Cigar enthusiasts will find everything they could need at La Casa del Habano, Montreal's upscale smoking lounge. Located on la rue Sherbrooke Ouest, it is easily accessible from the city's downtown hotels and provides a relaxing destination for tourists who crave a Cohiba and business travelers who need to unwind following a marathon of meetings.

As the store's name implies, you'll only find Cuban cigars in its walk-in humidor. Be sure to see an attendant before trying to enter (the humidor, that is), as the door is kept locked. The employee will also help you with your selection, introducing you to the latest releases – which can be important, given their unavailability in the United States. As you peruse the shelves, prepare yourself for a bit of sticker-shock, as Canadian taxes do hike up the prices. But, for the cigar that will make the next hour magical, it's worth the sting.

Though you may want to pick up a few sticks for the road, make some time to smoke at least one in La Casa del Habano's large, comfortable cigar lounge. It seats close to 20, with large leather chairs and couches throughout the room and four seats at the full bar. The lounge offers coffee, espresso and a variety of cocktails, completing the experience you'd expect to have in the top shop in Montreal.

S.T. Dupont, makers of the world's most expensive lighter we wrote about last month, have come out with an equally exquisite instrument for lighting one's cigarette designed as an homage to one of Paris' most famous architectural landmarks.

The Place Vendôme limited edition Ligne 2 Prestige rose gold lighter embellished with 192 diamonds (right), which sells for $47,000 and is limited to 35 pieces, is modeled on the architecture of the majestic Parisian square of that name commissioned by King Louis XIV in the 17th century.

In 1810 following his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon enriched the square by erecting the Vendôme Column. A pen matching the lighter modeled on the column is also available. Napoleon's famous quotation is engraved on the lighter's roller and on the body of the pen: "Impossible n'est pas français" - Nothing is impossible for the French.

Matt Booth has kicked his style to a new level, releasing Room101 Cigars, a new line developed with Camacho. This addition joins Room101's clothing, jewelry and accessories product lines. The result of the Room101/Camacho partnership is a medium-bodied cigar which uses tobaccos from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The wrapper is a Semilla 101 was grown exclusively for this cigar.

The new cigar is available in six sizes, which are named for area codes: 213 (44×5.5), 305 (50×5), 323 (50×6), 404 (54×52x6), 702 (48×54x48×6), and 808 (60×6). To my chagrin, 212 is not listed.

"We are very excited to launch this line of cigars with Room101," said Dylan Austin, marketing director of Camacho Cigars. "This project has been a year in the making and it really great to see it come to fruition."

Matt Booth calls the new cigar "first of its kind in many ways." He says "I am honored to be working with the Camacho family on this project. No other combination could have possibly done this concept justice."

Nevada, like so many other states, has a smoking ban for establishments that serve food. This changed life for a lot of cigar smokers, a fact realized by Susan and Jeff Melvin. So, they opened Jimmy G's Cigar Bar in downtown Carson City last month, bringing a new alternative to those of us who enjoy a good cigar every now and then. Though Jimmy G's doesn't serve food, guests can order meals from Garibaldi's or Kim Lee Sushi, which are nearby and deliver.

In addition to serving a wide variety of spirits, the new cigar bar has 4,000 cigars available, representing a wide range of prices. So, there should be something on hand or just about every taste and budget. Televisions have been installed, along with wireless internet access, all at the request of customers. Hell, the proprietors even cut martini prices based on feedback from guests, so you can be confident that your opinions will be taken seriously at this lounge.

This is the second Jimmy G's Cigar Bar, with the first in Minden, Nevada, which switched from restaurant to cigar bar in 2006.

Conquering the unknown is not easy. When it comes to spirits, restaurants, cities ... and cigars ... we all have our favorites, and trying something new is an unnecessary risk. I know what I like, after all, why would I stray from it?

Well, there are plenty of reasons to try something new, the best being that your next favorite may not be on your radar yet. I'm about as guilty as can be in the cigar shop. I have my favorites, and I tend to stick to them. But, on the rare occasions when I break out and try something new, I'm happy I did.

The hard part is deciding what to try. You may not realize it, but you're surrounded by a wealth of information at home and in the cigar shop. All you have to do is use it.

1. Talk to your tobacconist
This is the easiest and most effective way to get advice. Just ask the professional that you are bound to see when you go to buy a cigar. Most tobacconists – employees at larger, established specialty shops – know the product they carry well. Tell him what your tastes are, and you'll be surprised at the recommendations you receive.

Cigar Aficionado readers know that there are some great lounges in Manhattan, though I hope they didn't suffer through that absurd video shot to accompany the article. The article did hit the major attractions, but there are some other hidden gems that only the devout locals know about. If you're looking to sit down and enjoy a cigar in the city, you have plenty of choices – take advantage of them!

