haven't talked myself into it yet, For not wanting to feel like a newbie :lol:

Yea I don't even have a tobacco pouch, I load from a jar have a spoon rest with pipe cleaners and tamping nails, bottle of spirits on the work bench in the garage,

Sounds like I need to purchase a pipe accessory, Maybe one of those aluminum attache cases, Like the James Bond portable tobacco bar. 8)

If you really want to get an "accessory" get a GOOD leather roll-up pouch. Look for one with a Laetx/Rubber lining, NOT vinyl, it won't last! Be prepared to spend in the $50 to $100 range and you will have it the rest of your life. I got my old Dunhill pouch back when I was 25 and I still have it 41 years later

 

[idbowman]

I'm jealous.

I wish I could find a pipe club around me. It seems that I'd be in good shape if i wanted to drive two and half hours to Columbus (OH), but there isn't much going on up here around Cleveland.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Tinder Box's sale-oriented "Pipe Parties" that occur every month (tomorrow, as a matter of fact) are Reno's closest thing to a real pipe club. It's pot luck, BYOB to share, and three hours of sit-down with all walks of life, age ranges and experience levels. The biggest benefit is trying everyone's tobacco that they bring with them. To the chagrin of Tinder Box, everyone quite liked Pipeworks & Wilke... :lol: ...but they quite often have "buy one, get one half-off" tobacco tins and 30% of certain featured pipes, ranging from cheaper Viking Classics on up to Ascorti Business.

All-in-all, glad we have it, but I kind of wish there was a place that can seat more than five people at a time--it's a tiny place. I wonder if they'll do outdoor seating in the summer...I'll have to bring that up to them. 8)

 

[Zeno Marx]

And many thought it was bitey but then several of them had finished a HUGE bowl of it in the 45 minutes I was there and I was still sipping mine in my little Dunhill when I arrived home !!

Maybe some of your patience will rub off on them. I meet a lot of cigar smokers who seem to be in a big hurry, as if the cigar is a task that they need to scratch off their list. Baffles me. Then again, I can't fathom the folk who like to hike 40 miles in a day and race through the backcountry. Everything is a race. Everything quantified. The art of leisure and relaxation is lost on a lot of people. I don't doubt they get enjoyment out of what they're doing, but...well, I just don't get why you'd get on a tortoise and hope that it would ride like a thoroughbred. Leaves me scratching my head about the state of the world.

 

[plumbernater]

Ive not been to a pipe club . But here in huntsville we have a nice pipe/cigar store called the Humidor. I like to hang out there when buying tobacco, and talk with the old timers when I go in. Ive learned alot and tried different tobaccos from some of them. If none of the guys are there when I do go , I usually dont stay long.

 

[EC Outlaw]

Same thing is true of a lot of younger motorcycle riders now days. They aren't happy unless they have covered 800 miles in a day on a trip :shock: . No time to stop and see anything; can't tour a local museum, eat at national fast food chains instead of little local mom n' pop resturants. Just gas and go. I feel like if I'm covering 250 miles a day I'm traveling too fast.
They haven't learned how to stop and smell the roses yet.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Same thing is true of a lot of younger motorcycle riders now days. They aren't happy unless they have covered 800 miles in a day on a trip :shock: . No time to stop and see anything; can't tour a local museum, eat at national fast food chains instead of little local mom n' pop resturants. Just gas and go. I feel like if I'm covering 250 miles a day I'm traveling too fast.
They haven't learned how to stop and smell the roses yet.

+1,000 to this-- I ride Vespas, and most of the guys are pushing their tricked-out scoots across the lands as hard as they can, it's as if it's them and the road, and nothing else matters. I just hang back of the pack and enjoy myself. "It ain't the destination, it's the journey." What good are 100,000 miles if you don't recall exactly how and why you got there? :lol:

Never understood the "it's a race" mentality.

Plus, it takes me an hour and a half to finish mid-sized bowl pipes... :lol: Can't rush a good thing!

8)

 

[Boulder]

Sounds like a nice crowd, Glad you enjoyed yourself. :drunken:

Wish there were a real Pipe Club in NNJ.

Where abouts in North Jersey are you? I grew up in NY not far from Mahwah. We have a few guys who make the trek down to Philly from Central Jersey (New Brunswick I think), but I know there is a really good sized club in NYC that you could hit up.

I live in Sussex county on the border of Vernon up near High Point State Park. I was on the NYC club page earlier today and saw they have a 2012 pipe sow event in March;
When: Saturday, Mar 10, 2012, 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Where: WYNDHAM (Formally the RAMADA) NEWARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HOTEL 1-973-824-4000

I would luv to attend a meeting but NYC is such a hassel with tolls and parking not to mention starting this month they will charge 10 bucks just to get into the smoking lounge upstairs after dinner.

The pipe show in March at this point sounds like a go to.

Were in NYS did you live?

 

[Boulder]

Same thing is true of a lot of younger motorcycle riders now days. They aren't happy unless they have covered 800 miles in a day on a trip :shock: . No time to stop and see anything; can't tour a local museum, eat at national fast food chains instead of little local mom n' pop resturants. Just gas and go. I feel like if I'm covering 250 miles a day I'm traveling too fast.
They haven't learned how to stop and smell the roses yet.

I felt the same way when I left one of the touring clubs up here.

It was all about the miles and not the route, but we did eat in nice rustic food joints.

 

[Boulder]

And many thought it was bitey but then several of them had finished a HUGE bowl of it in the 45 minutes I was there and I was still sipping mine in my little Dunhill when I arrived home !!

Maybe some of your patience will rub off on them. I meet a lot of cigar smokers who seem to be in a big hurry, as if the cigar is a task that they need to scratch off their list. Baffles me. Then again, I can't fathom the folk who like to hike 40 miles in a day and race through the backcountry. Everything is a race. Everything quantified. The art of leisure and relaxation is lost on a lot of people. I don't doubt they get enjoyment out of what they're doing, but...well, I just don't get why you'd get on a tortoise and hope that it would ride like a thoroughbred. Leaves me scratching my head about the state of the world.

Funny, but very true.

People need to slow down any learn to enjoy before its to late.

 

[jlong]

You're fortunate to have such a club near you. Getting together with fellow pipesters in that manner is a pleasant experience.

 

[Blue Max]

I keep thinking I should talk to the owner of the B&P here but Jackson MS can be a weird place and I don't know if it would get a very good response. Plus, the store itself is a little dirty and unorganized so it's not a relaxing place to be. Might have to go to the mostly-cigar place 'cuz they have a deck for gathering.

Thanks for the push. We'll see how it goes.