Tuesday, Feb. 27th was a great day for me. I had flown into Atlanta the night before for work and had all day Tuesday to use as I chose. So I planned ahead and emailed my friend John and set up a visit with him. He was able to schedule a day off as well. We made a real day of it! We started the day a bit later than planned as John overslept a bit. He must have been tired but it was his day off!

John picked me up at the Crowne Plaza near the airport at about 11:00 and went straight to the home of Joyce White, of the Tobacco Supermarket. John had spoken of the fact that Joyce stocks more pipe tobacco blends than one can shake a stick (or even a FEW sticks!) at. He was right. I was like a little kid in a candy store. It was overwhelming to look not just at the sheer volume of tobacco but the number of blends that she stocks. There were tobaccos there that I had only heard about and never seen. Not only did she have stocks of tins but another room full of bulk blends from G&H, McClellands, MacBarens, and others. She also carries a full inventory of snuff and both new and estate pipes. I was in overwhelmed heaven. After the first hour I came upstairs and visited with Joyce and John and her new Basset hound puppy. Then I headed to the basement again to pick my choices. I finally settled on about a half a dozen blends, a new tamper, and a lighter.

From Joyce’s we stopped by at John’s house to drop off a few things and smoke a bowl before we went for lunch at a barbeque restaurant just around the corner from John’s house. He had introduced me to the Old South Barbecue the last time I was in Atlanta with him and I really wanted to get back there again. It was just as good as I remembered and we finished off our plates of pulled pork and chopped beef. The green beans and onion rings filled in the gaps and the sweet tea washed it down. I can only agree with John in saying that if you ever happen to visit the Atlanta area you have give the Old South Barbeque a visit.

We headed back to John’s house after a filling lunch for an after lunch smoke. We adjourned to his back patio and a couple of chairs to smoke a cigar. John fired up one of four lovely Cuban Monte Cristos I brought him (two are saved for a special cigar smoke with his dad at a later date) and I fired up a Gurkha John took out of his humidor. They were fine cigars and were a great end to the meal we had just eaten. We talked through a wide range of topics from tobaccos, cigars, books and music. We covered even a bit of politics that was enjoyable as well. It is not often you get to talk with someone who has read the things you read and listened to the things you listen to both music and lectures, and likes the same tobaccos and cigars. We enjoyed the sunshine and watching his four dogs tear around the back yard.

After the cigars we went back in the house. We stopped in the basement shop where John has been turning out some very unique and highly smokeable pipes. We looked over the briar stash he has going and his drill press and saws. It is a great work space and I can see that some great pipes will be coming out of that place. (In fact John writes that he has just finished another pipe – a rusticated and blasted pipe. I am looking forward to seeing pictures). During the drives about town John introduced me to the music of one of his favorite artists, Lucinda Williams. I was immediately taken by the profound poetry and music she creates. We must have listened to several cds as we drove around. So when we got upstairs he popped a DVD of her Austin City Limits performance of a few years ago into the player. As we listened and watched an outstanding performance of hers we smoked our pipes in pleasure.

When the performance was over we made a quick trip to the grocery store to get something to cook for dinner. By the time we were back both of John’s stepsons and his wife had arrived home. We put on some classic rock and roll and John fixed some dinner – sausages, rice and green beans (seems green beans are a real Southern dish). I was still pretty stuffed from the lunch but managed to eat a bit of John’s fare. At some point in the afternoon or early evening John reached in his pipe rack and handed me a very nice Winslow Crown Viking pipe that he wanted me to have. When dinner was over I packed the Winslow and fired up a bowl and made our way to the car. Sadly, it was time to have John drive me back to the Crowne Plaza (it is near the airport, so about an hour from his house).

I will fondly remember this visit with my friend John and look forward to many more in the years to come. He does not need to worry about me coming to often as I only seem to get to Atlanta about once or twice a year. I thoroughly enjoyed the day with John and tip my hat to his hospitality and southern charm! Here’s to you my friend!