16B OThe Michigan Daily - kend, etc. Magazine -Thu$ay, April 1,1999 Cigar smoking remains high-browed way to unwind By Elena Upson Dafly Arts Writer Sylvester Stallone is doing it. So is Madonna. Even President Clinton has found creative uses for it. And this is not about sex. Rather, it's one of the latest trends to sweep the nation: Cigars. Even Ann Arbor has been influenced by the cigar craze. It is no coincidence that La Mirage, a tobacco shop located on East Liberty Street, opened nearly two and half years ago -just as the likes of +- Pierce Brosnan and Claudia Schiffer were seen sporting cigars on the covers of the popular magazine Cigar Aficionado. Yet even though cigars seem to be quite the rage, almost any cigar smoker will tell you that they aren't meant for everyday use. Most true cigar connoisseurs would scorn anyone who smoked cigars as fre- quently and carelessly as regular cigarette smokers smoked cigarettes. Elizabeth Royce, an Ann Arbor resi- dent whose father regularly smokes cig- ars, explained, "It's a treat ... You pick a place or a good friend ... some brandy. It's an event. It's ultimate relaxation." La Mirage owner Ali ElSaghir agreed, "You can't smoke anytime. You need a special moment." ElSaghir added there is much more to cigars than simply smoke. He even com- pared smoking cigars to art because cig- ars are connected to the "personality" of the smoker, much how an artist's work is a reflection of himself. Interestingly, ElSaghir has noticed that people's personality traits often dictate their cigar preferences. For instance, he recommends a light or medium cigar to someone who is easy-going and funny since these cigars are usually just for fun. For more serious, ill-tempered folk, ElSaghir believes a long, harsh cigar is their best bet. Not only can cigars characterize the people smoking them, but they can also foster a rich, diverse culture. Often, the mere act of purchasing a cigar can be an enriching experience. Many employees form close personal relationships with their customers, or at the very least, con- verse with them in the same way a bar- tender chats with his regular patrons. ElSaghir said he has so many regular customers "that it's almost becoming a club" and "is based on personal relations." He explained that most conversations he has with customers have very little to do with cigars. His tobacco store is a place where people can talk about any- thing from politics to the economy. He especially enjoys the way cigars can unite an eclectic group of people. Although people may have their disagreements in real life, ElSaghir believes "cigars bring a lot of people together." Despite the diverse types that gather to smoke, cigar smoking is geared toward an affluent crowd. ElSaghir admitted, "Who can afford it is the big question." He con- cedes that people who are less well-off obviously cannot afford to pay four, five or $10 for a single cigar on a regular basis. As a result, the upper classes have become the main market for cigars. Since the cigar industry thrives in an affluent community, it is largely depen- dent on the state of the economy. When the economy is booming, people have more money to spend on luxuries like cigars, ElSaghir said. He speculated that the economic prosperity of the '90s may indeed be related to the recent cigar trend. He also attributed cigar's growing pop- ularity to America's infatuation with the glamour of past decades. He has noticed that many times people tote a cigar sim- ply because it goes with their outfit. LSA sophomore Justin Betrock admits he smoke cigars when he "gets dressed up," though he is quick to add that he also Q Thanks for voting us # 1! Touchdown Restaurant and Sports Bar ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily LSA senior C.J. Carnacchio looks for the perfect cigar at the Mason Edwards Tobacconist shop in Nichols arcade. smokes during "joyous occasions" or when he is "hanging with the guys." But some people, like Mt. Pleasant res- ident and La Mirage patron Stacey Saul, are disgusted with Betrock's breed. She complained, "The trend turns me off. Seeing young men, thinking they're cool" Perhaps, then, Saul can appreciate a warning from an employee at Maison S ADDITIONK LAG TIS l i i I1 II1 I Edwards Tobacconist in the Nichols Arcade, who asked to remain nameless, that the cigar trend is dying down. The employee said "people are in love with fads. Our generation has a short attention span" He believes that tastes are too tran- sient for the trend to last much longer. But Betrock said he thinks more peo- ple are smoking cigars because they carry few immediate health risks. In reality, Betrock has bought into a popular myth. According to the American Cancer Society and American Lung Association, cigar smoke is just as harm- ful as cigarette smoke and contains even more tar and nicotine. Also, nicotine does not need to be inhaled to cause damage to the heart and blood vessels. But health risks don't bother the Maison Employee. "I don't give into these health fanatics. I believe in individual choice ... There is too much obsession on quantity of life, not enough on quality." Best Sports Bar Best Cheap Beer -Michigan Daily Readership Poll, 1997 and 1998 Best Overall Bar Best Happy Hour -Michigan Daily Readership Poll, 1997 1220 S. University 665-7777 ANSTERDAM-$419 * -LONDON- $440 LIMA-$464 . RIO DE JANEIRO-$691 TAIPEI-$880 - BANGKOK -$890 SYDNEY - $1060 ROUNDTRIP, PLUS TAXES, SUBJECT TO CHANGE Travel,,, Council on International Educational Exchange 1218 South University Ave. Ann Arbor, M1 48104 Phone: 734-998-0200 BOOK s UPPLY 317 SOUTH STATE STRET 11 - 4pm Y HERFFJONES®