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We are located at:
3228 North Clark Street
CHICAGO, IL 60657
For anything involving our website please use the below contact information as our in-store staff will be unable to assist you.
Call us at: (773) 883-1800 x 666
Email us at: thealleychicago@aol.com
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The Alley Chicago is located at 3228 North Clark Street, and our family of stores encompasses the corners of
Belmont & Clark in the Chicago area known as Lakeview, one block west of Boystown, and
five blocks north of Wrigley Field.
Our store hours are as follows:
(All hours are subject to change)
Mon-Thurs 12pm-10pm
Fri & Sat 12pm-10pm
Sun 12pm-8pm
Phone:
(773) 883-1800 ext 222 (For store related questions only)
(773) 883-1800 ext 666 (For all web & mail-order related inquiries)
December 25, 2010 10:39 AM
Chicago Now
The Chicago Snob
In the winter, when I'm not so focused on training for marathons, I like to enjoy an occasional cigar. My little infatuation with cigars started while I was a young boy, and I would see my grandfather (a former Capitan in the Navy) smoke a sweet-smelling cigar, when we would go camping up in Northern Minnesota. I tried to pick up the refined habit back at the tender age of 17, but never really knew what I was doing and didn't pick up on some of the subtleties until relatively recently, after I had moved to Chicago, and only after I had all-but given up on the sophisticated, sweet relaxation that only a fine cigar can offer.
 Vieques, Puerto Rico What actually rekindled my interest in cigars was when I was on vacation in Vieques, Puerto Rico (a tiny island not far from San Juan), in 2006. I was escaping the afternoon sun in a tiny, local, island cantina, with my (then) girlfriend when an all-too-familiar scent hit my nostrils. It was the same scent from my childhood; the scent of the cigar my grandfather smoked. I approached the gentleman smoking the cigar and asked him what he was smoking: Romeo y Julietta. I immediately had to get one! I was so excited.
Like I said, however, it wasn't until I was back in Chicago that I learned that there is actually a technique and etiquette to enjoying a cigar. Unlike cigarettes, you don't just smoke it for the sake of smoking it. Oh, and for those who don't know, I'm talking about real cigars, not Swisher Sweets, Garcia Vega's, Black & Mild's or any garbage brand that you can purchase at your local 7-Eleven. I'm talking about the kind of cigars that you purchase from a tobacconist in a properly maintained humidor. If you're interested in picking up a few pointers on proper technique and etiquette go to this website for everything from how to properly smoke, cut, light, hold and ash a cigar, to how to not offend non-cigar smokers around you.
The more I learned about cigars, etiquette, and the sophistication, the more I wanted to experiment. I began to look around for places where I could not only buy a good cigar, but where I could actually enjoy the cigar without harassing others, or having to stand out in the cold. I happened to find one such place: Blue Havana, on the north side of Belmont, just west Clark.
For me, what makes Blue Havana great is not just the convenient location, but also the staff and the owner, Mark Thomas, who also owns The Alley. The staff at Blue Havana is friendly, knowledgeable, and very unassuming when it comes to educating people about cigars and tobacco. Mark Thomas, a rather prominent business leader in East Lakeview, is also very unassuming, humble and outgoing; always eager to interact with his customers and staff. On one of my last visits we sat, smoked a cigar, watched a movie while lounging in the Italian Leather Sofas and chatted for over an hour. Justine is also one of my favorite reasons for visiting Blue Havana. I always follow her recommendations because she's very well-versed in the subtleties of various tobaccos, plantations, and cigar companies. However, gentlemen, beware. Justine also has a youthful, smoldering, sexy energy that can easily draw you in. Other staff are also very helpful and knowledgeable, but are not as sexy as Justine.
My other favorite spot is Tesa Cigar Company, which is directly next door to Piccolo Sogno at Grand/Milwaukee/Halsted in the River West.
Tesa is my other go-to spot because it has an outstanding ambiance which almost makes you feel like you're on a tobacco plantation. The entire lounge serves as the humidor and the cigars are stored on the shelves on the outer walls of the room. Tesa is also owned and operated directly by the tobacco grower and tobacconist of the cigars it sells. As a matter of fact, they only have a small selection of cigars that they don't make. My other favorite aspect of Tesa is that it's BYOB. You can bring a six-pack, or a bottle of wine, or anything else for that matter, to sip while you're enjoying one of their proprietary cigars. Tesa is also available to rent out for private parties, complete with a cigar hostess who will hand roll cigars for you and your guests.
If you're a cigar aficionado, or a novice looking to learn more about cigars, go to either Blue Havana or Tesa and tell them The Chicago Snob sent you. After all, both establishments have more than earned my esteemed Official Stamp of Approval.
Happy Holidays, Fellow Snobs!
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