Even with the smoking ban, there are more cigar shops and lounges than even most New Yorkers realize. In addition to the major stores like De La Concha and Davidoff Madison Avenue, boutique hand-rollers dot the city, and they are worth a visit from time to time.

So, the next time you set out for the quintessential Manhattan smoke, mix it up. Hit the major shops, but also stop by the places that are off the beaten path. You'll enjoy the experience.

To look at this small Manhattan eatery, you'd never make the connection. Tucked in the atrium of the IBM building on the corner of Madison Avenue and E 56th Street, Obika seems like just another dine-and-dash joint to service the suited masses within a three-block radius. To judge this shop on a glance alone, however, would be a grievous error. In reality, its clientele consists of a mix of ardent regulars and tourists (mostly from Europe) who are committed to the magic made at this mozzarella bar. The customers' zeal was evident by their presence alone on May 21, 2009, when Obika catered the latest De La Concha cigar dinner.

Anthony Fauci, a partner in the restaurant, represented Obika at the cigar event, held in the store where he and his brother, James, have been regulars for as long as anyone can remember. In a new twist on what has become a regular occurrence for the Manhattan tobacconist, Obika provided a mozzarella and pasta tasting menu designed to complement the Camacho cigars featured.

The event was standing room only, as Obika took over the shop – lining the counters for food preparation and consumption. Instead of opting for traditional sit-down meals, store general manager Ron Melendi opted for a more fluid approach, in which guests could stand, sit at a boardroom style table at the front of the store or eat on available counters.

Maybe, society has had enough. In Spokane, Washington, even non-smokers came to the defense of the cigar community when public golf courses tried to implement a ban. Other places are relying on creativity, such as tobacconist De La Concha's cigar dinners. In New Hampshire, the legislature is getting involved – a bill may legalize the sale of liquor in cigar bars.

In most places, it's tough to find a social setting where you can enjoy a cocktail and a cigar at the same time. The "live free or die" folks are looking to change that. If tobacconists are able to receive liquor licenses, the resulting store traffic could offset much of the damage being done by the financial crisis.

For Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem, New Hampshire – where I used to go when I lived in northern Massachusetts – sales have fallen since the state banned smoking in restaurants two years ago, with particular effect in the winter. The ability to sell drinks would make the venue more enticing to customers, keep them in seats longer and likely result in an increase in sales.

There aren't many cigar venues left in New England or elsewhere in the country where you can smoke and drink at the same time. In Manhattan, we have a few spots, and Boston has Cigar Masters. Many cities have their hidden gems, but you have to find them. For the cigar smokers of New Hampshire, however, this could change. And, if you believe that Dixville Notch chooses the president every four years, expect to see similar laws pop up in other states.

The weather is getting warmer, and restaurants in cities across the United States are stretching out onto sidewalks. Why not bring a touch of Europe across the Atlantic and enjoy the fresh air? Well, for some, fresh air is what's at issue. Smokers, after spending a winter enduring the elements, are happy to enjoy a bit of comfort. With most cities passing smoking bans, outside has become the last option for a lot of us, and outdoor dining almost always leads to ill will.

I was out on my front stoop a few nights ago, cigar in hand – as I've done for the past two years at this location. Customers at Bistro Cassis, a few doors down, complained loudly and in shrill voices, "You can't do that! It's blowing right at us!" Well, I reminded her, it's a public place, and I can do what I want. I continued to enjoy my cigar, though I moved back a little bit, so the building would provide some cover. Routinely, staff at the restaurant has been unnecessarily rude, perhaps in an attempt to show some advocacy for guests. Routinely, the staff fails.

Had she asked nicely, of course, I would have gladly relocated to the benches on Central Park West, a block away. Most cigar smokers seem to share this attitude. Ask nicely, and we'll accommodate the best we can. Demands and rude tones tend not to yield the desired results.

Smoking bans are an easy target for cigar smokers (and, for that matter cigarette smokers), and I admit, our community gripes about them a bit too much. We're past the point of being productive, and dwelling on the injustice feels like a waste of time. The fight for outdoor spaces, however, is a very real outcome of the prohibition on indoor smoking. Without locations where we can partake of our chosen luxury, we're forced outside. Though the laws vary, most do not prohibit smoking on sidewalks. So, that's where we go, disrupting dining experiences as a result.

You know I have a soft spot for this issue ... I will do everything I can to put cigars between the fingers of soldiers who want them. So, when I saw this latest announcement, I was hooked.

"Cigars to the Troops" is hosting its First Annual Poker Run and Fundraiser. On Saturday, May 23, 2009, participants will stop at various locations in the Denver, Colorado area that celebrate those who have served: Fort Logan, American Legion, VFW and Armed Forces Tribute Garden (among others). The event will also include raffles, a sidewalk barbequeue and other entertainment ... including the Palma Posse Cigar Girls.

