Here is a quick overview of some people, products and parties from day 1 of the Chicago Pipe Show 2010.
There will be detailed articles with a lot more details and information in the coming days and weeks, but we wanted to give you a quick update to hold you over. We are posting live from the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL.
For more of our coverage of the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show, Click on the following links:
Craig Tarlar at the Cornell & Diehl Booth New Buffalo Soldier Tobacco from Cornell & Diehl New Burley Flake #4 from Cornell & Diehl Pretty Italian Lady Roberta di Piazza with a Luciano Pipe New Pipe from Neerup of Denmark Stanwell Bamboo Pipe Made famous by a Naked Asian Lady Mary McNiel from McClelland & Tad Gage with two versions of 3 Oaks created by Tad, made by McClelland The Cigar Dinner Buddy Shows his Caricature Hors d'oeuvres Being Served at the SmokingPipes.com 10th Anniversary Party Rick Newcombe on the right, author of the book "Pipe Dreams" Kevin Godbee & Sykes Wilford at the SmokingPipes.com 10th Anniversary Party Frank Burla has Boogie Fever at the SmokingPipes.com 10th Anniversary Party Kevin Godbee & Brian Levine at the SmokingPipes.com 10th Anniversary Party Vernon Vig from the NY Pipe Club and United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA) Bob Tate & Hans Hansen (Group7 on PM.com) at the Party Mike & Mary McNiel Dancing at the SmokingPipes.com Party
Publisher & Founder of PipesMagazine.com
Certified Master Tobacconist (CMT) #1858 from TobacconistUniversity.org
My grandfather didn't smoke a pipe, but my uncle and some of my elementary school teachers did. In 1998, my neighbor Sam invited me out, and we ended up back at his place where there was a cigar humidor, and pipe rack on the coffee table. I had my first cigar, and then decided to try pipes too. I love the elegance and relaxation of smoking a pipe. In 2002, I started learning how to make websites, do SEO, and create content. I had a cigar content site and forums from 2005-2008 when it was bought out. In 2009, I launched PipesMagazine.com, which is now the largest, busiest community forums, and article content site for pipe and tobacco enthusiasts. We have one of the longest running pipe and tobacco focused podcasts since 2012 with lifetime industry veteran, Brian Levine.
Looks like fun with MUCh temptation! lol Thanks Kevin again for posting these updates 😀
Looks like a good time !! Sure wish I could have made the show!!
Thank you very much for posting everyone looks to be having a great time maybe one day i will come into enough money to be able to attend.
Thanks again
Roy
UK
Yes everybody, the Chicago show is even more fun than the pictures show. Had a great time meeting Kevin and Bob. Many thanks go out to Frank Burla and the CPCC staff for all the hard work. And to “smokingpipes.com” for a great party on Saturday night. Everyone try to save a bit and come for a day or five next May. I guaranty you will not regret it. PS I’m in for two shirts!
Tonight on The Pipes Magazine Radio Show, we welcome longtime pipe smoker and collector Mark Berman. Mark began smoking a pipe in the late 1960s while studying engineering at Kansas State University, starting—as many did—with aromatic tobaccos before moving on to Virginias, VaPers, and classic English blends. His first brand-name pipe was a Savinelli, followed by a Dunhill, and by 1999–2000 he attended his first pipe show. Today, Mark owns an extraordinary collection of roughly 1,500 pipes, focusing primarily on American makers. His collection is so impressive that he has exhibited pipes at shows simply to share them, not sell them. At the top of the show we’ll have an Ask the Pipemaker segment with renowned pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. Jon David is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. Brian and Jon David will talk about their favorite customer interactions, and after 55 years, The Country Squire is moving to a new location that will include a full cocktail lounge. This is a colossal undertaking that is quite interesting to hear about. They will be expanding their shipping, blending, and smoking lounge. They are moving into a standalone building which will ensure against complaints of smoking from neighbors. The soft opening is expected in February 2026.
Our featured guest tonight is longstanding pipe collector Tom Pfaeffle. Tom is a long-time member of the pipe collecting community and enthusiast whose experience spans decades of engagement with briar pipes, tobacco culture, and pipe show attendance. His great-grandfather smoked a corncob pipe, and he started smoking and collecting pipes in the 1970s. Pipe shows were quite different then with few to no pipe makers, and lots of hobbyist showing their collections that weren’t for sale. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss what are referred to as “magic pipes”. This is in response to a question sent in by one of our listeners.
Our featured guest tonight is Austrian pipe maker Chris Ruetz. He is an artisan pipe maker from Tyrol, Austria, who discovered his love for pipes at 16 and later crafted his first one from cherrywood on his living room table, sparking a lifelong dedication to the craft. Since 2021 he has been a full-time maker under the name Ruetz Pipes. His work is known for its organic forms, and creative surface combinations, making each piece a unique smoking experience and artistic expression. At the top of the show we will have an Ask the Tobacco Blender segment with Jeremy Reeves. Jeremy is the Head Blender at Cornell & Diehl, which is one of the most popular boutique pipe tobacco companies in the USA, and one of the only pipe tobacco producers making product in the US.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 691. On tonight’s show Rick Newcombe reminisces about Danish pipe making legend Jess Chonowitsch. Jess passed away on November 28, 2025. The impact he had on artisan pipe making is immeasurable. Rick is likely one of the first American pipe collectors to meet Jess going back to the year 1995. He has also been one of the biggest promoters of Jess’s work over several decades and has tons of great stories to celebrate the life of this “Great Dane” pipe artisan. Chuck Stanion does a great job of telling Jess Chonowitsch’s story on SmokingPipes.com. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss the pipes he acquired this past year.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 690. Our featured guest on tonight’s show is artisan pipe maker JD Wolf. JD just started smoking pipes a little over a year ago, and he started making them at about the same time. His impetus for becoming a pipe maker came from the problem that his preferences in artistic handmade pipes were out the reach of his budget. He strives to make precise smoking instruments that are also a handcrafted piece of art that the “average workingman” can afford. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will have a holiday gift giving guide for pipe smokers.
Looks like fun with MUCh temptation! lol Thanks Kevin again for posting these updates 😀
Looks like a good time !! Sure wish I could have made the show!!
Thank you very much for posting everyone looks to be having a great time maybe one day i will come into enough money to be able to attend.
Thanks again
Roy
UK
Yes everybody, the Chicago show is even more fun than the pictures show. Had a great time meeting Kevin and Bob. Many thanks go out to Frank Burla and the CPCC staff for all the hard work. And to “smokingpipes.com” for a great party on Saturday night. Everyone try to save a bit and come for a day or five next May. I guaranty you will not regret it. PS I’m in for two shirts!