Cool!
Month: February 2008
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Evidently, someone doesn’t like me.
Seeing as I’m Google’s #1-ranked blogger for most terms related to the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid, I tried linking my “Chicago 2016” category page to Wikipedia’s entry for the bid as an external link.
It was deleted. Twice.
Here’s a question for you: DanielHonigman.com gets all sorts of visits from folks looking for information about the bid, and I’d like to think it’s a good resources for them. Was it wrong for me to try to promote my page on Wikipedia as a source? If not, was it wrong for it to be deleted? The other two external links up there are the official Chicago 2016 committee page and the Chicago African American Olympic Committee page.
I mean, if I didn’t regularly add bid-related content from various news sources, I wouldn’t have added it. What do you think?
It looks like New York City’s upper west side just lost even more of its personality.
What a shame. I used to go here with my parents all the time, and Mollie and I were able to hit it up on her first trip to NYC. Cafe LaFortuna, you’ll be missed!
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Last week, it was reported that Chicago 2016 chairman Patrick Ryan met with International Olympic Committee member Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait in early February.
According to the IOC’s rules of conduct, bid city officials can’t meet with IOC members. At all.
Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky said Ryan, who serves as chair for Northwestern University’s board of trustees, traveled to Qatar and Kuwait as an emissary for the university’s new Qatar campus and on business for Aon Corp., of which he is executive chairman.
Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune reports that the IOC has plans to look into the matter, but they don’t seem to think it’s an issue.
While this may not mean anything in the long run, why risk it? There are seven other NU board members and dozens of trustees. Couldn’t anyone else have gone?
What do you think?
(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)
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Brand: Nat Sherman
Line: Metropolitan Maduro Selection
Vitola: University (Toro) 6 x 50
Origin: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Body: Medium-to-full
Strength: Medium-to-full
Box Price: $80.08 (Box of 25)
Last week, I reviewed the Nat Sherman Metropolitan Selection. To round out the Nat Shermans, I bring you its darker Sicilian cousin — or, in this case, its Connecticut Broadleaf-wrapped cousin — the Metropolitan Maduro. (Thanks to Mike from Nat’s.)
Pre-light, the cigar was as subtle as its cousins. It smelled a touch spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. In fact, I was struck by its sweetness. Upon lighting up, I noticed hints of cinnamon and oak, but as I progressed through the cigar, it got a bit peppery. But for a Broadleaf, I wasn’t hit in the face. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised; it is a Nat Sherman.
Like the other Nats, the construction was quite good. With Broadleaf wrappers, I’ve found, I’ll sometimes get uneven burns. The Maduro burned evenly and didn’t go out once.
Verdict: Like the Metropolitan and Host selections, the Maduro is consistent throughout. It’s not overly complex, and its sweetness enhances the taste, rounding out the sharpness you would expect from a maduro. But if you like your cigars dark, this one is not for you. It would be a good beginner’s stogie, however.
Similar cigars: I’d compare this to the Occidental Reserve Double Maduro.
(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)
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Brand: Fittipaldi
Line: Gold
Vitola: Toro 6 x 50
Origin: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Body: Medium
Strength: Medium
Box Price: $151.69 (Box of 25)
I happened to be doing a search recently for small, independent cigar brands, when I ran into this one. I had never heard of Fittipaldi Cigars before, but I figured I’d give it a try.
Since they’re named for Emerson Fittipaldi, one of the top Formula One drivers of the 20th century, it was no surprise to learn these cigars are mainly sold in Europe. (He was F-1 world champion twice in the 1970s, and he even won the Indianapolis 500 twice during the 90s.) In 1997, after his career was over, Fittipaldi, a longtime cigar smoker, teamed up with cigar maker Augusto Reyes, who would oversee Fittipaldi’s stogie production. (Thanks to Josh at Arango Cigar Co. in nearby Northbrook, Ill., for sending me this one; Arango oversees Fittipaldi distribution in the U.S.)
The Fittipaldi Gold a handsome cigar; it’s not toothy, and it has a good-looking band that features dual checkered flags. Pre-light, I noticed the Gold was a complex cigar, as it was chocolaty, with hints of cinnamon. I know I’d be in for a wild ride.
