Looks as though that outage was caused by an area power failure, and not just a hotel pwoer failure.

TIS, had the blue drink early in the afternoon!
I promise to have one for you tonight.

Wish you were here.


Don Cardi

I'll be leaving in a little bit and can't wait to see you guys!! Try to stay awake for me tonight, will you???

I'm leaving within the next half hour, hopefully they will be awake by the time I get there lol

Hey,

What did you guys do with PLaw??? I assume he'll be there tonight no?


TIS

I'm here. I'll be there tonight.

Glad to here it. I thought perhaps they were censoring "liberals" from photos.

Have fun!!

TIS

Well, let's see....

For the Libs there's Sicilian Babe and myself.

For the other side, we have Don Cardi, DonMichaelCorleone, Don Smitty, and Mignon.

JG and SC are uncommitted, but I suspect that they are closet Liberals.

If not, I'm outnumbered as usual :rolleyes:

But don't worry, TIS, we never discuss politics at these little get-togethers

Wow you guys sound like you are having a brilliant time hope all you have a great time tonight aswell

Cool pictures!!

Well my family is taking me out to eat later and I'll be sure to raise my glass to toast all of my "Gangster" friends. My family will think I'm nuts, but who cares!

Meanwhile keep those "fun" pictures coming!! It's great to see all the happy faces.


TIS

Great pictures, again, SC! I was cracking up at the thought of you and Lori sneaking around outside and waking JG up!

Update us soon - hope y'all are enjoying yourselves!

Just got back from the track. If it wasn't for bad luck, SC, Don Smitty and myself would have no luck at all.
Want to know how bad our luck is? We bet the number 6 horse in the 5th race and the damn thing dropped dead right on the track!

But all in all we had a really fun day at the track and we all really didn't do that bad.

I just met Sicilian Babe and her husband. They seem like to really down to earth fantastic people. It should be a lot of fun tonight now that everyone is here. maybe Apple will surprise us and show up again tonight.

Don Cardi

Looks like a great -- wish I could join you!!!! Fantastic pictures!

Drink at least one on behalf of your KC Diabetes Fighting Gangster Buddy Partagas -- Scotch -- single malt, of course - blended is shit! Oh yeah, you must also drink it "neat"

As for me, I am in St. louis as I type. My son is staying for a week or so with his grandparents and I had to watch my beloved Cardinals play. This was my last chance to watch a game in Busch stadium before it is replaced by well the "new" Busch stadium next year. Damned if the Cardinals did not shoot their load last night and score 11 as they only scored one today in a 8-1 loss! It was cool to see the new stadium being built literally next door. It is about 1/3 completed qand kind of in a holding stage as the rest of it will be built over the grounds of the old stadium and has to wait for the season to end. I am sure the contractors want the Red Birds to lose early in the playoffs so they can get moving on the project so it is completed before opening day next year.

OK gotta visit with my parents before I take off early for a meting in Texas in the morning.

Have a great one and keep us updated!

I had the pleasure of talking to the gang tonight and it sounds like they are all having a wonderful time. I met SB, Mig, and DMC for the first time (by phone that is). Not surprisingly all very warm and friendly. I'm sorry I didn't get to say hello to PLaw. I'm sure those of us who didn't attend really missed out.

Geoff promised he'd post some pictures later on (after a few drinks :p ) So look for JG dancing on the table with a rose between his teeth and the rest of the gang doing the Conga around him.

TIS

P.S. You guys are so nice!!!

TIS, how wonderful!

Just hearing some of the members speak must be such fun, so I'm glad you were able to talk to the party animals tonight.

Nothing much going on here, so I can't wait to see photos and hear funny stories!

What a wonderful bunch of people who showed up!!!

There are gonna be quite a few stories coming out of last night's happenings here but I'll only say now that I had a TRULY WONDERFUL TIME!!!!

Details and pics to follow later (by many).

Did I say we have some wonderful members here (and their guests who joined them)?

What a great time I had with everyone tonight. Such wonderful and fantastic people. Geoff was his usual party animal self. SC and Consigliere's lady, two wonderful and loving people. Sicilan Babe and her husband are just really great. Mignon and her beautiful daughter were just fantastic company. Don Smitty is a great guy with a beautiful wife. DMC and his lovely fiance are just so down to earth and make a really cute couple. And it's always a pleasure to have dinner with my friend Plaw, who is a really wonderful guy. We had lots and lots of booze and laughs.

Everyone already is talking about nexts years weekend!

For those who were not able to attend, well you guys and gals have to make it your business to attend next year.

To all that did attend for the first time, it was an honor and a pleasure to meet you all.

Cya next year!


Don Cardi

Some random thoughts from a great night.....

-- Several of the members brought their mates along, leaving me to wonder how SC, DC, DS, and DMC were able to attract such beautiful and intelligent women.

And although I really don't know him that well (having met him for the first time), I'm tempted to say that the same comment (in reverse, of course) applies to Sicilian Babe's husband.

