News and Notes

He Learned From the Master

Don Nelson, NBA player, coach, and executive was just elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  When he spoke to the press on hearing of his election, he commented that he was in his backyard smoking a cigar.  A 5 time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, not only did he learn his basketball prowess from the legendary Red Auerbach, but perhaps also his love for cigars.

A Nice Cigar Lounge

This past week I traveled to the Philadelphia area for a family gathering.  When I arrived, I had a few hours in which I had no commitments and was hoping to get some of these posts done.  So, not being in Florida, I needed someplace to smoke.  A quick Google search found Hemingway’s Cigar Shoppe in Marlton, NJ.  Owner Vinnie Lombardo was very hospitable.  And, the guys!  A shout out to Steve and Ian who were there as well.  As we were solving the problems of the world and enjoying our cigar another young gentleman walked in to smoke.  Graduating from college this spring, he had been introduced to cigars by his girlfriend, who, he said would kill him if she knew he was there smoking and she was off doing whatever.  So, as far as she’s concerned is it thumbs down because you were at the lounge or thumbs up because you are both mentioned in a cigar review blog.

Most importantly, this demonstrates the great camaraderie amongst cigar smokers.  Our group was young and old, black and white, well-off and just starting out.  A diverse group if ever I saw one.  Yet, there we were bound together in our love for cigars.

Your Chance to Blend a Cigar

Well, not really.  But you do get a vote as to which blend becomes the next CAO cigar.  They have come up with three different blends and are letting smokers chose which one is best.  Just go to your participating cigar shop, buy 6 CAO cigars and you’ll get a three cigar tasting pack free.  The cigars are labeled C, A, and O respectively.  They are each 5 1/2 x 54.  Once you’ve tasted, go online to vote.  You’ll also be entered to win prized up to a trip to Nicaragua to see the cigars made.