Cigar PEG is going back to the Big Easy, not since October 2012, has the Cigar PEG hosted a Mastermind in New Orleans. This event will be limited to 20 attendees.
It’s Full…the Mastermind is Sold-Out…See Activity Recommendations from Val at Bottom of Page.
Preliminary information on the Cigar PEG High Roller/Benefactor Mastermind:
New Orleans, Three days (9 am- 1 PM) in the boardroom, April 1-3, 2025…afternoons free.
Arrive by Monday (March 31) and depart on Friday (April 4).
The mastermind registration is $300.
Venue: The Saint Hotel, 931 Canal Street New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 70112 (in the Quarter). Rooms will be $209 per night plus tax. (You will receive Marriott Bonvoy points for your stay.) It will be compulsory for each attendee to secure their own room for four (4) nights at The Saint, in our block to make the finances for this event work.
To book your room, contact Wendy Lenz. Tel: 504-522-5400 ext. 2607 Email: Wendy.Lentz@thesaintnola.com
Or:
Book your group rate for Cigar PEG Elite Mastermind
Book your group rate for Cigar PEG Elite Mastermind
There will be optional group lunches and dinners, like at the Key West Mastermind…for those that attend, Ed will pay the bill, the bill will be divided by the total number of people in attendance and you will be billed after. Expect Val Grubb to organize fabulous dining experiences for us in NOLA.
Spouses are welcome at the group meals, however, this is not a Plus-One event for inviting friends or colleagues.
Mastermind Format:
Day One, from 9-10:30 AM, will kick off with Ray Leone, originator of the Sales Funnel®, sharing his 30+ year strategy for selling and gaining business, turning speeches into long-term clients, and using multiple employee evaluation instruments for extreme passive income. Ray will follow up “Murder Boarding” the business strategy of volunteers Erik Larson & Phil Barth.
Day Two and Three each attendee will have the opportunity to share their business strategy and receive feedback from the group.
Group Meals (reservation numbers are set based on everyone’s feedback…sorry, no changes):
Val has confirm, for us, the following restaurants for the NOLA Mastermind:
Monday, 3/31
DINNER: Saint John: 715 St Charles Avenue
Tuesday, 4/1
LUNCH: Gallier’s Seafood & Oyster Bar: 129 Carondelet Street
DINNER: Curio Bistro: 301 Royal Street (let’s plan on drinks beforehand in the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone)
Wednesday, 4/2
LUNCH: Domenica: 123 Baronne Street (let’s plan on drinks beforehand at the Sazerac Bar which is also in the Roosevelt Hotel)
DINNER: Red Fish Grill: 115 Bourbon Street
Thursday, 4/3
LUNCH: Bésame: 110 South Rampart Street
DINNER: Palm & Pine: 308 North Rampart Street
Visit the WWII Museum with Winston Churchill on Wednesday
Randy Otto, our own “Winston Churchill” will lead the Wednesday afternoon procession to the museum and while visiting will share some of his “Churchillian” knowledge regarding WWII.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/
It’s Full…Registered Attendees (Maximum of 20):
- Bryce Austin, High Roller (Amie)
- Ray Leone, High Roller (Linda)
- Randy Otto, High Roller
- Carolyn Strauss, High Roller
- Joe Curcillo, High Roller
- Jeff Owens, High Roller
- Dan Knight, High Roller
- Val Grubb, Benefactor
- Erik Larsen, Benefactor (Sarah)
- Dale Irvin, Staff (Linda)
- Kricket Harrison, Benefactor
- Vivian Cobb, Benefactor
- Nelson Griswold, Benefactor
- Phil Barth, Benefactor
- Marcia Daszko, Benefactor
- Maartje van Krieken, Benefactor (Eelco)
- Mitch Seehusen, Benefactor
- Lori King-Taylor, Benefactor (Jim Taylor)
- Diane Darling, Benefactor
- Ed Rigsbee, Organizer (Regina)
Val Grubb’s Things to See Suggestions
- For a great swamp tour via airboat, I use Airboat Tours by Arthur located in Del Allemends, LA.
- Our cemeteries are a site to behold. The above ground crypts are amazing. The most famous is St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. To tour here, you have to reserve a guided tour with Cemetery Tours New Orleans. You can tour Cemetery No. 3 on your own although I would look for a guide at the entrance who for a couple bucks tip, can share details. The stories are worth hearing (as are the monuments worth seeing).
- Plantation Tours – There are several plantations all together about an hour and a half outside of NOLA. I recommend Oak Alley Plantation (it’s probably the prettiest) or Whitney Plantation. The latter really focuses on the lives of the enslaved people.
- For various tour options (ghost tours, garden district, French Quarter, foodie tour, bar crawl, etc.), I recommend you book with either DeAnna Dupont (websste or email her at DeAnna@deannadupont.com) or Orion Couling (website or email him at orion.couling@gmail.com). I’ve used both and they are great.
