L

as Vegas, Nevada — the 25th-most populous city in the United States, entertainment capital of the world, current home of the (formerly Oakland) Raiders, and the setting of one of the very best pipe shows in existence: the Las Vegas International Pipe Show.

This year's L.V.I.P.S. took place October 13 through October 15th, once again at the historic Palace Station Hotel and Casino. It was the second show organized by showrunners Brian Levine and Dave Peterson, who once again managed to organize and execute an engaging, seamless, and incredibly fun experience that hearkened back to the golden age of pipe shows.

While we weren't able to capture every moment of the show, we wanted to share some of our favorite moments from this year's event. For those of you who joined us, we hope these frames will spark a smile of recognition. And for those of you who weren't able to make it this year, we hope this footage will give you an insider's view of the show and inspire you to join us in 2024.

History of the Las Vegas International Pipe Show:

In November of 2009, Marty Pulvers and Steve O'Neill hosted the first West Coast Pipe Show to be held in Las Vegas. Much like Pheasant Run-era Chicago shows, the majority of the showgoers stayed at the same hotel, and attendees could smoke, meaning the official show hours never bookended the energy and camaraderie of the event. Pipe smokers from all over the world could gather and share a bowl of aged tobacco well into the wee hours of the morning.

Fast forward to 2023, and Brian and Dave have rekindled that same phenomenon for a whole new generation of pipe smokers. Indeed, for many attendees, this year's event marked their very first pipe show; for others, it represented a long-anticipated reunion of friends and family. But within the halls of Palace Station, none of that really mattered. From Thursday to Sunday, all were pipe smokers, all were friends.

And therein lies the magic. To walk into a room full of strangers and immediately feel welcomed and accepted — that's truly special. Brian and Dave have created a space where our shared interest in pipes and pipe tobacco transcends everything else. As Brian says, "I don't care if you smoke an Aromatic in a well-used corn cob or are Bo Nordh'n 40-year-old, vintage Virginias. If you're a pipe smoker, you're a friend of mine and you're welcome."

A special thanks to Brian Levine and Dave Peterson for another excellent Las Vegas International Pipe Show. We can't wait to do it all over again next year.