Old School or I see dead animals

Spent most of the week with the team from LAZ Parking, which resulted in a trip to Hartford, Connecticut.  As always, we were swept up into that vortex, that force of nature, Alan Lazowski, LAZ Parking's CEO, who seems to get more stuff done in a week than most mere mortals do in a month.  In addition to two days huddled up with the senior leadership team, there was also a political fund raiser he hosted for Mike Blumenthal, Democratic candidate for Chris Dodd's abandoned seat.  Frankly, Al should be running.

The meetings and the fund raiser, conveniently were held at The Hartford Club.  The company's new CFO, Nathan Owen, an English fellow, immediately submitted his application for the club, because "It reminds me of England."

I don't know if Nathan meant the food, but he certainly meant the decor.  And since it is a private club there is actually a "Gentlemen's Cigar and Billiards Room."  (I am quite certain that distaff members of THC are quite welcome.)

The room is redolent of the pleasant smell of cigar.  Wood panelling, private humidors, leather chairs, a bar, dead animals on the wall, and the requisite photo of Samuel Longhorn Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.  Clemens was a member, and the photo showed him in his trademark white suit, leonine head of hair, and the ever-present cigar.

While we never saw the room in actual use, one imagines suited gentlemen rustling their copies of The Wall Street Business Journal or The Hartford Courant, sipping a glass of port, and indulging in their favorite smoke.  Harkening back to simpler times. 

My cigar venue of choice was a bench outside of McKinnon's Pub on Asylum Street.  On Wednesday evening the pub was packed with musicians who played Celtic music in a come-one-come-all style.  A squeebox, a few fiddles, guitars, a mandolin or two.  No pipes.  The only drawback was having thye Guinness served in a plastic cup, as pint glasses were not allowed outdoors.  One must suffer occasionally for one's vices.

And now back to San Diego, where it is becoming increasing difficult to find a place to indulge in a cigar.  Beaches and parks have banned all smoking.  You can't drink on the beach, either.  There are a few cigar stores where patrons can light up.  But a private club...if you know of one I'd like to know.