February 1-4, 2007 Chicago, IL - This year the weather was a bit chilly in the windy city hovering around -5 degrees below with a wind chill of about –25 degrees.

Despite the cold more than 265 exhibitors set up their booths in beautiful Navy Piers Festival Hall for the largest indoor all sail show in the country.

Chicago’s Lake Michigan’s waterfront was frozen solid. Despite the chilly temperatures crowds lined up daily to see the latest in sailboats as well as everything from different sailing gear to cooking utensils, charter services, wine clubs and artwork including a Henri Lloyd fashion show.

The Photo Information Booth was again positioned right inside the main entrance and welcomed back a large number of repeat show attendees and exhibitors as well as newcomers to the show.

Many continue to say it’s a wonderful service that the PIB does by telling people about photographic equipment and binoculars. Camera inquiries are now almost all digital with many looking at the SLR’s as their next step.

Here 2 retired Chicago area educators took a long look at all the SLR’s available as they intend to spend a lot of time traveling and want what is best for them. They commented that there was little chance to see all the models available at any one location let alone have the chance to take the time to really study the differences.

There is always a lot if interest in 4"x6" color printers, each day we rotate use of the Canon, Epson or Panasonic printer to make prints for interested people especially if they come by with a compatible camera.

At sailing shows there is always a lot of interest in Image Stabilized Binoculars. Those that have them rave about them and those that look at them the first time think they are great.

Discussions included showing what cameras and equipment would do better on and under the water. The show was well attended by sailors from a number of surrounding states with lots of good questions.

Another benefit of attending the Chicago Sail Show was the Louis Comfort Tiffany, Cut Glass Museum of Landscapes found in the entry way to Festival Hall. Dozens of beautiful works of art made from cut glass.

The PIB will take several weeks off before attending the 75th annual Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis.