My second weekend in Florida did not disappoint! Renaissance Faire on Saturday, traveling to Miami today, Sunday.
The faire was the usual thing - enjoying the company of my friends, beautiful weather, rat pucking, good beer, wearing renaissance garb, and yummy food!
I attended the Renaissance SMoker again, and this time Patrick was leading the bawdy humor which was especially raunchy. I don't think I can share any of those jokes with you! But the crowd of about 40 was roaring almost non-stop, and there was a lot of female-friendly jokes!
I got back to the hotel and went straight to Kevin's so he could see my faire clothing. We decided to go back to the German restaurant Mr Dunderbaks and toast cigar lounge. Sauerbraten and rot kohl for dinner w a creamy stout, then a glass of cabernet and an Alec Bradley Maxx for me.
We were both exhausted and knew we would get not much sleep but we didn't complain! I woke up early and got packed and the taxi came in just a few minutes and we got to airport in good time. We thought we were on different flights w different carriers, but not only were we on the same plane but were sitting right next to each other! Too crazy!
Omg I am happy I survived that flight! It was a prop plane and taking off and landing was HAIRY!!! Plus the seat was really uncomfortable and the flight was rough on my body, it beat me up!
But we made it to Miami! Woohoooo! Our hotel is nice but so different from the last place which was pretty conventional. This is not conventional! One wall is covered w mirror and one with a huge photo of a leaf no less than 15 by 12 feet. The door to the bathroom and closet both have panels w butterfly wings.
Kevin and I went for a walk to explore our area, Collins Ave in south Beach. We found a Walgreens to buy some sunblock and softdrinks, and a deli where we could buy some bread and cold cuts to make a simple dinner in our rooms.
But before dinner it was time for a cigar out on the patio. Wow what a cool place! Brown tiles with whicker tables and chairs, facing a bunch of palm trees shading the area and a yellow motel. Such a perfect spot to relax!
Our cigars smoked, we had our quiet dinner. Now it's time for a good sleep. Tomorrow should be a quiet day. There's a chance we might visit a lounge in Westin but otherwise we will explore our area more and do some laundry. Goodnight!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
A box of Brick House!!!!!!!!
Takeout from Chilis can taste absolutely wonderful after waiting for more than an hour for a taxi. That is the latest thing I have learned.
I started the day by learning something very different, about the workings and history of the J.C. Newman factory in Tampa.
Kevin and I arrived at the Newman factory promptly at 10am. Eric Newman was on a conference call, so Human Resources person Amy took us around on a tour of the factory. We saw the women using various machines to make the cigars. In fact, at the main machine, a very nice Cuban woman kept pausing and then operating her machine so that Amy could explain every part of how the tobacco in packed into the binder and then covered with the wrapper, all done by a machine! Very cool!
And we saw the room where the huge piles of short filler tobacco are kept, and the freezer where the cigars are sent to make sure there are no bugs.
Then we were left in the lobby, while Amy went to see if Eric was free to say hello. Well, he was free, and that was the longest hello ever. He spent more than an hour giving us the whole story of his family and their cigar company, showing us into more spots that Amy had not, and then, at the end, presenting us with AN ENTIRE BOX OF BRICK HOUSE CIGARS!!!!!!!!
I was in shock for several hours after that. I don't know what happened, other than that some small children with very little knives stole all my money, all my clothes, and left me in a dirty gutter with a grubby paper towel in my mouth.
Then, in David Copperfield fashion, I walked many many miles, and a relative who didn't know I existed handed over all her money and gave me a new name. Pernicious. Yes, I know that's a horrible name.
Lunch at Tampa Bay Brewing Company followed, at which we also smoked some machine made cigars we were also given, which were not bad for machine made cigars.
It was raining during all this, raining and raining and raining. But we kept going, and we got wet, and we didn't like it. Eventually we broke down and bought umbrellas.
We took the bus in both directions to Ybor City, which we also learned how to do, which was amazing.
Upon returning to our hotel, we got ready for our evening meeting up with a local SC guy at the Tampa Humidor.
Wow, the biggest humidor I've ever seen! Tampa Humidor is big, and really cool. The owner Mike is really nice. But what else is new? All these cigar people are sickeningly nice. I'm growing to hate that in them. Tom Ufer appeared and we had a great time hanging out with him for a bit.
