![]() Everyone watching, whether in person or by video in the smoking tent, was on the edges of their seats as the clock ticked down and Scottie rushed to get her pipe turned in with one second to spare! It was a blast! I’m so proud of everyone involved for what we created together, and I am looking forward to doing it again next year. Each of the pipe makers brought their A-games to the event and, despite the “pressure-cooker feel” imposed by the 60-minute time limit, made really, really good pipes. It was a group effort that wouldn’t have been as successful without everyone pitching in to get us across the finish line. Everything fell into place as more people volunteered to support the event, with Steve Fallon generously offering to sponsor and co-host the Battle, Hasan Abid heading up the IT side, making sure that we could be heard and seen outside the room, Jeffthechef live-streaming the event on YouTube, and Adam and Nick from the GetPiped podcast filming everything for a documentary to be published in the future. After pitching it and receiving very positive feedback, I worked with Tim Garrity (the president of the CPCC) and Allan Boyd (head of pipe-making events) to make it happen. It dawned on me that we had all the needed equipment, and I felt like I had a little extra confidence to propose the idea to the show committee after the seminar went so well. The show committee was receptive to the changes I wanted to make, and the reviews afterward were positive. Last year, I revamped and led the show’s pipe-making seminar. The problem is the equipment required to make it happen. Turns out I was the one who was crazy!” – Steve Fallon I circled with Jeff and asked him how he conceptualized this new program: Jeff Gracik: I’m sure many pipe makers have had a similar idea-essentially the Iron Chef or Forged in Fire but with pipe making. When he first pitched it to me I thought he was crazy. And this year was a doozy as we had the first ever “Reality TV Style” Battle of the Briar, which was the brainchild of Jeff Gracik (J Alan Pipes). So this year, I’ll focus on the new and interesting, and a slight slant on it since it was my first year attending. ![]() Many of you have been to the show year after year, so you’re used to these show summation articles written by me and my fellow compadres. Like previous shows, this show featured a climate-controlled smoking tent and not one, but two show floor rooms with tables galore. The trip from the airport (O’Hare) is about a 20-minute taxi or Uber ride down the road. This was the second year at the show’s new location, the Lincolnshire Marriot Resort, and as far as attendance went, it seemed like a success as there were many more people there this year than last. This year though, I managed to make it out, which was a good thing, as you’ll see later. So year after year, I gawked at pictures and wished I could be there. Most of the time, the Chicago show overlapped other conferences that I had to attend for my day job so I couldn’t fly out and buy pipes. ![]() ![]() If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).Would you believe that this year was my first year to ever attend a Chicago Pipe Show? It was. We reserve the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. Gotham Hall, Full Length, Looking At Camera, Paul Simon - Musician, Portrait, New York City, Vertical, USA, Gala, Musician, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Television Show, Attending (Photo by Bennett Raglin/WireImage)Ĭontact your local office for all commercial or promotional uses. NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 27: Kevin McCarthy of the NYPD Pipe Band and recording artist Paul Simon attend the 2012 New Yorker for New York gala at Gotham Hall on Februin New York City.
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