Cigar Aficionado

Tucson, Arizona may seem a bit sleepy, but for the city's half million residents and nearly 4 million annual visitors, there's always something to do.

Many visit the southwestern city to see a performance at the restored Fox Theatre or to tour Congress Hotel where John Dillinger and his gang laid low under assumed names until they were captured in 1934. The University of Arizona gives Tucson some college flair and the Tucson Botanical Gardens showcases a slew of rotating exhibits created by local artists.

For the nature lover there's the relatively easy walking paths of Rillito River Park, or the more challenging trek up the Finger Rock Canyon trail to Mt. Kimbal's peak. Mountain bikers visit, too, for the miles of off-road desert trails. This is the old west, so horseback riding (or just driving your car) among the saguaros is common. Lots of clear nights allow for some excellent stargazing, and if you love Sonoran-style Mexican food, Tucson is the place to eat.

Tucson, it turns out, also takes cigars very seriously. A visit to Jerry's Cigars, on the north side of town, presents an opportunity to find many of your favorite smokes and be introduced to cigars you might not know. The shop is near a "big-box" shopping center, meaning there are some shop-and-smoke opportunities. Freddy, the manager, says the store tries to have something new every month to interest its regulars. The shop sells Drew Estate, Ashton, Arturo Fuente, Casa Fernandez, Crowned Heads, Camacho and My Father, among others. Additionally, the store carries a number of accessories, including lighters, cutters and humidors.

Thirteen comfortable leather chairs are set up in a rectangle in the middle of the store, and a small table is also available in the front of the shop. Jerry's has two TVs that are usually tuned to golf and football. The store, a relatively intimate space, boasts great ventilation, lockers for members and a few photos of Yogi, the owner's asocial dachshund.

Soft drinks are available for purchase, but Jerry's does not allow alcohol. Poker games happen on Wednesday and Friday nights, and the store usually closes early at 7 o'clock on most evenings. Freddy said there's just not much call for them to stay open later. Tucson is an early town.

Jerry's Cigars
4433 North First Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 887-7778
http://jerryscigars.net
Open Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.