What takes up most of my time is working for mother Xerox. I sell supplies – anything that runs in the machine or through the machine – just not the machine. Been doing it for about five years now. When I am not working I have a few passions. One of them is serving as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts. Currently I am the Eagle Scout Coordinator for my district in East Dallas. I get to meet with Eagle Scout candidates and review/approve their Eagle Projects and then sit on Eagle Scout Board of Reviews. I must admit it I do it for selfish reasons as much as my time and energy in service. There are many Scouters that would be happy to serve in my position, and indeed I call on several when absolutely cannot fulfill my duties. As an Eagle Scout myself I enjoy the process of the project and the Eagle Board. I am reminded every time of my work way back in the mid-80’s.
So it was a Tuesday night when I found myself at Zion Lutheran Church on Lovers Lane in East Dallas to meet a young man to approve his project. This is an hour drive from work in the Texas heat and in Dallas traffic for at most a fifteen minute meeting. I have done this job for three years now and always prefer to meet with the face-to face. The young man had a solid project that benefited the community. I arrived a bit late but everything was in order and the meeting ran smoothly.
Dallas Cigars
But this blog is not about Boy Scouts or projects or driving even, and you are wondering where I am going. And here it is, as long as the drive to East Dallas can take an hour the drive back with construction can sometimes take longer. What is a man to do on a long drive home? And here we are at Dallas Cigars. The name itself will not win any prizes for originality for sure but it makes up in location naming rights online or in the book. Dallas Cigars is located on upper Greenville Avenue just North of Humperdinck’s. 6162-A Greenville Ave Dallas, TX 75206. It is in a stand-alone building with little parking. When I have done my duty and am faced with a long drive home that will take me long enough to miss the 9pm closing ring of the cash register at my favorite Up in Smoke at Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville I stop by Dallas Cigars. I have known and visited the shop for at least seven years. The shop has changed owners and had a facelift in that time. I do not keep up with the staff like I do with other shops. For me it is a way-station on the way back to Lewisville.
The service at Dallas Cigars has never disappointed. Everyone I have met has been friendly with a quick smile and welcome. There seems to always be a few patrons sitting in a small but very nice lounge area with widescreen televisions. There is another sitting area off to your left as you walk in and I am sure that is not all there is to the shop. The place is well lit inside, not nearly as dark as other shops I visit. The humidor is a bit smaller than my favorite shop but the selection is decent, something for every taste. What makes this shop a must stop for me is the price point on one cigar in particular – Oliva V Double Toro. The V series itself is a very tasty selection. In my neck of the woods the price point on a Double Toro V series is $8-$9. At Dallas Cigar the price is $5.60/stick!!! The first time I saw the price I asked what was wrong with them. Then I asked how many could I buy. I bought five the first time. After a few more visits and the price the same I calmed down a bit in my demeanor and purchase and get enough to get me back home. The first time the staff member said they were clearing out some cigars for a summer sale – nope. The cigar I had this last visit lasted my trip home and then some at home. The flavor was all that I expect from a Series V. It is a smooth full body Nicaraguan smoke with a sun grown wrapper. Oliva has the Series V and Series O and Series G. For some reason the O and G series does not appeal to me the same way the Series V does.
So for this night I bought my Series V Double Toro and secured a bottle of water for the drive home. LBJ freeway was under major construction. They had the highway itself shut down near the North Toll way. But for me no worries. No other plans for the night, a bottle of water and a tasty cigar in my hand, life is good today. One note on lighting a cigar. Be careful with your tool of choice. Be it a match or lighter or a Xikar cigar double flame lighter. Light the cigar in your hand first and then bring your cigar to your mouth and light again. The flame should not touch the tobacco but mine does all the time rarely to any ill effect. I say be careful of your tool of choice because one wrong move of the lighting hand and you can find your face burnt in a matter of seconds. This goes double for those cigars that go out and need relit. Look at what your are doing. Light in hand then bring to mouth. Light in mouth and your nose could burn. Not that I have any experience doing it the wrong by, but I do!