Metro-Detroit Pipe Club

[rolldog]

I found this article on Michigan's 'Cigar Bar' law. I haven't been to Wild Bill's in Roseville, but I spoke with the manager at the Madison Heights store last night, which also has a side lounge. He stated, no cigarette or pipe smoking can take place in the lounge, otherwise they would loose their right to have the lounge. Read for yourself.
I have been in shops that allow pipe smoking, Paul's in Flint and Maison Edwards in Ann Arbor to name two. Looking forward to meeting all of you.
RD
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taken from http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-8347-235897--,00.html

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April 23, 2010

LANSING - After further analysis of the law, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has concluded in a released memorandum that if cigar bars meet required criteria, they are exempt from the smoking ban and will be allowed to serve food and drink.
In order to qualify for this exemption, the cigar bar must file an affidavit with the MDCH on or before May 31, 2010 stating that the cigar bar was in existence on May 1, 2010. Cigar bars must continue to file an affidavit with the MDCH on Jan. 31 each year to qualify for exemption. Cigar bars must meet the following requirements:
- In the 30-day period immediately preceding (April 1) the effective date of May 1, 2010, the cigar bar must generate 10 percent or more of its total gross annual income from the on-site sale of cigars AND the rental of on-site humidors.
- The cigar bar must be physically separated from any areas of the same or adjacent establishment in which smoking is prohibited. Smoke may not infiltrate into those non-smoking areas.
- The cigar bar must have an installed on-site humidor.
- The cigar bar must prohibit entry to a person under the age of 18 during the time the cigar bar is open for business.
- Cigars smoked on the premises must retail for more than $1 per cigar.
- The cigar bar must prohibit the smoking of all other tobacco products.
For more information about cigar bars and the new smoking ban law, please visit www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw or call 1-866-59-SMOKE.

 

[judcole]

We had a nice little get together - Rolldog,Sparrowhawk and I. Pipes were examined, and tobaccos tried. I had along some H&H Beverwyck,which Rolldog tried and liked. Along with the Sutliffs, Sparrow had somehow gotten some Dunhills. I went home with a tin of Durbar, which I had loved when Murray made it,and a tin of Apertif, which I had never tried,and wanted to. You should have seen the look on Sparrow's face when he first tried Dunhill London - he looked like he had died and gone to heaven. Rolldog took that one home,along with a couple of big tins of a Sutliff aero. Sparrow is going to give the Standard Mellow another try. He is wanting to explore lat blends,and we encouraged him to take his time. And we gabbed about legendary Michigan shops - especially Paul's,up in Flint. There were mutterings about a road trip up there at some point.

A good time was had by all. ::

 

[rolldog]

I will echo Jud's sentiment on a nice get together on Saturday. The time flew as we talked tobacco, pipes and shops in Michigan. Before we knew it, it was 4pm, which is always a good indicator of how much fun you had, the quality of the company and conversation. One blend tried and discussed was my personal favorite, "Arrowhead Club Blend", from Paul's Pipe shop in Flint. Jud was familiar with it and packed a cob full, but it was Sparrow's first time and he liked it too. So much so, I left my sampler baggy with him and I think we have a new convert to a fine Michigan blend.
Together we also tried one of the generous donations form Sutliff, Mountain Pass, which is described as "Cavendish with a custard note" on the tin. Opening the tin you were greeted to a jet black blend that was full of a sweet custard and a note of blue berries. The smell reminded me of fresh blueberry pancakes with butter and syrup. The flavor was very sweet at the beginning of the bowl, too much for Jud who gave up on it, but I puffed on. Once the sweet topping burned off, the second half of the bowl mellowed and settled into a nice Cavendish smoke. If you like Molte Dolce, you might try this as an alternative. It starts sweet and finishes smooth right to the bottom of the bowl.
I must also give a big shout out to Sparrowhawk for not only hosting the get together, but reaching out to Sutliff for sample tins. I walked away with 4 tins of Mountain Pass, Dunhill London mixture, Sutliff April Dawn and an 8oz tin of Sutliff Maple Street. It felt like an early and pleasantly unexpected Christmas bonanza!
Thanks again to both Jud and Sparrowhawk for a great afternoon. I am looking forward to the next time we get together.
RD

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

It sounds like you all had a great time

 

[tlag77]

I am sad to not have made it to this meeting.

