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New Guy from South Florida....
#747735
11/08/13 11:23 PM
11/08/13 11:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 257
salvi62
OP
Capo
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OP
Capo
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 257
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Hi Fellas, I've been a lurker here for months.
I was born in NY, but we moved here in 1971 ( I was 7) but more importantly I've been following LCN since I'm like 15 years old (and I'm past 50 now).
The reason for my posting today is because I wanted to hear about anybody's gangster experiences that they may have had in South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Hollywood, Boca Raton, Hallendale etc.) these places where LOADED with gangsters from NY when I was growing up down here.
I dropped out of school at 15 and one of my first jobs was at a place called "Tre Amici" in Hollywood. I saw many old timers in that place including"Jimmy "Blue Eyes" Alo and Ettore "Terry" Zappi. THe Feds actually had the place bugged the whole time it was open. It made the papers and everything.
When I was finally old enough to work in nightclubs I became a professional musician which is what I have been doing for the last 30+ years.
The clubs here in the late 1970's and 80's were full of wiseguys (though there were also just as many "wannabees")
Anybody out there remember places like the "Bonfire" in Miami Beach or the "Club Top Draw"? What about "The Place For Steak"? the "Top of the Home" in Hollywood or "Hemmigways"? "Pier 66" in Ft. Laud. (Joe Pistone actually mentions that place in a wiretap you can hear on youtube).
Even though its not like it used to be here any more, they still show up now and then...... I was working at a little joint in Boca and who should walk in but "Skinny Joey". I went right up to him and said hello. He bought me a drink, seemed like a great guy but you could tell that he's someone you'd never want to mess with.
I have a few good stories I'll post later, but more importantly I'd like to hear from anybody who was around SF in the good old days.
Thanks, Salvi
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: salvi62]
#747786
11/09/13 03:15 PM
11/09/13 03:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
![](/ubb/20k.gif)
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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Welcome, Salvi. First off, don't be surprised if the mods move this thread into the "Organized Crime" section. I'm also in my 50's (just turned 54). Anyway, I've lived in the Bronx all my life. But for the past fifteen years we've owned a place in Delray Beach where we now spend three or four months a year, depending on the family and whatnot. Prior to that my parents had a place in Sunny Isles for many years, and my in-laws currently live in the Jupiter Colony condos near the Jupiter inlet, so I'm extremely familiar with the area. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you're a Broward guy? Doesn't really matter. I remember a few wiseguy haunts in that area that you probably remember. The Diplomat in Hallandale was always a big draw for those guys (they freakin LOVE hotel bars ![lol lol](/threads/images/graemlins/classic/lol.gif) ). Also, the old Howard Johnson's in Deerfield (I'm pretty sure it's a Wyndham now) used to have a patio bar overlooking the ocean. I never saw him there, but I was once told that Nicky Scarfo was a regular there (like I said, I'm a Bronx guy anyway, so I wouldn't have recognized many Philly guys from back then). Lots of guys with second homes in Broward and Southern Palm Beach County today. But none that I'm comfortable posting about ![wink wink](/threads/images/graemlins/classic/wink.gif) . But again, welcome to the boards, Salvi ![smile smile](/threads/images/graemlins/classic/smile.gif) .
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: pizzaboy]
#747789
11/09/13 04:02 PM
11/09/13 04:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 22,902 New York
SC
Consigliere
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Consigliere
![](/ubb/20k.gif)
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 22,902
New York
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Welcome, Salvi. First off, don't be surprised if the mods move this thread into the "Organized Crime" section. This was originally posted in the OC Forum. Since its main purpose is an introduction I moved it the General Forum, where it belongs.
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: SC]
#747792
11/09/13 04:14 PM
11/09/13 04:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
![](/ubb/20k.gif)
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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Welcome, Salvi. First off, don't be surprised if the mods move this thread into the "Organized Crime" section. This was originally posted in the OC Forum. Since its main purpose is an introduction I moved it the General Forum, where it belongs. Oh, okay ![smile smile](/threads/images/graemlins/classic/smile.gif) .
