Visit to Milan - www.neatpipes.com (long)
Corneel Vermeulen
I know a lot of you have heard of, looked at, or even bought from
neatpipes.com, a pretty nice pipe site. Before you get your plonking gear
ready, this is not an AD ;-)
Luca, the owner, took steps to open up a neatpipes B&M in the heart of
Milan, Italy, which is where he lives. Great news in times where lots of
B&Ms are closing. He opened up this week -- the grand opening was on
Thursday. I'm sure you can guess what comes ... Yes, I was there.
Thursday morning I made the trip to Milan, a city I've never been to before,
so first thing I did when I arrived was getting a map, which helped me
tremendously to find Luca's store. For his grand opening, a lot of people
were invited. More about that later. First, I need to tell you that it's not
one shop, it's two. Or one shop doing two things. Whatever. I entered what
looked like a florist (pretty fancy one though), which is neatflowers.com. I
was greated by Luca there, who took me downstairs, to the real pipe shop.
Thanks to my map I was there before anyone else arrived, so I had the place
to myself. Luca did a little explanation about his shop. I'm sure most of
you think the combination of flowers and pipes is a bit strange. It's not
that weird. What you see in Luca's shop(s?) is all made from natural
materials, a lot of craft is involved and everything there is a thing of
beauty.
So, upon receiving my espresso -- I've had a LOT of those the last few days
-- we checked out the shop more thoroughly.
My first impression was plain and simple: WOW. This is definately not your
average B&M. Not by a long way. This doesn't even look like a pipe shop.
Everything is displayed very nicely, so very well thought through, it looks
more like an art gallery than a pipe shop. Maybe a fancy museum. After
browsing through a rack choke full of Dunhills, two racks and a drawers
loaded with Castellos, displays of Baldo Baldi pipes, Anne Julies, Lee von
Ercks, an entire wall dedicated to Tom Eltang (very nicely displayed on
plexiglass shelves) and a multitude of other exquisit pipes and a small
workshop, I thought I'd have a seat. Yes, you need to sit down to digest all
that. That looked out on a big screen TV showing Anne Julie paintings --
they were all around there IRL too somewhere.
After a few phone calls to Luca, some of the other guests who didn't have a
map started to seep in. I will forget a lot of names if I tried to sum them
all up. Lee von Erck got in together with Baldo Baldi and Mimmo. It was
great meeting Lee again. Last time I saw him was at the Cuxhaven show, and
he's been a busy bee in the mean time. Making pipes, going to shows,
globetrotting and what have you. Baldo speaks about 3 words in English, but
is very funny guy nevertheless. Mimmo, briar cutter par excellence was the
life of the party. So we were all set for a good time, in a fantastic
setting.
Lee talked about his very recent trip to Japan ("Sushi, sushi sushi. I've
had enough raw fish"), Mimmo discussed some briar cutting and pipe making.
His 'laboratory' should be quite something. More people joined later on.
Lots and lots of Italian carvers, most of them stuck together like water, so
I didn't get the chance to meet them all. The fact that I don't have any
knowledge of the language didn't help much either.
The party of non-Italians was soon extended by an invasion of Danes. The
entire Eltang family was there, as well as Anne Julie. More fun, more talks
about Mimmo's laboratory -- apparently it's legendary among pipemakers --
talks about pipes, the shop and so on and so on. Luca joined us once in a
while, and that's when we learned why he doesn't sell any tobacco there. You
need a licence to do so, and they don't hand them out to everyone. Besides,
if you want to sell tobaccco in Italy, you need to sell stamps and such as
well, which also wasn't worth it. Stamps wouldn't have fit in the shop
anyway.
Drinks came along, more coffee, champagne ... Something to eat as well.
Which was, much to Lee's surprize, sushi. And more fun. You all know about
the recent smoking ban in Italy. But it's Italy, so one does like the
Italians do. I had, most like everybody else, a blast. Talking pipes all
day, sampling some Balkan Sobranie here, looking at some new pipes there,
getting first hand info on the Sara Eltang pipes (they're working on it,
and as soon as there are enough pipes made, and all the plans that had been
made (more were made then and there) will be acted out, you'll all be sure
to hear more about those). I can tell you that they sure are promissing.
A little later in the evening, after more fun, we decided we were getting
hungry and that something had to be done about that. So we went to a great
restaurant nearby, had fantastic food and lots of fun there as well. Mimmo
was a great help translating every expressed whim, desire and need and
everyone ended up having a very fine meal and great company.
Back to the shop for more of the same there. It's hard to get enough of
that. Shops don't stay open forever, so that came to an end. Mimmo was in
for more fun so he, Lee, Tom, Baldo and I went to see a little more of the
city, enjoying a drink (outside, inside you can't smoke), a pipe, company
and some great views of the city. A minor incident later, it was time to
call it a day, so we returned to our hotel (just around the corner of Luca's
art galler-- pipe shop) and make sure Baldo didn't get lost in the mean
time. The good man seems to have a knack for doing that.
I got a good night's sleep, and the next day we were all back in the shop.