The only drag was when we called for a taxi and one never came. Then I called this luxury towncar place and the guy was gonna charge me $20 and I said sure, then the original taxi finally came, and I had to call the luxury guy and cancel and he wasn't happy, the poor slug.
A great day. Another great day! I mean, Eric Newman gave us a box of Brick House! Their new brand which is a revival of a very old brand. You see, the brick house was the house in Hungary where Eric's great-grandmother used to take in boarders to make ends meet. It's the place where the whole thing started! And here this new brand, which is not readily available in NYC yet, and Eric gave us a whole box. I mean, he left us near the end and said "wait right here, I'm gonna get you a couple cigars" and then he hands us an entire box, and we're thinking, "um, are all these for us?"
And they were! Eric Newman gave us a box of Brick House. And we are going to disperse them as we choose, bwwwaaaaahhhhaaaaahhhhaaaaahh!
OK, I'm getting tired. I'm going to start a new tradition. I'll call it sleep, and do it every night. And if anyone tries to stop me from doing it, I will pelt them with melting ice cubes.
I started the day by learning something very different, about the workings and history of the J.C. Newman factory in Tampa.
Kevin and I arrived at the Newman factory promptly at 10am. Eric Newman was on a conference call, so Human Resources person Amy took us around on a tour of the factory. We saw the women using various machines to make the cigars. In fact, at the main machine, a very nice Cuban woman kept pausing and then operating her machine so that Amy could explain every part of how the tobacco in packed into the binder and then covered with the wrapper, all done by a machine! Very cool!
And we saw the room where the huge piles of short filler tobacco are kept, and the freezer where the cigars are sent to make sure there are no bugs.
Then we were left in the lobby, while Amy went to see if Eric was free to say hello. Well, he was free, and that was the longest hello ever. He spent more than an hour giving us the whole story of his family and their cigar company, showing us into more spots that Amy had not, and then, at the end, presenting us with AN ENTIRE BOX OF BRICK HOUSE CIGARS!!!!!!!!
I was in shock for several hours after that. I don't know what happened, other than that some small children with very little knives stole all my money, all my clothes, and left me in a dirty gutter with a grubby paper towel in my mouth.
Then, in David Copperfield fashion, I walked many many miles, and a relative who didn't know I existed handed over all her money and gave me a new name. Pernicious. Yes, I know that's a horrible name.
Lunch at Tampa Bay Brewing Company followed, at which we also smoked some machine made cigars we were also given, which were not bad for machine made cigars.
It was raining during all this, raining and raining and raining. But we kept going, and we got wet, and we didn't like it. Eventually we broke down and bought umbrellas.
We took the bus in both directions to Ybor City, which we also learned how to do, which was amazing.
Upon returning to our hotel, we got ready for our evening meeting up with a local SC guy at the Tampa Humidor.
Wow, the biggest humidor I've ever seen! Tampa Humidor is big, and really cool. The owner Mike is really nice. But what else is new? All these cigar people are sickeningly nice. I'm growing to hate that in them. Tom Ufer appeared and we had a great time hanging out with him for a bit.
The only drag was when we called for a taxi and one never came. Then I called this luxury towncar place and the guy was gonna charge me $20 and I said sure, then the original taxi finally came, and I had to call the luxury guy and cancel and he wasn't happy, the poor slug.
A great day. Another great day! I mean, Eric Newman gave us a box of Brick House! Their new brand which is a revival of a very old brand. You see, the brick house was the house in Hungary where Eric's great-grandmother used to take in boarders to make ends meet. It's the place where the whole thing started! And here this new brand, which is not readily available in NYC yet, and Eric gave us a whole box. I mean, he left us near the end and said "wait right here, I'm gonna get you a couple cigars" and then he hands us an entire box, and we're thinking, "um, are all these for us?"
And they were! Eric Newman gave us a box of Brick House. And we are going to disperse them as we choose, bwwwaaaaahhhhaaaaahhhhaaaaahh!
OK, I'm getting tired. I'm going to start a new tradition. I'll call it sleep, and do it every night. And if anyone tries to stop me from doing it, I will pelt them with melting ice cubes.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A quick note after a quiet day in Tampa
Ah, the Yankees were rained out tonight! My nephew Neil met us in Ybor City and we taxied to Steinbrenner Field, but after hot dogs and hamburgers and trips to the souvenir stand, we gave it up and went to Skippers with Neil's girlfriend for a drink.
