Metro Cigar News Spring 1999

Keep Smiling! Rudy poses
for a shot with radio
personality Matt Alan.

Rudy Giuliani, a cigar smoker and a fun mayor
Rudy Giuliani a fun guy? New York's no nonsense, law and order mayor may have a stern countenance to his opposition, but to Magic Matt Allen of Lighten Up! Cigar Radio out of Los Angeles, Giuliani is a real fun guy.

Allen interviewed the Big Apple's head honcho at the recent grand reopening of De La Concha's glitzy new cigar emporium on Sixth Avenue. "The mayor of Los Angeles would never admit to smoking," Magic Matt told Giuliani.

"There are more secret cigar smokers than you would ever imagine." retorted Rudy. "I think you are a hell of a lot more fun than Mayor Riordan," Magic Matt responded. "You are charismatic." Giuliani, ever the diplomat, noted that Riordan was a pretty decent person and a good friend of his.

Avo Uvezian casually look over the
shoulder of the mayor as he is
interviewed for the radio show.

Looking around the room full of celebrities, Giuliani commented that people in the cigar "industry work together and help each other, even competitors. "I don't think this would happen in other businesses."

He called the Melendi family "an American success story that has been in the business for more than four generations." Lionel Melendi, the patriarch of the cigar family, runs the operation with his sons, Ron and Randy.

While discussing cigars and smoking with those around him, the mayor never actually lit one up in public and changed the subject when asked about his favorite smokes.

From left to right: Avo Uvezian,
Mayor Giuliani and Paul
Garmirian pose at Jennifer's
on 57th St. in Manhattan, where
Lionel Melendi treated his
guests to a lovely celebration.

What he did enjoy talking about was his fledgling acting career. "I love playing all those roles and I've always had a desire to act," he said. "Maybe being in politics is a great primer for acting." Giuliani had just come off a short walk-on gig for Saturday Night Live on NBC-TV where he came on stage in drag, convulsing the audience.

While his opposition regularly attempts to paint Rudy Giuliani as a colorless law and order fanatic, he has opened New York City back up to people who can now enjoy an evening at the theater or dinner without worrying more about being mugged.

New York City in 1999 is cleaner, safer and more entertaining than it has been in a decade. That's the message that Giuliani carries with him wherever he goes. Cutting the ribbon to the reborn De La Concha, Giuliani looked around, noting that this event was part and parcel of the rebirth of the greatest city in the world.

Avo Uvezian casually looks over the shoulder of the mayor as he is interviewed for the radio show.

At right: Marvin Shanken, Publisher of Cigar Aficionado, does his impression of Marlon Brando's "The Godfather" as he attempts to speak with laryngitis.

At left: Mayor Giuliani takes center stage as "Magic" Matt Alan, host of Cigar Lifestyles Radio Program with a live taping of the show directly from the store.

Lionel Melendi, owner of De La Concha Tobacconists for the past 37 years, takes a moment to give "thumbs up" with Carlos Fuente, Jr.