San Diego & the FOH Community

[MoeFOH]

"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina." I just don't know how to begin a piece on San Diego without including that Anchorman quote, so I'm getting it out of the way upfront.  

Ok. Done. 

So, after a great meet up in LA, San Diego was the 2nd stop on my 7-week journey around the US. I wondered how San Diego would top what happened in LA: 

 

 

I didn't have a great deal of time in San Diego--only 3 nights. With jet-lag ever encroaching on my waking hours and a wanky marketing conference to attend during the day, my available time was made even shorter still. 

Geoff @GWG had reached out to me via private message when El Pres first floated my US travel schedule on the forum. Some had suggested Churchill's as a place to meet up, and it just happened to be about 20 metres outside my Airbnb's front door... along with the rest of Old Town. All this suited me perfectly! And so I promptly became resident at Miguel's (a restaurant and bar), which also was approximately 20 metres from my front door. Some may attest to far better fare elsewhere, I don't know, but I'm just not that fussy when travelling on a tight schedule (or at any time, for that matter)--if the food's decent and the beer's just a matter of a wink or nod for a refill, then proximity to the digs is king! 

So, through some sketchy messaging (some done while sitting across the bar from each other!--we'd never met before) Geoff located me at Miguel's and we settled in for a grand night. 

After some great banter, beers, and Mexican grub, we traversed the interstellar distance across the road to Churchill's with aplomb. A couple of nice cigars selected (Geoff would have to tell you what they were), we settled in for more of the same and we had a great laugh. Geoff's a beer aficionado, and he left me greatly troubled by the stinging realisation that I had not scheduled more time to take on everything San Diego had to offer in the craft beer scene. Well, you can't have everything. And so I settled on banking (into my tin cup brain) as much advice as he could offer about the other cities and venues which I had yet to visit. 

I'm someone who welcomes solo travel; I can get out on my own for extended periods and be quite within my comfort zone. That said, for me, travel is all about the people you meet along the way, and having these FOH meet-ups has been a wonderful enhancement to my journey thus far. In sum, another tale of good times founded on this little community. Thanks again, Geoff. -- Cheers, mate. 

And, due to my intro, I guess the only fitting way to sign off here is to say, "You stay classy, San Diego." 

Cheers,

Moe.

[GWG]

Great experience as well, pretty much defined what the cigar experience at its best is all about nice smoke, good friends, great conversation and of course a beer! Community is great wherever you find it and hearing someone's story while out on a walkabout Enlightening. This attitude was something we shared and I'm jealous of his coming adventure. Safe journey my friend?

[TNT009]

Good read and Love Churchills!

[joshhooper7]

I've always strayed from Churchills due to their pricing, do they let you bring outside smokes in? I love Caesar's in Gaslamp for that reason, I can bring in my own cigars as long as I buy a few drinks from them.

Would love to get a San Diego HERF going before I take on this 7 month deployment!

[GWG]

7 hours ago, joshhooper7 said:

I've always strayed from Churchills due to their pricing, do they let you bring outside smokes in? I love Caesar's in Gaslamp for that reason, I can bring in my own cigars as long as I buy a few drinks from them.

Would love to get a San Diego HERF going before I take on this 7 month deployment!

My experience is that they are not fond of bringing smokes in. I have been off and on with churchhills, the selection is fine, the prices are a bit high but in this state define high? I enjoy the opportunity they provide to sit, have a smoke,  a drink and maybe watch some sports. I have had some experiences in the past where the hospitality was not as inviting as I would have liked maybe just me so I went to other locations. If I am at someones B&M i try to spend,  as I appreciate them being there for my pleasure. However if I am going to have multiple cigars then I start considering my stash. This is an interesting topic. I frequent the businesses that show appreciation for my choice to do business with them whether once or many times. cigar lounges, pubs, places that we frequent for pleasure in my mind should grow the relationships with their regulars, churchills has been much better with that than in the past and I appreciate the effort.  This does not speak to the issue of purchase over smoke your own however If I am a regular and do make myself a good customer i dont feel bad for pulling out one of my own on occasion. I like sharing with the staff as relationships work both ways. I avoid sharing with others in a store if cigars is their main business, if it is a bar, I share often. So thats my thoughts on the subject. 

[joshhooper7]

17 hours ago, GWG said:

 I avoid sharing with others in a store if cigars is their main business, if it is a bar, I share often.

Well I'd be an asshole if I showed up to a B&M and smoked my own cigars and passed some out to the other customers. However, if I'm going to a bar I feel a lot less bad bringing my own cigar and buying drinks. With my affinity for Cuban cigars, I always bring in a few for Mike and the guys at Liberty Tobacco when I go up there for a Sunday afternoon cigar.