Tampa!

[theorangeman]

I'm on my way down to Tampa (am spending the night in Macon, GA tonight) and will arrive tomorrow. I've got a cigar event on Saturday to attend in Ybor (Rocky Patel, Fuente and others will be participating) but will have many more days to enjoy in Tampa. Any recommendations, besides what's in Ybor, that any of you guys would suggest? I've been to Edwards a couple of times before, which is a very nice B&M, but am looking to extend myself a bit more this visit as I will have more time for relaxing and smoking!

Later this week my wife will be busy for the day doing some research at SFU, so I'll have the day to explore by myself. Therefore, I'm up for a road trip (so long as it's within about an hour or so). For you Florida guys (or fellas who know the Tampa area for that matter), if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! I hope to come back to Illinois after the holidays with a nice tan and a bunch of good smokes!

 

[jabba]

Central cigar is nice, in downtown St Petes... prices aren't the best ever though... they have a lounge with WiFi

Edwards was a nice shop but I found the prices to suck.

Metro is my favorite.

Next time I go down I want to pick up more of the custom rolled stuff and hang out longer in those shops.

 

[grateful1]

Sounds like a great time! I would suggest hitting Clearwater Beach or Pase Grille<sp>beach ...take a nice drink and some fine cigars and enjoy the views! If you golf I have some suggestions, too.

Enjoy!

 

[theorangeman]

Sounds like a great time! I would suggest hitting Clearwater Beach or Pase Grille<sp>beach ...take a nice drink and some fine cigars and enjoy the views! If you golf I have some suggestions, too.

Enjoy!

Got my clubs in the car - I don't leave home without them, at least when I'm on a trip for pleasure.

My wife hooked me up with a tee time at the SFU course for only 25 bucks (which includes a cart).

Hey Jabba - Metro sounds familiar, but I don't remember where it is. I'll have to check it out as I will have plenty of time to do some cigar tasting!

 

[grateful1]

Sounds like a great time! I would suggest hitting Clearwater Beach or Pase Grille<sp>beach ...take a nice drink and some fine cigars and enjoy the views! If you golf I have some suggestions, too.

Enjoy!

Got my clubs in the car - I don't leave home without them, at least when I'm on a trip for pleasure.
My wife hooked me up with a tee time at the SFU course for only 25 bucks (which includes a cart).
Hey Jabba - Metro sounds familiar, but I don't remember where it is. I'll have to check it out as I will have

plenty of time to do some cigar tasting!

Dollar for dollar - check out Dunedin Country Club. probably double the money but worth it - great course.....nice drive...and about 10 minutes from Clearwater so, you could even hit the beach!

I hope other's have suggestion as I'm heading there in Dec. and would like to know more courses! Oh - someone mentioned World Wood. Check it out!

 

[theorangeman]

I'll probably be back down in December as well, perhaps we could hook up and hit the links and have a good smoke! I'll touch base with you later...

 

[The Volusianator]

Have a safe trip, burn great cigars and hit 'em straight.

 

[jabba]

Sounds like a great time! I would suggest hitting Clearwater Beach or Pase Grille<sp>beach ...take a nice drink and some fine cigars and enjoy the views! If you golf I have some suggestions, too.

Enjoy!

Got my clubs in the car - I don't leave home without them, at least when I'm on a trip for pleasure.
My wife hooked me up with a tee time at the SFU course for only 25 bucks (which includes a cart).
Hey Jabba - Metro sounds familiar, but I don't remember where it is. I'll have to check it out as I will have

plenty of time to do some cigar tasting!

Dollar for dollar - check out Dunedin Country Club. probably double the money but worth it - great course.....nice drive...and about 10 minutes from Clearwater so, you could even hit the beach!

I hope other's have suggestion as I'm heading there in Dec. and would like to know more courses! Oh - someone mentioned World Wood. Check it out!

right on, great course for the dough, if you get there early in the AM you can probably get out with a member... a lot of great ones.

 

[Fatken]

I wish I was going to be in Town, the wife heads out today and I leave tomorrow for the week. I would love to torch a few sticks and loose a few balls with you.

Sure hate that I will miss the Ybor event.

I can't recommend any places, as I don't get out much. Everyone is right, Edwards prices do suck.

If you would like to take your wife somewhere nice for dinner, I highly recommend Armani's at the top of the Hyatt. Make reservations and it is a little pricey.

Have a good trip,

Ken

 

[Shadow]

Great weekend to be down in that area:

2006 Cigar Heritage Festival
Saturday, November 18, 2006 • 10:00am - 5:00pm
Join thousands of cigar enthusiasts at the Eighth Annual Cigar Heritage Festival November 18, 2006, for a day of activities celebrating the rich cigar heritage that once made Ybor City the "Cigar Capital of the World". The Festival will be from 10 am to 6 pm in Ybor City's Centennial Park, on East 9th Avenue, between North 18th and North 19th Streets.

