Arizona Pipe Club meetings for December

We hope that the advent of the season, along with the pleasant memories of Christmas past, and the customs and traditions of the season, find you all and your family enjoying yourselves. Pipe smoking is inextricably linked to the season.


Frosty the snowman is not Frosty without a pipe, and the Santa's from the past be in pictures, or movies had him smoking a pipe. The Iconic Bing Crosby's White Christmas comes to mind, and for some of us memories of family members smoking the pipe at Holiday gatherings.


If you have the ability to be out and about, and smoking is not prohibited, by all means do so. If you are going to be around family members or even strangers, in a setting where you can smoke but do not want to be offensive to others, an aromatic pipe tobacco can really turn the table on perceptions. Society at large has been conditioned to bundle all smoking into the same camp, which is unfortunate. People have been conditioned to think that smelling any tobacco smoke is a fast ticket to getting cancer. But, there is a pretty good segment of society that still has fond memories of "Uncle Joe's" pipe at Christmastime, and "Uncle Joe" predominately smoked pleasant smelling tobacco. An English blend is probably not the best thing to smoke in such a situation, it tastes great, but can be quite off putting, and offensive.


Blends like Peter Stokkebye Nougat in such situations are a good choice, back in the day it was Tinderbox branded as North Sea. Chocolate and cocoanut are tastes that come to my palate, and I have received a lot of positive comments from people when out and about.


Big Sticks Fine Cigars has some great blends that are not heavily cased and stocks some Peter Stokkebye blends, be sure to ask Paul and his staff for assistance. If you can make it to the pipe club meeting, and would like to try an aromatic, just ask and a member will be glad to make recommendations, and quite possibly have it on hand to sample.


This month will be White Elephant Gift Exchange, it will take place at the pipe club meeting, and at pipe night so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. You do not have to participate if you choose not to. If you choose to participate, simply bring a tin of tobacco, or something related to pipe smoking...a suggested maximum of $20 retail. If you paid that for it back in the day, but is worth more now, that is fine. Also, please wrap the gift or put it in a gift bag or such.


If you are unfamiliar with the game here are the rules:

www.whiteelephantrules.com/


And the variation:

Three Swaps and the Gift is Out...If a present gets stolen three times, it’s out of the game and the person who holds it gets to walk away with it.


Pipe Club meeting: Saturday, December the 11th at 1 PM

Pipe Night: Wednesday, December 22nd at 5 PM


And, if you want to participate in both gift exchanges you are free to bring a gift to either. You can always purchase a tin, or item at the shop if you are a last minute shopper.





The pipe club wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!