And, as you may have guessed, there will be some poker played. The best and worst hands will score a stay in Vail.

If you enter solo, the cost is $25, with couples paying $35. In addition to participating and eating, you'll get a t-shirt, cigar and raffle ticket. It's a small price to pay to have a bit of fun and support Cigars to the Troops.

Any soldier knows the importance of the small comforts that make a difficult situation easier. If you haven't served, just trust me on this one. Every cigar that winds up in the hand of a soldier who wants one will definitely appreciate it.

Cigar company C.A.O. International is partnering with custom motorcycle builder Sucker Punch Sally's to put a lucky cigar smoker on the back of a new bike. The ride, which hasn't been created yet, will be inspired by C.A.O. cigars and should be a dream for anyone with a passion for sticks and speed. The design reaches back to the 1950s, with a minimalist approach and a shortened rear fender – from which the appellation "bobber" is derived.

So, which cigar inspired what will undoubtedly be a monument to manliness and power?

The C.A.O. America cigar is the culprit. It's a full-bodied smoke that is best consumed after you've had a meal (even if you normally enjoy heavier cigars. It's made in Honduras with two wrapper leaves: one's Connecticut shade, and the other is a chocolate brown broadleaf.

Before a lucky winner receives the motorcycle, it will be taken around the United States – to both bike rallies and cigar shops. If you're in Henderson, Nevada on June 4, look for it at the Tobacco Leaf. Finally, next spring, the bike will be given to a randomly selected winner at a party to be held at C.A.O. headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

If you are looking for value, it's hard to beat anything from Camacho. For an extremely reasonable price, you'll smoke a well-constructed cigar that has both plenty of flavor and a complexity that will hold your attention until the cigar is nothing but ash. The Camacho Select exemplifies the high quality-to-cost ratio of the Camacho brand.

There are certain basics you assume when you cut and light a Camacho. A rich, bold flavor is the norm, along with an easy, voluminous draw. In these regards, the Camacho Select does not disappoint. With every pull, you'll experience a mouthful of smoke with a texture found only among the top-shelf brands in any respectable cigar shop. The scrunched-up faces desperately pulling for even the slightest taste ... they do not have Camacho Select cigars in their mouths.

Not all golfers smoke cigars, and not all cigar smokers golf. Nonetheless, there is a hefty chunk of both groups that overlaps. Step out onto the links at any major course, and you're bound to find more than a handful of duffers with stogies lit while they fret about their backswings. Now, this tradition is in jeopardy.

Across the country, public golf courses are trying to ban what essentially is outdoor smoking where common courtesy dictates that you not get too close to the groups around you anyway. It comes as no shock that many golfers are resisting the trend.

The city of Spokane, WA is the latest to attempt a prohibition on lighting up while teeing off, only to back down in the face of immense opposition. It's already hard enough to enjoy a cigar in Washington, which has banned indoor smoking – not to mention puffing within 25 feet of a door or window.

The Spokane golfers' victory is an anomaly. Several public courses have succeeded in keeping cigars off courses, including San Francisco, Glendale and Pasadena, CA; Hawaii County, HI; Bloomington, MN.; Goshen, IN.; Abilene, TX and Arvada, CO.

So, it looks like you'll only see the most upscale of cigars at golf courses in the near future. After all, country clubs will be the only places that can make their own rules.

Artist Julio Aguilera has had his face pounded in bare-knuckle bouts around the world. He's also seen his works hang in the most prestigious homes in Manhattan. For the former world martial arts champion turned artist, though, there's nothing quite like a great cigar. Now solely an artist and no longer a fighter, Aguilera seeks relaxation, inspiration and even a market in the New York cigar community.

Elements of the cigar culture appear regularly in Aguilera's work. A number of paintings feature cigar smokers, including "General con Pipa" and "Harlequin con Cigar". Figures are sliced apart in the artist's signature geometric style and reassembled with perfect, though not evident, symmetry. In other pieces, the artist prefers to hide cigars on the canvas. "Still Life in Blue," for example, features a table stacked for a meal holding what could be a cigar or a large loaf of bread. The ambiguity is intentional, according to the artist. "I like to give a nod in one of my passions to another."

With Aguilera's enjoyment of cigars and the fact that they appear from time to time in his artwork, it is unsurprising that the community would have adopted him as its representative artist. Pieces from his sculpture series "New York Bull" have appeared in the windows of Davidoff Madison Avenue (where he has held a number of shows), and he regularly meets with collectors at De La Concha. In any mid-town cigar shop on any day, Aguilera suspects he would run into one of his collectors. "At least one," he laughs.