Well, not all, Mimmo had to leave for Poland. But during the day more
pipemakers came to visit the shop. Names like Tom Spanu, Maurizio Tombari
and a lot of others, they were all there now too. The Eltang family did some
sightseeing, as did Lee and I a little later, as the both of us were in need
for some fresh lighters. It was another great day with lots of fun in and
around the shop. Rather humbling for an ordinary pipesmoker like yours truly
to be in the company of some of the greatest pipe artists of the world.
Deals were made all the time, as well as new acquaintances. Even plans to
move to Italy! Most importantly though, we made even more fun. Had dinner
again in the same restaurant as Thursday, only a little earlier and with a
smaller crowd. Quite cosy.
Back to the shop, to say a dead tired Luca good night. And back to the city
of Milan, trying to find a place where we could get a drink and a smoke.
That turned out to be pretty much impossible. Apparently there's not much to
do like that on a Friday evening in Milan. After more sightseeing we called
it a night and went to bed, tired but happy.
I got up pretty early to catch my flight back home so I could tell you all
about it. It sure feels good to be able to brag a little about this sort of
thing here in pipeshow deprived Europe <g> Now, if you haven't done so
already, have a look on http://www.neatpipes.com/ as there are bound to show
up a lot more new pipes. And if anyone here has the chance to go to Milan,
Luca's art gallery (sorry, shop) is a must to visit.
Cheers to Luca!
Corneel.
Rocheleau Pipes
Thank you for that account of your visit to the shop. You put me right into
the picture. I was there meeting all those other carvers, having a drink
after on the streets of Milan. It must have been sooo cool :)
It's good to hear also that they chose to use, what sounds like, an upbeat
sophisticated look for the shop. As nice as the old Tobacconist shop is, I
think an upbeat image will bring more acceptance and interest to pipe
smoking.
Cheers,
John
www.RocheleauPipes.com
www.JohnRocheleau.com
G. L. Pease
on his keyboard, producing
(in article <3rck17F...@individual.net>):
> Luca, the owner, took steps to open up a neatpipes B&M in the heart of
> Milan, Italy, which is where he lives. Great news in times where lots of
> B&Ms are closing. He opened up this week -- the grand opening was on
> Thursday. I'm sure you can guess what comes ... Yes, I was there.
Great report, Corneel! I wish I could have been there, but your
recounting of the events was a good stand-in. Luca's a wonderful guy, and
deserves all the success he can create in his new shop. Quite a change
from his Pipe Bodega. ;)
-glp
--
Gregory Pease
G. L. Pease Tobaccos
http://www.glpease.com
Read the latest news:
http://www.glpease.com/News.html
Ed Hagan
resourceful man who, in his young life, has already earned many
distinctions, including his own business ventures, being the webmaster
for Castello and other premier Italian pipe related businesses,
pursuing a degree in architecture, etc. I know this is just another
step in a long and gifted career. I wish him well.
Ed
Y.E
and the streets of Milan. But what a bummer that such a lovely and
romantic city like Milan has banned smoking indoors. Never thought it
would happen in Europe, the cradle of liberalism and free thought. I
just can't picture the scene of a post dinner and sambuca in a taverna
without a bowl of pipe to crown the evening.
Thanks for a great review
Cheers
Yoseph
Maurizio Tombari
great report. Thanks to get me "sympathetic " with the first day of
the event :-).
I've also found strange but very fascinating the combination of
flowers and pipes and I'd like to know of simlar examples in the
pipe world. Any info?
Happypipesmoking maurizio
*****************************
Maurizio Tombari "Le Nuvole"
http://www.pipe.it
Via Passeri 167 61100 Pesaro Italy
Tel/Fax 0039 0721 30750
*****************************
buck12ga
tobacco in his pipe shop. It just doesn't seem right, to me.
buck
Corneel Vermeulen
Rocheleau Pipes wrote:
> It's good to hear also that they chose to use, what sounds like, an upbeat
> sophisticated look for the shop. As nice as the old Tobacconist shop is, I
> think an upbeat image will bring more acceptance and interest to pipe
> smoking.
You know, I think you may be right there. Luca succeeded in making pipes
look more modern; hip even. I hope things will go well for him and his shop,
I am sure he has what it takes to make it happen.
Pipe smoking *is* cool, and he might be one of those who will be able to
show the rest of the world.
Cheers!
Corneel.
Blaujuffer
Corneel Vermeulen wrote:
> Luca, the owner, took steps to open up a neatpipes B&M in the heart of
> Milan, Italy, which is where he lives. Great news in times where lots of
> B&Ms are closing. He opened up this week -- the grand opening was on
> Thursday. I'm sure you can guess what comes ... Yes, I was there.
Sounds like you had a fun time. Thanks for the nice report, good reading.
Best wishes,
Blaujuffer
UFoBob
Thanks for your excellent report.
What a wonderful time you must have had!
Thanks
OFoBob.
Corneel Vermeulen
> I've also found strange but very fascinating the combination of
> flowers and pipes and I'd like to know of simlar examples in the
> pipe world. Any info?
Flowers and pipes ... As strange as the combination may sound, it does work.
As you have seen for yourself. I don't know anything who does something
remotely similar.
