510. The 2026 Chicago Pipe Show + Moth Demonstrator PG Event
public service announcement MOTH DEMONSTRATOR PETE GEEK EVENT! See end of post. We began the Chicago show this year with a first-time visit to the legendary Iwan Reis shop in downtown Chicago. If you ever go, take the advice of The Peterson Piper--Josh Sherif--drive to the CTA train station near the Hyatt Regency and take the train in and back. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to drive. Like we did. 'Nuff said? I call your attention to this magnificent metal sign, which hangs on the wall in back of the pipe counter at Iwan Reis. I'm offering No Prizes if you can identify (1) the approximate year the sign was made; (2) one factual mistake; (3) a second factual mistake. These inaccuracies were not intentional on the part of K&P, just the error cascade typical of a really old business--something to which any business can succumb, especially one as old as Peterson. The "Bowl Turning at Peterson" event was held Friday morning from 10 to noon in the event "room" (actually the tent in back of the smoking tent). I will always ask for an indoor room after this. Andy Wike and Chris, Laudisi's videographer, worked really hard to make a terrific 12 minute film for Glen Whelan and Giacomo Penzo to use in their presentation but the sun kept fading out the screen, making it difficult for everyone to see. The questions which followed were good and I think everyone had an enjoyable and information time. Giacomo, I should add, brought bowls at each stage in the turning process for folks to examine, which were amazing. And one more note to note: SPC will be making this video available on their blog, with voice-overs from Giacomo and Glen, in the near future. Following a break of an hour or so, the Pete Geek Meet was held in the same venue. The event was packed--I'm guessing maybe a hundred people?-- a few more than the 13 or 14 we had at our first Meet a few years ago. Mike Austin, Dan Chasin, Lance Dahl, Ken Sigel brought full tables of rare and exquisite Petes for everyone to view and ask questions. For whatever reasons (brain haze on my part, I think) I only got a few photos of the tables, which was a real disappointment. Seen above is my glancing shot at James Walsh's incredible table. For this event, he brought his long-shanks (far right, and wow just look at the length of some of them), his beloved 53 lovats (middle and left, as well as a few in the lower center). Martin Kollmann made a special show-only Pete Geek tee shirt. I liked it so much I asked if PPN might make it a general release this summer, to which he agreed, so more on that PG Event in a few weeks. Following a break of an hour or so, the Pete Geek Meet was held in the same venue. The event was packed--I'm guessing maybe 150…