A Hookah for Everyone
The next time you're driving down Hertel, be sure to make a stop at Alladdin Markets, a paradise of middle eastern food, clothing and gifts. The first thing you'll notice, though, looking through the large front windows, is the huge number of hookahs on display. For an item not easily found around the city, the owners have definitely tackled the market. They've got hookahs in an endless array of colors and styles, to fit the personalities of the extremely varied customer base. Think your hookah could use some fish floating in the chamber? They've got it. Want to make it portable, built into a carrying case? Got it. Like the antique look? They've got some old ones too. The hookahs are so varied in make and design - to appeal to both the novice and the experienced smoker - that you could spend anywhere from $40 to nearly $300 on your newest smoking accessory.
This place truly is a hookah smoker's dream. Once you decide just which hookah you want to take home, they've got you covered on all the neccessary - and not so neccessary - accesories you could imagine. They've got a wall filled with literally every flavor tobacco you could imagine (the owner, Maggie Agha, recently enjoyed the watermellon and judging from the smell, it will be my newest favorite as well), prepackaged coals, plastic filters, even beads for decoration if you go for one of the plainer models.
Even with the number of hookahs on display, Agha said she has to restock her window every two weeks lately. And her customer base is as varied and numerous as the hookahs themselves - every race, nationality and age group you can imagine. Smoking hookah has become a growing trend, especially among college students. It's a relaxing pasttime over which friends can gather, smoke and enjoy eachother in a quite and intimate social setting. If you've never tried it but are curious, you can check out Sahara Grill on Elmwood before you buy your own. But once you're in the market, there's no better selection, and certainly no sweeter service than Alladdin Markets. I left, smiling, baklava in hand, promising to return soon to pick up a hookah of my own. And you better believe I will.
Ummmmm, are we trying to pretend that these aren't bongs?
a hookah is a traditional middle eastern smoking device... for use with flavored tobacco... really only ignorant american college kids would use them as bongs. have some respect for the culture
If it can be used to smoke pot then trust me that is what the majority of people who are buying them are using them for. This has nothing to do with culture. Not being a pot head I'm always kinda annoyed when I see bongs being sold so openly because it reminds me how prevelant drug use is. Trust me I think it would be great if the people buying these were just smoking flavored tobacco with them, especially if it really is something they do to relax and hang out with freinds.
I agree that the intended purpose may be for use with flavored tobacco IN THE U.S., IN HOOKAH BARS.
Smoking weed out of a Hookah is NOT disrespectful to the culture and shows lack of knowledge about the Hookah. The Turks (and others) smoked REGULAR tobacco and hash and weed for at least a few hundred years out of a HOOKAH! It was common practice in Eastern Cultures to give their laborers hash to smoke to keep them busy and happy while they were performing tedious, physical work.
The Hookah was not invented as a smoking device for flavored tobacco and the bong is just a derivative of the Hookah.
Perhaps you can conduct some research on the Hookah before making a negative statement aimed at young American students.
By the way, I am a 41 year old NON-SMOKER.
I don't smoke, take drugs and I barely drink so I am no big drug advocate but...isn't it silly that Mary Jane is illegal?
how naive anna
Bizzies-
I am not a "pot head" nor do smoke cigarettes; I do, however enjoy the occasional glass of wine. These are just MY choices. While drug use is prevelant and certain drugs such as meth, heroin, cocaine and crack may do serious harm to the user and to society, marijuana CANNOT be put into the same category.
Alcohol, a MUCH MORE dangerous substance is legal and one can die from alcohol poisoning in contrast to weed, in which you cannot overdose. An individual may become psycologically addicted to almost anything; in our culture even shopping can be classified as an addiction which is absurd. These may be compulsions, not addictions, whereas with alcohol and even nicotine, the addiction is true and physical. I am not an advocate for irresponsible drug use; I am however, in favor of the truth.
The truth is, the only thing keeping marijuana illegal is our government and their failed war on drugs.
I realize I'm a little off topic and I apologize. I just have a hard time digesting missinformation regarding something that has been proven for centuries to be helpful to so many.
I am for personal FREEDOM and personal RESPONSIBILITY and if I am ever diagnosed with a terminal illness, I will be thankful I know people who DO smoke pot so they can hook me up.
Correction: "nor do I"
:)
I know the focus of the article was obviously to highlight Hookahs but I would have liked to have read at least one paragraph about the other products sold at the Market to entice non-smokers to visit and hopefully purchase something. I guess I'll just have to stop in!
The hookahs are intended for tobaco use and that is what they are sold for. It is something that is part of the Middle eastern culture, and s so popular there. Now if people use the hookahs as bongs, then that is their problem, it is like anything else that people could misuse. I hope that these comments woul not people to think negatively of the store itself, because they do have a lot of good and delicious things to offer, in addition to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. I encourage you to pay them a visit and enjoy the cultural experience they have to offer in addition to the hookah.
That place is GREATTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! and the hookah is even greater.
After reading this artical and all the comments I just had to go down there and see for myself. One thing i can say about this store that it is much more than just a hooka store- they've got so many other cool things like belly dancing dvd's, middle eastern dresses, and the food-OHHH the FOOD!
