October 2004

Club Info & Events

Live Free or Die!
I guess that's our new club motto and quite fitting considering the circumstances we're in. Our own state's smoking ban has forced us out of our restaurants, bars, night clubs and workplaces (oh yeah, they'll let us work but will they let us smoke.... forgetaboutit!). So now we are forced to take refuge in our neighboring smoker-friendly state of New Hampshire, at least temporarily. As mentioned in last month's newsletter, Steve Gutz has arranged to have our October meeting on Thursday, October 14th at the Blackwater Grille in Seabrook, NH from 6-10 PM. Since we currently don't have a permanent home, it's better to meet somewhere than nowhere. We haven't stopped looking for a new permanent place to meet and I do believe we will find something acceptable, but for right now we need to keep the momentum going. I know NH is a long way to go for many of you, myself included but it's just over the border in NH (about 1 hr from Boston). I think it's important to make an effort to come up and check it out and to show some support and club spirit. After all.... it is only one day a month, right?
Our meeting this month will be on a Thursday, maybe you can take Friday off and make it a long weekend (who can't use another one of those?). Or maybe you can carpool with someone to help the time pass (I can meet someone in the Boston area, email me if your interested).
I had hoped to entice some of you by telling you that Steve Johnson, distributor of Don Carlos and Comoy pipes would be attending the meeting but he came up with a scheduling conflict and will have to postpone until November. Joe Noradaki, the owner of the Gold Leaf will be coming by a little later on along with a few of his regular patrons. Even Jay "don't hit me in the head with the Gavel" Beard is supposed to show up (remember him?). He intends to perform a demonstration of his new auction calling technique called "Yodeleering", which should prove to be very entertaining if I know Jay. You definitely won't want to miss it. If that ain't enough to get you up there then I don't know what is?
Some of you we haven't seen at a meeting in awhile, Editor, where've ya been? Pusher Man, Bulldog, EverReady, you guys have been a bit scarce as well. C'mon guys help me out here... I can only stand looking at Steve, Dock and Allan for so long. Don't forget our new motto... Live Free or Die. Hope to see you all up there.

Another Great Post-Ban Meeting
The September meeting turned out to be yet another outstanding event. Hosted by our one and only female member Cyndi Aimo at her Cape Code home in the quaint village of Teaticket. As planned we all met at the Tinder Box Internationale at the Mashpee Commons at 1:30 for a smoke and a quick meeting while Cyndi got everything ready at her place. Nate Davis, Tinder Box manager and club member was awaiting our arrival and doing everything he could to make us feel at home. The Tinder Box has a very nice smoking lounge to relax in and watch the game. So if you're ever in the area be sure to stop by and say hello to Nate.
Well it barely seemed like I had gotten my pipe lit and settled in before it was time pack up and caravan down the road a piece to our final destination. When we arrived we found that Cyndi, a most excellent host, had catered the event with a barbecue feast of ribs, brisket, hush puppies, salad and more. Everything was delicious and washed down very nicely with a cold beer. We didn't have quite as many members show up as we had last month but it was nice to see Decoy and the good Reverend Gerry were able to make it. Tim, Rick and Steve brought their wives which is always a welcome change and a few of Cyndi's family and friends were there as well. I'd personally like to thank these and all the wives of our club members for supporting us in our pursuit to keep pipe smoking and our club alive and thriving.
With our appetites now suppressed we all settled down for an afternoon smoke while catching up on each others' news of the past month. While dodging the daggers of bright sunlight that flickered through the trees I squished my toes through the sand that filled Cyndi's back yard and couldn't help but think what an absolutely gorgeous day it was to meet with the good comrades of the Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston (Harvard, Cape Cod, New Hampshire....). See you in New Hampshire next month!
                                       See more pics

Upcoming Events

CORPS Pipe Show - 20th Anniversary Richmond, VA.
Who's going to the Richmond Show? I'll be there. Let me know so we can meet up. Email Me

Holiday Gathering of the Hudson Valley Pipe Club at Kaywoodie
Last month I received and email from Andy Camire regarding this years holiday get together at the Kaywoodie factory. I was unable to make it last year but from the stories and pictures it was an event not to be missed. Here is the info about the event:

Email me as soon as possible if you plan to go so I can get a head count for Andy. When we finalize where payment should be sent I will pass that info along to you. If you want to see how it went last year, click here.

Pipe Smoker Sightings
While attending the Salem Pirate Faire at Winter Island Park in Salem, MA this past month, I ran into a couple of pipe smoking scalawags.

(click for a better view)

I'm always looking for new items for this Newsletter. If you have an interesting article, or would like to share
your knowledge on a particular pipes and tobacco related subject, please send it along (preferably by e-mail).