It was great seeing you there,
Cheers!
Corneel.
Rocheleau Pipes
Image is everything as they say. An updated image for pipe smoking perhaps
is order :)
Cheers,
John
www.RocheleauPipes.com
"Corneel Vermeulen" <corneel....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3rffihF...@individual.net...
von-Erck
Corneel, your report was exactly right. Neatpipes.com's B&M is nothing
like a typical pipe store. Seems more like a Ferrari show room. I will
not try to add to your side of report but will give some impressions
of visiting the premier briar cutter of Italy.
My first impression after my visit is that I wish pipesmokers could
realize just how many hours go into a pipe from the ground to first
bowl of tobacco.
When the burls arrive they go into a room in the basement for storage
and kept wet so the wood will not crack. This is a daily chore to
check that the wood remains wet enough.
The burls are brought up to the cutting room in bins with wheels on an
elevator. Mimmo's father cuts one bin in the morning before he will
eat lunch. It is a wonder briar cutters have all fingers as they work
with circular saws without any guards on them and push the burl into
the saw. On a good day they will end up with 1 plateau for top quality
pipes. Most of the wood ends up going into factory pipes and some into
small pieces used for knife handles, etc.
The wood is then put into bags, seperated by grade, and put into the
cement tub in the backyard to be boiled when the tub is full. After
boiling the wood is dried very slowly and the bags are turned over
everyday to insure even drying.
Of course, I did get to hand pick some top quality plateaus that Mimmo
will ship to me. However the real treat was watching Mimmo hand pick
some burls and cutting them into plateaus for me. They were put into a
separate sack and will be delivered to me in May at CPCC. I just may
make myself a pipe from this wood to remember my first trip to Italy.
My first evening in Taggia was a real treat with the supper BBQ'ed
with briar, but the best part was the company. Tom and Pia Eltang,
Karin, and a couple of friends of Mimmo's and Karin. Great food and a
great time for sure.
The trip to Milano was something out of a comedy. Driving to Geneoa to
pick up Baldo was beautiful scenery and a nice drive but after getting
lost (thanks to Baldo and cell phones) the comedy of errors started.
Milano is a city of mazes, not streets. If I could have understood the
language I maybe would have a different impression, but I was glad
Baldo was in the backseat as it sounded like Mimmo and Baldo were
about to come to blows. But after many phone calls and wrong turns we
played bumper cars and found the shop.
From here Corneel's report fills in "the rest of the story."
If you ever have the occasion to be near Milano and Taggia it is well
worth the trip to see both places.
Now I will try and catch up to the jet lag, not helped by late nights
and early mornings.
In the next few days I will put together some slide shows for the
webcam, but I have over 100 pictures to edit and get organized so
please be patient.
L.
von Erck
Pipe...@von-Erck.com
http://www.von-Erck.com
"I wish I could catch up to being behind."
Corneel Vermeulen, Corneel Vermeulen <corneel....@gmail.com>
wrote:
Rocheleau Pipes
And when oh when will they begin using Xray machines to grade briar blocks?
I can just picture the day; "Ill have 300 blocks guaranteed pit and crack
free thank you." Good story telling. I'll look forward to some pictures.
Cheers,
John
www.RocheleauPipes.com
rkzenrage
(a craft as well) who care about what they do and take the care to do
it right.
Thank you very much for your time and care for doing so.
Namaste'
Robert
JSPipes
> Hi ASP,
>
> I know a lot of you have heard of, looked at, or even bought from
> neatpipes.com, a pretty nice pipe site. Before you get your plonking gear
> ready, this is not an AD ;-)
>
>
> I got up pretty early to catch my flight back home so I could tell you all
> about it. It sure feels good to be able to brag a little about this sort of
> thing here in pipeshow deprived Europe <g> Now, if you haven't done so
> already, have a look on http://www.neatpipes.com/ as there are bound to show
> up a lot more new pipes. And if anyone here has the chance to go to Milan,
> Luca's art gallery (sorry, shop) is a must to visit.
>
> Cheers to Luca!
>
>
> Corneel.
Thanks for the report! Sounds like you had a great time. I'm really
jealous.
--
Joel
http://www.jspipes.com
remove _nospam to reply
Jari T
> Hi ASP,
>
> I know a lot of you have heard of, looked at, or even bought from
> neatpipes.com, a pretty nice pipe site. Before you get your plonking gear
> ready, this is not an AD ;-)
>
PLONK!
Just kidding, of course!
Thanks for the great story, Corneel!
I must say I'm bit envious of you meeting all those great carvers, and all..
Two of my friends are moving to Milano this month, and now I have one
more reason to visit that city.
--
Jari T in Helsinki
Corneel Vermeulen
> Thanks for the great story, Corneel!
> I must say I'm bit envious of you meeting all those great carvers, and all..
Well, like I said, Europe is pipeshow deprived, so any opportunity to meet
carvers et.al. is an opportunity to take. But I don't think there are many
opportunities like this where you can meet them so informally as this time.
> Two of my friends are moving to Milano this month, and now I have one
> more reason to visit that city.
You won't believe your eyes ;-)
Cheers!
Corneel.