<p>Now I don't live under a rock, I know the culture around Berkeley and all, and I am going to be visiting some friends for 2-3 weeks and staying with them, and being an avid pipe aficionado (I don't do drugs, I don't smoke weed, cigarettes etc etc) I was wondering if students or the scene around Cal caters to pipe smoking. Does anyone know or smoke a good pipe? Is there any local old style shops that sell really good quality tobacco blends etc? I know Cal's really into the hippie and mary jane scene, but I'm not making a thread about anything illegal nor am I interested. I don't smoke cigs or do dangerous drugs. I'm simply asking if I'll find a good place to light a pipe and enjoy some blends or peruse a good pipe shop like you might find in the south. And no this isn't a troll thread. Thanks for your feedback, guys.</p>
<p>I know almost nothing about pipes, so excuse my ignorance, but I walk by these two shops all the time and they seem like they would interest you. They’re close to campus on southside, and they both have good reviews on yelp…</p>
<p>[Big</a> Al’s Smoke And Gifts - Telegraph Ave - Berkeley, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/big-als-smoke-and-gifts-berkeley#query:smoke%20shop]Big”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/big-als-smoke-and-gifts-berkeley#query:smoke%20shop)</p>
<p>[Whelan’s</a> Smoke Shop - Telegraph Ave - Berkeley, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/whelans-smoke-shop-berkeley#query:smoke%20shop]Whelan’s”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/whelans-smoke-shop-berkeley#query:smoke%20shop)</p>
<p>wait what do you smoke besides weed in a pipe? ahhhh its weird being on CC hihg lol…</p>
<p>^Lulz. Oh CC, you amuse me.</p>
<p>nilawafer thanks for the links. I think I have actually been in the first one but the second one I’ll definitely have to check out. Looks promising. Do people ever smoke pipes at or around Cal or is it a rare occurrence? </p>
<p>And waiting4college, I have never smoked weed in a pipe and I never will. You smoke pipe tobacco in pipes and unlike cigarettes pipe tobacco has specific flavors and scents added to them and instead of calling them tobacco you usually call them “blends.” It’s a very enjoyable experience. They range in taste and smell from vanilla and caramel to raspberry and rum cream with hints of latakia. It’s much different than smoking a cigarette both health and taste wise. </p>
<p>Anyone else have any links or comments about the pipe scene?</p>
<p>I have an image in my head of a congregation of men, barefoot, long cloaks, puffing away… (I watch too much LOTR)</p>
<p>That said, I don’t think anyone would blink at you smoking from a pipe. People do stranger things here.</p>
<p>I’ve seen a few and know a few ppl who smoke “blends” in pipes. Everyone I know that smokes tobacco in pipes also smoke weed, weed + tobacco, or spice as well.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen anyone smoke a pipe yet…today I’ve seen 2 world-class handlebar moustaches, an ashcan FULL of clove butts and a man on a unicycle though. (the guy on the unicycle was also ironically sporting a handlebar) It sounds like it’s right in your wheelhouse overall.</p>
<p>^ Haha that’s really coincidental because I am sporting a pretty huge mustache myself that I think goes along well with my Churchwarden pipe. I plan on letting it get pretty respectable and getting an even bigger pipe. Maybe I will fit in then more here than UCLA. </p>
<p>So is there a smokers/pipe club at Cal or any organized groups I can be a part of and enjoy my stay or do I just hit up the shops?</p>
<p>Surprisingly my friends know a couple people at Cal that are actually hardcore pipe smokers so I had a great time meeting pipe aficionados today at Cal. I have to say there are much more pipe smokers here than in Los Angeles. Maybe I should have decided to attend Berkeley instead. </p>
<p>Enjoyed a good Berry Cobbler blend and Raspberry Cream in the morning hours in the pipe with about 4-5 other friends. Gotta say, I’m impressed with the Cal smoking scene.</p>