Tonight I finished my review of the Amilcar Perez Castro 12 cigar sampler with the Rocky Patel Vudu. In the past two weeks I’ve been able to review the four cigars featured in the sampler, the Patel Bro’s Next Generation, Rocky Patel Famous Signature, Rocky Patel 1961, and now the Vudu. Overall, it has been an excellent sampler for the money, and I highly recommend heading over to Famous Smokes and buying it. The two best sticks in the sampler were easily the Next Generation and the Vudu.
On the menu musically tonight was Pink Martini (my favorite), Frank Sinatra, some old school Steven Curtis Chapman, and Melody Gardot. The Vudu that I smoked tonight was really excellent and featured a flavor profile of natural tobacco, rich earthy sweetness, and a hint of berry early on (as mentioned in the Toasted Foot review of this cigar).
Specifics for this blend:
Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction:
This is for the most part a beautiful cigar. The Mexican Maduro wrapper is a deep, rich brown. This stick had two noticeable blemishes, but I haven’t found that to be characteristic of this line in general. I’m really not a big fan of the label. It is simply too dark to make out the words very distinctly (I still don’t know what it says underneath “Vudu”). The draw is really excellent, and the stick has a springy feel. Throughout the cigar, the burn was pretty bad. I didn’t ash the cigar for the entire first third of the smoke, and it never really leveled out, so it required a few retouches. The ash was a salt and pepper mix.
Taste & Smoking Characteristics:
This cigar opens with a big spice that lessens during the first few minutes of the smoke. Flavors range from natural tobacco with a rich, earthy sweetness. I don’t sense the berry flavor to the same degree that Toasted Foot does, but there is a slight, discernible berry impression early on. The rich, earthy aroma of the Mexican Maduro wrapper compliments the taste very well. The richness of the smoke reminds me a lot of the CAO Italia, another excellent cigar that I recommended last summer. The second third of the cigar brings a moderation of all of the flavors, and a total disappearance of the spice, which returned in full force in the last third.
Conclusion: A-
This cigar was a real pleasure to smoke, and has been every time I’ve had it. This cigar runs about $4 a stick, and I recommend giving it a try, whatever your tastes.
Tonight I reviewed the Rocky Patel 1961. This blend was created to commemorate the year Rocky Patel was born, and I found it to be a medium bodied smoke. Music tonight consisted mainly of hip-hop and alternative/rock: Kid Cudi (“Day and Night”), Kanye West (“Love Lockdown”), John Mayer (“Neon”), Jay-Z (“Run This Town”), Gym Class Heroes, and Flyleaf. Not my usual mix, but I found it to be necessary to have some interesting music on to balance out this decidedly uninteresting cigar. I didn’t have my camera, or even my phone on hand so I ended up using a friend’s Macbook to get some shots.
Specifics
Wrapper: Habano (Ecuador)
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction:
Fair. The rich brown of the habano wrapper is attractive, and the double-label is, after closer inspection, very detailed and attractive. “1961” is prominently displayed, and below it is a dark red band with the Rocky Patel logo displayed in black. Aside from that, this cigar is far from exceptional. It had a hard time holding an ash, and the construction needed touch ups multiple times. Draw was a bit too loose, which is surprising because in my experience Rocky Patel cigars are generally very solid when it comes to delivering a very comfortable draw.
Smoking Characteristics & Taste:
The first third of this stick is hard to describe, mainly because I spent most of the first third trying to gather a discernable flavor profile. The main flavor is a natural tobacco taste, a bit of spice, and a hint of sweetness. Pleasant, but not very notable. On a positive note, this cigar produced large plumes of very smooth smoke consistently throughout.
The second third of this stick is a bit more satisfying. Still the natural tobacco flavor, but a very noticeable cocoa flavor that is very enjoyable. A few minutes later the cocoa becomes more of a semi sweet—not unenjoyable, but kind of sad. The final third of this cigar was more of the same story. Natural tobacco and a bit of cocoa.
Conclusion: B-
Not a bad cigar, per-se, but this really seems like a RP cigar trying to be the Patel Bros Next Generation (a GREAT cigar). I’m not going to be rushing to pick up more of these anytime soon.
