FOH AmiCigar countdown....any last questions

[El Presidente]

When Gino and I sat down June 15 for preliminary discussions on a FOH AmiCigar November 16 event, we thought we would have 50 people. 

We have 100 

On the 11th of November most of us stream into Havana before the opening night celebrations on Saturday the 12th, 8pm at Espacios. It will be a cracker night and a brilliant week 

There are many of you attending who have never been to Cuba before. There will be others who have but may have a few questions. 

This is the post to raise any questions for the FOH AmiCigar week or Cuba travel questions. 

Look forward to catching up!

Rob

[wade1979]

Wow! What a crew, motley as the come i'm sure. Hope to join next year. 

Have a blast guys!!!

[madandana]

Started packing last night. Can't wait.

 

Thanks again Rob for all that you do to put this together .

[Dara]

Perhaps you should explain the rule about ordering Duck in Cuba to those who haven't been to Cuba before Rob.....

[ChanceSchmerr]

Okay, I'll throw out a few questions to the masses since it's my first time to Cuba:

1. Clothing - What should be the expected dress code for the types of events we're doing?  Khakis/Button Up Short Sleeve shirts acceptable? Primarily Sandals or dress shoes? More casual/Less Casual?  How are khaki shorts and/or cargo shorts considered? Should I be trying to find a Guayabera Shirt before going or can I find a decent quality one in Havana after arriving?

2. Cigar lighting - Should I just not even bother bringing a lighter, and just put a bunch of matches in my checked luggage? Or is there plenty of lighters/matches to be found in Havana? 

That should get the discourse going. Thanks all!

[Dara]

Shirts - the more pockets the better for carrying cigars.....you can get guayaberas in Havana (hotel shops and LCDHs are expensive for these but there's a good shop off Calle obispo if I remember correctly that does good value good quality linen ones, @Ryan is the best man to advise on this as he's bought a few while there over the years)

Khakis and a semi formal shirt should be ok for the partagas events but the Friday gala would also be a jacket event if you're going.

best thing you could bring would be a FOH cigar traveller with a few spare cartridges (gas can be hard to get and often quality of has found in Havana is crap), don't bring a good lighter as you'll end up losing it or swapping it with a barman in the gato tuerto for drinks (it's happened to the best of us). Failing that the LCDH in the media Havana used to sell jet lighters for 2 cucs which were good but not sure if they still do those!

 

hope that helps a bit!

[garnett]

From what I have seen in Havana Smart Casual is all ways good.

And I pack a lighter that I don't mind loosing.

Quote

 

 

[Drguano]

36 minutes ago, ChanceSchmerr said:

Okay, I'll throw out a few questions to the masses since it's my first time to Cuba:

1. Clothing - What should be the expected dress code for the types of events we're doing?  Khakis/Button Up Short Sleeve shirts acceptable? Primarily Sandals or dress shoes? More casual/Less Casual?  How are khaki shorts and/or cargo shorts considered? Should I be trying to find a Guayabera Shirt before going or can I find a decent quality one in Havana after arriving?

2. Cigar lighting - Should I just not even bother bringing a lighter, and just put a bunch of matches in my checked luggage? Or is there plenty of lighters/matches to be found in Havana? 

That should get the discourse going. Thanks all!

Chris, I expect to see you in full regalia:

[Ryan]

I was going to start a thread like this myself. It's a great idea.

First thing, for anyone going to Havana, download these two things to your phone

Alamesa, a restaurant review app. It works offline, has a great search function and will give addresses and phone numbers of most of the restaurants/bars where events will be held.

Taxi drivers won't always know the directions to these places, it's handy to be able to show them. They're not on the Appstore or or Google Play but can be downloaded from the link below. Download the full database, it's not that big. Open this link on your phone to download.

https://www.alamesacuba.com/en/products/apps/

Another one is the What's on in Havana guide. It's a pdf, gives names, addresses and phone numbers of bars/restaurants/hotels as well as a gig/concert guide for ideas for any nights off. The October issue is out now but the November issue might not be out before you travel. Download the pdf to your phone from this link and it can be opened in iBooks. All the address info is towards the end of the magazine.

http://www.lahabana.com/content/monthly-guide/

 

 

 

[Ryan]

9 hours ago, ChanceSchmerr said:

Okay, I'll throw out a few questions to the masses since it's my first time to Cuba:

1. Clothing - What should be the expected dress code for the types of events we're doing?  Khakis/Button Up Short Sleeve shirts acceptable? Primarily Sandals or dress shoes? More casual/Less Casual?  How are khaki shorts and/or cargo shorts considered? Should I be trying to find a Guayabera Shirt before going or can I find a decent quality one in Havana after arriving?

2. Cigar lighting - Should I just not even bother bringing a lighter, and just put a bunch of matches in my checked luggage? Or is there plenty of lighters/matches to be found in Havana? 