- Storyville Museum – Gotta be honest, I’ve not been here yet (it only recently opened up), but I am JONESING to see it as I’ve heard good things! Storyville is the what the French Quarter used to be called and it was the red light district of LA.
- Speaking of museums, if you like offbeat museums, check out the Pharmacy Museum. They have some really interesting stuff. NOLA was the site of the 1st pharmacy in the US in 1823 and wow, let me just say, if you got sick, you were screwed back then! FYI: Not sure the Voodoo Museum or Museum of Death are worth the price of admission. The former is very small and cramped and the latter is just a lot of gore. I’ve heard mixed reviews on both.
- One of my favorite things to take visitors to see is Mardi Gras World (I am obsessed with Mardi Gras so that has a lot to do with it!). The warehouse is actually the float den for Krewe of Orpheus (the Krewe that Harry Connick Jr and his father founded). They roll Monday nights and you can get up close to the floats (and see just how HUGE and BEAUTIFUL they are!). I think it’s well worth the price of admission!
- Café Du Monde – alrighty, so probably worth mentioning…I’m not a huge beignet fan so not typically at the top of my list. That said, most folks are gaga over the fried dough with powdered sugar treats. There are many other places to get them (Café Beignet is the big competitor to Café Du Monde), but if you’ve not had one, I suggest waiting for the original. You’re also across from Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral which you need to see.
- St. Louis Cathedral at night – go to the back side of the cathedral to see Football Jesus as the locals call it! It’s beautiful.
- Art – if you’re into art, there are a LOT of galleries on Royal Street. Booze on Bourbon Street, galleries on Royal.
Jazz Clubs
LOTTA options for jazz clubs, but here are my favorites:
- Snug Harbor – This is a place to listen to music. If you talk, you’ll be asked to leave. The acts are all outstanding and they have table service. They have great good too.
- Preservation Hall – a NOLA classic! You’ll hear traditional jazz in a rather “low key” room. This is a no frills place. No drinks can be brought in nor do they have any for sale. Shows are short – 45 minutes or so. Well worth it though. You’ll hear some great music! ZERO talking by the way.
- Davenport Lounge – this is right next to our hotel in the Ritz Carlton. It’s a fancy place. Music starting Wednesday (dark Monday and Tuesday). Jeremy Davenport is an outstanding horn player. I’m hoping we get a group to head here one night. It’s fancier but you can talk at your table. Lite bites as well.
- Double Dealer below the Saenger Theatre. Right around the corner from our hotel. It’s in the basement and has the total vide of a speakeasy. Ya just feel cool walking in to be honest! They are open Thursday – Friday – Saturday with vaudeville style music. It’s pretty great. Fancy cocktails only – no food.
- Dos Jefes Cigar Bar – this is WAY uptown but it has great music nightly and they allow cigar smoking. It’s a great bar divey bar!
Bars worth a peek
There are MANY others, but these are three that stand out to me (and I would take visitors to see):
- Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone – yes, it’s an actual working carousel (spinning since 1949). If you go, note that the bar has no opening! The bartenders have to hop over the bar to get in and out of the well! The carvings are just stunning on the chairs! My favorite story from the Carousel Bar is the Sam “The Banana King” Zemurray staged a coup to overthrow the President of Honduras (over a proposed tax) at the Carousel Bar! Lotta history here.
- Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel – guess what was created in this bar?!?! I’m more partial to the Ramos Gin Fizz (although they are so light and delicious, you may be on the floor before you realize you made a mistake! That’s the rumor anyway… ).
- Pat O’Brien’s – known for their hurricanes! I recommend grabbing one on the patio! ONLY ONE THOUGH! I know you will think you can drink more than one, but that will be a major mistake…well worth having one though!
Places to Smoke Cigars
Cuban Creations Cigar Bar 533 Toulouse St., New Orleans, LA 70130 >>> Mon – Sun : 11am – 2am
Cigar Factory New Orleans (4.8 stars on google) – it’s a 5-minute walk from the hotel: 206 Bourbon Street – open 7 days a week (open later – till 11 pm Sun – Thurs and midnight Friday & Saturday). NOTE: This is a block away from Red Fish Grill where we’re eating Wednesday night.
Pat O’Brien’s – 12 minute walk from the hotel: 718 St. Peter Street – You can smoke cigars on the patio area which is GORGEOUS. I think we should DEF do cigars here so folks can try a hurricane as well. NOTE: they are closed Monday and Tuesday. Ed’s recommendation for Wednesday & Thursday nights.
Smoke on the Water Cigars (4.8 stars on google) – an 11-minute walk from the hotel: 510 Conti Street
Don Leoncio Cigar Bar (4.4 stars on google) – a 9-minute walk from the hotel: 430 Canal Street – NOTE: This one seems the seediest. I’m def reading mixed reviews (even though it has a 4.4 rating on google)
