Chicago, 2008

I hope everyone who loves pipes and tobacco has seen "Pipes, Artisans and Trademarks" by our friend from Lisbon, Jose Manuel Lopes. It is the most comprehensive encyclopedia of pipes and pipe makers ever compiled, featuring carver biographies and accented with exquisite pipe photography. Furthermore, one will never meet a more generous, thoughtful, or interesting man.



The best thing about Chicago each year is seeing old friends and making new ones. This year, in spite of the smoking ban in the mega-center, people seemed to adjust and have a great time. Frank and the Chicago Pipe Club did an amazing job under the circumstances and should be applauded. Below are more of the faces we love seeing each year.


Dave Quisenberry and Matt from Dallas share a moment with Will.


That mensch, John Goldberg, with the amazing Tom Eltang.


Old friend, Greg Pease, with Pia Eltang. Will and I recently read an article celebrating the Danes as the "worlds most happy and contented people." If anyone bears that out, it's Pia. This is the first time in five years that I haven't seen her smiling, and it will probably be the last.



For the past two years we've shared a close proximity with "Beauty", Sykes Wilford, and "Beast", Jeff Folloder. ALERT: Women of the world, when you see that would- be Lothario on the left coming at you in broad daylight, protect your backside!

I mean really, just look at him. One picture is certainly worth a thousand words.


Neil Archer Roan adds so much to the community and we're just tickled and honored to know him.
The first time we met Paolo was in Rome when he generously invited Will to his shop for the afternoon. Seeing him every year brings back some of our fondest travel memories.


"Nobody does it better..." Teddy Knudsen.


A highlight this year was seeing our friend Ignacio Macias from Club Amigos de la Pipa de Madrid during his first trip to the Chicago show. He was our host at dinner and later at a meeting of the pipe club when we were in Spain last December. Below he looks at pipes with his friend Miguel from the Barcelona Pipe Club. What TERRIFIC guys!


Not only is Neil great company but he does the BEST leather bags ever!



Good friend Lloyd Heeger from Dallas.


There, of course, were many, many more!
And so, another Chicago show gets filed away in sweet memory. We will definitely be at the Richmond show this October and hope to see everyone there.