That should get the discourse going. Thanks all!

Clothing. For any daytime events, I'll be in shorts and sandals. Many people wear chinos or that type of thing, that's personal choice. Pinar del Rio can get hotter than Havana, i'll definitely be in shorts the day of the trip out there.

For the evening events, I've never been barred entering anywhere because of shorts and sandals but it is more appropriate to wear long trousers and footwear that covers the toes. Same goes for dining out in the evening. Cubans generally dress very well when they go out in the evening, there will be no Cubans wearing shorts at the events for example but neither will you see Cuban men in shorts at a nightclub or dinner out. I think it's polite to make an effort to blend in a little.

For the Partagas opening night a Guayabera and chinos is perfect. There will be people there in suits, there will be foreigners there in shorts. Doesn't matter, Guayabera or other linen shirt and chinos/khakis is perfect.

For the Partagas closing dinner, the same outfit is fine (every casa/hotel can organise laundry and ironing for you), with a jacket optional, a light linen jacket if you have one. There will be people there that night in formal evening wear. Doesn't matter. Raul Castro declared the guayabera the official dress shirt for Cuba so, unless you are receiving foreign dignitaries, it's not possible to be more formally dressed in Cuba than wearing a guayabera! That reason alone would make me want to move there. 

Dress shoes aren't necessary in Cuba for these events and can be dangerous if the pavements are wet. Many of the pavements are polished marble in Havana, deadly. leather/suede desert boots or that kind of thing, perfect.

As far as lighters, bring a soft-flame lighter and or matches with you. If you have a cigar-traveller or an empty cheapo jet lighter, perfect. The LCDH in the Habana Libre has been fairly dependable for the last few years in stocking sets containing a jet lighter and a small bottle of gas for about 7 cuc. That bottle of gas will last you the week easily, the lighter that comes with it, maybe not. Don't put that gas into a lighter you care about. Give the lighter and gas to someone before you leave. 

You can get Guayaberas in Havana. Quality isn't world-standard but fine, I have a couple still holding together after 4 or 5 years. Look for a brand called "Criollo". Many of the cigar shops sell them. There is a also a decent shop in the little mall outside the front of the Habana Libre hotel, beside the liquor store. Don't buy a shirt in the markets if you want it to work, they'll be cheaper at about 25 cucs but polyester. Criollo make 100% linen shirts.

Thee is a guayabera shop on Calle Obispo but it's not the easiest to find. It's about halfway between the Floridita and Plaza de Armas. A very plain brown wooden front with net curtains on the windows hiding the interior. Prices will be about the same everywhere, 50-60 cucs. Some of the cigar shops will sell them with brands embroidered on, up to 75 cucs for those.

[El Presidente]

Cheers Andy & Dara 

[Fuzz]

Just bought a Tommy Hilfiger sports coat for USD$50, down from $399.

[Bulldog4]

Anyone going to be there early? I arrive on Thursday the 10th

[madandana]

Not til Friday the 11th. 

[helix]

On ‎10‎/‎25‎/‎2016 at 3:34 PM, El Presidente said:

When Gino and I sat down June 15 for preliminary discussions on a FOH AmiCigar November 16 event, we thought we would have 50 people. 

We have 100 

On the 11th of November most of us stream into Havana before the opening night celebrations on Saturday the 12th, 8pm at Espacios. It will be a cracker night and a brilliant week 

There are many of you attending who have never been to Cuba before. There will be others who have but may have a few questions. 

This is the post to raise any questions for the FOH AmiCigar week or Cuba travel questions. 

Look forward to catching up!

Rob

I know the feeling , when Mark and I sat down to plan our Havana trip (too late to sign up for FOH activities ) for  November 14 -21 there was only 2 of us.

Now we are 3.   LOL !  See you soon. Cheers .

[Cohiba007]

I'll be in cancun Thursday night before flying to Havana Friday morning if anyon in Mexico Thursday night

[Corylax18]

56 minutes ago, Cohiba007 said:

I'll be in cancun Thursday night before flying to Havana Friday morning if anyon in Mexico Thursday night

Im spending the night in Cancun friday the 17th, on my way back. United has a red eye from denver to cancun so I was able to avoid that night on the way down. Which airline/when are you flying cancun to havana?

[oliverdst]

Totally off topic but I think this is of interest for many of you: Hotel Nacional ashtrays seems to be availabke again.

[ChanceSchmerr]

1 hour ago, oliverdst said:

Totally off topic but I think this is of interest for many of you: Hotel Nacional ashtrays seems to be availabke again.

Where, at the Nacional itself?

[oliverdst]

2 minutes ago, ChanceSchmerr said:

Where, at the Nacional itself?

I will contacto the person and ask him. I dont know if it is sold somewhere else.

[ChanceSchmerr]

1 hour ago, oliverdst said:

I will contacto the person and ask him. I dont know if it is sold somewhere else.

