Anyone from Seattle, WA?

[Blackham]

I'm going to be @ Seattle in mid-april, going to rendevous w/ my brother there and spend a week to relax, both of us have never been to this beautiful city before.

For the majority of the trip, the tour book has done a good job of telling us where to go. However there are some questions relating to cigars are left to be unanswered

I understand that you cannot smoke indoors as well as outdoors within x meters of an entrance. Are there any exception i.e. private membership cigar clubs or casinos that you can enjoy a smoke inside?

I'm planning to bring back a box or two of cigars back to Toronto. How much is the difference of buying locally vs online (for NC) ?

Any tour spots that only the locals know?

I'll be staying in the downtown area near Queen Anne, any recommendation for a restaurant, and places to get drunk?

Any wine/liquor shops with a large selection?

Cheers

[KB24]

Not really sure why you would want to bring back a box or 2 from Seattle back to Toronto? You're gonna get raped on taxes. Save your money!

[Habanakane21]

I left there 10 years ago, back when it was legal to smoke. So I'm no help in that area. But for sightseeing you gotta go to Pike Place Market. Great view of the water too. Is basically a farmers market. They throw fish around and yell. Pretty entertaining. Right across from the market is the first Starbuck Coffee. Underneath the Market is 2-3 levels of antique and book stores. All in all Pike Place is a bunch of nice little shops. One more thing.... there's The Pike Place Brewery, right down the street. Great place to grab some micro beers.

Across town a bit is the Space Needle. You can take the elevator up to the top of the Space Needle for a great view. There is also a restaurant up there ...and it slowly rotates. Close to the Space Needle is the Seattle's Rock and Roll History Museum. It's been awhile but was really cool from what I remember.

The Waterfront is not too bad...Great clam chowder at Ivar's..Also a small Aquarium (but not recommended) is down there.

If you want to enjoy great seafood for dinner you have to go to Elliots Oyster House. It's been a while since I was out on the town in Seattle so I'm no help with bars or clubs. But once you're drunk and you want to get some burgers. You have to find a ****'s Drive-In. It's the most poplar burger joint in the northwest. There's one close to the space needle. ****'s Deluxe is my favorite. I make a stop every time I go back home. If I think of anything else I'll be sure to add more.

[cigcars]

*The last time I was in Seattle was during training maneuvers at Fort Lewis in Tacoma. The main thing I remember about Seattle was the need for an unbrella much of the time! And that even in June thru July during summer months it was COLD AS HELL there!!

[BlackZ32tt]

ur allowed 50 cigars per person duty and tax free after 48 hours or sometin like that so dont worry about that

there are a few good cigar shops theres 2 in around pike place one on the street but the better one in pike place in a small mall in the same building as the cheese making store they usually have a sign on the side walk saying "cigars" not a bad selection then theres the place where they had the Tatuaje Sodo special store release cant remember the name buts its in downtown somewhere as well

[el.barbudo]

Here's a place not far from where it sounds like you are going to stay:

Tini Bigs

With Seattle's crackdown on smoking inside buildings, it's hard to find a cigar bar. But Tini Bigs has a large outdoor patio where smoking is legal. Cigars are sold in the lounge and those who wish to indulge in a smoke can gather in the patio while enjoying one of Tini Bigs' signature drinks such as the Backyard Martini or the Chet Baker. Hours: 4 p.m. till 2 a.m. daily. No cover charge.

Tini Bigs

100 Denny Way

Seattle, WA

206-284-0931

www.tinibigs.com

Also, the various tribal casinos do not follow the same state law about smoking since they are on tribal land and are sovereign nations. But thee aren't any in the city.

Also:

http://www.raincitycigar.com/index.html#about

They have in the past had a covered area (party tent in the parking lot) to enjoy a cigar. Not sure if it will be up for April.

Any other Seattle-area FOHers want to take this opportunity to have a get together?

[Cig]

I wish I had known the above info. I was in Seattle not long ago and couldn't find any place to smoke. All the cigar shops are angry over the smoking ban and say they are trying to fight it, but for now they said you can't smoke anywhere.

[tjhernandez34]

The name of the place that had the Tatuaje El Triundafor SODO release is J & J Cigars and it is on 1st Avenue, about a half mile south of Safeco Field. I was in there yesterday, and they have a decent selection of the boutique stuff. Another good stop is Rain City Cigar, they have a decent selection too but are about 15 minutes by car south from downtown. They are located just north of Boeing Field. The shops mentioned previously around Pike Place aren't that great and usually their humidors are over humidified. Not that great of a selection either, however the one actually in Pike Place is the only place I've seen with Davidoff in Seattle.

Side note: Not sure if your a Tatuaje fan, but there are only 12 boxes of the SODO release left (Out of 200 that went on sale in December), so if you were hoping to get a hold of those I wouldn't get your hopes up.

As far as smoking inside goes, there isn't really any place in Seattle to do so. The best place around in Smokey Joe's Cigar Lounge (they get around the smoking ban cause they are on an Indian Reservation), but it is a half hour south of Seattle in Fife.

