There have been a lot of newsworthy incidents leading up to the May 1st ban, and well … it’s where I live, so I’m compelled to write about it.

Last week the exemption in the smoking ban that allows cigar smoking in establishments that meet the required criteria was clarified.  There has been a long-running discussion here about whether or not cigar bars would be allowed to sell and serve food and beverages, and the matter has finally been settled.

Last week, a regular contributor to the blog (Mike), uncovered a memo issued by the Michigan Department of Community Health Director Olszewski. Click the image to view the memo.

At least the writers of the law realized that there has to be a way for cigar bar owners to come up with the other 90% of their revenue.

Thanks for digging this up, Mike!

Yesterday (April 22nd), I shot down to Grosse Pointe to meet a friend at Robusto’s to catch up over a martini and enjoy a great Padron 4000.  I also really wanted to talk to someone there and confirm first-hand that they had an exemption.

There has been a lot of discussion on this blog over the intricacies of the smoking ban and the exemptions that have been issued.  Perhaps the most confusing aspect is the serving of food and beverages.

It was my previous assumption that if a bar or restaurant was issued an exemption, they would need to isolate the area where cigars are smoked from the portion of the restaurant/bar where food and alcohol is consumed.  Now it seems as though if an exemption is issued, the establishment is exempt from any of the smoking ban’s requirements.

Simply put:  If you qualify for all of the criteria required to earn an exemption, none of the rules of the smoking ban apply to you.  Not a bad situation, if it ends up to be true.

Many of the places that should be exempt from the smoking ban have separate, walled-off areas for cigar smokers (Fuse in Rochester, Big Rock Chophouse in Birmingham).

This was the most perplexing aspect of the Robusto’s exemption from my perspective.  Even if they were only to allow smoking in the upstairs are (where the humidors are), it’s still not a separate room.

After speaking with the people at Robusto’s yesterday evening, they’re quite sure that they’re exempt from the ban.  Great news for a location that has been a perfect place for cigar smokers in Detroit to gather for many years.

Early this morning Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press reported that Brooks (@brookspatterson) was planning on filing suit against the State of Michigan over the state-wide smoking ban that will go into affect May 1st, 2010. He took the position because he believed the ban was an unfunded mandate. Basically the Oakland County Health Department wouldn’t have the funding to hire the staff necessary to police bars and restaurants and make sure that people aren’t smoking.

The suit was filed this afternoon (Thursday) with the Michigan Court of Appeals.

The glimmer of hope for Michigan cigar lovers unfortunately vanished as quickly as it appeared. After receiving over 70 phone calls and numerous emails from Oakland County residents that disagreed with his opposition of the ban, L. Brooks withdrew the suit.

Although it was an exciting day for smokers in the state, the ban is still being fought along the wrong lines. This law is about removing citizens rights, and denying people the right to make their own decisions (if you still want to cry about 2nd hand smoke – go read The Myth of Second Hand Smoke).  If the county/state doesn’t have the money to enforce the ban, and that’s what gets it repealed, then it’s obviously a positive thing for cigar smokers.  The bigger picture, however, is still the idea of the government dictating what we can and cannot do.

Like Brooks, I have also never been a cigarette smoker.  I don’t see the appeal of it, and I obviously believe in the scientific proof that it causes cancer and other serious life-threatening illnesses.

However, even if I don’t like smelling like cigarette smoke every time I go to a restaurant or bar, I strongly believe that smoking is a personal decision that people should be able to make for themselves.  Personal freedoms tend to slip away quickly when the government gets involved, and are always incredibly harder to get back.  I fear this is a slippery slope that will continue to a point where the government is telling us how to behave in our own homes.

Enforcing the Smoking Ban

The issue of enforcement continues to come up in discussions about the ban.  It’s clear to me that the patrons of bars and restaurants will do the enforcing.

We’ve seen how loud everyone can whine about the smell of smoke.  Try lighting up a cigar (or cigarette) in a bar or restaurant in Michigan after May 1st, and you’re going to be swarmed with screaming people telling you to put it out.

Patterson, who doesn’t smoke and has never been a smoker, also pointed this out in a live interview with Stephen Clark of Channel 7 Action News (@sclarkwxyz) which wrapped up the day of cigar ban drama.

As the interview wrapped up, Patterson joked about filing the suit and withdrawing it in the same day as, “not my finest hour.”

I’ve always held Brooks in extremely high regard.  In countless instances I’ve respected him for standing his ground for what he believes in, even in the face of extreme adversity.  Today I still respect him, for making a decision which he believes represents the will of his constituents.