Once I lit up, I noticed the cinnamon went away. The chocolate stayed, and it was joined by hints of leather and coffee. I was quite pleased by the cigar’s complexity.
The Fittipaldi Gold had an awesome draw, feel and burn, but I noticed the ash kept falling off after about an inch and a half or so. Perhaps this isn’t a big deal to you, but I’m an ash-hole; I like to see how big my butt can get. This, I can honestly say, was the only disappointing part of the cigar.
Verdict: Complex, complex smoke. Tasty, and good. It’s a bit hard to find in the states, but it’s worth digging around for a couple.
Similar cigars: The Connecticut/Dominican version of a Carlos Torano Exodus 1959. (I just love those Chocolate flavors!)
(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)
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Brand: Nat Sherman
Line: Metropolitan Selection
Vitola: University (Toro) 6 x 50
Origin: Dominican
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Body: Medium-to-full
Strength: Medium-to-full
Box Price: $79.95 (Box of 25)
Next up for Nat Sherman: its Metropolitan line. (Thanks, once again, to Mike Holba from Nat’s for sending me this one.)
The Metropolitan is one of Nat’s best-selling lines, and I can see why. It’ll start you off with a nice toasty flavor, but as you progress through the cigar, you’ll get hints of coffee a touch of spice. It’s not as sweet as its brother, the Host; it’s a bit more balanced, and quite sophisticated.
I did notice, however, that one of the Metropolitans started to fall apart towards the head, mainly around the band. The second Metropolitan I smoked, however, did not.
Verdict: Once again, a consistent smoke throughout with the taste of a slightly more expensive cigar. I paired this one with a Stella Artois — I like some cigars with beer; sue me — as it’s a good smoke to have after a heavy dinner. (I stay away from heavy, heavy smokes after big meals.) As I said earlier, there were some structural issues with one of the cigars, but you may find there aren’t any. Either way, I wouldn’t let this scare me from buying a few.
Similar cigars: I’d compare this to the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real.
(Note: This review originally appeared on CigarJack.)
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Brand: Nat Sherman
Line: Host Selection
Vitola: Harrington (Corona) 6 x 46
Origin: Honduran
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Body: Mild-to-medium
Strength: Mild
Box Price: $74.95 (Box of 25)
Man, it’s been a while since I’ve smoked a Nat Sherman Host. These take me back five years, to the summer after my freshman year of college. I used to stop by here perhaps once a week to pick up a couple of stogies for the week. It’s amazing what can happen in five years, no? (I’ll be reviewing each of the company’s three main lines over the next several weeks. Thanks to Mike Holba from Nat’s for sending them out to me.)
Nat Sherman, located near the main branch of the New York Public Library in Manhattan (remember that building at the very beginning of Ghostbusters? That’s the one.), is one of the oldest tobacconists in the city. The store has been open for a while, but for me, the brand has always had a certain allure and classiness about it. Speaking of which, former president Bill Clinton is known to have enjoyed a Trafalgar No. 4 every once in a while. (Consequently, Monica may have as well…)
Anyhow, the Host is a handsome cigar, smooth in texture, with Nat’s Sherman signature clock adorning its red, green and gold band.
Taste-wise, it’s a mild-bodied cigar, but it doesn’t fall short in flavor. It’s sweet–almost caramel-flavored–but not overpoweringly so, and after about an inch or so, I noticed hints of almond. The sweet and nutty flavors continued all the way down the cigar and, if anything, I noticed the cigar got even sweeter into the second half.
The Host had a steady, even burn and a full draw throughout, and I didn’t have to relight the cigar. The Harrington, which is a Corona-sized cigar, took me about an hour and a half to finish.
Verdict: It’s a consistent smoke throughout with the taste of a five- or six-dollar cigar. At only a couple of bucks apiece, however, the Host is one of the better deals you’ll find in New York. I’d pair this one with a cup of coffee, as it’s a stellar morning smoke. I smoked it down to the nub. You probably will too.
Similar cigars: Almost A dead ringer for the Macanudo Gold.