* Shop the World’s Finest Cigars!
* Cuesta Rey, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, CAO, Thompson Cigars and many more!
* Cigar Accessories
* Museum Tours
* Cigar Rolling
* Domino Tournament
* Live Entertainment
* Charity Beer Garden
* Authentic Cultural Food Vendors
* Cultural Activities For The Whole Family
* Game Zone Featuring NCAA Football, Poker, Dominos, & More
* Watch Local Master Cigar Makers from Gonzalez Habano Cigar Co., Margarita & Wallace Reyes Attempting to Break the record The Guinness World Record for the "Longest Cigar at 100 feet." First time in the United States.
* Ybor City Fresh Market with arts, crafts, produce, plants, and novelty vendors

The 2006 Cigar Heritage Festival is a free community festival with a suggested admission donation that benefits the Ybor City Museum Society.

 

[FlyFish]

You said the SFU course...do you mean the USF golf course? It is known locally as "The Claw". If it's in good shape it's a gem for the $$$. There is a long par 5 with a hard dogleg to the left. There used to be a pond close by the green that hosed a big gator. I haven't been there in 10 years so I don't know what if anythong has been changed. No one looked for balls anywhere near that pond, LOL. Enjoy it, golf is one reason I wish I still lived down there.

 

[Josh]

I'm stuck in St. Petersburg this weekend on business. As such, I'm glad I saw this thread.

For anyone looking to attend, the festival will be held at Ybor City Museum State Park Garden - 1818 E. 9th. The festival will be free to the public (with suggested donation to Ybor City Museum) and run from 10am to 6pm. From 6:30pm to 10:30pm will be the highlight event Cigars & Stars II. This event will have a $100 admission fee. Tickets can be bought here, though I also read a couple reports saying tickets can be bought at the door. If you are attending, I would recommend buying your ticket online to be certain. Included in the event is food, an open bar, Fuente cigars, and several other attractions.

More information can be found here, here, and here.

Orangeman, if you want to meet up for a smoke some time Saturday, shoot me a PM.

 

[TBaGZ]

if the mother in law wasn't going to be here I would come hit the links with ya.. maybe in december.

Yeah don't go looking for too many lost balls near water or the woods!! lol I play a course called Stoneybrooke and just about EVERY pond has a gator in it lol

 

[theorangeman]

You said the SFU course...do you mean the USF golf course? It is known locally as "The Claw". If it's in good shape it's a gem for the $$$. There is a long par 5 with a hard dogleg to the left. There used to be a pond close by the green that hosed a big gator. I haven't been there in 10 years so I don't know what if anythong has been changed. No one looked for balls anywhere near that pond, LOL. Enjoy it, golf is one reason I wish I still lived down there.

Yeah, my mistake, I did mean USF. You're right, it does look like a pretty nice course particularly for the money.

Well, I'm heading out in a couple of hours to hit some cigar shops and see what trouble I can get into while my wife is at USF. It should be a good day! :thumbs:

Great weekend to be down in that area:

2006 Cigar Heritage Festival
Saturday, November 18, 2006 • 10:00am - 5:00pm
Join thousands of cigar enthusiasts at the Eighth Annual Cigar Heritage Festival November 18, 2006, for a day of activities celebrating the rich cigar heritage that once made Ybor City the "Cigar Capital of the World". The Festival will be from 10 am to 6 pm in Ybor City's Centennial Park, on East 9th Avenue, between North 18th and North 19th Streets.

* Shop the World’s Finest Cigars!
* Cuesta Rey, Arturo Fuente, Rocky Patel, CAO, Thompson Cigars and many more!
* Cigar Accessories
* Museum Tours
* Cigar Rolling
* Domino Tournament
* Live Entertainment
* Charity Beer Garden
* Authentic Cultural Food Vendors
* Cultural Activities For The Whole Family
* Game Zone Featuring NCAA Football, Poker, Dominos, & More
* Watch Local Master Cigar Makers from Gonzalez Habano Cigar Co., Margarita & Wallace Reyes Attempting to Break the record The Guinness World Record for the "Longest Cigar at 100 feet." First time in the United States.
* Ybor City Fresh Market with arts, crafts, produce, plants, and novelty vendors

The 2006 Cigar Heritage Festival is a free community festival with a suggested admission donation that benefits the Ybor City Museum Society.

I'm looking forward to those three things the most. What else do I need besides a charity beer garden, good smokes and some fine food?

 

[theorangeman]

The cigar event was a very good time. They even had a few plasma tv's set up with nice, comfortable leather sofas to relax in and watch some college football. Also, good smokes, tasty food and a great atmosphere.

It was funny as hell to see what is now the longest cigar in the world, at approximately 71 feet, be rolled. The thing was ridiculously huge and they finished it about 30 minutes before the event ended. All in all, it was a great time and I look forward to next year.

Now I just need to get my sticks working properly on the links today! I've got a couple of side bets with my buddy (one involving cigars, of course) so it should be a good time even though the cold front that has moved in is keeping things a little cooler than I'd like.

edit: check that, it got to 101 feet! :0 I guess they kept rolling after I left.