The Rocky Patel Famous Signature is a joint venture between Rocky Patel, Amilcar P. Castro, and Famous Smoke Shop. I got this cigar as part of the Amilcar Perez 12 cigar sampler, which I would highly recommend looking at and buying. This cigar is generally described as a medium-full bodied cigar, though I found it to be full bodied. While reviewing this cigar, I gave blind tasting a try – lights off, so I could get a better sense for the taste. Music for this smoke was a mix of Pink Martini, Frank Sinatra, and Putumayo: Cuba – definitely an album to give a listen to and explore. For other great music to listen to while smoking, check out the Aspiring Gentleman’s article seriesMusic to Imbibe In.
Specifications for this blend:
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Habano
Appearance and Construction:
Fair. A few noticeable veins. The label, in my opinion, is not very attractive. There are a few minor blemish. On an upnote, the draw is, as is usually with Rocky Patel cigars, excellent. The wrapper is dark brown – a bit lighter than the image you will find on Famous Cigars.
The cigar review notepad
Smoking Characteristics and Taste:
1/3: This cigar kicks off with a pretty good deal of spice, though it is initially medium-full bodied. Opening tastes are spice, black pepper, and natural tobacco. Certainly not the smoothest cigar, but I enjoy the spice and the complexity.
2/3: The spice pulls back for a minute or two, but is back stronger than before–a bit too much for me, honestly. This cigar reminds me a bit of the Perdomo Habano, though I think the Habano is a bit more well-balanced. The spice continually builds and even becomes a bit acidic. I hope it backs off a bit.
3/3: By the last third of this cigar, I’m starting to really feel the tobacco. This is really a cigar to take slow. Smoke it too quickly and the smoke will heat up. The heat ended up becoming a pretty big problem, so I let the cigar rest earlier than usual.
The innovative dress-shoe cigar holder
Conclusion: C+
This isn’t a bad cigar, but it definitely isn’t my favorite flavor/strength profile. Main flavor notes here are natural tobacco and black pepper behind it. If this is a flavor profile you are interested though, this cigar is definitely worth a try. I’m definitely a much bigger fan of the Vudu and the Patel Bro’s Next Generation (you can find that reviewed here).
Tonight I smoked a Patel Bros Next Generation that I recently purchased in the Rocky Patel & Amilcar Perez 12 cigar sampler for just $20. So far I’ve had two: the Vudu and tonight the Next Generation. I wasn’t planning on reviewing this cigar until I started smoking it and was completely blown away.
Here are the specifications for this blend:
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Wrapper: Habano
Appearance and Construction:
The habano wrapper, as described on Famous-Smokes is a rich brown with a reddish hue. There are very few noticeable veins, the texture is smooth, and the cigar is packed firmly, but not tightly. After clipping the cigar using a straight cut, the draw is perfect. The label is sharp and attractive.
Great construction – I only ashed this cigar twice
Smoking Characteristics and Taste:
This cigar produces thick smoke, and throughout the hour-long smoke I found that it didn’t burn hot. Construction throughout the smoke was completely flawless. What I found to be most compelling about this cigar, though, were the distinct tastes that were noticeable in the medium bodied smoke. The cigar kicked off with a bit of spice, and tastes of wood, coffee, and dark chocolate. Very rich and very enjoyable. The second third of the cigar took on more woodiness and a bit of leather. In the final third, the spice really drew back to a sweet woodiness. I wouldn’t have minded returning to the first two thirds, but I was still enjoying the cigar immensely.
It was a shame to put this cigar down.
Conclusion: A
This was, hands down, a great cigar that I would highly recommend. Perfect construction, great taste—a great experience. Pick some of these cigars up sometime. I would highly recommend checking out the 8-cigar sampler for just $15. You can find that here.
About two weeks ago I was surprised to open my email account and find an email from Barry (from acigarsmoker.com) inviting me to the La Aurora launch event at Nat Sherman in Manhattan. The event took place from 5:00pm – 9:00pm last Thursday and featured a live jazz band, samples of Guillermo Leon’s new cigar, hors d’oeuvres, and a rum pairing that complemented the La Aurora cigar perfectly. Aside from getting to finally meet Barry, I was also able to meet Guillermo Leon, John from WellCapped, and Lindsay (aka “The Cigar Chick“).
