| Club
Info & Events
Details of the January Meeting
We had a surprising turn out at our new restaurant location Nocera's.
Their menu wasn't bad but we got a late start and felt rushed. Plus,
they would do separate checks for us which ends up delaying the
process that much more when it comes time to pay the check.
Before heading over to Nocera's I had some time so I stopped by
X and O's to see if/when it would be open. To my surprise they had
opened that day so I decided to take a look around. Their lounge
area was perfect in all aspects but one. A cozy fireplace and big
comfortable leather chairs that were screaming out to me to fill
up my pipe and make myself at home. Therein lies the problem that
keeps this and every other lounge, bar and restaurant in Massachusetts
from attaining the status of "the perfect place." I'm
sure you now get the picture. After daydreaming in the lounge I
decided to check out the menu. Five waitresses were standing behind
the main counter eagerly waiting to provides someone with some service
but I just had to settle for a menu instead. A bit pricier than
Nocera's and menu items more of a Greek and Italian style. But being
just a few lots away from Papa Gino's it's definitely worth a try
before we rule it out. How about this month? Pizza and Pita sandwiches
average around $8.99.
 Our
meeting was excellent and well attended. We were all happy to see
that Tony was able to pick up Sid so that he could attend the meeting.
And it was also good to see him smoking again. Dock brought in his
newly acquired smoking jacket which I happily modeled for everyone.
Not quite the right fit for me but then again, I can make anything
look good.
2007 Club Pipe
We also took orders for the 2007 Club Pipe which are being carved
by Joe Skoda, one of our Hudson Valley compadres. Looks like about
nine orders so far so if you want one you need to let someone know
soon. Hopefully we can get a sample of one soon and if that happens
I'll post a picture here.
The History Channel's Modern Marvels - Tobacco
I received an email from our newest member Tom informing
me that Cornell and Deil would send our club a copy of this Modern
Marvels episode that feature their tobacco blending facility. I
emailed Craig Tarler at C&D and told him we'd love to have a
copy and it arrived today with another surprise. Craig also sent
along 5 tins of tobacco for us to sample. They sent the following:
From C&D:
Guilford Courthouse: Red &
Bright VA's with a pinch or Orientals
Safe Harbor Flake: A classic Burley based flake.
Snug Harbor: A rich English blend with a touch
of Vanilla
Sunset Harbor Flake: A flavorful Balkan style
blend.
And from G.L. Pease:
Westminister: Their newest traditional English
Blend
Which brings us to the next meeting topic Tobacco Tasting
Dock Perry suggested that we make an effort to sample more
blends each month and explains his plan in more detail in Dock's Corner
below.
Member
Contributions
Memories to Share................By
Richard Frederics
I recently came back from visiting my Dad in Georgia. It was my Dad
who first got me started in pipe smoking. I was going to be a freshman
in college and my Dad did not want me to start smoking cigarettes.
Besides, he smoked a pipe himself back then (now some 40 years ago).
So, you might be wondering where I am going with this. Well, I brought
with me a book on pipe smoking – but this one was written in
German and while I could not translate it, my Dad could. He can speak
fluent German.
What a great time we had together as he translated various parts of
the book. And though he hasn’t smoked a pipe in years, he was
really getting into this book. I can still hear him saying, “Here’s
something I bet you didn’t know, “or “Listen to
this.” “Wow,” he said. “I didn’t now
that according to the author, some of the oldest and finest Italian
briar comes from the Province of Macerata where my sister had a summer
home.” And then there was the picture of Basil Rathbone’s
pipe – just like the one my Dad has seen when he comes to visit.
My Dad has the book and he said we will go through more of the book
on my next visit. I can’t wait. And who knows. Maybe by my next
visit he will pick up one of his old pipes and start smoking again.
That would be nice.
New Hampshire: Of Brews and Briar
In the past couple of years my wife and I have taken some time off
between the holidays to take a mini vacation. Last year we spent
a couple of days in Freeport Maine, this year it was a log cabin
in Lebanon, NH. Whenever we take a trip I always do a little Internet
research to find out if there are any pubs, breweries or pipe shops
in the area we’ll be visiting. If you read about last years
visit to Maine
you know that the state of Maine, although a very beautiful and
with many positive attributes, was not the most smoker friendly
of states. New Hampshire on the other hand is a different story.
I guess a key element in being a smoker friendly state is that you
are actually allowed to smoke pretty much wherever you want, which
New Hampshire (thankfully) still allows. I'm sorry to have to tell
you that I've become so conditioned living in Massachusetts that
I totally forgot about the fact the NH wasn’t smoke free until
I stepped inside..... [Read
More] |
| Pipes
& Tobacco News & Info
A Tribute to Gerald Ford
 On
December 27, 2007 the 38th President and the last President
to smoke a pipe in the White House died at age 93. Hmm 93,
not too shabby for a smoker who smoked an average of 8 bowls
a day... and in the Oval Office no less. I guess the Surgeon
General was right!.
Although our current President blows plenty of smoke, Gerald
Ford blew the kind of smoke we can relate to and appreciate.
Almost everywhere I've seen his pipe smoking mentioned in
print is was always surrounded with words like kind, easy
going and American. George Bush Sr. was even quoted as saying
"To know Jerry was to know a Norman Rockwell painting
come to life, an avuncular figure quick to smile, frequently
with his pipe in his mouth." The Valley Independent of
Pittsburgh wrote in an article after Ford's death, "Ford's
demeanor was no affectation: In the early days of his presidency,
Ford, still living in the home he had as a congressman, would
retrieve his morning newspaper in his pajamas. Later, he'd
often walk to the presidential limousine in a right proper
presidential suit - smoking a pipe and wearing a baseball
cap."
In 1974 he was voted as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
He was a great man who loved his country as much as anyone
can and he did it from behind his favorite briar. America
and the world will miss him. Let's all smoke a bowl of Field
and Stream in his honor. We look forward to seeing you in
the afterlife and we'll know where to find you.
More links with photos of Gerald Ford enjoying his pipe:
Pipe
Up Congress, to Truly Remember Ford
SpeakeasyForum.Com
President
Cherished His Ties to Utah
Image
Envision
Of
Pipes and Presidents
| Other News
& Information for smokers: |
| |
Websites
Worth A Look
Blogonomicon
While perusing the web for Gerald Ford information I came
across this blog that has a really nice write up on Ford with
a few nice photos of the President enjoying his pipe. There
is also a page for the pipe
smoker of the week which is worth a look as well.
Here's how the author describes the content that can be found
on his blog:
The right to keep and bear arms, occasional attempts at satire,
frequent recourse to sarcasm, and anything else I can think
of. Oh yeah, and pipe smoking. Sometimes H.P. Lovecraft. And
obscure Monty Python references when applicable.
Sounds like a fun guy. Have
a look.
AtelierRolando.com
Check out Rolando’s Negoita's new genetically engineered
species of pipe.
Il
Duca Pipe - Handmade Pipes from Italy
I received an email from these folks so I thought I'd pass
it along. Not a huge selection but worth a look nonetheless.
Take
a look.
This
Month's Tobacco Raffle
Dunhill Three Year Matured Virginia
 A
special aging process gives this tobacco a cool, soft flavor,
much appreciated by Virginia smokers world wide.
Dunhill Royal Yacht
 Truly
a luxurious tobacco. The world's best Virginias are carefully
conditioned to insure sweetness. Then they are added to rich,
heavier and cooler Virginias. A unique flavor is added to
the final blend to enhance the subtle and piquant aroma.
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