Hookah bar to offer Uptown alternative

by Paul Kita Culture Senior Writer paul.kita@ohiou.edu

It is a Saturday afternoon and Greg Jones, a senior exercise physiology major, is blowing puffy smoke rings into the mango-scented air.

His housemates, David Galli, Joe Catanese and Ryan Palma, are all circled around their two and a half foot tall hookah. The smoking device looks half "Alice in Wonderland," half "Lawrence of Arabia" - an elaborate navy and gold glass vase with three tentacle-esque hoses extended outward from its neck.

The guys take turns getting the hookah "rolling," sucking the smoke from the flavored tobacco, which sits at the top of the hookah, down through the neck, through the ice water at the base and through the hoses to their mouths. The water in the hookah bubbles with a low popping sound. They pass the hoses back and forth, folding them so as to not let any smoke escape.

"It's about the atmosphere," said Galli, as he released a swirl of smoke. "And it's about relaxing and enjoying yourself, whether it's a social situation or just listening to music."

No one is wearing tie-dye, and there isn't a dreadlock among them. In fact, Catanese is a Marine, Galli is an Ironman competitor and Palma is majoring in business finance and marketing. None of them even smoke cigarettes. And though a mild, happy buzz can be reached by smoking flavored tobacco from a hookah, it is not illegal if you are over the age of 18.

"Shisha," the flavored tobacco used in hookah smoking contains zero percent tar and .01 percent nicotine. Besides mango, other flavors of shisha include, but are not limited to: mint, double apple, triple apple, peach, pineapple, cherry, coffee vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, watermelon and banana split. One 50-gram box is usually $3 to $5.

"A lot of people who haven't smoked anything will smoke this and love it," Greg Jones said. "Because the smoke is cooled down by the ice water, it takes the burn out of inhaling it." Wine, fruit juice or other liquids also can be poured into the base to enhance flavor.

Because of the emerging popularity of hookahs, Columbus residents Charles and Adrienne Casagrande plan to open a hookah bar in Athens called "Pharao's Café at OU" as early as November at 5 Mill St.

"We wanted to give Athens something other than alcohol," Charles said. "(A hookah bar) is refreshing, relaxing and provides a sociable atmosphere."

The café also will sell coffee and baked goods, in the hopes of attracting a more laid-back crowd, despite its close proximity to many of Court Street's major bars.

Hookahs originated in the Middle East, said Aaron Johnston, partial owner of the Shisha Lounge hookah bar in Columbus, which offers 34 flavors of shisha as well as padded-floor seating, live music, chess and revolving art exhibits.

After opening his business two years ago, Johnston said he has seen a surge in the popularity of hookah-smoking, particularly with college-aged students.

"Most nights (the Shisha Lounge) is absolutely packed," he said. "I think people enjoy it because it's different. Going to a hookah bar, you really feel like you're part of the culture and people tend to be more open and social."

Greg Evans, a senior world religions major who has been to the Shisha Lounge, said the social aspect is his favorite part about smoking from a hookah.

"Because it creates such a relaxed atmosphere and the hookah acts as a good conversation ice-breaker, I've met so many different people," Evans said.

Palma said he believes smoking from a hookah is a social experience because of the certain type of interaction that takes place among the smokers.

"You're sharing a mouthpiece with someone," Palma said. "When you pass the hose, you touch hands. Whether it's a good friend or a girl you barely know, there is a sense of intimacy involved when smoking."

Galli has his own theory.

"There is no goal. People go to the bars with goals - they want to get drunk, they want to go home with someone. You don't get that with smoking from a hookah," he said.

At The Import House, 68 N. Court St., hookahs range in price from $66 one-hosers to $166 three-hosed, cobra-headed six-footers.

One package of shisha makes for several bowl-packs, and one bowl can provide enough smoke for three people, lasting more than an hour and a half.