Good Life Diaries

The Kahala Resort Presents.... Symposia- The Best of Northern California: Napa, Sonoma, and Carneros Ocean Front, Poolside Saturday, August 21st 6:30pm – 10:00pm The Kahala will be presenting wine selections from nine Californian wineries at this Symposia event. The Kahala's Executive Chef Wayne Hirabayashi will be preparing dishes that inspire while cigar connoisseur Michael Herklots will be beachside to showcase cigars from Davidoff. Guests will be able to interact with vintners and sample selections from: Black Sears Dyer Wines Plumpjack Winery Outpost Winery Realm Cellars Rivers-Marie Staglin Meteor Vineyards Schrader Cellars: including Aston Estate, Double Diamond Wines and Vieux-Os Wines $80.00 plus tax and 20% gratuity. Symposia - A Celebration of Wine Menu. For reservations, please call 739.8760 or email restaurants@kahalaresort.com.

In just a few days, I'll be boarding a Delta flight bound for New Orleans to attend the 2010 International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers annual convention at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center.  The first time I attended the show in New Orleans was just a month before Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005.  Since then I've been back almost every year to support and attend Emeril Lagasse's Carnivale du Vin .  Last year's trade show was in New Orleans and we're returning again this year since the accomodating folks of NOLA are willing to let us smoke on the show floor. I'm always reminded as the show nears some of the great launches of IPCPR's past (formerly called RTDA). The first show I attended was in Nashville in 2003. For me, the hottest release of that year was the La Aurora Cien Años.   A Dominican Puro, it was handed out in the corona format and I still remember what a unique departure that flavor was from the standard La Aurora line....

Despite the tireless efforts of the New York Tobacconists Association, New York State Legislators foolishly and irresponsilbly passed an emergency "extender bill" on June 21, 2010 that raises the OTP (Other Tobacco Tax) from its current 46% of wholesale to 75% of wholesale.  Just over a year ago, the same tax was raised from 37% at the time to the current 46%.  Although it was clearly outlined to the State Legislators that this tax is not only revenue negative but would be devastating to the countless small businesses throughout New York State, they decided to turn their back on New Yorkers and push the tax through anyway. It should be noted that taxes are collected in the state in which the consumer takes ownership of the goods.  TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS outside of NY State, this type of ridiculous over-taxation can no doubt mislead other State Leaders into thinking this is actually a good idea, so please be sure you are following the budget discussions in your stat...

Ignoring once again the crippling financial burdens facing New York’s small businesses, the newest proposal by Governor Paterson to increase the Other Tobacco Products (“OTP”) tax from its current 46% of wholesale to 75% is outrageous, irresponsible and revenue negative for the State. Just over a year ago, the State of New York implemented an OTP tax increase from 37% of wholesale to 46% of wholesale. This increase put New York State’s OTP tax significantly higher than the OTP tax of neighboring states. Comparing the first quarter of 2010 to 2009, Professional Tobacconists across the state of New York lost a devastating 20-30% in customer transactions. But don’t be fooled, these customers have not quit enjoying their premium cigars or pipe tobaccos, rather they simply buy their tobacco elsewhere, either in a neighboring state or online. Further increasing the OTP tax will only continue to drive customers away from New York, resulting in a loss of not only OTP tax but also sales tax...

Out of the Humidor: Room101

It's that time again for my annual birthday party/fundraiser event. This is the 6th year I'm raising money for my high school Alma Mater, Killingly High School in Danielson, CT. Since 2005, my birthday event has raised over $70,000 for the Learning for Life Fund, which helps supplement, the costs of KHS's School-to-Career program. http://www.killinglyschools.org/ It's a small town public school that's funded by a very limited education budget financed by generous yet maxed-out taxpayers, many on fixed incomes. This past year has been incredibly challenging for them to maintain programs, and even provide adequate resources like computers. They were only able to do so because of the funding this event generates through your support and generosity. The Killingly High School "Learning for Life" Fund directly supports the "Career Pathways" program and "School to Career" program that helps in the transition from high school to the ne...

Out of the Humidor: Padron Family Reserve No. 45