Hi guys,

Going to NYC on vacation with my wife and would very much appreciate some nice advice on what to see, "mobhistory-wise". Guess I will spend most of my time in different womens clothing stores so I must have some fun to look forward to, beyond the usual tourist stuff.

I know, everything is gone and the neighborhoods is completely different now - but I still want to see some historical sites. When I was in Chicago I enjoyed staring out on the car parking lot that was once the site of Dean O'Banions old flowershop - you get the picture.

I will stay in Chelsea/Meatpacking so I guess The Chins old social club on Sullivan Street is on my list and of course Little Italy even if its a shadow of it former self nowadays. Whatmore? Is it even meaningful to go Bensonhurst, I understand it has completely changed character.

Thanks/The tourist

Eat at Sparks on 46th st. Mob history was made outside there

Ah, of course. Its on my list now. Thanks!

Go to Lanza's or John's restaurant on and around 11-12 street east side. And then go to Veniero's pastry right there. Enjoy!

Go to the orginal Umberto's location on Mulberry street where Joey Gallo was killed. The restuarant has moved to the other side of the street and they have a fake bullethole were they said was from shooting but its BS, so where he was reallty shot was the restuarant exactly opposite to it

PONTEVECCIO IN BKLYN, TOMASSO BKLYN.. ARTHUR AVE. RED BANK,

you can see the old Gemini Lounge, headquarters of the Demeo crew which is now a church.

Thanks a lot. Exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for, the Gemini was actually on my list but the other ones were not. Venieros pastry, thats a good one thanks.

You also got the former site of Gotti's Ravenite club on mulberry street. And there's Casa Bella that used to be owned by Mike Sabella who was Lefty Ruggerio's captain and an acquaintance of Donnie Brasco

Yes, got to eat at Casa Bella. Wasnt it there Joe pistone at one time was standing guard outside with Carmine Galante inside eating with Sabella and some other top guys in the Bonnano family? Must go there!

Speaking of donnie brasco and lefty, knickerbocker village is another place Id like to se as lefty, mirra and some other guys lived there.

Knickerbocker Bar and Grill on University Place is another great place. They filmed Mickey Blue eyes there.

Not trim to hijack thread but if mike sabella was leftys captain how did sonny black come to b so close to Donnie brasco?

We are making our second trip to NYC in December....I appreciate the history, etc, but also wondered whether Steaks Steak House is famous for its food as well these days? Thanks in advance....

Sparks Steak House even!

Though this is a bit out of your way, you might visit the Brownsville section of Brooklyn--specifically, the southwest corner of Saratoga and Livonia Avenues. Two doors down from the corner is the former headquarters of Murder, Inc., a joint venture of Louis (Lepke) Bucholter and Albert (the Mad Hatter) Anastasia, which reputedly did a thousand hits.

GBJon, Sparks is still excellent. Was there recently. Great wine list and steaks.

Since you'll already be in Manhattan I'd suggest seeing the Park Central Hotel (7th Avenue and 56th Street). Albert Anastasia was shot and killed in its barbershop in 1957 (it's now a newsstand off the lobby on the 55th Street side) and Arnold Rothstein was shot upstairs in one of its rooms back in 1928 (he died a few days later).

A few blocks away at 59th and 8th Avenue is Columbus Circle where Joe Colombo was shot during an Italian rally in 1971.

Also, over on the eastside - at 230 Park Avenue (the big old building that straddles Park Avenue at 47th Street) was the building in which Salvatore Marranzano was shot and killed back in 1931. I don't know if you can get inside the building these days but if you still can it's also worth it to see the beautiful old elevators. (It's not too far from Sparks Steakhouse if you're walking).

Definitely not getting into a building on 47th and park, I'd imagine. All office buildings.

I usually hang out in Little Italy.

You can also see the house where Lucky Luciano was raised, still looks the same.

Is the famous casella still open. Read the scarpa files he said it still was holding the biggest crap game afew years after Donnie bbrasco shit wonder if Mike sabella who owned it was still in charge after he was demoted. Did he sell it. Guess it was like a wise guy crown jewel.

Casabella.

I go to Venieros all the time. Wat happened there?

It's a great pastry shop and if I recall Bronx said that it was around Lilo Galante. Bronx your thoughtss?

They have these hazelnut chocolate cookies behind the counter that are addicting.

And let's not forget the rainbow cookies and cakes!

So no tour of black Harlem? I heard when your people get here you really love to visit black neighborhoods am I wrong about that?

If you want to get the old neighborhood feel, I'd suggest going to an old school restaurant in the outer boroughs. I'd suggest Bamontes or Marco Polo in Brooklyn or Park Side or Don Peppes in Queens. The Brooklyn ones I suggested are very close to Manhattan. Little Italy in the Bronx has some good ones too but it will be kind of far for you.

Definitely go see the other stuff, but after you go see the ravenite is a bougie women's shoe store etc... I think you will want something with that old feel. Also I would avoid most restaurants in Manhattans little Italy. Most are overpriced and not great.

Benny here my daughter the communist got two awards one from the Swedish and Germany consultes in college.

She spent three months in Sweden in a villa there. She was supposed to study Swedish language and culture. She gets there they all speak English. They don't want to speak Swedish with an American just English.
In a villa next to her they have a big party she is invited. Some team wins the Stanley cup in 2011. One of the skaters on the team is from Sweden. Each player can take the Stanley cup with them to their home country for a period of the time. The Swedish player took his to that villa party. You know what he did to it? He pissed in it. I think they think their shit don't stink.

They like going to the worst places here to prove their better then everyone here. I know they like to visit bad areas here to prove it to them selves.

Lilo Garafalo.

casa bella on mulberry? that was blasts place

Still is. The daughter holds all the permits. But the place is persona non grata to wiseguys today. If they were smart, they would have made their own restaurants and bars off limits forty years ago. Nothing but trouble, and when the first "civilian" gets slapped in the face the place is history.