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Fall 1997
Volume II
Issue 4
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SMOKIN'
IN CHICAGO
by Donald Skoog
The term "smoke filled room" could have been coined in Chicago. It was here that the deal was cut to make Lincoln the Republican presidential nominee. It was here that The Daley crushed a resolution at a Democratic convention and A Daley steered Bill Clinton to reelection at another. No hint of scandal has ever tainted either Daley, but deals get made and things get done in Chicago.
Our, um... irregularities.. have always been on the surface, unlike in that city to the east. We have traded votes for garbage pickup and cash for street cleaning. We have watched the city council slice up the pie, each ward clawing for the biggest piece. This is democracy. Our politics are more interesting than any soap opera and we would watch with frank admiration as our people told their whoppers to the judge. These were our crooks. They come from our hoods, we knew their families, and we loved them.
But Chicago's achievements, despite its reputation, are not based on crime but on effort. Our motto, 'The City That Works' is a double entendre that is true in both senses. Chicago's flamboyant legacy was the vision of legendary men financiers, bootleggers, smugglers, builders, architects, politicians, and journalists - most of whom had cigars in their mouths. But the people who hauled the bricks and molded the steel smoked pipes. It was cheaper. And the city that rose from the ashes in 1871 now has, arguably, the most beautiful skyline in the world. Chicago is a center of trade and commerce, art and theater. She is a steel and glass lady that rises gloriously on the shores of Lake Michigan, but her roots are showing.
The following information is a summary of Chicago's Cigar Scene from SMOKE's original article. For the full text of this article, see the Fall '97 issue of SMOKE magazine - available at a tobacconist near you.
Name:
IWAN RIES & CO.
The store stocks 98 brands of cigars, including their house brand, Flor de Canario, which comes in 10 sizes, 10,000 pipes, and a large selection of pipe tobacco from around the world. Their most popular house blends, Three
Star and Private Blend, are very good, but there are 1 8 or 1 9 others to choose from. I personally recommend the 1 Q, British Medium, and BCA blends, but try them for yourself. All are available to sample at the store. Also, check out their museum. Among the many pipes you will find an example of tobacco money, once owned by George Washington.
Name:
RUBOVITS CIGARS
'Authentic' is the word that comes to mind. Rubovits is not a glitzy reproduction of a classic tobacco retailer - it's the real thing. There are also a lot to choose from here. By dealing directly with the factories,
they can offer many great, fresh cigars at a good price. Rubovits also has 1O house blends of pipe tobacco prepared on site.
Name:
JACK SCHWARTZ IMPORTER
This is the place to buy the
classics. Don't look for the newer brands here
but if you are trying to find that hard-to-get
Fuentes, call Schwartz. If they don't have it -
nobody does. Also try their house brand
Westminster line. Villazon has been making
them for Jack Schwartz Importer for more than
30 years. They come in 7 sizes, and each has an
Ecuadorian wrap and Honduran filler. Unique
and delicious.
Name:
OLD CHICAGO SMOKESHOP
These guys have the largest variety of smokes in the city, including a large selection of established brands, new choices and lots of bundles. Try the Butera Royal Vintage line ( also available at lwan Ries & Co.).
Made in The Dominican Republic, they come in 7 sizes. Each of these great cigars has six different types of tobacco from three different
countries. They are medium body cigars and are surprisingly satisfying. But there is much more to choose from. Also, the store policy is buy five and get the sixth one free. After you have made your purchases, hang out for awhile - this is a great place to talk tobacco.
Continued on next page...
For the full text of this article, see the current issue of SMOKE magazine -
available at a tobacconist near you.
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