Barry from acigarsmoker
The atmosphere at Nat Sherman was simply beautiful: two floors of smoking lounge, welcoming staff, and a jazz band upstairs playing for all of the guests. Cigar smokers from all New York and everywhere else showed up, hung their jackets, and enjoyed conversation over the excellent cigars.
Guillermo Leon talks cigars
With respect to the cigar specifically, the official Nat Sherman event recap below does a better job describing the cigar, but here is the basic breakdown:
Luckily, I was able to take a few photos during the course of the night, including one of Barry and Guillermo Leon. On another exciting note, I also met a few managers from Nat Sherman and was able to introduce FineTobaccoNYC and even float the idea of holding an event at Nat Sherman’s sometime soon.
Below is the official Nat Sherman event recap:
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Nat Sherman hosted an evening of live jazz music, cocktails, cigars and
hors d’oeuvres catered by celebrity chef Oliver Cheng. The event
celebrated the new Guillermo Leon cigars by La Aurora, which brings a
complex and medium-to-full bodied experience.
Guests tasted traditional Presidente Beer and Rum Zafra Master Reserve 21
year aged while they enjoyed upbeat trumpet melodies by jazz player
Waldron Ricks while discovering La Aurora’s new sumptuous cigar flavors.
León says, “Obviously, this cigar is personal for me. It is part of my
family’s legacy for the past 107 years. In this cigar, I wanted something
with deep complexity yet also a stronger smoke than most of our offerings.
I think this is something that will please today’s smokers.”
The Guillermo León sports a Habana wrapper grown in Ecuador, over a double
binder of both Corojo for strength and Cameroon for sweetness. The
fillers are from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Nicaragua and Brazil. The
Guillermo León is offered in 4 sizes: a Corona (5.5 x 42), a Gran Corona
(6 x 47), a Belicoso (6.25 x 52) and a Gran Toro (6 x 58). The MSRP,
excluding state taxes, ranges from $7.60 for the corona to $9.80 for the
Gran Toro.
Nestled on 7th street in Manhattan’s picturesque Lower East Side is Velvet Cigar, an oasis for the new and experienced cigar smoker. On any given night of the week, a visitor to Velvet Cigar is likely to experience what I have on many occasions. Walking in the door, I am met with the familiar aroma of fine tobacco, the din of friendly conversation, and a welcoming staff. A brief look around reveals exposed brick walls that provide a classic backdrop to dark mahogany wood tones, rustic leather chairs, and dim candles flickering around the room. The lounge could be considered small compared to Manhattan’s larger lounges, but don’t let the lounge’s modest 400 sq. ft. of real estate fool you – Velvet’s relaxed atmosphere is hard to beat. The lounge and its unique boutique blend cigars has won high praise from media outlets like Yelp, Time Out NY, Affluence, MartiniBoys, and StogieReview.com, to name a few.
Dan Bsharat – Managing Partner at Velvet Cigar
I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a cigar and conversation with Dan Bsharat, Managing Partner of Velvet, and he described for me a bit of the lounge’s history and his business philosophy. I also had a chance to light up a cigar from Velvet’s new line, the Bowery – more on that later.
Dan started by telling me a bit about the history of the lounge. Velvet Cigar Lounge existed by the same name before Dan and his business partners purchased the lounge in 2005. After making Velvet a favorite place to hang out, they were inspired to consider buying the lounge after an employee overheard Dan complimenting the lounge’s natural charm. The employee mentioned that the lounge was on the market, and the seed was planted. In Velvet, Dan and his partners saw a golden opportunity because the lounge exemplified cigar culture and the perfect hang out. Soon after, they had purchased the lounge that they now own today.
Dan described the philosophy behind Velvet as a “new approach to cigar smoking for a younger generation.” He said that Velvet approaches cigar smoking differently, and that the boutique blends offer paradigms of different cigar tastes by using a variety of wrappers.
Just as inviting as the lounge’s warm environment are the humidors that line the high-seated bar. Although Velvet does have a small selection of big-brand cigars, Dan said that the main focus is on the boutique blend, which until recently featured three main lines named after famous NYC city areas: the Tomkins, Astor, and Cooper blend. These Dominican blends are made by a family owned farm in the Vila Gonzalez region and rolled in New York.