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: salvi62]
#747882
11/10/13 03:59 PM
11/10/13 03:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
![](/ubb/20k.gif)
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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Pizzaboy,
My Mom always talks about hanging out in the Bronx when She was young (Shes from West New Rochelle). Anyway I played this doowop show a few years ago. One of musical directors for one of the groups was from the Arthur Ave. area. He was telling me that the Italian section is down to like one street now, is that true? Pretty much. I grew up in the heart of that neighborhood (187th and Hoffman), and I'm a geek for demographics, so you're in luck ![lol lol](/threads/images/graemlins/classic/lol.gif) . According to the 2010 census, the 10458 zip code (the Arthur Avenue area) was less than 10 percent Italian American. But the stores and restaurants are still Italian, and I suspect they will be for a long time to come. Most Italian American families split for the suburbs a long time ago. I still live in the Bronx myself, in Throggs Neck. But this neighborhood looks more like Lower Westchester than the rest of the Bronx. And by that I just mean that it's mostly private houses and the subway doesn't come here (the 6 train ends at Pelham Bay Park).
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: salvi62]
#747967
11/11/13 11:36 AM
11/11/13 11:36 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 257
salvi62
OP
Capo
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OP
Capo
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 257
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Absolutely.... I was working in a bunch of Latin clubs back then. There were a sh!t load of them all with live music and all there to wash cocaine money. It was a GREAT time for musicians. Just off the top of my head there was "La Clave", "Club Tyrona" "Ricks Bar" and at least 6 or 7 more just in Hialeah. Then in Coral Gables you had "Papa Grande" (Big Daddys). In Miami there was the "Hotel Mutiny" (many big drug dealers hung out there) But the biggest club of them all (size wise) was a place called "Club International" (pronounced inter-nasion-AL) in Spanish. I worked at most of them at one time or another. You would go to the bathroom and there would be coke EVERYWERE. I'm talking lines laid out on top of toilets, by the sink, on top of paper towel racks. And it was all there for FREE. Just for the taking. I have no idea who put it there but that stuff was all over the place. Everybody coming out of the mens room would be rubbing their nose. This was back during the "cocaine cowboys era" That's when the Miami cops were in with the drug dealers. They were literally finding a body every day back then. In trunks, canals, in the water off the causeway (same place they found Johnny Roselli back in the 70's in an oil drum) When you worked in these clubs they would usually have three different bands a night (the bigger clubs anyway) one band would play a set starting at 9, then another band would come in at 12, then one at 2 or 3 in the morning. It was not unusual to see limos pull up in front of these clubs and see a 50 year old man with a knock out 20 year old girl. These guys were the big dealers. They would sometimes tip the entire band 5000.00 to play a couple of songs. Like I said it was a great time to be a musician. Once the Feds really started hammering these drug cartels , and the whole cocaine cowboys thing came to light these clubs started to close like dominos falling. Just one after another would close. It would not be unusual to be called for a gig and see five or six guys standing in front of a padlocked club. I worked in a club once called the "El Salsero". It was in a bad part of Miami off US1 and 33rd street. The guy who owned it had put a hit out on a Miami cop and also his family. Well the crooked Miami cops went to this guys house, handcuffed him to a chair and beat him to death. Needless to say the "El Slasero" closed.... There is a really good documentary that comes on now and then, it also might be on YouTube called "Miami's Cocaine Wars". It was just one big party for about 7 or 8 years. Salvi This shows a little of what it was like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4pWzA6gIE
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Re: New Guy from South Florida....
[Re: salvi62]
#748099
11/12/13 07:56 AM
11/12/13 07:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 113 MASS.
paddy78
Made Member
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Made Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 113
MASS.
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just watch the bad boys,bad boys whatcha gonna do, the other ones took over, i love early 90's episodes of cops! lol
Southie (South Boston, Mass) my home town!!
Here to learn,lecture and have fun.
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