Where Does a Pipe Smoker Go in NYC?
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You got me there!A remarkable resemblance above to the president of the NY pipe club. Coincidence??
Maybe not this trip if time is limited, but for future reference, of the two major tourist stops -- the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building -- I'd go for the ESB. The Statue of Liberty is more inspiring from the shore, a bridge, or from the water on aforementioned Circle Tour. Folks who've done the Statue more than once find it a cramped climb and not a great view through little viewing windows. The ESB takes a block of time (as does the Statue) and more than one bank of elevators, but that adds to the drama. It's well worth going all the way to the top, and the view is amazing. It is certainly worth both a daytime viewing, and another at night perhaps on a different trip. Disclaimer: I've done the ESB but am relying on my wife for the Statue tour, which she has done several times, unlike many New York City residents who may intend to go, but many never do. P.S. Great Nat Sherman photo! There's the clock!
This is a great thread, gents. I'll be in Brooklyn visiting this weekend, so I'll do my best to get into Manhattan and try some of these out!
I was only there once in 1998 but my visit to Nat Sherman is still a pleasant memory. It was like stepping back in time to the 1950's. Someday I may do it again.
Cosmic, you're right about Chicago being user friendly. For pipe people, Iwan Ries pipe and cigar shop, but so much else to see and fairly humane distances and treatment, a big city but also safely tucked in fly-over country, and full of fabulous international dining in little neighborhoods, with superb food, great prices, and casual dress, and no hassle from the wait staff. Buy a guide book and study up. A lot of the jewels are right downtown, the Art Institute not far from Iwan Ries, etc.
If you come to Long Island outside of the city i can direct you to a B&M that has everything. I was there yesterday, he had bags of Esoterica Margate, Pembroke, Dorchester. Tins of Dunbar, And So to Bed. All the Frog Mortons, along with all the Butera Blends except Pelican. He even had about 10 tins of FT CVP.
Its really a cigar shop, but the owner is a pipe smoker, and his display is basically his cellar. I walked out yesterday with a tin of Butera Dark Stoved tinned 2015, and a tin of Frog cellar 50gram. The prices were $20 a tin, and the bags of Esoterica are $50. I found this place going for a motorcycle ride and stopped to buy lottery tickets.
I asked him, how come he does not sell pipe tobacco? is it the internet prices? He said he sells a lot of pipe tobacco, just not these boutique blends. He points to a Captain Black carton with 2 lonely pouches left. Says he cant keep in stock. We really are the minority in the pipe community.
Its really a cigar shop, but the owner is a pipe smoker, and his display is basically his cellar. I walked out yesterday with a tin of Butera Dark Stoved tinned 2015, and a tin of Frog cellar 50gram. The prices were $20 a tin, and the bags of Esoterica are $50. I found this place going for a motorcycle ride and stopped to buy lottery tickets.
I asked him, how come he does not sell pipe tobacco? is it the internet prices? He said he sells a lot of pipe tobacco, just not these boutique blends. He points to a Captain Black carton with 2 lonely pouches left. Says he cant keep in stock. We really are the minority in the pipe community.
You will save a fortune buying online. The rents in NYC are so high that pipe shops and restaurants are outrageously expensive. Barclay Rex on 42nd st is a good pipe shop. I worked there in the 1950s when it was called Peterson's. They have/had a closet sized humidor. As for restaurants, stay away from the tourist traps around Penn Station and Times Square. Most of these are owned by one very mediocre company. My favorite is the 2nd Ave Deli, which is now on 33rd st near 3rd ave.
Other than flying in and out and seeing Manhattan from the air, I think the best skyline view from "ground level" is taking the ferry to New Jersey and back, especially coming back toward the city. That skyline on a clear day is truly overwhelming, from one horizon to the other. It doesn't need an orchestra accompaniment; you'll feel the drama.
...which is no longer at that historic location. The shop consolidated to one lone store located downtown in the financial district at:
126 Peal Street
http://barclayrex.com/
It's still a great shop, very pipe centric!
<p>Nat Sherman's has been there when time started. Great place although I never really cared for their cigars.
Katz's Deli, a fundamental NYC experience much beloved by many locals. Nathan's hotdogs for real street food when you just have to eat. In Chinatown, my resident food writer says, check with knowing locals because you shop for the chef not the restaurant, and they're always trading around.
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