The most recent addition to the Velvet boutique arsenal is the “Bowery” line, named after the famous lower east side neighborhood that Dan said has recently experienced “a revival.” Although new on the scene, the Bowery is already Dan’s favorite boutique blend (and I must admit the same is true for me after trying each line).
Made in the same Nicaraguan factory that produces quality cigars for Rocky Patel, the Bowery is a real piece of artwork. The Bowery features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos for fillers, all rolled and produced in a classic box-press style. The Bowery comes in four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and Churchill, and is available in packs of 6 and boxes of 20 online and in-store.
"The Bowery"
As I mentioned, during my interview with Dan, I had the opportunity to enjoy my third Bowery (Churchill), and whenever possible I jotted down a few notes for a quick review. Fortunately, I have realized since the interview that notes on the cigar were not really necessary as it had a distinct flavor profile that provided for a memorable smoke. Below is my review of the cigar:
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Pre-light: There really is no other way to say it: the Bowery is a beautiful cigar. The dark Habano wrapper is complimented perfectly by the dark red and gold label that displays the Velvet logo. Admittedly, I’ve only had three of these sticks so far, but from what I’ve observed construction has been impeccable – well packed, no serious vein issues, and no visual blemishes. The foot of the cigarsmells of mocha, and a hint of sweetness.
Smoking characteristics: The draw was just about right – a tiny bit tight, but still a great amount of smoke. This stick is a medium-full bodied smoke, though for the most part I found it to be medium.
Flavor: To me, the first two third of this cigar are the most distinct. This cigar opened up with tastes of spice, mocha, and woodiness. I found that the spice on this particular cigar started off pretty strong, but as I started 2/3 the spiciness faded into the background while the mocha and woodiness started to really stand out. From there the stick smoked perfectly. During the end of 2/3 and beginning of 3/3 I noticed a bit of leather coming through along with pepper. Ultimately, the flavor profile on this cigar has really captured me – it is simply a delicious stick.
Overall impression: This cigar is beautiful, well constructed, and packs a great and distinctive taste. I didn’t have any burn issues during the smoke, and enjoyed it all of the way through. Even though this particular line is more expensive than Velvet’s other blends, this will probably be my standard pick during my visits to Velvet.
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I’ve always enjoyed business and love to see thriving new organizations expand, so after visiting Velvet at least a dozen times in the past two years, one of the biggest questions I had for Dan near the end of the interview was “where does Velvet go from here?” Taking a moment to think, he cracked a smile and said that “expansion is on the table” and that another lounge is a “possible option.” He went on to explain, however, that the owners of Velvet are focusing on expanding their business contacts and looking for ways to network around the city to make their cigars more widely available. As I’m not always near the Lower East Side, I hope he makes it happen!
One Classy Establishment
If you haven’t visited Velvet cigars, then put it high on your priority of night life attractions to see in New York City! The Bowery can be found for order at Velvet Lounge and online at the Velvet Cigar site.
Last night, FineTobaccoNYC hosted the first Fall smoke of the season at Velvet Cigars on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. By the day before the event, 17 people from all over New York City had RSVPd for the event, and 14 showed up. So there were plenty of people to meet, and even more conversations to have! The event was officially scheduled to run from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, but FineTobaccoNYC event guests stayed much later enjoying cigars, wine, and the beautiful atmosphere set by Velvet’s gorgeous lounge.
Full house! – click to enlarge
Cigars making an appearance last night were mainly Velvet’s boutique blends, although some other cigars from Rocky Patel and Davidoff were present. The cigar of the night was definitely Velvet’s new house blend, the “Bowery” (pictured below) that features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos for fillers, all rolled and produced in a classic box-press style. But, the Bowery is a Maduro cigar, so many guests started with either the Cooper or Astor cigars. Also on hand last night were a variety of wines and beers that guests brought to share.
The Bowery
Among other things, the crisp Fall night was made special by Velvet’s incredible hospitality. For the FTNYC event, Velvet dropped the $8 corking fee and offered four separate raffles. Three of the raffles were for two packs of Velvet cigars, and the grand finale raffle was for a slick, stainless steel double-guillotine cigar cutter.
