Join J.C. Newman Cigar Company as they celebrate the birthday of our El Reloj cigar factory with a living history presentation. This unique luncheon will allow guests to experience the legacy of “El Lector,” the iconic storytellers of Tampa’s past.
The lector was an educational institution for the workingmen of Ybor City from 1886 to 1931. The lectors themselves, men such as José Dolores Poyo (a biographer and friend of the Cuban national hero José Martí) or Victoriano Manteiga (founder of the trilingual La Gaceta newspaper in Ybor City), read everything from Spanish Golden Age classic literature to local baseball scores for an illiterate constituency which labored all the while.
From the reconstructed lector stage in their handmade cigar factory, the Newman Family will host prestigious guest lectors to honor the cigar city tradition.
A cuban-style lunch will be provided for each guest to enjoy during the historic presentation.
Date and time
Thu, March 31, 2022
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM EDT
Location
J.C. Newman Cigar Company
2701 North 16th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