Rain put the kibosh on lots today, but not on our spirit! We relaxed, texted, blogged, watched movies that Kevin brought - Iron Man and Out to Sea - and then tackled the bus to make our way to 7th avenue and 18th street. Hit up El Sol and Nicahabana - bought some torpedos in the former and some Salomones in the latter - and ended up at King Corona. Kevin smoked a Cain with some white wine and I went for a CAO MX2 and port. Neil met us and had a Chimay and a Java.
Tomorrow morning we leave bright and early to meet Eric Newman and tour the family factory near Ybor City, followed by some lunch there and maybe some laundry back at the hotel followed by meeting some local Tampa folks at Tampa Humidor in the evening.
Rain put the kibosh on lots today, but not on our spirit! We relaxed, texted, blogged, watched movies that Kevin brought - Iron Man and Out to Sea - and then tackled the bus to make our way to 7th avenue and 18th street. Hit up El Sol and Nicahabana - bought some torpedos in the former and some Salomones in the latter - and ended up at King Corona. Kevin smoked a Cain with some white wine and I went for a CAO MX2 and port. Neil met us and had a Chimay and a Java.
Tomorrow morning we leave bright and early to meet Eric Newman and tour the family factory near Ybor City, followed by some lunch there and maybe some laundry back at the hotel followed by meeting some local Tampa folks at Tampa Humidor in the evening.
Now only two amigos/Wednesday concluded
Bob announced to us that he regrettably needed to head home, and could not accompany us to dinner. Hugs were exchanged and Bob was on his way.
Now just two amigos, Kevin and I put together our evening plans: a taxi to Toast, a cigar and wine bar not far from USF, followed by dinner next door at a German restaurant, Mr. Dunderbaks.
Toast was empty, so we had the smoking room with its plush chairs and flatscreen tv all to ourselves. Kevin had a Riesling and I got a glass of a Shiraz/Malbec, selected cigars from the humidor - an Alec Bradley Maxx for me, Bucanero for Kevin. Hector, the bartender/host at Toast was very nice to us, setting us up with a Big East tournament game on the tv.
Walking into Mr. Dunderbaks was like coming home for me. German beer, sauerkraut, sausages, numerous different kinds of mustard, potato salads, even ketchup infused with garlic. The best restaurant experience I've had in Tampa so far! Another place I wouldn't mind returning to! Maybe Saturday night after I attend faire I'll meet up with Kevin and go to Dunderbaks and Toast again.
So this just about brings us up to the present. Kevin spoke with the desk person and they agreed to let him smoke in his room. The rain has stopped momentarily and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we might still be able to see the Yanks play the Braves tonight with my nephew Neil.
Now just two amigos, Kevin and I put together our evening plans: a taxi to Toast, a cigar and wine bar not far from USF, followed by dinner next door at a German restaurant, Mr. Dunderbaks.
Toast was empty, so we had the smoking room with its plush chairs and flatscreen tv all to ourselves. Kevin had a Riesling and I got a glass of a Shiraz/Malbec, selected cigars from the humidor - an Alec Bradley Maxx for me, Bucanero for Kevin. Hector, the bartender/host at Toast was very nice to us, setting us up with a Big East tournament game on the tv.
Walking into Mr. Dunderbaks was like coming home for me. German beer, sauerkraut, sausages, numerous different kinds of mustard, potato salads, even ketchup infused with garlic. The best restaurant experience I've had in Tampa so far! Another place I wouldn't mind returning to! Maybe Saturday night after I attend faire I'll meet up with Kevin and go to Dunderbaks and Toast again.
So this just about brings us up to the present. Kevin spoke with the desk person and they agreed to let him smoke in his room. The rain has stopped momentarily and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we might still be able to see the Yanks play the Braves tonight with my nephew Neil.
Three Amigos in Tampa, part two
Carmine's was all we could've hoped for. Bob had a Cuban sandwich, Kevin had a sandwich/soup combo and I had baked chicken with rice and black beans side. Bob kept joking that he was going to eat most of his sandwich and then send it back and have them bring him another one. We all agreed that that was a sound strategy.
We will be going back there! For one thing, none of us had their famous deviled crab. For another, it's just a really cool place.
Next up, we stopped in La Herencia de Cuba, a shop and lounge right on 7th avenue with a roller in the window and a bar in the back, with some comfortable couches in between. We walked into their humidor - all cigars rolled on premises. Kevin selected a medium torpedo, Bob and I selected medium fat robustos.