Personally, I enjoyed the event most because of the new friends I was able to make. It was fun to meet one of the first guests, Dan from Davidoff uptown and hear his story of falling in love with cigars and moving to New York City. I also met a few customers who didn’t know about FineTobaccoNYC and was able to share a bit of my passion for cigars and helping to sustain the New York City cigar culture.
As the later hours of the night approached, guests began to say their farewells and head out the front door and into the chilly Lower East Side night. The event was a great success: new and old friends, cigars, and great conversation. This is what cigars are all about!
You can find the full slideshow of this event here (thanks to Christina Carter for gracing us with the use of her awesome camera!)
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If you are interested in attending a free FineTobaccoNYC event, click here for more information! Events are free, but you must sign up!
Today was my 22nd birthday. I spent my day (9am – 11:00pm) busy with classes, work, and then debate practice. As I was heading back to my apartment from the Fulton St. subway stop, I decided to drop by Cyber Coffee and Cigar Bar. After taking a look at the available sticks, I decided to go with a “Cigar Landing” house blend (the cafe has loose ties to the cigar maker’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan). I didn’t have much else to do, so I decided to do a quick review of the stick.
The bar carry a variety of the bar’s house blend, and I went with the medium-full bodied Maduro. The stick turned out to be more of a medium bodied smoke – heavy smoke, but not harsh, abrasive, or heavy at all. Below are my notes:
Prelight: The wrapper on this cigar is a very attractive dark brown. There are, however, a few minor imperfections, enough to be immediately noticeable. The stick smells earthy and sweet. Not many distinctive flavors on the prelight draw, but the draw itself is perfect. I’m not a huge fan of the label – it is attractive, but only moderately so. The fact that New York is mentioned though is a plus in my mind.
Smoking Characteristics and Flavor: The first thing that I notice is that this is not a medium-full bodied smoke as I heard described. It is a very solid medium. There was no discernable spice on this cigar, which surprised me considering the presence of Nicaraguan tobacco (probably just a presumption born of ignorance on my part). As far as taste goes, this cigar opened with a very earthy, sweet, but slightly bitter taste (not to be confused with harshness). Throughout the first third, the bitterness continually picked up, which brought the bitterness from a nice complimentary flavor to a minor annoyance. As the cigar progressed into 2/3, some nuttiness emerged and the sweetness becomes a distinctive mocha. The ash is still white, and the construction remains solid in terms of the burn. Unfortunately, this cigar was difficult to get smoke out of in the last half, which meant that the smoke became way hotter than it needed to be. I wasn’t exactly sad when I finished the cigar, which isn’t really the best indication of quality – the smoke was simply too hot and smoking had become a chore.
Overall Impression: This cigar started pretty well, and I enjoyed the flavors, but I really can’t stand cigars that become chores to smoke. The second half of the cigar was so difficult to get smoke from that I had to overheat the tobacco, causing it to lose flavor value. Overall, it wasn’t a bad smoke, but for $9 I probably won’t be trying the maduro again. This cigar reminded me a lot of the Quintero Maduro – except the Quintero was more solid in terms of taste and construction, and about the same price. If I’m looking for the same kind of smoke in the future (and I will) – I’ll probably go with the Quintero.
Final Score: 7.5/10
Disclaimer: I’ve only had one cigar from this brand, so my experience may not be characteristic of the brand – I did notice though looking at the other sticks that construction was a bit shoddy in general.
The image quality is low because we all managed to forget our cameras!
On Friday, September 17th, FineTobaccoNYC hosted its second Summer Cigar Night with Caballeros Cigars in Queens. Caballeros are very new to New York City – the lounge has only been around since may. The lounge is still under construction, and the walk in humidor is in the stocking process, but that won’t stop Caballeros from making a name for themselves in the New York City area in the years to come. In their first few months open, Caballeros has begun to develop a reputation among locals for incredibly friendly service, flexible hours, and a relaxed environment.
Tomas worked his magic again and again
Friday’s event started at 7:30pm and ran until about 1:00am. A range of cigar smokers from around the city were in attendance smoking all kinds of premium cigars – a few I remember were the Rocky Patel OWR, Camacho Triple Maduro, Quintero Maduro, and of course Caballeros wide ranging boutique blend. The event featured 25% off all cigar packages and accessories, live professional cigar rolling, and an 11:00pm raffle with $100 in cigars and a champagne toast. Caballeros also provided a variety of wines and other drinks including Merlot, Pinot Noir, Moscato, and a few beers. Everyone who showed up had a great time, lots to eat and drink, and plenty of good conversation.
