Blade 2008 show review

Nice to see you again Steven, I too felt like crap on sunday and was allowed to break down and leave early...around 2.00 and yes I was still selling knives.

I think I was completely worn out and still had to travel on to Disney with the family all that next week.

It was a great show as always and thanks for the support

Spencer
 
Great review Steven. As colorful and interesting as ever.
Bet no one has ever told you that you don't know how to have a good time. :thumbup: ;)
 
Steven I'm sorry I missed you when you visited our table. Charlie said that you had stopped by while I was off looking for some stag or something. Maybe next year the timing will be better. The Show was great. Charlie and I both had a good time, sold enough knives all three days to make us happy, picked up some materials and most important got to see some old friends and make some new ones.
 
Great Review Steven. We ate at Rathbuns Steak also on Saturday night. Maybe I am spoiled, It just didn't stand to my old Fav's like Chops or Bone's.

Zack Townsend
 
nut4brend said:
Great Review Steven. We ate at Rathbuns Steak also on Saturday night. Maybe I am spoiled, It just didn't stand to my old Fav's like Chops or Bone's.

Zack Townsend
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Hey Zack,

Glad you liked the review, thanks!

I liked Rathbun's because it was different. I have eaten at Peter Lugar, Morton's, Fleming's, Donovan's, Lawry's, DelFrisco's Double Eagle, Circus Circus Steak House, Washoe Steakhouse(supposed to be Reno's best), any number of assorted Brazilian Churrascaria's.....

I liked Rathbun's because it really made an impression with style, and the food matched it....best steak in my life? Not by a long shot...however, the food WAS superb, and the sides were amazing...I shared the 2x baked potatoes(with parma ham and either manchego or parmiggiano cheese) with my fried Chris, the creamed corn with jalepenos and the creamed spinach and they accompanied the meat wonderfully. The meat is supplied by Allen Brothers, which is a top quality supplier, but again, not THE best.

What makes Bones or Chop's better, in your opinion?.... because they were the other two on the short list.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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STeven, I have eaten at most of the steakhouses you note plus many others in NYC and the best I have ever had was Mastro's "City Hall" in Scottsdale. Believe they have several in LA also. DelFriscos is a close 2nd.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
STeven, I have eaten at most of the steakhouses you note plus many others in NYC and the best I have ever had was Mastro's "City Hall" in Scottsdale. Believe they have several in LA also. DelFriscos is a close 2nd.
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Thanks for the headsup, Anthony, I was not real impressed with DelFrisco's(hence the inability to spell the name), but it might have been an off night.

Chuck,

It was real nice to meet you...I didn't get to talk to a lot of people I wanted to, maybe next time....I look forward to it.:thumbup:

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Ever tried Pappas Bros. Steak House in Dallas? My favorite of most mentioned. If you like wine there's hardly a limit.

Truly out of this world.
 
STeven, great to meet you. Next time we'll make sure we spend some time catching up.
It was like trying to rope a whirlwind this year for one reason or another.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Ever tried Pappas Bros. Steak House in Dallas? My favorite of most mentioned. If you like wine there's hardly a limit.

Truly out of this world.
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I have never been to Dallas...never been to Scottsdale, either, but now with you and Anthony's posts, I have two new ones to try if I wind up at either location..the point for me is to find a good steakhouse where I am at...not to go someplace to find a good steakhouse..Went to the Portland Steak and Chophouse back in April...because I was there....it was attached to the hotel I was staying at...it becomes part of the adventure.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Keith Montgomery said:
As always, a fine report. Looks like Blade is a lot of fun.
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Blade is the best knife show...ever.

I don't know how many shows I have been to...maybe 75....some, like the OKCA Show in Oregon....it's like in-and-out, one day, done...Blade....I KNOW I missed about 25% of the people, knives and stuff in general....it is the one show that I have been to(3 times now) where 3 full days is still not enough....5 might be about right...but everyone is drooling and has that "glazed" look in their eyes by Saturday night...and it isn't just the moonshine in the Pit, either.

Keith, if you ever decide to get serious about collecting(lol) and go to a show, Blade should be it....right Marcel, Stephen F and RogerP?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I have never been to Dallas...never been to Scottsdale, either, but now with you and Anthony's posts, I have two new ones to try if I wind up at either location..the point for me is to find a good steakhouse where I am at...not to go someplace to find a good steakhouse..Went to the Portland Steak and Chophouse back in April...because I was there....it was attached to the hotel I was staying at...it becomes part of the adventure.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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One of the few advantages of traveling so much is being able to eat at some of the country's finner dinning Establishments. Still doesn't compare with dinner at home with the family though.
 
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Very late one night four years ago, I made the desicion to go to blade for the first time.. I had taken my sleeping pills (Ambien) and became overly enthusiastic about the idea. Luckily I remembered the next morning and stuck with it and have been hooked ever since. It doesn't compare to the NY shows I am used to and it really shows you that there is a huge world out there with a common interest in this strangely appealing hobby. I would definitely recommend it Keith, even if its the only show you will ever go to.

I have to say, this was BY FAR my best Blade show experience ever. It is directly a result of the time I spend on the forum this year. In the past I went there not knowing anyone, not socializing and with a very narrow field of interest. This years show is something I will not forget.
 
Keith, if you ever decide to get serious about collecting(lol) and go to a show, Blade should be it....right Marcel, Stephen F and RogerP?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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It is indeed the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. I had a blast, met lots of great people, went to dinner with people I had never met before until that day but graciously invited me:thumbup:
Walked my feet off (I still have problems with my achilles tendon because of it:grumpy:) and had a jet lag for about a week:mad:.

Seen a lot of knives and makers and didn't see even more because three days is enough to walk the tables but not nearly enough if you want to handle as much knives as possible and talk to as many makers and collectors as you can.

All in all I can honestly say that it was the best show I ever visited and every serious collector needs to do and see this at least once in their lifetime:D;)

Marcel
 
Burchtree said:
Nice to finally meet you Steven!
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Real good to see you too, Michael!! You are making some really sweet knives.

Also good to see the TwinBlades table, re-visit with Mace Vitale, Aldo Bruno and Keith Kaiser, Neil Ostroff, Steven Rapp and meet *John White, Chuck Kerwin, Murray and Phyllis White, Jim Treacy, Stephan Fowler* at the CKCA dinner alone, as well as Beavis's, I mean Matt Roberts', lol, lovely wife, just off the top of my head.

Coop thinks I remember it all, but I always forget to mention something or someone....there is just too much/too many people there.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I agree that I could have used 5 days at Blade - missed a ton of stuff and a lot of good people.

Not sure I could have survived 5 days at Blade though, weenie that I am. :o The pace is exhausting.

Roger
 
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