Aromas of Havana – I Will Definitely Be Back

On a recent visit to Miami, actually, my first visit where I wasn’t pausing through to go on a cruise, I reconnected with my old friend and epicurean sensei Al “Papi Grande” Govan. If you know Papi Grande, you know that his palate is highly sensitive and exquisite. I personally believe that if a raindrop fell on his tongue, Papi can tell you the note and nose of every hemisphere that the raindrop drifted through. I may have said this about him in a previous post, so I apologize for the repetition but he’s that good. So when he recommended his favorite cigar haunt, Aromas of Havana, I was all in.

The unique thing about Aromas of Havana is that there is not a humidor room. The lounge IS the humidor. The cigars are shelved on each side of the wall. Because of Miami’s weather, the owners decided to use the natural humidity to preserve the cigars. Also walls of cigars in a cigar lounge is a pretty ingenious way to decorate, you’re killing two birds.  The feel of Aromas of Havana, is laid back and easy, even though it has seen its share of high profile clients. But a cigar and the right atmosphere always removes the class and status lines and such a place is Aromas of Havanas. Luis Machuca, owner, and overall really cool guy(and not bad on the eyes ladies!) is from the Dominican Republic, by way of Bronx, NY. He learned the love of cigars from watching his grandmother roll cigars(who runs the world?).

The night that my girls and I visited, there was a private birthday party in the back, a DJ in the middle, men huddled in swivel leather chairs watching the playoffs and outside on the patio, we sat and talked and laughed with Papi Grande and Luis. Making new friends and reminiscing with the old. Good times and a permanent stop on my future trips to Miami.

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Update on my Highland Cigar Scoutmob

Just a few of the sticks I purchased using my Scoutmob. I got 6 or 7 but I smoked a couple before I took the  picture.

 

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Highland Cigar and Scoutmob are a Couple Again

In these economic times, what a joy it is to see a deal at one of my favorite cigar shops, Highland Cigar. For a limited time, they have a Scoutmob and if you’re not familiar with Scoutmob, it is the best. app. EVER. Download the app, which is available on iPhone, Android or BB platforms, choose your city and deals from local restaurants, boutiques, and other services pop up at your fingertips. No special print out or advanced notice needed, just show your Scoutmob on your phone when you’re ready to check out at any of these fine establishments and quicker than a melee on The Real Housewives(doesn’t matter which city), the discount is applied.

Now back to Highland Cigar. I’ve seen them partake in Scoutmob maybe once a year so this is not a common occurrence. I behoove you to move on this. The deal expires 2/1/2012 and you receive 50% off of your bill, maximum discount $30.

If you have Scoutmob and have used it at Highland Cigar or other places, how did it work out for you?

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Lashes and MustAshes Goes Uptown

Congratulations are in order for Joyce “Cigar Foxy” Larkins and her sensational cigar sanctuary on wheels, Lashes and MustAshes. Lashes and MustAshes was nominated and won Best Cigar Shop in Atlanta by Uptown Magazine.

Smokin Hot!

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El Primer Mundo’s Epifania Cigar Delicious-ness

It’s been a few months since its release but here’s my take on El Primer Mundo’s Epifania:

Epifania is the turbo version of the Liga Miami – smooth and sexy. Like the dude in the club that gives you game but you don’t even realize it’s game until you are at his house and your panties are on the floor(don’t act like I’m only one that’s happened to….good times, Man)

ANYWAY

To date, this is the only cigar that I’ve had that holds it’s own with a dirty martini. Perfect pairing and symmetry. El Primer Mundo keeps getting better and better. Excellent job!

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SMMOOKKYY!!!!! SMOKEY, SMOKEY SMOKEY!!! How to Get Cigar Smoke Out of Your Hair

Sometimes when I’ve left a cigar shop after being there for a few hours, I reminisce on one of my favorite characters from the movie, “Friday”. It feels like that crack head Ezel, played by actor Anthony Johnson is calling me from the shadows like he was calling Chris Tucker’s character Smokey. Now Smokey got his name from smoking that oooo-weee, but I, have only been hanging in one of my beloved haunts. I’m not complaining, it comes with the territory. But DAMN, if it’s not a bitch getting smoke out of not just your clothes, but your HAIR. Guys can just jump in the shower, air the clothes out and bada boom, the next day, they are all good. Even my sisters of the leaf with a, lets just say, “looser curl pattern” can jump in the shower. But for my African American sisters, with that mother-land-coily-kinky-s pattern hair? What is we to do? Washing our hair is not a jump in the shower quickie. It involves a lot of washing, conditioning, maybe some blow drying and then twisting. In short, it ain’t easy.

