A most welcoming event with the most gracious people

While we roamed around Pennsylvania, waiting for the CigarFest kick-off, we donned our fancy-pants clothes and headed to To' Makao Fine Cigars in Bethlehem, PA. I actually begged (and not in  a lady-like manner) for the Band of Merry Caballeros to agree to go to this super-great ticketed event.

 

Owner Franklin Pichardo is one of the nicest, sweetest, kindest people in the Universe. We met him in Miami this past October at Cigar Cellar, owned by SuperFriend Rhea Planes. (We were in town for the Havana Nights fundraiser,* organized by another of the universe's most awesome people, Berta Bravo.**)

 

On this pre-CigarFest night in April, though, former Opus X roller Franklin celebrated the visit of his long-time mentor and friend, Carlito Fuente.



Naturally, Will needed to be the center of attention,
even though it was Carlito's birthday.

 

When we first arrived, we received  some of Franklin's hand-rolled cigars, both gorgeous and delicious:

 

 

 

During the evening, Carlito told us about his first meeting with Franklin and how he had grown into the amazing man we saw before us.

 



Great picture by Valentino.

Franklin was in tears and speechless, as were we all.





Terrible picture by me. Sigh.



Mike, the Honorary Caballero (left),
Carlito, and Caballero #2 at the event.

Our hero and Carlito,
who is one of the most gracious men on the planet.
(Our hero's not to shabby himself.)

Fuente Fuente Opus X Love Affair***



A beautiful cigar, made by an extraordinary man and his company.

Of course a raffle was held.

Of course Valentino won the grand prize, a Fuente Fuente Opus 22  unfilled gift box, which Carlito then signed, and told him to select any ten cigars from the Fuente lines.

In case you didn't know, this limited box, when filled and sold, raises money for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, "a thoughtful cause dedicated to providing substantial humanitarian impact to communities in the Dominican Republic."



A very Fuente collection. The Opus box, a box of Opus X Love Affair,
and a variety of cigars, purchased at both Franklin's shop
and an earlier jaunt to Cigars International. 
(Photo by Valentino.)

And then photo by me of the same stuff.
Sigh.

If you happen to be anywhere near Bethlehem, PA, you MUST MUST MUST (MUST MUST) visit Franklin's shop. Tell him we sent you.

*This year's event, "A Fuente Family Affair" is on October 30. We're planning to be there. You should join us.

**Berta deserves her very own post, and will get it soon. Yeah, she's that great.

***The person who names the Fuente cigars should be sainted. Or knighted. Or something wonderful for the best cigar names ever.





Where to find more words from Penny World

And! I took a really cool picture for the story!
All by myself!

What's that? You don't think you're getting enough of my magical and wonderful word arrangements?

Then you should go here and check out the first of my weekly columns for iRobusto.com!*



*Valentino would surely like me to tell you** that he's my awesome editor and calls "Bullshit!" when I'm coasting through a writing project rather than giving it my all.

**He's off fishing with Caballero #2 in a state I'd be hard-pressed to find on a map, so he doesn't get the chance to speak for himself for the next week. Wheeee!

December Cigar(s) of the Month: The Alec Bradley Collection!

We have a winner! Or as we say in New England, winnah!
Congrats @HawaiianMaile (and Rhonda Britten, who was also listed on the entry)!!

Valentino will take a much better picture upon his return home.

So, let's just say we know a guy. And this guy is very generous. And he has some cigars. And he gave us these cigars. And he said, "Here you go. Use these for the Cigar of the Month."

Here are the Two Cabelleros (center and right)
and Drinnan, Alec Bradley rep and Honorary Cabellero.

But he gave us a caveat: Make them work for it.

We nodded exuberantly, either because we are innately evil or the fab bartender (Hi Lauren!) had been making us delicious drinks and we aren't sure how many were consumed that evening.

So here's what we need you to do--one or two or three of the following:*

1. Follow us on twitter! We are @cigargal <--obviously Valentino had no say in the making of that twitter handle.

 Be sure to leave your twitter handle in the comments below--otherwise we won't know you're following us to be in the running for the Alec Bradley loot!

This is us--just so you know you're following the right folks!

2. Like Will the Travelling Owl's Facebook page.

Be sure to tell us your name in the comments below, especially if you post anonymously, so we can be sure you're vying for the loot <--(rhymes with hoot!) and not one of his already awesome friends.

Yep. That's Will. He's checking his Facebook page.

3. Sign up to receive our blog posts right smack dab in your inboxes! The sign-up box is right below the Alec Bradley picture on the right hand side.

No special directions here--we can consult the list of subscribers!

I don't have an appropriate picture for "receive our blog posts by email"
so let's check out the company's cool logo, okay?

The winner  is chosen on the 25th of each month--because my birthday is on the 25th (of December--whaaa? THIS MONTH!!; be sure to mark your calendars), and what better way to count down to the blessed event than to give something away?


*If you do two, you get two chances to win! If you do all three, that's three chances!