Chicago - July 8

[itallushrt]

Going to be coming up to Chicago this weekend to see the girls family and then go to the NHRA races in Joliet on Saturday. I'm staying over near Wrigleyville on North Clifton. I'm only going to have Friday mid day to visit any shops in that area. Any good ones near there? What about a good place to eat lunch around there as well.

Thanks guys.

 

[hdroadglide]

burning leaf aint' too awful far from joliet!

 

[Goalee1]

Assuming you're going to be in Wrigleyville. You definately have time to head downtown. Hop on the Brown line at Belmont (you should be no further than a few blocks away as N Clifton to my recollection is just 3 or so blocks from sheffield) and head downtown. Hit Iwan Ries right off the Madison stop then you can actually walk to Schwartz or vice versa. Ries was always my shop in Chitown so I'm a little biased but both great shops. There is Blue Havana right on Belmont and Clark but they're part of the Alley so kind of an "alternative" shop. With just an afternoon, I'd head downtown and hit those 2. As for lunch, there are a ton of places! depends on what your fancy is. G1

 

[Brother Brian]

Don't forget the Updown at Wells and North - great place and close to Wrigley.

 

[JDog]

If you're heading to Joliet from the Wrigley area on Saturday, you'll likely take 55 south. I would stop by Casa De Montecristo. It's half way between Joliet and Wrigley. They open relatively early on Saturdays. It's worth the stop... nice place. Ask them to give you a tour of the VIP section. If you have a car, you might want to go to Casa on Friday. I've been to them all and that place in an experience.

I agree with the earlier post... go to Updown Cigar on Wells street on Friday... other suggestions were also really good.

 

[kockroach]

B&Ms close to Wrigley include the aforementioned Blue Havana (pretty good humi selection and space to smoke) and Up Down (little farther away....Wells St & North Ave, open til midnight Fridays and a lot of restaurants/bars around). Then, you have downtown....Iwan Ries (shop closes at 5:30, lounge at 10pm) and Jack Schwartz (closes at 5pm). There is also Tesa, which has a wide variety of house blends from various countries.

As JDog mentions, if you are driving out to Joliet, you could stop at Casa de Montecristo...and if you have time, without a doubt, The Burning Leaf further past Joliet. Bunch of BOTLs call The Leaf home.

If you have a chance....go to Kuma's Corner for lunch. Warning...lines can be long depending on time you get there....but the burgers are worth it.

 

[Goalee1]

Couple of people mention Updown, haven't been there in ages but one reason we didn't frequent there often was that they were always over retail especially on things like Opus and with Chitown's tobacco tax, that wasn't acceptable in my book. They had a nice selection, though again, back in the day, you had to have someone who worked there get your cigars for you as opposed to being able to choose them yourself ie Ries and Schwartz. Again, this is back in the days of Harry's so things may have changed. G1

 

[kockroach]

Goalee1, it is still the same way. Prices are a little higher, and the staff has to unlock the cabinets to get cigars out. It is a nice selection and shop (although only a couple of seats at the counter to smoke), but it is another shop near the area, so it should be mentioned.

 

[Goalee1]

Goalee1, it is still the same way. Prices are a little higher, and the staff has to unlock the cabinets to get cigars out. It is a nice selection and shop (although only a couple of seats at the counter to smoke), but it is another shop near the area, so it should be mentioned.

Cool thanks, was wondering as I'm not in the area anymore. I used to live right around the block from there. Was my first shop I visited when I first moved to Chitown. One good thing about them is that they were open late on the weekends so if you had to go and grab a smoke, you could at 11pm on a Friday. Wells was hopping back then, when I last visited, looks like its calmed down a lot. My last visit, I did get back to Ries and walked down to Tesa. On my way to Tesa, I stopped in the french market located in the metra barn and that made the walk nice. Picked up a cappuccino and walked over. Lots of construction and the Randolph restaurant strip looks a little more run down than it used to be. Just to give you a time frame, I was there when Grace was right next to Blackbird, looks like there was now a sushi place there. G1

 

[JDog]

Based on the time that he's going (Friday afternoon), Iwan Ries & Jack Schwartz may be a better choice and I admit that... I just never go there due to their hours... I think they both close like at 5:00 PM or something... maybe I'm wrong. But I've made the bone head move of trying to go to one of these shops when they were already closed, after work.

I still think Casa De Montecristo is still a good idea...

 

[JDog]

I need to check out the The Burning Leaf... too many people have recommended it... I got a lot out this post... it's time to take another tour of the Chicago smoke shops.

 

[FireDoc83]

Let me know when your stopping by the leaf. I live very close to there


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