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Kick back, relax and enjoy a cigar.

Thursday Jun 28, 2001.     By Erin Brereton

Bars + Clubs Feed

Love "The Sopranos?"

Who doesn't? Kick back, relax and enjoy a cigar, like Tony does after a hard day at work. After all, no one knows what’s up next on "The Sopranos,” but who's to say you can't act like a mobster until we all find out?

Go ahead. Get some wine, maybe some Italian fare and light up a Cuban (if you can find a way around that pesky embargo act, that is). Here's four cigar' lovin bars who are prepared to make you an smoking-section offer you can't refuse:

Fly Me To The Moon
3400 N. Clark St.
(773) 528-4033

Fly Me To The Moon screams Sinatra -- if you catch the owner bartending, he'll tell you he's fan -- and what better place to have a stoagie? Fly Me to the Moon has dedicated its downstairs to peaceful puffers, and for a little mood, just jaunt upstairs for martinis, good Italian food and soft music from the past.

Pop's for Champagne
2934 N. Sheffield
(773) 472-1000

Classy, cool and full of bubbly, Pop's also allows patrons to smoke cigars when in the confines of its mural-clad walls. And if smoking makes you thirsty, there's about 140 different types of champagnes to sample and nighly live jazz to set the scene. Sundays are free, but other nights feature a cover charge from $5-10.

Gibson's
1028 N. Rush St.
(312) 266-8999

Known for it's juicy, thick steak and wealthy, Gold Coast clientele, cigars seem a natural fit at Gibson's... which is probably why so many of the patrons strike a match to one when they're inside. The restaurant's mahogany bar even features a special ventiliation system that filters out the smoke for the comfort of others. Thirsty? The martini's are as plentiful as the food portions.

Hunt Club
1100 N. State St.
(312) 998-7887

The Hunt Club has a little bit of everything -- drinking, dancing, dinner -- so why shouldn't it allow cigars? There's also sports -- 20 screens worth -- so you can take in a football game and some imported tobacco.