Harry's Cigar & Brew

Great place to grab and brew and smoke a cigar. Nice TV's to watch a game, friend enjoys their special events a lot. The guy who owns this place is very friendly.

Family owned and just like a local cigar shop should be - a home away from home.

I dropped in right before closing (I know, bad form), but I'm from out of town and I brought a friend who had never seen a cigar shop. She and I selected some sticks from a fine assortment and then added some nice port wine to the experience.

A few locals were playing pool while we sat in a pair of luxurious leather recliners and enjoyed the night far past closing. Fortunately, we weren't hassled for lingering. It was just what the doctor ordered. Super chill.

Thanks Harry's, you did make that night just right. C u soon.

Harry's Cigar & Brew gets everything right. A great selection of cigars and imported cigarettes, one of the best kept walk-in humidors I have seen anywhere, product knowledge that's second to none, very reasonable prices, a beer and wine bar, overstuffed leather chairs, a coffee cafe and some of the nicest people you will run across anywhere.

Seriously, Harry and his staff are easy to talk to and they go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable and all of your questions are answered.

And then there is Harry's Starlite Lounge which is one of the most unique performance venues you will find anywhere. Every Saturday night, from 7:30 PM until roughly 10:30 PM, Harry hosts a live Blues band in the small parking lot behind his store. The back door to the store is open so you have access to restrooms and you can purchase anything you want inside.

Bring your own folding chair(s) and enjoy a few hours of a local band playing the Blues. Harry also has a food vendor every week - most recently a couple who offer Chicken and Waffles (if you haven't had that before, Google "Roscoe's" in Los Angeles to read up on a great food combination and get with the program). But he also has BBQ, Cuban sandwiches and other vendors to break up the monotony. The food vendor sells their stuff, so it only costs if you want something to eat.

There is no cover charge, but Harry asks for a $10 donation per person that goes to the band. With your $10 donation, you get your choice of beer from several Domestic, Indie and Imports. There is no pressure or requirement to donate, it's just the nice and right thing to do.

What could be better than scarfing down a Chicken & Waffle sandwich smothered in milk gravy while sipping an ice-cold Palm beer and listening to a local Blues band in an outdoor parking lot on a Saturday night. If it gets better than that, I haven't experienced it yet.

Just make sure you don't come expecting a professional sound system and a slick production. This is just a place where people come out to enjoy the Blues. It ain't pretty or slick, but it is a lot more fun than you will have sitting at home watching reruns on TV again.

It took me a few months to get up the nerve to show up on a Saturday night to hang out in a parking lot with a bunch of strangers. But I'm glad I finally took the plunge because now I'm a full convert and I look forward to Harry's every weekend. No one gets rowdy and there is no car traffic to dodge. It's good, clean fun in the beautiful Orlando moonlight.

Hope to see you there soon. You can thank me later.