Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 17/98) - The cigar trend has reared its head in Yellowknife.

Rocco Meraglia, manager of Giorgio's Italian Restaurant Lounge and Bar, has started a cigar of the month club, and he says things are far from going up in smoke.

"I have managed to collect 24 members to date," Meraglia says. "There are doctors, lawyers, aircraft mechanics -- all kinds of different people."

For Meraglia, the idea for the creation of such a club came from his own membership in a similar club operating in the United States. For his membership fee, Meraglia receives three to five cigars in a box every month.

But running and participating in a Canadian-based cigar club has definite advantages over its American counterparts -- because there is no embargo on the importation of Cuban cigars.

"We have cigars which run anywhere from $1 up to the $85 Cohiba from Cuba," Meraglia says.

Cigar-smoking has become a growing trend around the world and more and more people -- both men and women -- are joining in the cigar experience.

"A lot of places down south are moving towards cocktailing and away from loud music in their establishments. This change is helping to contribute to the return of the art of conversation into society," he says.

The club in Yellowknife -- known as The Big Smoke -- also holds cigar nights from time to time, which allow club members to get together and have a good cigar mixed with pleasant conversation.

"Some time the members bring cigars or cigar paraphernalia which they are looking to trade," Meraglia says. "We try to have cigar nights about every four to six months."

The last cigar night for members was a James Bond night, complete with music and martinis. Meraglia says he is considering making the next cigar night a boat cruise.

Members of The Big Smoke receive a monthly cigar information sheet, an invitation to cigar nights and other events, a cigar cutter for new members, an opportunity to attend the Cigar Aficionado Big Smoke Event in Las Vegas in Oct. 1998, and three to five cigars each month delivered to the member's home or office.

Meraglia says that the appeal of cigar-smoking for him is the meditative nature of the act.

"It's a zen thing for me," he says. "It's a great way to spend quality time doing something with friends where you can just sit around and talk and enjoy a cognac or brandy or martini."

Application forms for The Big Smoke are available at Giorgio's.