 

[judcole]

Sorry you couldn't make it,tlag. We'll do it again - maybe a road trip to JR next time?

 

[sparrowhawk]

I apologize for being so very late in writing; I've been unwell this past week after the meeting.

Well, gentlemen, we have an interesting problem. No cigar bar will allow us to meet in their venue, so does this mean we try to continue with the club by meeting at alternating homes? I thought the three of us--Jud, Rolldog, and myself--had a grand time. Jud and Rolldog together are like a walking encyclopedia of information about pipes and tobaccos, and I learned a huge amount. (Understandably of course, a lot of people couldn't make this meeting because I didn't make the announcement that my home would be open to all.) And a couple of days ago, I received another box from Sutliff: this time, a huge box of a variety of blends (not just Mountain Pass), coffee mugs, carry bags, and more, designed to give out to a large group of people. I'm looking into options about what to do with all this stuff now, since I obviously can't keep it for myself. Club members, if you want another tin of Sutliff and a nifty coffee mug, PM me so we can arrange that.)

But what to do next year when the weather is better? Are public parks acceptable? There's a nice park with picnic tables down the street where I live. Or are smokers banned from those as well? Thoughts, anyone? I'd hate to see the Metro-Detroit Pipe Club go down the drain because we can't find someplace to meet because of all this ridiculous political correctness!

 

[judcole]

We do have a problem on our hands, don't we? We may be getting an idea as to why NOTPC is having issues.
I don't believe that parks are out of the question,when the weather improves. Members' houses may serve until then, assuming the group doesn't get too large.
Do we want to try another get together soon? Maybe take a road trip to JR before the weather goes?

 

[sparrowhawk]

A road trip sounds cool. What is JR?

I'm going to go through the phone book and investigate possible venues for pipe smokes. They can't all ban us! Especially since they sell tobacco pipe products. Keep watching here for any new information I discover.

 

[rolldog]

JR Cigar is the shop we spoke of at the meeting, on Northwestern, south of 12 min in Southfield. I know the club in Ann Arbor meet at a shop, so we cannot give up hope of finding a place that will welcome us. I can help you look, let me know which spots you would like me to talk to. Together with a will to succeed and persistence of spirit, we will find something.

 

[pascal]

JR sounds great. Count me in.

 

[sparrowhawk]

IMPORTANT NOTE, PLEASE READ

First, the situation on cigar bars in my area (Macomb County): There don't appear to be any. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with the yellow pages calling smoke shops, and few of them had cigar bars, and out of the few that had these, pipers were prohibited. Something about not having a license for hosting pipe smokers. I find this amazing, but in my area at least, this seems to be the rule.

Now, I must confess that while I very much wanted a pipe club covering the Macomb County area, and was perforce obligated to try to organize one myself, I find myself a little overwhelmed by the responsibilities involved, reasons involving personal health and limitations as to how far I can travel. Therefore, while our group seems to have successfully launched, and I would like to see it continue, I believe I should step down as the organizer, head, or whatever you care to call it, of the group. I'm hoping there are several individuals who I've already met who would make admirable heads for the MetroDetroit Pipe Club. I hope anyone interested in undertaking this task will take care of distributing the numerous tins, coffee mugs, and carry bags sent to me by the generous people at Sutliff. (I am sorely tempted to keep them for myself, lol.) I would contact Sutliff and tell them who the new contact person is, and they would continue to send sample to you instead of me. Some I have yet to mail out to members who couldn't make our last meeting. I will continue in my present role until someone contacts me and steps up to bat. You would probably have to come to my home to pick up the Sutliff items--far too much to mail--so please contact me if you're are interested in organizing our little band. With time, I'm sure it will grow much larger, and of course I would remain a member and attend meetings as I can. Hope to hear from you. Sparrowhawk

 

[judcole]

I PM'ed Sparrowhawk and said I would be able to co-ordinate distributing the stuff.
We may be seeing why NOTPC is having so much trouble. Thanks for your efforts on this,Sparrowhawk.

 

[sparrowhawk]

I returned Jud's PM, and hopefully, after I take care of mailing some packages out that I had promised earlier, he will take over the huge amount of "the loot." Really, I want to give a shout out to Sutliff for being so generous and trusting--I told them our club was small, and only a few people would meet on our second meeting, but they set me an enormous amount of stuff anyway, with more to come. What a great bunch of people.