Thread: Asheville NC meetup ; April 26-27th

Strop Shoppe has 15% off. Mention the meet. They may have a code I can't recall. I wll need to dig it out.

Awesome meetup in more ways than I can type up on an iphone in my motel room! More later from a real computer.

Having a blast so far guys, learning and sharing a ton of information looking forward too round two today!

Originally Posted by pfries

Having a blast so far guys, learning and sharing a ton of information looking forward too round two today!

I was only able to make it for Saturday, but a great time was had by all, especially me. I am a straight shaver novice, so I have a lot to learn. Thanks to everyone (Lynn, Kevin, Pat, Joe, Charlie, Mr. Moo, Randy, Rick, Dr. Mike, and many others) who helped me out. I'm looking forward to the pictures!

. Honing touch up lessons

I just got home from this awesome meetup, and I didn't really take many pictures, as I was too busy playing with hones, strops, razors, and other toys! It was my 1st big meetup (meaning not in someone's dining room), one of the most fun days I can remember, and I think I learned more yesterday than in my previous 4 years or so in the hobby. A few highlights:

-Seeing bbdad aka Kevin again, not mention having a great outdoor lunch with him, my wife, and CJ Bianco
-meeting boostdemon aka Dana-awesome beard, guy!
-picking up more stropping tips from pfries aka Pat-what a guy!
-meeting and talking to/learning from Stropper aka Richard
-watching Brian aka shavingsnob win the Ralf Aust razor and beautiful SRD strop. I hate that kid-no, but seriously, the enthusiasm of him and some of the other new guys for stropping, honing, and razors in general was inspiring
-meeting and talking to Simon, as well as Joe Chandler and Spazola aka Charlie (who drove the backroads up from Texas!), and admiring their stunning custom razors!
-watching Mephisto aka James show how my hones are REALLY used!
-sniffing all of Moosiker's (aka Michael Cobb) aftershaves. I swear I had on 2 dozen different aftershaves before I left yesterday.
-meeting lots of other new guys from both SRP and B&B-Dr. Awkward aka Ed Sharp, greatbolo aka Baxter, Greg the Army Captain (forgot his screen name), Java aka Tom, MisterMoo, Patrick, and others whose names escape me at the moment.

And again, most of all, thanks to the fine team of men who put this together from the bottom of my heart:
*CJ Bianco aka Christopher Bianco for his fine company on the drive up, his educational demonstrations on barber hones and coticules (and the Dalwhinnie 15, which I hope he didn't consume too much of after we left!).
*Warpiper aka Chris Benoit (or is it ben-wa, I'm still confused?) for dealing with all the frustrating roster issues, the harrowing ride down the mountain, and the excellent homemade cheesecake!
*Rick Boone for the truckload of incredible goodies he brought from so many vendors. We were like kids at Christmas, and all got to take home a bag of goodies. He is truly a master at working with vendors, and I will have to do business with some of them soon!
*Utopian aka Ron, for his mesmerizing stories, for patiently walking me through a honing issue on a troublesome Wade and Butcher, and for so generously letting me play with his stones, and finishing off my previously Nani 12k edges out on his Gokumyo 20 k. To quote him, "That stone is *$@*kin' awesome!" I concur.
*Walleyeman aka Ray for the slivovitz (I think), for letting me admire his stunning brushes all day, and especially for letting me take home the pick of the litter. (I'll post pics and a review later).
*Lynn Abrams of SRP for his great honing demo, all the SRD goodies he brought, his unflagging efforts to help newbies all day long, and for the fine dinner company along with his beautiful wife
*Randydance aka Randy Tuttle for his expertise, all the great pictures and videos, and for just being such a long-time ambassador for wet-shaving.
*Nipper aka Joe Neer for handling the sign-ins (turns out he was a neighbor years ago-small world!).

And lastly, guys, if you didn't know it, hidestoart aka Kevin Adams (our forum's strop artisan) put weeks of work and countless hours into running down all the logistics of the event; he even came through with gorgeous, sunny Asheville weather. He and his lovely wife Joyce (not to mention Willie and the hummingbirds) opened up their stunning mountain home to an unforgettable evening of fun, food, and fellowship. He is a man I am proud and honored to call a friend. I love you man (but not in a prison shower kind of way (you had to be there)).

These guys are some of the nicest, most helpful, interesting, and generous people I have ever had the privilege to meet and get to know.

I never did see that chopper, though?!

Later-SHD aka Aaron

Moosiker/Dr Mike's Photos from the Asheville Meetup!

Many thanks to everyone who joined the fun of this weekend. I learned a huge amount, enjoy meeting some new shave folks, and had a grand time taking photos.

Thanks to all the instructors, honers, stroppers, and talented individuals who helped make this event awesome.

Rick - well done in organizing the "prize vault"
Kevin - thanks for having an incredible venue for this event (and never ending coffee)

Hope to see everyone again soon!

Sniffing the "Electric Sheep"

Some incredible prizes and great gifts!