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Remember not too long ago when cigars were chic? Fly girls in their twenties were smokin’ ’em. Now, cigars are not cool again, so real cigar smokers are forced to gather in spots like the cigar shop near 57th street on 6th Avenue. Some crusty-lookin, but happy old-school dudes in there, man:

7 comments

1 Chyll Will   ~  Jan 19, 2011 1:11 pm

Meh, let em have their fun. They're the real cigar folk, not doing it to be cool.

My producing partner shot an internet commercial for a spot on w 29th and 7th. I was there more as moral support, because I slept through the whole thing after working a 24 hour gig right before it. It was here that I also had my Coffee Incident, but I won't get into that...

2 Sliced Bread   ~  Jan 19, 2011 1:32 pm

I'm real cigar folk. Or was. Smoked two, or more a day for weeks at a time in my 20s. Less in my 30s - especially after I got married. Now that I'm in my 40s, I'm slowing down with the cigars, almost to a stop. I had a one or two cigar a week habit going until about 6-8 months ago. I have a long drive home from the city, and loved burning one on the ride home in the afternoons. A little sports talk radio, some tunes, a good cigar, nice ride.

Now I'm down to maybe one a month. I still very much enjoy them, but I'm just trying to be more healthy. And as I've posted here before, you can't get away with too much re: your health after you turn 40. Your body physically tells you it's time to quit some of the habits you enjoyed as a younger man.

I was never into cigar bars, or the cigar "scene" either. I had a few friends who were into them, and we enjoyed them together - but for the past ten years or more I've mostly smoked alone. It's more of a solitary pleasure for me these days. I can't smoke in front of my sons because they get on my case. It's a turn off for them, and confusing, because I tell them how bad it is. Now I tell them, they're okay on special occasions. Just don't make a habit of them.

3 Matt Blankman   ~  Jan 19, 2011 2:02 pm

I love cigars and I never get a chance to smoke 'em anymore. I can't smoke in my apartment and I rarely have time for a leisurely stroll and a stogie. The best thing about them becoming less trendy again is that the prices came back to earth a little.

4 Alex Belth   ~  Jan 19, 2011 2:10 pm

3) Makes sense, the price coming down. I have adopted a fondness for them because an older guy I've become friendly with smokes em and so anyt time I smell a stogie I think of my pal.

5 Sliced Bread   ~  Jan 19, 2011 2:18 pm

3] especially if you don't buy 'em in NYC.

6 rbj   ~  Jan 19, 2011 2:30 pm

[2] Ain't it the truth. I've had more problems post 40 than all the years before, combined. And I'm only 46.

Did smoke cigars briefly 20 years ago, but was never really able to get into it. I don't have a refined palate, so more sophisticated tastes just go by, same with wine. Besides, I am allergic to the smoke.

OT, Alphonso Soriano's mom died (via David Pinto).

7 Raf   ~  Jan 19, 2011 7:47 pm

Your body physically tells you it’s time to quit some of the habits you enjoyed as a younger man.

I'd better load up on beer and wings while I can then.

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