Stogie Guys Friday Sampler XXVIII

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a sampler of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) In an ugly occurrence that demonstrates the most awful effect of smoking bans – giving more power to the government – Pittsburgh police last week tasered a man who was smoking in a bus terminal. The 50-year-old no doubt crossed the line when he blew smoke in the officer’s face in protest of the law, but that’s what you get when you turn otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals.

2) Cigar smokers in the Tampa area will get a chance March 3 to meet manufacturers, sample fine stogies, and help fight cerebral palsy. The Achieve Foundation is putting on the sixth annual Cigar City Celebration at the Cuban Center in Tampa’s famed Ybor City district. A $125 ticket includes cigars, food, drinks, and entertainment. Check Achieve’s website for more information on this worthy event.

3) Lately we’ve been spending more time west of the Potomac river since our cigar smoking opportunities in DC have been greatly limited by Washington’s extensive smoking ban. Sadly, Virginia may not be the refuge we had hoped. The State Senate suddenly seems poised to pass an indoor smoking ban of its own. Why are our delegates in Richmond taking the lead from those anti-freedom morons across the river? We have no idea!

4) When your city’s NFL team makes it to the Super Bowl for the first time in over two decades, it usually means a boon for the local sports bars. Unfortunately in Chicago, the Windy City’s fascist smoking ban has meant that business is bad, even though Da Bears have won their way to Super Bowl XLI. The good news? Some surrounding towns have temporarily repealed their smoking bans. Unfortunately, on March 15 a Cook County-wide ban will make any temporary repeals irrelevant.

–The Stogie Guys