Not wishing to invite the same speculation about myself, I left my GF at home, telling everyone that she had to work. But she spoke to Consigliere's lady on the telephone and I was able to overhear bits of the conversation, in which they could be heard commiserating about their choice in men.

-- It's a good thing that the main focus of our get-togethers is the company rather than the food, although I will say that at the 5 or 6 that I've attended in the past, the food has never been less than excellent -- until last night, that is. The restaurant, shall we say (to put it rather kindly), left a bit to be desired. To wit:

-- The name of the restaurant is "The Tuscany Grill." Leads one to believe it's Italian, right?

In fact, the hotel's website describes it thusly:

"The Doubletree Somerset Hotel features its own full-service restaurant, which specializes in hearty American breakfast fare as well as Northern Italian dinner cuisine."

Unfortunately, however, of the items listed from the extensive Italian on the same site --

Pasta E Fagioli,
Stracciatella Alla Pisa,
Grilled Polenta filled with Seasonal Mushroom Saute, Grilled Bococcini (Fresh Mozzarella wrapped with Prosciutto served with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Crustini),
Pepper-crusted Goat Cheese Bruchetta (Warmed Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Crustini),
Fresh Mozzarella, Aged Provolone, Soppersata, Cappicola, Roasted Peppers, Grilled Eggplant and Calamata Olives, Pesto-marinated Shrimp served Chilled with Roasted Garlic Aioli,
Steamed Baby Clams served in Natural Broth with Spinach and Spaghetti,
Grilled Portabello Stacked with Smoked Mozzarella and Rosemary-infused Olive Oil,
Carpaccio of Beef (Sliced Raw Tenderloin with Roasted Garlic Aioli and Pecorino Romano Cheese),
Insalata Tuscany (Crisp Garden Greens tossed with Fresh Herb Vinaigrette with Cannaloni Beans,Garbanzo Beans, Roma Tomato, Onions and Asiago Cheese),
Insalata Mista (Tossed Field Greens with Marsala Vinaigrette and Gorgonzola Cheese),
Spinach Salad with Warmed Pancetta Vinaigrette and Spicy Shiitake Mushroom Croutons,
Tuscan Caesar Salad (Crisp Romaine and Housemade Dressing with Garlic Croutons),
Insalata Caprese (Tossed Field Greens with Fresh Mozzarella, Roma Tomatoes, Roasted Peppers and Pesto Vinaigrette),
Porcini-infused Papperdella with Rosemary Chicken Sausage and Sauteéed Mushrooms,
Gemilli Pasta with Grilled Vegetables and Mozzarella Cheese,
Spinach Ravioli with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce, Fusilli Alla Mediterrania, Sundried Tomato, Calamata Olives, Roasted Peppers, Capers and Basil,
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Toasted Hazelnuts and Parmesan Cheese,
Farfalle Pasta with house-smoked Salmon and Grilled Asparagus,
Penne Pasta with Grilled Chicken and Fire-roasted Peppers,
Oven-roasted Rosemary Chicken with Soft Polenta and Broccoli Rabe,
Chargrilled Pork Chop with Diced Tomato, Calamata Olives, Bell Peppers and Sage,
Broiled Lamb Rack Caponato with Marinated Grilled Eggplant Salad and Soft Polenta,
Artichoke and Goat Cheese Ravioli topped with Garlic Shrimp and Tri-Colored Peppers,
Bistecca Balsamico (24 oz. Porterhouse Steak with Mushroom Sauteé and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes),
Stuffed Breast of Chicken with Pancetta, Fontina and Roasted Fennel,
Tuscan Shrimp and Scallops (Jumbo Shrimp and Sea Scallops sauteéed with Fresh Fennel and Pernod-flamed Roma Tomatoes),
Veal Saltimbocca,
Sauteéed Chicken Breast glazed with Balsamic Vinaigrette and served with Roasted Potatoes, and
Pignolia-crusted Salmon with Frangelic Butter --

None seemed to be available. What was available was a menu featuring shortribs, chicken wings, hamburgers, pizza, and various steaks, all served with macaroni salad and your choice of french fries, baked potato, or rice, and all clearly quite risky.

With no desire to appear inflexible (and preferring to remain on the safe side, as if such a thing were possible), I ordered a chicken breast in some kind of sauce (I forget what; I think white wine). What I got, however, was half of a broiled chicken. When I pointed out the discrepancy between what the menu described and what was actually presented, the waiter, to his credit, did offer to take it back, but since none of the virtual cornucpia of Italian dishes which had been promised were available for ingestion, I stuck with the chicken.

-- They started us off with a nice basket of hot rolls, which is always welcome. As soon as I bit into one, though, I immediately made the connection between "hot and warmed up" and "not fresh."

-- Since some of us were there for the whole weekend and were dining on the hotel's "Surf & Turf" package, and some of us weren't, the waiter decided that it would be simplest to do what seemed like eleven separate checks. For convenience, he paired off some of the non-Surf & Turfers, and I was honored and, in no uncerain terms, pleased to find that my date for the evening was JG.