Sweet, thanks mate.  I had a chance to buy a few years ago through a group buy, but declined as I wanted to get one after I could actually go to Cuba.  Now I might actually get that chance!

 

[ChanceSchmerr]

On ‎25‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 4:59 PM, Dara said:

Shirts - the more pockets the better for carrying cigars.....you can get guayaberas in Havana (hotel shops and LCDHs are expensive for these but there's a good shop off Calle obispo if I remember correctly that does good value good quality linen ones, @Ryan is the best man to advise on this as he's bought a few while there over the years)

Khakis and a semi formal shirt should be ok for the partagas events but the Friday gala would also be a jacket event if you're going.

best thing you could bring would be a FOH cigar traveller with a few spare cartridges (gas can be hard to get and often quality of has found in Havana is crap), don't bring a good lighter as you'll end up losing it or swapping it with a barman in the gato tuerto for drinks (it's happened to the best of us). Failing that the LCDH in the media Havana used to sell jet lighters for 2 cucs which were good but not sure if they still do those!

 

hope that helps a bit!

Thanks Dara, much obliged mate!

 

On ‎25‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 5:27 PM, Drguano said:

Chris, I expect to see you in full regalia:

Haha - Thanks Pete.  I need a few more years/sickly seasons to get some of those rings and bling!

 

 

On ‎26‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 2:46 AM, Ryan said:

Clothing. For any daytime events, I'll be in shorts and sandals. Many people wear chinos or that type of thing, that's personal choice. Pinar del Rio can get hotter than Havana, i'll definitely be in shorts the day of the trip out there.

For the evening events, I've never been barred entering anywhere because of shorts and sandals but it is more appropriate to wear long trousers and footwear that covers the toes. Same goes for dining out in the evening. Cubans generally dress very well when they go out in the evening, there will be no Cubans wearing shorts at the events for example but neither will you see Cuban men in shorts at a nightclub or dinner out. I think it's polite to make an effort to blend in a little.

For the Partagas opening night a Guayabera and chinos is perfect. There will be people there in suits, there will be foreigners there in shorts. Doesn't matter, Guayabera or other linen shirt and chinos/khakis is perfect.

For the Partagas closing dinner, the same outfit is fine (every casa/hotel can organise laundry and ironing for you), with a jacket optional, a light linen jacket if you have one. There will be people there that night in formal evening wear. Doesn't matter. Raul Castro declared the guayabera the official dress shirt for Cuba so, unless you are receiving foreign dignitaries, it's not possible to be more formally dressed in Cuba than wearing a guayabera! That reason alone would make me want to move there. 

Dress shoes aren't necessary in Cuba for these events and can be dangerous if the pavements are wet. Many of the pavements are polished marble in Havana, deadly. leather/suede desert boots or that kind of thing, perfect.

As far as lighters, bring a soft-flame lighter and or matches with you. If you have a cigar-traveller or an empty cheapo jet lighter, perfect. The LCDH in the Habana Libre has been fairly dependable for the last few years in stocking sets containing a jet lighter and a small bottle of gas for about 7 cuc. That bottle of gas will last you the week easily, the lighter that comes with it, maybe not. Don't put that gas into a lighter you care about. Give the lighter and gas to someone before you leave. 

You can get Guayaberas in Havana. Quality isn't world-standard but fine, I have a couple still holding together after 4 or 5 years. Look for a brand called "Criollo". Many of the cigar shops sell them. There is a also a decent shop in the little mall outside the front of the Habana Libre hotel, beside the liquor store. Don't buy a shirt in the markets if you want it to work, they'll be cheaper at about 25 cucs but polyester. Criollo make 100% linen shirts.

Thee is a guayabera shop on Calle Obispo but it's not the easiest to find. It's about halfway between the Floridita and Plaza de Armas. A very plain brown wooden front with net curtains on the windows hiding the interior. Prices will be about the same everywhere, 50-60 cucs. Some of the cigar shops will sell them with brands embroidered on, up to 75 cucs for those.

Thanks Andy - This really helps mate!  I'll be very keen for the Criollo brand then, sounds like it's the shirt to get. 

 

Much Obliged all, thank you!

[MaxG]

8 hours ago, oliverdst said:

I will contacto the person and ask him. I dont know if it is sold somewhere else.

Would love to get one.  Before I get there  (some day).

 

- MG 

 

[Cohiba007]

On 10/28/2016 at 11:27 AM, Corylax18 said:

Im spending the night in Cancun friday the 17th, on my way back. United has a red eye from denver to cancun so I was able to avoid that night on the way down. Which airline/when are you flying cancun to havana?

Aeromexico

 

[oliverdst]

9 hours ago, MaxG said:

Would love to get one.  Before I get there  (some day).

 

- MG 

 

Hotel Nacional.