Jack Bettridge
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Jack Bettridge
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To Pack, or Not to Pack, Heaters
Posted: Jun 22, 2011 12:00am ET
A
lot of things have improved for cigar smokers in the past decade-better
quality smokes, better availability. But one aspect has changed for the
worse and it's had a profound effect on my behavior.
Back
in the boom years, I wouldn't walk around the corner without a pocket
humidor in case the opportunity for a smoke arose. When I was expecting
to meet people, I'd carry a lot more than that in case some poor,
unfortunate souls were without smoke.
But
since the proliferation of smoking ordinances I've backed off on
packing heaters when I leave the office. What would be the point? The
occasion to smoke hardly arises now as the number of cigar bars and
restaurants has plummeted and you can't even stroll your smoke through
the park. Used to be that several pubs and one steakhouse within walking
distance were safe havens. Now I have to get on a subway for a whiskey
and a smoke.
One
of the downsides of not carrying is that every once in a while the
opportunity to smoke rears its lovely head and I'm left empty handed.
That happened when I was at an event for Canadian Club in New York's
Explorers Club. Normally, I would have thought of it as the perfect
clubby, old boy's venue for a smoke, but alas you can't indulge there
anymore. Except that it turned out the party was held in a room with an
outdoor deck overlooking the city on a summer's evening. Perfect! But I
wasn't packing. Hell! I had to stand by and wistfully watch cigarette
smokers puffing away.
Yesterday,
I was at a luncheon for the Art of Shaving at Masa in the Time-Warner
Center. Once again, in the old days I would have thought:
"Shaving-men-cigars." But this day, it didn't even occur to me. And as
it happened I was seated with someone who expressed an interest in
cigars when he heard what I did. He didn't smoke-except cigarettes-and
was wondering what entry-level smokes he might try.
I
talked him through outstanding mild cigar brands and discussed shade
wrappers as a stepping off point. But nagging at me were shades of the
old day. If I were loaded up with cigars, I might have been the hero,
reaching into my breast pocket, pulling out an Avo or something and
saying, "Try this on for starters." And he might have walked his
newfound friend down to the Carnegie Club and gotten his smoke on right
away.
Instead
I missed my chance to be the magnanimous cigar knight and all I could
offer was: "There's a Davidoff store on the ground floor here and
they'll sell you one."
Close, but no free cigar.
Comments 5 comment(s)
litedave1@yahoo.com — June 22, 2011 7:17pm ET
Ryan Britz — Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, — June 24, 2011 2:55pm ET
Tears are rolling down my face as my heart breaks. I have been smoking for about 13 years now, so I consider myself quite new. However, I do remember the days when smoking a cigar on a sidewalk, in a pub/bar, or a park wouldn't cost you glass-shattering stairs from people passing buy. That slowly changed to getting receiving those stairs. Now, enough glass has been broken and we are deligated to smoke in solitude. Smoking cigars is a lifestyle, let me live mine as I let you live yours!!!!
Ben Potvin — Canada, — June 24, 2011 8:52pm ET
I can't smoke anywhere where I'm from. No bars, restaurants, no parks. The only place you can smoke out in public is on the sidewalk with all the cigarette smokers. The only place I can enjoy a cigar is at my house and even thats a pain because my family members don't like me smoking in the house.
JACK BETTRIDGE — NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, — June 28, 2011 4:00pm ET
sounds even tougher in Canada than the U.S. or A.
Steve Savage — Woodland, CA, USA, — July 25, 2011 6:31pm ET
I'm from California and I can't even smoke in
MY OWN HOUSE. Well, to be completely honest, that's my wife's rule.I always pack at least one for the road - even when I'm relatively sure not to find a place to smoke.
Here in San Francisco we have the Occidental Club and The Cigar Bar and Grill in which to enjoy a libation and a fine ciger. In New York I've enjoyed the Carnegie Club and Club Macanudo.
Perhaps a guide to cigar bars for the cigar smoker and whiskey drinker is in order?
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I know what your saying there, Jack. It is a real pain now a days to get a smoke anywhere. I feel your pain as you feel it.