-- Speaking of Surf & Turf, it consisted of the usual lobster tail and small filet mignion. The filet migion, however, ordered "medium rare" by Consigliere's Lady more closely resembled half of a pair of old brown shoes (albeit it much smaller) which I had recently discarded, and the so-called "lobster tail", as SC correctly pointed out, as more akin to a small jumbo shrimp size-wise. He was, unfortunately, unable to comment on the lobster tail's taste, since it appeared to have none.

-- Did I mention the vegetables that came with each entree, served al dente? Although the restaurant's definition of the term appeared to translate to "totally and completely uncooked to the pont of being raw", they turned out to be not so bad once we ate them as a side after the requested bleu cheese dip was brought to the table.

Ah well, as I said.....It's the company, not the food.

Yes, Plaw is correct in that the menu presented on the website and the "real" menu differ tremendously!


As a matter of fact I was at this hotel last December for a weekend and the menu for this restaurant DID have what was listed on the website menu, and I must say that back in December the surf and turf was very good, as well as the other items.

Plaw knows that I have good taste and that I am very particular when it comes to dining out and good food as we've had several dinners in the past where either he or I have picked the restaraunts, and all have been excellent.

It's very obvious that something happened to this restaurant over the last six months, and sure enough Consigliere's Lady found out that at the begining of this year, the hotel/restaurant/lounge was sold and is in a transition stage.

But the truth of the matter is that we still had a really fantastic time at dinner, and the people themselves are what make the evening.

Our lovely Godmother TIS was generous and sweet enough to have the restaurant send us over several bottles of wine during our dinner.

Thank you TIS, that was really kind of you to think of us that way. You were really missed.

Unfortunately Plaw left us before dessert was served, so he didn't have the chance to partake in the events that took place in the restaurant while we were waiting for our check(s).

Then after paying the bill we went over to thelounge and it was party time all over again! Of course for the second night in a row we closed down the place!

But outside of that one night's dining experience I must say that the weekend as a whole was just outstanding!

Harold's Deli was great.
Drinking was great.
Atmosphere was great.
Breakfast was great.
The Race Track was great.
The Corleone Compound was great.
Tuscany Restaurant sucked.
Drinking was great.
Dancing was great.
Atmosphere was great
Breakfast was great.
The members of the gangsterbb who showed up this weekend were Grrrrrrrreat!!!!!!!!!!


Don Cardi

Who is Becky!? She is beautiful

I12 and I are coming simply to meet Miggy and her daughter :p

Don't worry, I will steal your "mojo" Austin Powers! Oh yes, I will have my revenge (I have a dark side too)

Things I learned at the Gangster BB weekend:

1) a chicken breast is actually a thigh and a leg
2) Plaw does not like bones and shit in his chicken breast
3) Don Cardi apparently only resembles Santino Corleone in temper alone :p

Now don't be a liar DMC, you know damn well that my wife said that I was like Sonny in more than one way!

I tell you all something that I really already knew that was confirmed to me this weekend ; DMC is an extremely knowledgable young man when it comes to the real life mafia stuff.

And he is a gentleman.


Don Cardi

Gentleman and boys, control yourselves with Becky. She is a very nice girl and let's not forget that she is Mignon's daughter. So make sure that you all show some respect by staying in control of yourselves and what you post.


Don Cardi

Now don't be a liar DMC, you know damn well that my wife said that I was like Sonny in more than one way!

I tell you all something that I really already knew that was confirmed to me this weekend ; DMC is an extremely knowledgable young man when it comes to the real life mafia stuff.

And he is a gentleman.


Don Cardi [/b][/quote]First of all thanks to DC to the post he put up after this one, I was about to type the same thing.

OH YEAH I'm sorry DC, your wife did say you had curly hair at one point :p I can not confirm or deny any other resemblences lol

Thank you for the kind words DC. I must say, in terms of personality and beliefs me and DC do not differ much. DC is a great guy, can't wait for the next weekend.

Not that I wouldn't love to go back to NYC again, but I think the next one should be on the West Coast for a change. Lots to do in L.A. Between Zia & I we can get things rolling.


TIS

Nah TIS -- let's split the diference and have the gathering in the middle - say KC?

Ha ha!! Actually, I'd have no problem with that. Geographically, for the most part, it'd be fair as far as travel goes. Only, what's in KC, beside our lovable Part I mean? :p


TIS

West Coastcentric Tissy! KC has a rich gangster history! The city of fountains -- 2nd in the World behind Rome. One of the best air ports in America. Tons of fantastic places to eat, drink, shop, and be merry -- The Plaza, Westport, etc... second to none. The Partagas thing is just the icing on the cake!

Good Afternoon, all!

Just got back from the wonderful weekend, and will post a report and pics later this afternoon. For now, ditto everything that's been said already -- but do we have to wait a whole year??

I'll be back...!