[el.barbudo]

And the liquor stores are state-owned, so they have fairly similar selections. If you are staying near the Seattle Center then you will be pretty close to many restaurants.

I wouldn't bother eating at the top of the space needle, it's basically just Olive-Garden type food. You pay for the view.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Another good stop is Rain City Cigar, they have a decent selection too but are about 15 minutes by car south from downtown. They are located just north of Boeing Field.

I live in Victoria but have been to Seattle numerous times and Rain City Cigar is the only Cigar shop I will go to now in Seattle. Impeccable service, selection is fantastic (for NC's) - Just first rate all around. Ask to see the back room - quite the sight!

Go to Rain City - only a Smoking Lounge could make them better.

[tjhernandez34]

I agree with ChanceSchmerr on the back room, very impressive.

[sfordham]

I moved from Delta BC Canada to Seattle 10 years ago - send me a PM if you have any questions.

Rain City Cigar is a must, but there are other good places off the beaten path and in different cities around Seattle. Where are you going to be? Downtown Seattle or somewhere else?

[Blackham]

Thanks for the input guys!

Here's a place not far from where it sounds like you are going to stay:

Tini Bigs

Also, the various tribal casinos do not follow the same state law about smoking since they are on tribal land and are sovereign nations. But thee aren't any in the city.

Thanks mate, can you bring your own cigar to Tini Bigs or do you have to buy it from their lounge in order to smoke one at their patio?

Also which casino is the closest to Seattle? If it's not too much of a drive I might go try my luck.

I moved from Delta BC Canada to Seattle 10 years ago - send me a PM if you have any questions.

Rain City Cigar is a must, but there are other good places off the beaten path and in different cities around Seattle. Where are you going to be? Downtown Seattle or somewhere else?

Yes I do have a few questions regarding to the trip, will shoot you a PM tonight! Thanks!

[Habanakane21]

Thanks for the input guys!

Thanks mate, can you bring your own cigar to Tini Bigs or do you have to buy it from their lounge in order to smoke one at their patio?

Also which casino is the closest to Seattle? If it's not too much of a drive I might go try my luck.

Yes I do have a few questions regarding to the trip, will shoot you a PM tonight! Thanks!

There is a reservation call Tulalip, which has a pretty big casino. It's 35 miles north on Interstate 5. It's right off the freeway next to a city called Marysville (my hometown). Smoking allowed...

[ImTripN2]

All good suguestions so far. Rain City is a gteat shop and worth a visit. Lots of Padron, Tatuaje, Illusione, and some HTF stuff. If it's a nice day, you can sit outside and smoke, just not the best ambience, but Kristin, the manager makes up for it If you will be there for a week, by all means get around and see some of the Puget Sound region. A boat cruise thru downtown Lake Union and Lk Washington is fun, or maybe the San Juan Islands which is on the NY Times top 5 "bucket list" destinations. Easy to go north to Anacortes and catch a ferry out there for a day trip. Spectacular!

A shorter trip on the Edmonds/Kingston ferry takes you out to the Kitsap Penninsula, awesome scenery and the Clearwater Casino is pretty nice. No problem smoking in any of the casinos as they are on tribal land and not subject to the state smoking laws. Also the Snoqualmie casino, about 25 miles east on I-90, has a nice casino and a nice cigar lounge, but a so-so humidor. Another half hour east and you are in the heart of the Cascade mountains, and there are lots of easy trails to get you up into some pristine alpine scenery. For sure stop and see Snoqualmie falls if you get out that way, lots of snow this year and it will be roarin' about that time. Can you tell I love living here? LOL Shoot me a PM if I can help you out.

Have fun, and pray for sunshine!!

[aglanixp]

I'm going to be @ Seattle in mid-april, going to rendevous w/ my brother there and spend a week to relax, both of us have never been to this beautiful city before.

For the majority of the trip, the tour book has done a good job of telling us where to go. However there are some questions relating to cigars are left to be unanswered

I understand that you cannot smoke indoors as well as outdoors within x meters of an entrance. Are there any exception i.e. private membership cigar clubs or casinos that you can enjoy a smoke inside?

I'm planning to bring back a box or two of cigars back to Toronto. How much is the difference of buying locally vs online (for NC) ?

Any tour spots that only the locals know?

I'll be staying in the downtown area near Queen Anne, any recommendation for a restaurant, and places to get drunk?

Any wine/liquor shops with a large selection?

Cheers

Seattle has some of the best Sushi in North America.

There are lots of great places to go, but I love Umi.

2230 First Ave-Very close to Queen Anne.

One of the best dive bars in Seattle is also close to Queen Anne. The 5 poinit. Rough around the edges...just the way I like it.

I also like the Sorrento Hotel for a classic martini before or after a show. I saw Iggy Pop hanging out there one time.

[Blackham]

Does anyone know of a mailbox/drop shipper service in town? I know of one near the British Columbia border but would prefer one closer to the Seattle centre