Not Going to Chicago this May

Since I wanted to try and actually go to the Chicagoland Pipe Show, I wanted to do it on my own. To actually travel by myself and show my parents, that I still live with unfortunately, that I can handle traveling to and from a different city and while at it visit a friend who lives in the Chicago, and some family.

But now I have two options. Not go, and miss  a good opportunity to review a pipe show and see what it is like through an independent lens.

Or take a member of my family, most likely my father and have him take me as if I am five years old and I am going to Comic Con.

So in short I would rather skip this yearly opportunity, rather than having my father or a member of my family holding my hand while I'm trying to do my obligation to you, the reader.

So with that I'll puff you later.

Don't buy from forums, but if you do hear are some things you should.

About a couple weeks ago, I bought a pipe on a forum, not going disclose any other information. Now this was a rare pipe a, Swiss pipe I think, and the price was around twenty bucks. Before I bought this pipe I thought "Its going to get here and I'm going smoke it until it cracks." Unfortunately it hasn't arrived, and I am twenty bucks poorer. Now I am not saying that the seller is a con-man or that the forum is a breeding ground of crooks.  In fact this post will be several steps that you should do before buying a pipe on a forum. So that you won't waste money on a product that probably won't come.

1. Look for the Seller's record, and ask around. So that you can get feedback from other forum members and the admins.
2. Demand pictures of said pipes, and ask about where they from, what pipe company made them, and what condition are they in. The seller should the answers these questions. 
3. Ask for the seller to use Paypal, if they are not. To ensure that you aren't giving away your credit card number to a processing company that has a shady reputation.
4. Immediately ask for the tracking number after said purchase, and do not let up.  So that you can verify for yourself and make everything less complicated, 
5. If you did everything from 1-4 and still haven't received the pipe then you need to make sure it has arrived and hasn't been picked up by someone else. If you did that and still no pipe make sure you didn't give the seller the wrong address or if you do have the tracking number then contact the shipping company and berate them until your pipe is delivered.

So with that I'll puff you later

A Quick Puff

Hello, this is going to be a quick update today, and I want to post several things on the blog today, if not a couple, OK good.

1. My bag of tobacco seeds hasn't come…But don’t fear as soon I get them I’ll set a date, to when I’ll be starting. 
2. Also I am planing to head up to the Chicagoland Pipe Show… Where I’ll be reviewing the atmosphere of convention and the various pipes, tobacco, and pipe accessories on the market. Don’t worry I am going to give fair reviews on everybody.

So with that I’ll Puff you later.

The Tobacco Endeavor is a Go.

Today I am pleased to announce this blogs' next experiment which is growing tobacco now, due to what I've read is that it takes a whole bloody year for tobacco to age. Now unlike How To Make Your own Pipe Rack I am not going to tell what and what not to. Due to the sheer exhaustion of schedule and stuff. However I will make weekly updates, with pictures, detailing my weekly experience.

But as I record my endeavor of growing I am going to build a small curing hut. Not to fire cure but to air cure it. So I need to build a little sukkah, hut in hebrew, before the tobacco harvest.


So with that I'll puff you later.

A new adventure with Tobacco.

Ever since my attempt of building a pipe rack was somewhat of a success. I've decided to embark on another weird ass attempt. But this time I am going on another endeavor of curing tobacco. Yes that's right readers I am going to tell you of me growing my own tobacco plant, curing the tobacco leaves, and smoking the results. So that tells me I will need several things I'll need:

1. An old refrigerator.
2. A microphone.
3. Some tobacco seeds. 
4. Some patience. 
5. access to some cash.

If your wondering as to why to the microphone. The reason being is I am going to launch a small podcast series and probably see what happens.

So with that I'll puff you later.

Jack Schwartz: Cigar Smokers Only.

Recently I went back to the Windy City known as Chicago, to find the tobacconist that knock the socks off my feet and show me a better place to buy Pipes, pipe accessories, cigars, and cigar accessories. Other than Iwan Ries & Co. I thought it would be Jack Schwartz. But I was wrong, despite my naiveté of hoping that they would have at least of having a decent size of pipes and pipe tobacco.

Instead, they have two brands of pipe tobacco, and selling only Petersons.  Now I am not anti cigars, because I've had smoked a few cigars myself. But if you are looking for a good pipe and pipe tobacco, then stay away, my dear reader.

However I could forgive the location, the atmosphere, and the fact it is a cigar store and not a big fan of pipes. I cannot however for selling only one brand of pipes, and two kinds of tobacco. Is like saying that one kind of tobacco is good. I mean talk about being disappointed about the atmosphere, the near impossible viable location in all of Chicago, and the depressing selection

So with that I'll puff you later.

The Speakeasy Tobacco store.

Recently I went to Iwan Ries & Co. A well known pipe shop online and in reality. In the bustling surviving city of Chicago. Anyways When you first see Iwan Ries & Co. your immediate thought is, that it's pretty much like its website. Rundown, old, past its prime, and going out of business. Not to mention latest victim of the recession.

But that is far from the truth. When you enter you will climb up two flights of stairs and take a right. Where you'll enter the shop that felt like entering a speakeasy. Just without the booze and mobsters. Where, instead of a man waiting to take your coat, you are greeted by a case full of interesting pipes through different eras, including a Native American peace pipe.

As you enter the shop you notice two things. First, is the smell of cigars from the moment you enter the shop to the second you leave the building. The second thing you'll notice is the wide variety of pipes, pipe tobacco, cigars, and cigar accessories. Though this is a problem if you are a novice or a beginner because it is easy to be overwhelmed by the huge variety of pipes.

But this lack of organization, isn't so worry some if you have some experience under your belt with the pipe. Because every pipe smoker knows or should know the difference between a Dunhill and a Peterson.

With that in in mind when your done looking at their pipes you want to to move towards their selection of pipe tobacco. When you take look at their selection of tobacco, and when you do you see that it is HUGE. With every kind of tobacco, from Dunhill, CAO, Peterson, and many more kinds of tobacco that I can't remember their brand name.

Of course when you leave you're doing it, cause you don't want cancer from second hand smoke. Which permeate the entire store and your clothes. Not to mention that there is a time limit that everybody has, as to how long of staying in before you need to leave.

As I end this review. I'm glad that I went to this tobacconist, that I got to see their pipes, their HUGE tobacco collection, and even their cigar collection was impressive. So if you go to Chicago, make sure you go and take a peak at 19 S Wabash Ave. So yes this may be my new tobacconist when I am in the Windy city…………Or is it?

So with that I'll puff you later.