Categories: Men
Cigars: Where to Smoke
Author: Daniel B. Honigman
Where to smoke? A city-wide smoking bans have made smoking a stogie at a restaurant a thing of the past. What to do? Here are a few answers.
2008 should certainly bring much to Chicago. The city’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics will be in full swing. The Cubs and White Sox will hopefully be in the thick of the World Series race. Illinois Senator Barack Obama could become president.
Unfortunately, 2008 also brought into effect a smoking ban inside and within 15 feet of the city’s bars and restaurants. Bummer.
There are ways around the ban, however. Undoubtedly, the best places to smoke indoors these days are in one of the city’s fine tobacco shops. Each month, Up Down Cigar hosts gatherings for the Chicago Cigar Connoisseurs, a club that meets and throws monthly parties in the shop’s outdoor garden during the summer. (Members also receive free food and free cigars at the parties.)
If you can’t wait that long, Iwan Ries & Co. is like taking a step back into time—it’s been open for more than 150 years—and it’s the perfect place for a good smoke and a good conversation. Jack Schwartz Importer is right by the Chicago Board of Trade, and you’ll get some interesting characters in there. (Keep your ears open for some stock tips.)
You can also enjoy a nice smoke outside. During the summer, take a walk on the North Avenue Beach (1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.) and enjoy the sights and sounds of Lake Michigan. If you like lions, tigers and bears—oh my!—the Lincoln Park Zoo, open 365 days a year, is a good place to light up. The best part: there’s free admission. (Just don’t blow smoke in the lions’ faces.) The Asian-style Lurie Garden in Millennium Park is one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor spaces, and the campus of the University of Chicago provides a great collegiate-style backdrop for any good smoking walk.
Last but not least, what goes together better than cigars and a golf? The Chicago Park District’s nine- or 18-hole public courses will run you around $10-$20, but if you become a member, you’ll save some dough each round you play.
Check out places of interest near Cigars: Where to Smoke:
Horseshoe Hammond Casino
777 Casino Center Dr,
Hammond, IN 46320
Already the premier gambling facility in the Midwest, the Horseshoe Hammond Casino has stepped it up a notch with a serious expansion happening summer of 2008. Check out the new 3,300-seat entertainment facility, The Venue. Choose from a wide range of tables and slots, plus entertainment and dining options here.
Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60622
Chic Bucktown nightspot Salud features authentic Mexican fare and an extensive selection of premium tequilas.
Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60622
Chic Bucktown nightspot Salud features authentic Mexican fare and an extensive selection of premium tequilas.
The Redhead Piano Bar
16 W. Ontario St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
Top-notch piano players make The Redhead Piano Bar a sought-after venue when it comes to sophisticated live music in Chicago. Gather around the piano, or head toward the back of the room for more intimate conversation.
Horseshoe Hammond Casino
777 Casino Center Dr,
Hammond, IN 46320
Already the premier gambling facility in the Midwest, the Horseshoe Hammond Casino has stepped it up a notch with a serious expansion happening summer of 2008. Check out the new 3,300-seat entertainment facility, The Venue. Choose from a wide range of tables and slots, plus entertainment and dining options here.
