Gregor Lobnik and Chicago Fever

One month to go and I have the fever. The Chicago Pipe Show is a big deal in my life. I look forward to it all year. I become an 8 year old waiting for Christmas. I have been counting down the days on a calendar- my Chicago Pipe Show Advent Calendar. Someone should make these- a small packet of different tobacco for every day leading up to the show. P&T should put out a special Pipe Show issue w/ this calendar enclosed.
Anyway- I'm excited and I know other folks are too. I just received an email from Gregor Lobnik w/ photos of some of the pipes he will be bringing. They look gorgeous! I can't wait to see them. I can't wait to see Gregor too. It's always wonderful to see friends again after such a long time. Thursday night in the Smoking Tent is a holiday-like experience. Like Christmas Eve. I hope everyone reading will be there.
Here's Gregor's pipes- T

Chris Askwith

Chris Askwith is a young English pipemaker that is getting some well deserved attention now. I bought my first pipe from Chris at the Chicago show last year and have since added 4 more. Chris makes a good smoking pipe and his sense of aesthetics go right along with mine. The 2 most recent additions to my collection are shown below. They are really wonderful pipes. They smoke great and feel great in the hand. I suggest you check him out. He's very affordable and that can't last. -T

Pipe Smoking Mississippian In Papua New Guinea

Pipe smoking in Papua New Guinea

Using MacBaren pipe tobacco to roll cigarettes

Some tampers John has made.

Mark has struck up a friendship w/ a fellow Mississippian that is doing mission work in Papua New Guinea. The internet sure makes the world a small neighborhood when it comes to bumping into people and striking up conversations. John sent a few photos of his adventure. -T

Article on David Enrique in P&T

Erwin Van Hove (my favorite pipe writer) has a nice story in the current Pipes & Tobacco magazine about French pipe maker David Enrique. Worth a read! -T