Chicago....

[Guest crossbow]

Going to Chicago this weekend for a small birthday holiday with the family. I Will report on the smoking situation when I get back.

Unlike New York City and LA and San Francisco California, Chicago is more lax with the smoking laws. According to a few Brothers of the Leaf in other Boards, there are places that one can light up a cigar at the bar or at the table..or so I heard. For us brothers in the US, to be able to light up a cigar indoors in a public establishment is quite rare.

[habanohal]

» Going to Chicago this weekend for a small birthday holiday with the family.

» I Will report on the smoking situation when I get back.

» Unlike New York City and LA and San Francisco California, Chicago is more

» lax with the smoking laws. According to a few Brothers of the Leaf in

» other Boards, there are places that one can light up a cigar at the bar or

» at the table..or so I heard. For us brothers in the US, to be able to

» light up a cigar indoors in a public establishment is quite rare.

I live in Joliet, which is 30 minutes south of the city. Chicago is a cigar friendly city to say the least. You cant smoke in stores, fast food chain resturants and alike, but in the bars and around town is no problem. Nothing like a good cigar while strolling down the beach at sunset.

[Dr. Dan]

» Going to Chicago this weekend for a small birthday holiday with the family.

» I Will report on the smoking situation when I get back.

» Unlike New York City and LA and San Francisco California, Chicago is more

» lax with the smoking laws. According to a few Brothers of the Leaf in

» other Boards, there are places that one can light up a cigar at the bar or

» at the table..or so I heard. For us brothers in the US, to be able to

» light up a cigar indoors in a public establishment is quite rare.

Here's a tip: You can smoke cigars in the American airlines Admiral's club at O'Hare. They have a seperate smoking lounge, with smoke eaters, big-screen TV, comfy seats, and a waitress to run your drink orders. The only hassle these days is geting a lighter in the airport... bring matches!

I had dinner at Everest (top of the Stock Exchange Bldg.) with an unbeleivable view of the city, some of the best food in town, and after dinner they led me to a private room where I was free to light up and enjoy the view in peace, with a nice cognac!

Have a good trip! :-D

-Dr. Dan

[Chicago]

» Going to Chicago this weekend for a small birthday holiday with the family.

» I Will report on the smoking situation when I get back.

» Unlike New York City and LA and San Francisco California, Chicago is more

» lax with the smoking laws. According to a few Brothers of the Leaf in

» other Boards, there are places that one can light up a cigar at the bar or

» at the table..or so I heard. For us brothers in the US, to be able to

» light up a cigar indoors in a public establishment is quite rare.

Most of the steak joints will allow it, but they tend to be crowded on the weekends so it may not be easy to do packed shoulder to should at a place like Gibson's. You may try some of the more off the baeten path places like Ditka's. I am assuming, of course, that you will be downtown. The sububbs can be restrictive.

[sparks]

I would second Ditka's. Great steaks and service second to none.

[PJ_CEONAD_CC]

» I would second Ditka's. Great steaks and service second to none.

I'll third that. Ditka's is all cigars and good food. Magnums in Oakbrook (west burbs) has a nice piano bar cigar friendly, but not cheap.

[Guest crossbow]

Thank you Gentlemen

Your advice were considered. Apparently, the Hyatt along Wacker Drive did allow cigars in their steak bar called Stetson's. I even found out that their cigars for sale were only Davidoff(Dominicans). But they allowed me to smoke my Cuaba Salamone(birthday smoke) with a glass of my daily port. They(stetson's) do have an extensive winelist too.

I also went to Morton's Steakhouse. Where for the first time, I lit up a Ramon Allones 898 by my dining table after I had finished a nice juicy steak.

I also enjoyed a nice SLR at the lobby of the hotel in the morning of Saturday with coffee while reading a book.

A monte 2 while going through the cigar stocks of Iwan and Reis.

All in all, Chicago is a CIGAR FRIENDLY town!!!

As Frank Sinatra said..

"Chicago is my kind of Town"

[el habano chino]

Hey gents,

Am in Boston on business for the past week and it is WAY different from Chicago. No smoking in bars, restaurants, basically anywhere with a roof! :-(

I've been living smoke-free for a week and i can't take it any longer... this pitiful situation is exacerbated by the fact that i return to my hotel room every night to drool over the stash of Cubans that i brought with me.

Can anyone tell me if there's a good place to smoke in this city? I'm contemplating just lighting up my Hoyo DC and standing by the hotel's sidewalk :-P

cheers

[Colt45]

There are a few places:

Cigar Masters on Boylston Street - I think they charge a fee if you bring your own

Stanza Dei Sigari on Hanover Street in the North End - not sure if there's a cutting fee or not.

Churchill's on North Street - once again , not sure if there's a cutting fee or not.

You may even be able to smoke in bars or restaurants that have outside areas, but

even that could be touchy. I don't know where you're staying, but you could check with the concierge, if there is one. Have Fun!

[Curmudgeon]

» Cigar Masters on Boylston Street - I think they charge a fee if you bring

» your own

That's true. If I remember right, the fee is $10, but you can avoid it by buying one crummy cigar for $5 from their humidor. For God's sake, though, don't smoke it!

By the way, I was disappointed to find that they only sell beer and wine -- no spirits -- at Cigar Masters.

[Chicago]

» Thank you Gentlemen

»

» Your advice were considered. Apparently, the Hyatt along Wacker Drive did

» allow cigars in their steak bar called Stetson's. I even found out that

» their cigars for sale were only Davidoff(Dominicans). But they allowed me

» to smoke my Cuaba Salamone(birthday smoke) with a glass of my daily port.

» They(stetson's) do have an extensive winelist too.

»

» I also went to Morton's Steakhouse. Where for the first time, I lit up a

» Ramon Allones 898 by my dining table after I had finished a nice juicy

» steak.

»

» I also enjoyed a nice SLR at the lobby of the hotel in the morning of

» Saturday with coffee while reading a book.

»

» A monte 2 while going through the cigar stocks of Iwan and Reis.

»

» All in all, Chicago is a CIGAR FRIENDLY town!!!

» As Frank Sinatra said..

»

» "Chicago is my kind of Town"

Morton's was my first choice, excellent service, food and winelist. However, during our 13th annual cigar dinner this year, we were informed we could not smoke even though we had reserved a smoking table weeks in advance. I'm glad you had a better experience and that Chicago treated you well.

We are now facing legislation for a total ban of smoking in any public place, however. Mike Ditka gave a rather spirited testimony with a few choice expletives during the debates in local government. Wish us luck!

[Guest crossbow]

»

» Morton's was my first choice, excellent service, food and winelist.

» However, during our 13th annual cigar dinner this year, we were informed

» we could not smoke even though we had reserved a smoking table weeks in

» advance. I'm glad you had a better experience and that Chicago treated you

» well.

» We are now facing legislation for a total ban of smoking in any public

» place, however. Mike Ditka gave a rather spirited testimony with a few

» choice expletives during the debates in local government. Wish us luck!

I am wishing you all the luck in the World!!! I hope your legislators will not make me want to be anywhere else but Chicago, the next time I visit.

to light up a nice Belicoso after a great steak dinner is a dream come true!!