P.S, Bizzles and Olygrl ---hookas are not culturally used for weed..just so we are all on the same page.
Lisa-
Other cultures smoked marijuana, tobacco, hash and opium out of Hookahs way before flavored tobacco existed.
Not only is it naive to think otherwise, it is pure ignorance.
I am not advocating drug use, however, other cultures (Middle Eastern ones included) haven't been brainwashed to see marijuana or hash as a BAD thing as we have here in the States.
Sorry, I think you need to do some more research and to try not to let your personal biases get in the way.
Here is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah
Check under heading "Design and Function"
Okay everyone,
Once again, the Hookah was used in other cultures (including Middle Eastern cultures) to smoke hash and opium BEFORE tobacco.?There is nothing negative about knowing the truth; it is the only cure for ignorance. Nothing negative about the Hookah being used for its intended purposes, although I'm not a big advocate for opium, it's very addictive. If folks want to smoke hash or weed out of the Hookah, where's the harm? How is this disrespectful to the culture or to this new store (which I'm sure is fabulous!)?????Yes, there are Hookah bars where people gather together and smoke flavored tobaccos, I choose not to smoke anything, just my own personal choice. I just don't care for the tone in some of these posts that sound a little condescending toward those who choose to engage in an age old practice that has been shown to do less harm than alcohol and nicotine.?I would suggest doing some more research. Here's a good place to start:?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah?Check out the paragraphs under "Design and Function"
White trash use these to smoke pot....middle eastern indian and alot of other cultures just use this for tobacco...dont mix it up...majority use it for tobacco.. i do it many times a day and so does almost everyone i know and ive only heard of 2 ppl ever using it for weed as it doesnt really work and you need ot use a lot of weed which doesnt make it worth it
Correction you simple person.
Opium, Hash and Grass were SMOKED BEFORE TOBACCO.
It became more "Socially Acceptible" to smoke tobacco out of the Hookah.
Just because you and your narrow minded friends smoke tobacco exclusively out of it.....does not mean that it is not the inteded purpose.
Using the Hookah for tobacco is just Trendy now......it's the new cool things for white trash hipsters to use.
Here.....go to Wikipedia.org and look at Hookahs........Educate yourself a little......it might be hard for you to open your mind.....but for the sake of future generations please do.
Sorry for the typos.
I was trying to hurry before this White Trash impregnated his sister.
Opinions do not matter
Yes they do.
I may have been harsh but.....This guy offended me with his ignorance.
Why is it so hard for people to believe that Hookahs were invented for smoking Opium and Grass?
A bong is just a easier way for one person to use a water pipe.
So maybe these people should have listened to Olygirl......she obviously knew what she was talking about.
You can have an opinion.......but don't disregard the facts.
I am a college student and almost everyone I know who own hookahs smokes tobacco out of them rather than marijuana. A few people seem to have really missed the whole point that the market sells tobacco...not marijuana. What you use it for in your own home is your business/ problem. Oh, I use mine for tobacco as well.
Eric-
As I said before, I don't smoke anything, I also don't condemn those who do. I just got a little riled when a few posters mentioned that the Hookah was INVENTED for use with tobacoo, flavored or otherwise and then copped attitudes regarding folks who may smoke other substances out of their Hookahs. I don't give a flip what people smoke out of their Hookahs; I just don't want to see ignorant disregard of the facts, which anyone who takes the time can find out.
The stigmatism regarding marijuana needs to stop. The folks I know who do smoke it are Artists, Musicians, Librarians, Lawyers.....you get the idea. They are highly productive individuals who are partaking in something much less harmful than alcohol or nicotine which also has a plethora of medical uses. What IS harmful about smoking in general, is the thermal (heat) damage. Water pipes (bongs) and Hookahs cut the thermal damage some, vaporizers are even more effective.
I realize that this wonderful store has them for sale for use with tobacco, to even suggest otherwise could land them in serious trouble. I certainly didn't mean to turn this into a diatribe about drug use, pro or con; I simply can't turn away from speaking the truth when I see misinformation being presented.
I seriously cannot believe what i am reading. That is ridiculous that you can sit there and say that it's "white trash" to smoke marijuana out of a hookah and especially to say "they sell tobacco, not marijuana"...no kidding, it's illegal but people still do it. Do you people not realize that it's FACT that people smoked marijuana and things like that before tobacco. That's why it eventually became illegal because of the use. Maybe you tobacco-only smokers should try putting some weed in your hookahs and lighten up.
To Bizzles and Anna;
I was going to write about the culture of shishas, hookas, etc - letting you know that hasish and opium packed the bowls long before tabacco was brought to Europe and the Middle East/North Africa. Then, I was going to say that, regardless of one's like/dislike for drugs - you should get your facts straight before making incoherent claims.
And then it dawned on me - you're probably just idiots with a penchant for voicing your opinion, regardless of how inconsistent it may be with facts (or even your own views)
Cheers,
- Someone much, much more informed than you, who tends to keep his opinions to himself (unless he's confronted by (a) ignorance or (b) moral conservatives)