>Here's one story today from LA that didn't make the editorial cut:
>
>LAX strike authorization expected
That's great. But how does it happen that a Stern protege even entertains the idea of spending $10,000 of union money for time spent in an elite smoke filled room, much less acts on it? Is this part of the partnership with companies plan? That's a serious question.
And how much sympathy are strikers going to get if they walk out the same day the news of Freeman's taking a leave of absence hits the front page?
This is from the website of the Grand Havana Room, where SEIU ran up a $10,000 tab Freeman admits having reimbursed:
http://www.grandhavana.com/index.cfm?npageid=4
The Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills is our flagship location. Since its inception in April 1995 it has set the standard that high-end cigar clubs are measured by on a national scale. Located on the corner of Dayton Way and Canon Drive in the heart of Beverly Hills, every element of the Grand Havana Room has been designed for the explicit purpose of maximizing the enjoyment of the cigar smoker.
Members, including some of the biggest names in Hollywood and the business world, enter through On Canon, a separate restaurant on North Canon Drive, and identify themselves to the hostess, who then unlocks a private elevator, which glides soundlessly up a floor to this secret smoking lair.
Once inside the sweeping cedar-hued interior, members may enjoy a panoramic view of the Hollywood hills, watch satellite TV, select from a gourmet menu, dine on the patio overlooking the streets of Beverly Hills, and sample libations from a bar that is stocked with super premiums ranging from the latest small batch bourbons to Louis XIII cognac. The decor is postwar country-club: couches and coffee tables in a subtly retro style.
The centerpiece of the club is the humidor, a glassed-in room that contains 350 blond-wood lockers, packed from floor to ceiling. The etched brass nameplates on the private cigar lockers read like a who's who of the entertainment world. Actors, producers, directors, and agents all store their stogies in a wraparound wall of cedar keeps, some of which can be reached only by a ladder.
These drawers contain bundles of cigars, lovingly collected, carefully maintained, of brands both elusive and exclusive. Some of the rarest cigars are available from the Grand Havana humidor, including Fuente's Opus X, La Gloria Cubana, and the Indian brand cigar.
To learn more about the privileges of being a member of the Grand Havana Room, and to inquire about Membership, please visit our Membership section. Already a member? Log into our Members Only section to take a look at our latest menus, cigar lists, upcoming events, the Grand Havana Room Newsletter, and more.