Very relaxing place, and Kevin and I started feeling like we were definitely on vacation now! Bob mentioned that he was not on vacation, but we agreed to share some of our "on vacation" feeling with him. Bob and Kevin were enjoying their cigars, but unfortunately mine, while constructed flawlessly, was incredibly hot and bitter on my tongue and lips. I persisted in trying to smoke it, but eventually had to give up. Too bad! but it didn't dampen my spirits one bit.
After leaving La Herencia, we decided to drive to Davis Island and check out Kuba Cigars, a lounge recommended to Bob by a colleague of his wife. Really nice place! Full bar, elegant brand-new looking decor and furniture, nice selection in the walk-in humidor. I picked out a Casa Magna Oscuro toro - don't remember what Bob and Kevin smoked - and a rootbeer soda and bottle of water, and settled down into the comfortable couch with MLB network on the large flatscreen tv in front of us.
Only getting 4 hours of sleep the night before started to catch up on me. I was feeling a bit sleepy! But I wasn't alone. We were all feeling that "middle of the afternoon" feeling. We decided to drive back to our hotel and take a break, get refreshed and then figure out what to do for dinner.
We will be going back there! For one thing, none of us had their famous deviled crab. For another, it's just a really cool place.
Next up, we stopped in La Herencia de Cuba, a shop and lounge right on 7th avenue with a roller in the window and a bar in the back, with some comfortable couches in between. We walked into their humidor - all cigars rolled on premises. Kevin selected a medium torpedo, Bob and I selected medium fat robustos.
Very relaxing place, and Kevin and I started feeling like we were definitely on vacation now! Bob mentioned that he was not on vacation, but we agreed to share some of our "on vacation" feeling with him. Bob and Kevin were enjoying their cigars, but unfortunately mine, while constructed flawlessly, was incredibly hot and bitter on my tongue and lips. I persisted in trying to smoke it, but eventually had to give up. Too bad! but it didn't dampen my spirits one bit.
After leaving La Herencia, we decided to drive to Davis Island and check out Kuba Cigars, a lounge recommended to Bob by a colleague of his wife. Really nice place! Full bar, elegant brand-new looking decor and furniture, nice selection in the walk-in humidor. I picked out a Casa Magna Oscuro toro - don't remember what Bob and Kevin smoked - and a rootbeer soda and bottle of water, and settled down into the comfortable couch with MLB network on the large flatscreen tv in front of us.
Only getting 4 hours of sleep the night before started to catch up on me. I was feeling a bit sleepy! But I wasn't alone. We were all feeling that "middle of the afternoon" feeling. We decided to drive back to our hotel and take a break, get refreshed and then figure out what to do for dinner.
three amigos in Tampa!
This morning rain is threatening and my partner Kevin is catching up on sleep, so let me catch up in what's been happening!
Bob and I met early on Wednesday to pick up Kevin at the airport. Kevin's flight was on time and then the question was whether Bob might stick around. It turned out things were quiet for his job so he was free to join us which made me very happy.
Our first stop was Ybor City. Tampa Sweethearts to be exact. Expecting to find a little storefront, I was awed by the large old factory building we found. But upon entering, we met friendly smiling faces, typical of the Fuente family and of cigar people in general.
In no time we were chatting and joking with lovely Darlene as she took us behind the scenes into the inner sanctum of Special limited samplers and hard to find Fuente goodies! And while my head was still reeling from having to choose from among all those treasures, the tour of the building began.
Darlene showed us the wall of photos of friends going back years and years while Bob was taken elsewhere to choose a Flor de Ybor sampler. Then she took us downstairs to the shipping dept and to a very special place, their walk-in humidor. It looked like a meat locker but instead of hams and sides of beef, it held rows and rows of stacks of cigars. A little like heaven to us!
At this point Arturo Jr took over the tour. He took us to another ancient looking below ground humidor and told us all about the history of Ybor City and the Fuente family in Tampa, all while moving thru the rest of the building and ending up in his office where he showed us beautiful artist renderings of the different buildings that have been home to Fuente cigars.
Our tour was sadly at an end. We made our purchases, exchanged hearty handshakes and left, feeling like we had made new friends!
It was time for lunch. On to Carmine's!
Bob and I met early on Wednesday to pick up Kevin at the airport. Kevin's flight was on time and then the question was whether Bob might stick around. It turned out things were quiet for his job so he was free to join us which made me very happy.