I used to spray my hair with Febreeze and it worked ok, I just had an internal conflict on using something that I used to spray my couch down on my hair. And I think that a lot of African American women feel the same. As I tell female friends and family members about the wonderful world of cigars, the first thing out of their mouths is “EEEwwww, my hair”! If you didn’t know, women, especially African American women take great, painstaking pride in our crown and glory. If the hair ain’t right, then you needs to go and it tight!  I have friends that the only reason that they will show up at the cigar bar is because they have a hair appointment the next day. It’s that serious. I was talking to a guy at Aficionados one night about this issue and he said that a girl friend of his used dryer sheets on her hair, and she had natural hair like mine. Really? I mean, at least a dryer sheet is used for my clothes, which I put on my body soooo, it couldn’t be that bad, right? So I tried the dryer sheet.

AND. IT. WORKED.

A couple of weeks later, I met a another young lady that says that she uses them on her hair. INGENIOUS!! I don’t know what happens, maybe the electro-magnetic something somethings come together and pull the smell out but that dryer sheet removed any trace of cigar smoke in my hair.  So here’s the tip:

  • Purchase a box of dryer sheets – doesn’t matter what kind, generic will work
  • Take one dryer sheet and rub through your hair
  • When you don’t smell the smoke anymore, discard dryer sheet and proceed with regular grooming aids.

It’s that simple.

Have you heard of any other ways to get smoke out of your hair? Clothes?

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Cigar Smokers, Get a Piece of the Rock with Prudential.

When I first started smoking cigars, I was very apprehensive about disclosing this to my doctors. You know, I didn’t want that judgement look of “you know better” and “smoking is bad”. But I decided that if i’m going to do big girl things, then I need to take on the criticism that comes with that, right? So, as I began to tell my doctors, I was pleasantly surprised. Now, a couple of my doctors like my primary care physician, immediately handed me a smoking cessation plan. My gynecologist asked more questions like “How often do you smoke?” and “How many at a time”. These questions helped her realize that I was not a typical smoker and it seems that the attitude toward cigars as being a different smoke is slowly but surely changing. Also with insurance. It’s difficult to get life and health insurance if you are a smoker. However, Prudential gets it. They have designed programs that separate cigars smokers from cigarette smokers. The rates are not a high as a non-smoker, of course. However, if you’re in the market for life insurance, its good to know that there’s a place where you don’t have hide something that is a part of your life. I don’t think that a lot of cigar smokers are aware of this opportunity. Here in Atlanta, Prudential is taking it to the cigar spots to let everyone know that they are ready to answer all your needs. The last event was at Ash Cigar. William Lewis and Garner Roof of The Southern Financial Group are planning events to let cigar smokers know of everything that Prudential has to offer. Stay tuned and expand your options.

*Disclosure-I have not purchase Prudential Insurance, however I have the attended events. Additionally, I have not received any residuals for this post*

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Sweet. Stiletto. Smoke. on the Land Yacht

Lashes and MustAshes- sure she’s known for the golf events and tailgating and birthday parties. I’m sure those functions were outstanding. But between us girls, seriously? Seriously. The exclusive ladies soiree Sweet Stiletto Smoke engages EVERY sense: taste, smell, sight, sound, and oh yes touch. Touch. Sorry to write in short sentences, I’m still taking everything in. And sorry no pics because what happens on the Land Yacht….. Yeah, you know the rest. Check out Lashes and MustAshes website or like them on Facebook to find out when and where the next one be. Hope it’s soon….

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If I Won a Gold Medal, I’d Want to Smoke a Cigar too

Last month, the Canadian women’s hockey team set off an Olympic sized media frenzy for celebrating on the ice after their win over the US. This celebration, which included cigars, has caused the International Olympic Committee to investigate the actions and ethics of the team, which, depending on the committee’s decision, could bar the team from participating future Olympic activities. Ouch.

I certainly hope that it doesn’t come to that. Any athlete that has worked day and night to achieve their Olympic dream or even the regular Jo-lene has the right to celebrate victory in the way that they see fit.  According to an article about the incident, it is common practice for the winning hockey team to go back, after the arena is empty, and have a celebratory drink at center ice. Can the IOC realize that these girls, because of their intense training schedules, probably hadn’t had a beer or a cigar in months – dare I say, YEARS? If there was any time that these girls deserved to kick back, let their hair down and roll on the ice, it was after winning the gold medal. Some people never make to the Olympics. Lighten up.

I want a cigar after a playing chicken in traffic. These young women are playing a brutal sport which not a lot of women would dare compete in. Shoot, I didn’t even know that there were women hockey teams competing at the Olympic level (Yeah, I know, sorry!). I think that it’s wonderful that they choose to celebrate with a cigar. It’s so perfect. My question is, what cigar were they smoking?

What cigar would you smoke after a gold medal win?

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