The sad part is that it’s the small number of activists that always yell the loudest (calling him today and sending emails) while the rest of us sit idly by while our rights are stripped away.

Complete with surf boards hanging from the wall and a guy playing the acoustic guitar, this place is plucked straight out of one of Jimmy Buffett’s margarita-induced sweet dreams.

During my last visit there a few weeks ago (March 2010), the patrons confirmed for me that this place was indeed cigar friendly.  As I sat with friends enjoying a beer and watching locals and tourists alike dance to the music from the acoustic guitar, I had three separate people come up to our  table to tell me that the cigar I was smoking – a CAO Lx2 – smelled great.

The experience was a fantastic departure from the glares and dirty looks that often accompany lighting up a cigar in a bar or restaurant.

The Smokin Oyster Brewery is two blocks north of the beach on Old San Carlos Boulevard.  If you’re in Fort Myers Beach, don’t miss the opportunity to visit.  Each time I’ve been there the crowd (and musicians) tend to thin out fairly early (11:30ish), so get there before 9 or 10pm.

Earlier this week the South Florida Food and Wine blog reported that the Smoke Inn VI Cigar & Wine Bar will be opening its doors on April 1st, 2010.

A detailed description of the venue from the South Florida Food and Wine Blog:

Smoke Inn VI is a 3,500 square foot luxurious one of a kind Cigar and Wine Bar featuring an impressive 100% cedar walk-in humidor with 48 cigar lockers. Smoke Inn VI also houses a private Corporate Lounge for social functions and business meetings that is fully equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi and a fax/copy/scan center for any business service needs and the Corporate Lounge also houses 36 personal lockers for members. The retail area within Smoke Inn VI allows guests to purchase cigars either by the box or individually as well as bottles of wines from the ever impressive Transatlantic wine portfolio will open its doors on Thursday, April 1, 2010, and is sure to attract those seeking high quality cigars and wine in a casual, comfortable and inviting environment.

Any news about a new cigar bar opening is big news!

We’re eager to see pictures from inside the new venue, so if you have some, post them to the CigarPlaces.com page!

A long-standing fear of mine is going to come true on May 1st, 2010 in Michigan. The smoking ban that was signed into law in December of last year will have a drastic impact on the cigar-friendly bars and restaurants in Michigan that are listed on CigarPlaces.com.

For many establishments that people frequent, I suspect the line is somewhat gray with regards to what constitutes a cigar bar that would be exempt from the smoking ban.

Cigar Bar Exceptions

Are there any places that are not required to comply with the smoke free law?
Yes. Cigar bars, tobacco specialty retail stores, and the gaming floors of casinos may be granted exemptions from the smoke free law.

How can my bar become a cigar bar?

Cigar bars must file an affidavit for an exemption with the Michigan Department of Community Health on or before June 1, 2010 and must renew that exemption by January 31 of each subsequent year. The cigar bar must also meet the following requirements:

• Gross Revenue: The cigar bar must demonstrate that it generated 10% or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of cigars and the rental of on-site humidors.
• Physically Separated: The cigar bar must be located on premises that are physically separated from any areas of the same or adjacent establishment in which smoking is prohibited. Physically separated means an area that is enclosed on all sides by any combination of solid walls, windows, or doors that extend from floor to ceiling. Smoke may not infiltrate into those nonsmoking areas.
• Humidor: The cigar bar must have an installed, on-site humidor. A humidor means an enclosure or fixture that is stationary and used for the humidification of cigars that is on the premises of the establishment.
• No Minors: The establishment must not allow individuals under the age of eighteen to enter during the time the cigar bar is open for business.
• Retail: The cigar bar must allow only the smoking of cigars on the premises that retail for over $1.00 per cigar.
• Cigars Only: The cigar bar must prohibit the smoking of all other tobacco products.

(The excerpt above is from the Michigan Smoke Free Law – Frequently Asked Questions document on the Michigan.gov website)

Exempt Bars & Restaurants that will Stay Cigar Friendly

I just started my guerrilla research (asking bar and restaurant owners how the smoking ban will affect them) last week. All of the infromation gathered here will be used to update the map on CigarPlaces.com so we can be certain that we have a good resource for finding cigar-friendly locations after May 1st, 2010.

