By Kim Velsey 5/14 3:26pm

up in smoke

Smokers lose even more places to light up. (needoptic, flickr)

So Much For Enjoying the Nice Weather With a Cigarette

Poor smokers! Forced to shiver outside with chilly, chapped fingers all winter long, and then when the weather finally improves, New York announces that it will be expanding its state park smoking ban.

The ban on smoking in some areas of state parks had a rocky start (the state suspended it temporarily after smokers’ rights groups threatened to sue) and the legal challenge is, in fact, ongoing, But apparently, New York State is feeling very cocky, not only moving forward with the ban, but extending it to even more parks. Now smokers will only be able to suck fresh air into their damaged lungs when they visit one of the city’s parks. Or, the skin particle-laden air that passes for fresh in New York City. Read More

By Drew Grant 12/19/12 2:20pm

E-Cigs

Video

Meet Stephen Dwarf (YouTube)

E-Cigs Are Now Being Peddled by Both Stephen Dorff and Stephen Dwarf (Video)

Do you remember that amazing Stephen Dorff “Behind the Scenes” infomercial for Blu-E Cigarettes? The one that was six minutes of rambling, apparently unedited footage of actor Stephen Dorff (Blade, FeardotCom, Space Truckers) wearing a silly hat and playing piano in someone’s beach bungalow while taking e-cig breaks during a commercial for the Blu-U brand?

Well, one e-cigarette company decided to take it to the next level. Meet White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes’ newest spokesperson … Stephen DWARF. Read More

By Kim Velsey 12:26pm

Smoked Out

Tensions over smoking light up.

What? An Heiress Can’t Chain Smoke In Her Own Apartment Anymore?

Other luxury buildings may have failed in their bids to squelch smoking within their walls, but that has not stopped a Central Park West co-op from trying to evict a chain smoking trustfunder.

The El Dorado, where celebrities like Alec Baldwin and Marilyn Monroe once lived (both known to to light up on occasion), is trying to oust ninth-floor resident Diane Wells for her smoky ways, according to the New York Post. Read More

By Kim Velsey 5/29/12 4:14pm

Smoked Out

One smoker can take up the torch again (Dale M. Moore, flickr)

Man Wins Bid To Continue Smoking In His Own Apartment

It may be a small victory in a losing war, but at least José Arozamena can come home tonight, light up a cigarette and take a long, celebratory draw.

A judge has ruled that Mr. Arozamena, who lives at 260 Park Avenue South, can continue to light up in his apartment, the Post reports.

The condo board may have been emboldened by Mayor Bloomberg’s most recent move to kick smoking in the butt, but they were a little overzealous. After all, the mayor’s proposed legislation would only have required formal smoking policies and disclosures, not full-out bans. Read More

By Nate Freeman 12/15/11 11:18am

Smoking

Illo: Chris Gash

Island Smokes Brings New Yorkers the $3 Pack of Smokes…but for How Long?

Around the middle of the summer, brightly colored fliers started appearing on the Lower East Side, strewn across coffee shop counters and discarded on curbs. “Island Smokes,” they said. “A healthier, less expensive alternative to smoking. Amazing!!!” There was a cartoon palm tree swaying on some exotic atoll to drive the point home, but more intriguing was the word “discount.” And then the details: this wasn’t really so much an alternative to smoking as a way to do it cheaper. Island Smokes went for $29.99 a carton. Three bucks a pack. Peanuts. Read More