Very Little West Coast Pipe Community?

[bryanf]

There's a very nice shop in marina del rey off of Washington Blvd. The pipe tobacco selection is enormous, as is the cigar selection and other tobacco forms. They have some okay pipes, and all the pipe accessories one needs, including some nice pouches. I usually go there to buy bulk Virginia No 1 at $3 an ounce. The tins are expensive, but I try and give them some business. Nice guys to talk to, also.

 

[calebtheindian]

I kinda wish there was a way to fight against that kind of policy, I mean make it business to business type of thing. Besides, if you allowed smoking and a fire started because of it, if you can't put it out then the rain will. XD jokes aside, I know its a voting thing, but I don't know a lot of people who actually pay attention. Doesn't help that I don't really know many people anyways but still :P

 

[bigboi]

Caleb, First of all welcome to the forums. There is a a small thriving community of pipe smokers up here in Washington. Seattle Pipe Club is one of the healthiest pipe clubs on the west coast. I am concentrated north of there and we have several groups of pipes smokers up here. The pipe smokers I associate with up here are more from church men's groups, but that doesn't stop us from inviting all people from coming and enjoying a smoke with us. The place where Seattle Pipe Club meets allows smoking indoors, but pretty much every where else it is outdoors, except the Casinos.

 

[plateauguy]

There is legislation in Washington state to allow Tobacco shops to have a separate smoking room. The catch is the initial licensing fee is astronomical, the restrictions are hugh, and permits are out of reach for most. But not to worry, the bill is still tied up and won't reach the floor this year. See how forward thinking we are?

 

[calebtheindian]

Thanks for the welcome I didn't even know so many people smoked indoors as much as it seems. For the almost 2 years I've smoked, I can only really smoke outside. I don't really own a has I can smoke in anyways but still. Do all casinos let you smoke in them? Cause if that's the case, I have an actual reason to go :D

 

[checotah]

The B&M pipe shops in Oregon with which I am aware are in the greater Portland metropolitan area, AVVA Cigars in Salem, and the Briar Shoppe in Eugene. Nothing here in Southern Oregon.

 

[johnscs]

Just thought I'd chime in here. Pipe smokers seem to be a pretty rare breed on the West Coast, but I think there are pockets where aficionados can buy pipes and tobaccos - and even smoke their pipes in the open! My experience is geographically limited and mainly anecdotal, but for what it's worth ...
I live on the Monterey Peninsula in CA, where a guy can still smoke a pipe or cigar in a tobacco shop. The Carmel Pipe Shop (on Lincoln) is tiny (I've seen larger walk-in closets), but its selection of pipes is absolutely AMAZING, and its choice of tobaccos is of very high quality. Best of all is Doug, the fellow who runs the shop most of the time. He is an expert on pipes and tobaccos (as well as cigars) and makes everyone who steps into the shop warmly welcomed. I can spend a couple of hours there, smoking my pipe and shooting the breeze. Every time I visit, he has scores of new and estate pipes to show off - all at very reasonable prices. The Carmel Pipe Shop is definitely worth a visit for anyone traveling through the area.
Also of somewhat historic importance is Hellam's Tobacco Shop in downtown Monterey (on Alvarado). The shop is a local institution and caters more to cigar smokers than to pipe smokers, but the owner, Wyatt, stocks a very impressive range of excellent bulk blends (I'd guess two dozen or more). The prices are extremely reasonable, and the shop is also a very welcoming place to sample tobaccos, enjoy a cigar, and socialize. Wyatt definitely knows his products (cigars, pipe tobacco, and pipes). He seems to know just about everyone, as does the very kind lady who works at the shop, Edie. Although the shop doesn't have a lounge or seating area, it's a nice place to strike up a conversation and share a bowl on a weekend afternoon.
Some restaurants and pubs with outdoor seating areas in the area do allow patrons to smoke. Let's hope that freedom continues ...
I recently spent a week in Portland, where I was really disappointed to find out that Rich's (on Alder) can't allow customers to smoke in the shop any longer. I paid a visit to a really nice tobacco shop on 82nd Street (I think the name of it was 82nd St. Tobacco - or something like that). I was very pleasantly surprised to find a nice indoor smoking lounge there, as well as a comfy outdoor smoking area. The shop seemed to stock a wide range of cigars, and I thought the pipe and tobacco selection was pretty good. The traffic was pretty steady, even on a weekday afternoon. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in Portland.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Around here most of the B&M shops are cigar shops, but some do have a nice selection of pipes and tobacco. As a few others have mentioned for the Portland and Southwest, WA area there is Rich's Cigar, 82nd Ave Pipe and Tobacco which I visit from time to time and is a very friendly establishment which has a cigar lounge and a court yard outside for pipes or cigars. I've heard Cascade Cigar and Tobacco has a good selection of pipes and tobacco, and a smoking lounge as well but I've never been there so I'm not sure. There is also Paul's Cigars which is mainly cigars, but they do have some briar pipes and about 20 or so blends of tobacco. I think one of the Paul's Cigar locations still has a cigar lounge as well. There is also Broadway Cigar Co. which has a cigar lounge, but they're very limited with pipes and tobacco.

