Favorite story from a Pipe Show

[Winton]

I am bummed out that that the Chicago Pipe Show is cancelled. Let's share our favorite stories from any pipe show that you have attended.

Here is my favorite memory from all the pipe shows that I have been to.

It was a cold, rainy evening. I left the tent, and went in search of food. There was a wide hallway, but it was packed with the kids on their prom. Picture all the girls, having their Cinderella moment, with their boy friends, in tuxes. It was a beautiful situation, but I needed to get through the crowd. After considering the issue, 2 seconds, I announced:

"ATTENTION EVERYONE, I POSITIVELY REEK OF PIPE TOBACCO, AND I NEED TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CROWD. SO, UNLESS YOU WANT TO SMELL LIKE ME, YOU NEED TO MAKE A PATH!."

I felt like Moses, parting the Red Sea.

[DepartedLight]

My best memory was having pizza with you a month earlier than the pipe show started. Next to that was text watching golf with 2x7 from the hotel bar.

[Bloodhound]

My best memory was having pizza with you a month earlier than the pipe show started.

This is also my favorite Pipe Show Memory / Story

[Adam Z]

I hope to go to a pipe show one day. I was planning to attend the 2020 TAPS (Triangle Area Pipe Smokers) show in Raleigh, but it was scheduled for April 4th, and 2020 happened. As far as I know they aren't holding the show this year either.

[FredS]

Wonderful idea Winton.

One time, perhaps 10 or 12 years ago, when Zed and I both lived in the Kansas City area, we hooked up to go to the GKC Pipe Show. We met early in the day so I could show him some favorite warm-water fly fishing spots. One place was at the spillway of a dam with lot's of bowling-ball-sized rip rap to clamber down. Now Zed's not the most nimble guy you'll ever meet and he said "Do you think I'm a mountain goat? I'm not going down there!" He gave me a couple flies he tied that day. I only have one left - I call it the Zed Bug and I still carry it but I don't use it.

Later he broke the handle off his fly reel. It was a Bass Pro model, and Bass Pro was on the way to the pipe show so we stopped in to see if they would give him a new screw. The guy gave him a whole new reel and even transferred the line. We talked to Miss Betty in the fly shop while the other guy was doing the actual work. Betty must have been pushing 80 and she mostly sat around the shop tying flies. She tried to sell Zed a new 3wt rod by having him hold the handle while she pressed the tip to her throat and grunted like a Mongolian throat singer playing a didgeridoo so he could feel how sensitive it was. He said it was cool but passed.

When we got to the hotel hosting the show the parking lot was packed! We were surprised there were that many pipe smokers in the greater Kansas City area. There was even a line to get in. Turned out those folks were there for a gun and knife show. The pipe show was actually in a smaller side room. No line.

That was a good day.

[FredS]

There's always that one guy. You know, the one who wears a kilt, doc martins, some sort of leather hat, purple steam punk glasses, and a fishing vest with pipes and doodads in all the pockets. Struts around with his chest puffed out like he's the mac daddy.

[Adam Z]

There's always that one guy. You know, the one who wears a kilt, doc martins, some sort of leather hat, purple steam punk glasses, and a fishing vest with pipes and doodads in all the pockets. Struts around with his chest puffed out like he's the mac daddy.

So you ran into Del at the show?

[sweetandsour]

Wonderful idea Winton.

Now Zed's not the most nimble guy you'll ever meet and he said "Do you think I'm a mountain goat?

Zed sure zipped around KC pretty good in that little sports car of his though, when we met up for a visit that time. I'm still disappointed that Tuttle didn't show up, but still, it was a memorable visit. Btw I've still never attended a pipe show.

[AFRS]

This one time at Pipe show...















Wait, no, I've never been to a pipe show. I live in Canada.






Or was it a Pope show?

[FredS]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

[DepartedLight]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

Great pic!!!

Hall of Famers.

[AFRS]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

Great pic!!!

Hall of Famers.

I miss N8

[Winton]

My best memory was having pizza with you a month earlier than the pipe show started.

This is also my favorite Pipe Show Memory / Story

That was a fun time.

[Roadmaster]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

Great pic!!!

Hall of Famers.

I miss N8

That was a good time. No a great time.

[FredS]

One of the best things about pipe shows is meeting up with CPS friends for the first time. It's amazing how well we know one another, even before we meet in the real wold, and how easy it is to fall in to friend mode when we finally meet. And those sentiments are based only on my attendance at smaller regional shows in Kansas City and St Louis. I'd really like to go to the Chicago show sometime where even more CPS'ers hook up.

[Winton]

It is also entertaining to sit down at a table in the smoking tent, and start talking to the guys. Eventually, someone mentions CPS or some other pipe forum. Then you find out that you are talking to someone that you know well, but have never met.

[Del]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

That one in the middle looks like Elizabeth Warren.

[daveinlax]

There's always that one guy. You know, the one who wears a kilt, doc martins, some sort of leather hat, purple steam punk glasses, and a fishing vest with pipes and doodads in all the pockets. Struts around with his chest puffed out like he's the mac daddy.

I know him! He’s a long time collector who is college prof who live near STL in IL. The STL Gateway Show always has some unique characters, how about the guy who shows up every year dressed as a fancy pants Cowboy with the sheep’s fur chaps or the Leprechaun who hangs out by the front door of the Masonic Lodge. Then there’s Charles Mansons twin brother. There’s a group young guys who have been attending the last few years that dress up like dandy’s. Then there’s the goof ball with LBJ steel rim glasses who wears pressed fisher stripe overalls and a tie.

[AFRS]

St Louis Pipe Show after party, 2010ish

Roadmaster, SlowToke, Injun Jo, Isaac (Butt Ben), FredS, N8

That one in the middle looks like Elizabeth Warren.

You mean fauxcahontas?

[Roadmaster]