Our first stop was Ybor City. Tampa Sweethearts to be exact. Expecting to find a little storefront, I was awed by the large old factory building we found. But upon entering, we met friendly smiling faces, typical of the Fuente family and of cigar people in general.
In no time we were chatting and joking with lovely Darlene as she took us behind the scenes into the inner sanctum of Special limited samplers and hard to find Fuente goodies! And while my head was still reeling from having to choose from among all those treasures, the tour of the building began.
Darlene showed us the wall of photos of friends going back years and years while Bob was taken elsewhere to choose a Flor de Ybor sampler. Then she took us downstairs to the shipping dept and to a very special place, their walk-in humidor. It looked like a meat locker but instead of hams and sides of beef, it held rows and rows of stacks of cigars. A little like heaven to us!
At this point Arturo Jr took over the tour. He took us to another ancient looking below ground humidor and told us all about the history of Ybor City and the Fuente family in Tampa, all while moving thru the rest of the building and ending up in his office where he showed us beautiful artist renderings of the different buildings that have been home to Fuente cigars.
Our tour was sadly at an end. We made our purchases, exchanged hearty handshakes and left, feeling like we had made new friends!
It was time for lunch. On to Carmine's!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
do what you've never done before
Two days of mostly new experiences.- even the old ones were new!
As in, seeing my old friend Bob, who is a different person but still the same guy I grew up around the corner from all those years ago in New Jersey.
We went to the Dali museum on Tuesday first. And I saw Dali in a new light, marveling at many things like his hologram of Alice Cooper and the hallucinogenic toreadors, a mammoth work rich with ideas and meanings.
Then we went to an Italian deli called Mazzaro's for lunch. I learned what Spanish moss is there was some of it attached to a tree in the deli's parking lot. The sausage and pepper heroes and salads full of fennel and sun-dried tomatoes were really good!
Next Bob drove me to one of his old favorite hangouts down in St Pete Beach, John's Pass, where we saw tourist-fishermen and women unloading their bounty, and then unexpectedly found a cigar shop where a father and son were rolling and a himidor filled with their works. This included elusive Candelas, cigars with green wrappers. We both bought cigars.
It was time to take a break! We drove back to Bob's hotel for cocktail hour.And we mapped out the rest of our day: dinner at a Cuban restaurant and then a visit to King Corona Cigar Lounge in Ybor City.
Dinner was plentiful and tasty! And King Corona was just right! My first cigar in Ybor was a Primo del Rey and Bob smoked an Arturo Fuente. We paired our cigars w a nice port.
Bob was staying over across the street from my hotel, so we agreed to meet the following morning for breakfast. Bob also offered to go with me to pick up Kevin Wednesday morning, which was tremendously generous of him but typical of the new person I have known for so long!
Of course we talked all day long! I told him about my cookies which I plan to sell and he told me how he makes sausage. We caught up on family stuff and lots of other stuff!
As in, seeing my old friend Bob, who is a different person but still the same guy I grew up around the corner from all those years ago in New Jersey.
We went to the Dali museum on Tuesday first. And I saw Dali in a new light, marveling at many things like his hologram of Alice Cooper and the hallucinogenic toreadors, a mammoth work rich with ideas and meanings.
Then we went to an Italian deli called Mazzaro's for lunch. I learned what Spanish moss is there was some of it attached to a tree in the deli's parking lot. The sausage and pepper heroes and salads full of fennel and sun-dried tomatoes were really good!
Next Bob drove me to one of his old favorite hangouts down in St Pete Beach, John's Pass, where we saw tourist-fishermen and women unloading their bounty, and then unexpectedly found a cigar shop where a father and son were rolling and a himidor filled with their works. This included elusive Candelas, cigars with green wrappers. We both bought cigars.
It was time to take a break! We drove back to Bob's hotel for cocktail hour.And we mapped out the rest of our day: dinner at a Cuban restaurant and then a visit to King Corona Cigar Lounge in Ybor City.
Dinner was plentiful and tasty! And King Corona was just right! My first cigar in Ybor was a Primo del Rey and Bob smoked an Arturo Fuente. We paired our cigars w a nice port.
Bob was staying over across the street from my hotel, so we agreed to meet the following morning for breakfast. Bob also offered to go with me to pick up Kevin Wednesday morning, which was tremendously generous of him but typical of the new person I have known for so long!
Of course we talked all day long! I told him about my cookies which I plan to sell and he told me how he makes sausage. We caught up on family stuff and lots of other stuff!
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