• Fuse Lounge (Rochester, MI)
• Robusto’s Martini Lounge (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
• La Casa De La Habana (Detroit, MI)
• La Casa De La Habana (Plymouth, MI)
• La Casa De La Habana (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Churchills (West Bloomfield, MI)
• 1701 Executive Cigar Bar (Detroit, MI)
• Smokes On Burdick (Kalamazoo, MI)
• Sequoia Cigar Room at Redwood Lodge (Flint, MI)
• La Dolce Vita (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Belicoso Cafe (Wyandotte, MI)
• Stix Cigar & Martini Bar (Southgate, MI)
• Downtown Main Martini Bar (Brighton, MI)
• The Stables Martini & Cigar Bar (Bay City, MI)
• Got Rocks (at Big Rock Chophouse – Birmingham, MI)
• Camancho (at Comerica Park – Detroit, MI)
• Sue’s Coffee House (St. Claire, MI)
• Leaf, Barley & Vine (Brighton, MI)
• Corner Cigar Bar (West Bloomfield, MI)

Places That Could Stay Cigar Friendly

These need to be verified.  If you have first-hand knowledge, please let us know!

• Got Rocks (at Big Rock Chophouse – Birmingham, MI) – CONFIRMED
• Ignite at MGM Casino (Detroit, MI)
• Rochester Chop House (Rochester, MI – Upstairs Cigar Bar)

If you know of a location that will still be cigar-friendly, please leave a comment and let me know; I’ll add it to the list.  I’m hoping this post will help soften the blow that all of us cigar smokers will experience on May 1st.

EDITED: On April 6th to add the location’s from Mike’s comment.

EDITED: Visited Big Rock Chophouse on 4/9/2010 and confirmed that Got Rocks (the upstairs cigar/martini lounge) will be exempt and cigar-friendly.  You can also now rent humidor space.  Added Camancho at Comerica Park per Mike’s comment.

EDITED: Added Sue’s Coffee House in St. Claire Michigan and Leaf, Barley & Vine in Brighton Michigan to the list as confirmed cigar bars per Mike’s comments.

EDITED: Added Corner Cigar Bar in West Bloomfield on 5/13/10 per Mike’s recommendation.

On our third trip, my colleague Bob (pictured pouring our scotch) and I asked our hotel concierge if there was any place to enjoy a cigar in the area.  After a few conversations with other hotel employees, he returned and told us about Tesa Cigar.

We needed no further convincing so we set off to find a cab, and after a quick stop off to pick up something to drink (it’s BYOB at Tesa) we finally arrived.

Walking through the door, I could feel the weight of the day’s work being lifted off my shoulders.   Leather couches and chairs were filled with people doing exactly what we were there to do:  unwind over a nice cigar.

The shop owner was extremely helpful while helping us to pick out a medium to full bodied churchill – we found our spot, poured scotch, and settled in.  Later in the evening we were joined by two bankers from the Chicago area who we invited to share our couches and our drinks.  The atmosphere and the people at Tesa make it feel completely natural to invite strangers to join in on libations and good conversation.

As the crowd thinned out and the clock passed 10pm (their weekday closing time), we began to think that our evening was coming to an end.  To our pleasant surprise, the store owner grabbed his acoustic guitar, began to casually strum, and invited us to stay a bit longer.  We had found heaven, right in the middle of Obamacountry.

Needless to say, if you’re in the Chicago area, definitely take the time to visit Tesa.

Location information and details can be found at their page on CigarPlaces.com.

Their website also contains some more pictures.

You can also follow them on Twitter!

UPDATE

Cigar Jack is holding his 1st Cigar Tweetup at Tesa on March 25th, 2010.  Register and get more information on his blog.

I knew that all I was doing was creating a platform, and without users to add their favorite places, the site would be useless.  The blog posts that were written by the bloggers were paramount to its success.

I’m talking specifically about the guys at:

• Brian’s Random Thoughts
• Cigar Jack’s Blog
• Molina Cigar & Devil’s Weed Blog
• MonkeyDan’s Cigar Reviews
• The CigarAdvisor Blog
• The Stogie Review

(if I missed anyone let me know)

Getting to the point; this blog was launched for two reasons.  I spend a fair amount of time at really cool cigar friendly restaurants and bars, and I think it’ll be fun to snap some pictures and share those experiences (it is, after all, about the experience, right?).  I’m also looking forward to having some guest-bloggers write about their experiences at different cigar places around the globe (shoot me an email if you want to write a post!).

Over the past few months I’ve also received some really good boxes of cigars in the mail from fans of CigarPlaces.com (thank you!) and I definitely owe them a review.

Stay tuned …