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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in New
York City bars & restaurants.
In New Jersey and Connecticut
restaurants, nonsmokers do not have it as good as in New
York City, as there isn't any "no smoking" clause. So
outside NYC, you might sit down in a smoke-free environment
only to have someone light up when you're midway through
your meal. Recently, I heard that New Jersey might adopt
similar smoking laws as NYC.
If smoke is an "issue" with your
health and enjoying your food, it is best to phone the place
you plan to go to first, rather than being unpleasantly
surprised after you arrive and are seated. Standing in the
establishment's doorway and taking a wiff of the place is
usually a good way to find out if you'll tolerate the air in
the place. Though, I was wholeheartedly surprised when a
coffeeshop in the West Village allowed smoking. I went in
there thinking I could have lunch, and midway through eating
my lox and bagel, all these people began lighting up
cigarettes. Phooey!
I had to get my food wrapped to go and leave. I was not
pleased.
Most businesses as well as theaters
do not allow smoking. Only small offices where there are
soley smokers working there to begin with might allow
smoking. Other than that, you'll notice a bunch of office
personnel standing out in the chill of winter, puffing on
their cigarettes at the doorway of their office building.
In the last few years I have
requested that the people living near me do not smoke in the
hall--as often their parties would spill out into the
hallway, and visitors would sit on the steps and literally
smoke me out of my apartment.
I would have to leave my building, and return in a few hours
after their smoke had cleared. They have been very nice
about my request and now all go up to the roof to
smoke.
-Wendy Ballard
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