Come to think of it, I’d have to say the quote of the night came from a good friend of mine who is living in Harlem. We were engaged in a conversation about our fine tobacco preferences, and I told him that to me a pipe just can’t compete with a cigar. To that he replied, “You know, to me a pipe is like a wife: constant, faithful, always by your side. A cigar is more like a passionate lover that completely overwhelms your senses.”
I thought it was an apt observation.
Group shot outside the lounge!
A few minutes later, the height of the night came at 11pm when Caballeros handed out pieces of paper for a raffle for more than $100 in Caballero boutique blend cigars. Needless to say, the winner (Andrew) was very happy – although it should be noted that Mike Lopez (our gracious host) encouraged him to share.
Overall, the event was a massive success – first because of the great guys who showed up, and second because of the tremendous generosity and hospitality of Caballeros!
Andrew Debter, the winner of 10 handrolled Cabarello cigars, was all smiles!
As always, if you are interested in RSVPing for free for a FineTobaccoNYC event, then shoot me an email at matthias.ftnyc@gmail.com, and you will be updated on social cigar events in the city! If you’re on twitter – so are we! You can follow us here.
The next event is coming up in just a few weeks, so shoot me an email and come smoke some quality tobacco, meet new people, and make new friends!
The South Street Seaport, however, still allows smoking and is a great location.
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During the past decade, New York City smoking taxes and regulations have trended towards “more” and “stricter” respectively. Mayor Bloomberg is even embarking on a campaign to end smoking at beaches and public parks, and the threat is very real. So, it is important that fine tobacco lovers in the New York City area do what they can to keep the art of relaxation alive for others. Recently, that has taken the form of a slew of new and exciting cigar lounges in Brooklyn and Manhattan. It has also meant a shift towards smoking at bars and restaurants that have open-air back patios.
Unfortunately, that has left anyone wanting to sit down and smoke a pipe or cigar in a beautiful atmosphere without forking over $10-$30 for a night with few options. That is why the South Street Seaport is such an amazing find for smokers in the city.
The South Deck
Just down Fulton Street in the Financial District, the Seaport juts out into the East river with a spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge to the East, downtown Brooklyn to the South, and the Financial District to the West. The seaport is essentially a beautified three-story shopping mall, but the real utility and magic of the place is in its three upper-floor decks, all of which are smoker friendly. The floors are well lit, built of sturdy wood, and are generally stocked with enough tables, lounge chairs, and benches for a large group of people. Because of the quality of the environment, the decks are usually full of tourists during the day, but after about 10:00pm, the decks (which are open all night) clear out, leaving what is essentially an open-air cigar lounge free for relaxation.
But “what about wind”, you ask? That is, after all, the main difference between indoor and
The West Deck
outdoor smoking locations for many fine tobacco enthusiasts. The beauty of the Seaport is that it sports top floor decks on three sides, all of which are shielded from one wind direction (east, north, and west). So, whatever way the wind blows (which is usually from north/northeast), the cigar smoker can find an enclosed space sheltered from the wind, with a beautiful view. It is a complete win-win, which is why I have visited this location four times in the past two weeks for a last summer smoke.
Even if the wind manages to catch your smoke or the temperature turns cold, the Seaport has you covered. On the ground floor of the west side of the building is “Cyber Cigar & Coffee Bar.” The bar sells an assortment of “Seattle’s Best” coffee and a few beers. They also have a few humidors full of cigars, although the selection is a bit limited (I did see a Rocky Patel “Old World Reserve”). The establishment has seating, and allows cigar smokers to smoke indoors, allowing another opportunity for relief from the elements.
Cyber Cigar & Coffee Bar offers a small indoor smoking spot.
So, the long story short is, the South Street Seaport is a great smoking location in New York City that will probably avoid smoking regulation because it qualifies as neither a beach or a public park. It may not be the best location in the dead of winter (but which outdoor locations are?), but during the spring, summer, and even early fall months it is definitely worth a visit.
