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The 2013 Chicagoland Int’l. Pipe & Tobacciana Show Report

Published on 5/9/2013
Complete Show Report...


The Chicagoland Int’l. Pipe & Tobacciana Show

 May 4 & 5, 2013

The NY Pipe Club shows up in Chicago each year with, on average, roughly 12 - 15 members.  We are treated to what has become known as the greatest pipe show on earth!   I would strongly encourage you to make every effort to make it out to that show, you will not disappointed!

Of course, you can just skip my drivel below and go right to the expert report by our own, Bill Roberts courtesy of Kevin Godbee and his magnificent pipesmagazine.com website:



Well, once again, all of us who attended had a great time at the "Show of Shows" in Chicago at the Pheasant Run Resort!  The club was well represented with approximately 12 members in attendance and there was no lack of billowing smoke, or single malts, for that matter!  A special thanks goes out to our west coast buddy, fellow "Brother of the Briar" and Pres. of the great Seattle Pipe Club, Matt Guss (our own Peter & Jon's brother), for extending to us an invitation to a wonderful cocktail party in his room.  We had a great time and it was great seeing old friends and meeting new ones!  Thank you, Matt!

There was the usual huge selection of new and estate pipes, as always as well as some wonderful new (old) blends that were debuted at the show.  For starters, many of you are familiar with Mel Feldman and his Albany, NY establishment, The Smoker, a NY institution and tobacco shop for decades, which sadly closed its doors a few years ago, well the good news is that many of Mel's own blends are available once again thanks to the blending genius of none other than our good friend, Russ Oulette!  That's right, 14 of Mel's storied blends are back on the market.  The 15th blend is one developed by and for our other good friend and NY Pipe Show fixture, Fred Goldring.  This is better stated at the following link courtesy of our friend, Kevin Godbee's pipesmagazine.com:



I can also proudly report that the American Pipe Maker was well represented as there was a strong showing of American carvers, both old and new, who had some phenomenal pipes for sale.  What a fantastic boom to the hobby to see such great creativity coming from artisans from our own shores.


Another outstanding job by the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club in putting on this incredible "global" event.  The smoking tent was once again "the" place to meet pipe makers from around the world! 


As always, the best part of the Chicago Show is meeting and spending time with all of the fine folks of the hobby - and oh, yeah, the slow smoke contest is a blast, thank you UPCA!  Why not make it a point to join us next year, you will not be disappointed, I assure you!
  Hopefully someone will send us some photos to post on our website!