 

[jeffsimpson]

Speaking of the west coast, does anyone know of anything up in canada? I'm in Victoria, BC and don't know of any dedicated pipe shops. we have a cigar & pipe store downtown and it's OK, but I'm wondering if there's any full-on pipe shops around.

 

[calebtheindian]

If I venture south or north I have a better idea now As for Canada, I have hardly left Oregon my whole life, but if I get to (and I want to) go up there I will look. There is a place in Mcminnville there is a place that has some of the bulk bags of half and half or something like that and a couple other places which would be glass shops have a few small containers of actual pipe tobacco that they proudly show off but clearly have no knowledge of what it is they are selling.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Speaking or West Coast pipe smokers, I'm not sure who's all seen the thread in the pipe events section but the 3rd Annual NW Pipe Meet Up is coming up fast. It will be held June 28 at Sticks House of Cigars in Wenatchee, WA from about 12-8pm. The cigar lounge has a variety of local craft beers and wine available, and there will be an assortment of food. Bring some pipes and baccy and hang out for the day with fellow pipe smokers. There are several hotels close by for anyone that needs to stay over. Comment in that thread or shoot me a PM if you're interested in coming or have any questions.

 

[seanavan]

If you're in the Portland area and just looking for an indoor place to smoke your pipe, go to one of the McMenimans cigar lounges. There are three I can think of in the Portland area and one in Forest Grove. They're all cigar-friendly and I've had my pipe in a couple of them with no complaints. They make their own beer, wine, and spirits as well. You can read more on the history of each place on their website. The four cigar-friendly places I know about are:
Greater Trumps - in the Bagdad Theatre complex in SE just south of Hawthorne at 1520 SE 37th Ave.
Detention Room - in the Kennedy School complex in NE, at 5736 NE 33rd Ave.
The Little Red Shed - on the Edgefield grounds, at 2126 SW Halsey St. in Troutdale (about 16 miles east of the center of downtown PDX)
Pat's Corner - at the Grand Lodge at 3505 Pacific Ave. in Forest Grove, OR

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I tried to hold a pipe gathering at McMenimans but I was told we would have to smoke outside. I have heard of several people smoking their pipes in the cigar lounge as long as none of the others in the lounge minded. I think because it was going to be a group I was told no. Per the city/state ordinance they are not allowed to let pipe smokers in the cigar lounge, but I know they have done it in the past. Really depends on the venue and management and how busy they are at the time.

 

[michaelmirza]

I visited the Briar Shoppe in Euguene while passing through. Pretty solid selection for the area!

 

[deathmetal]

The health thing is a hoot, with runners inhaling air so fouled by petrocarbons that breathing it is like smoking a pack of cigs a day. The healthiest thing anyone could do would be to leave for less polluted climes.

I concur. And it's worse where there's heavy truck (Diesel) traffic.