Visiting New York - Where to Find Wiseguys.

[johnny_scootch]

I don't want to rain on your parade or come off like an asshole but imo it's a waste of time and some real fan boy shit. You're going to troop all around the city to look at some people who in all likelihood you won't even see. I live my entire life here and there are so many better things you could be doing/seeing. I'll tell you right now going to L&B, Denino's and Romantique is a guaranteed waste of your time. It's not the old days where these guys are just standing out in the open playing the role but maybe you get lucky at the Banner if it's even open that day. In any case I wish you good luck and hope you have a great trip.

[Philly d]

Within a month's time, I'll be visiting New York for the first time in a decade or so. Naturally, as I've grown fascinated with the Mafia in recent years, I want to see some of the mobsters I've researched in the flesh. Not at their homes or anything, and no, I don't want to be hiding in any bushes. But I'm trying to come up with a shortlist of places I can visit to see some of these guys. Here's what I've got so far;

Grimaldi Bakery - 2101 Menahan Street, Ridgewood, Queens, NY - Hoping to see Bonanno capos Vito and Joseph Grimaldi, possibly Joe Cammarano, and some other mobsters in that crew

Bella Mama Rose - 266 Morningstar Rd, Staten Island, NY - Hoping to see Porky Zancocchio, Frank Camuso, and other Bonannos.

L&B Spumoni Gardens - 2725 86th St., Gravesend, Brooklyn, NY - Pretty sure this place is a regular wiseguy hangout, I know it's at least owned by Francis Guerra's in-laws.

Denino's Pizzeria - 524 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY - Owned by Gambino capo Frank Camuso.

Pasquale's Rigoletto - 2311 Arthue Avenue, The Bronx, New York - Might see Genovese wiseguys, although probably not. Great food though.

Banner Social Club - 2007 72nd Street, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY - Might be a bit dangerous, but will undoubtedly see Vinny Badalamenti since he hangs out there everyday.

Romantique Limousines - 1421 86th St, Brooklyn - Will probably see some Persicos hanging out there.

Does anyone know the addy of the Coddington Social Club? And any other wiseguy hangouts in NY?

Undoubtedly you will See vinny tv and probabably the Persico s. Let us know how they look.

Also, Popeyes on the corner of 128 and Lenox ave is a know hangout.

[Manhattan_]

Just take the Staten Island Ferry , get on the SIRR to Eltingville and go to Angelina's.

[bert]

You are going to see a lot of people, but you won't know who is a mobster and who isn't. Spumoni Gardens is all area residents and tourists, crowded too. Unless you luck out and spot someone recognizable you will waste your time. At Federci's you will see him, but that in all likelihood will be it.

[gohnjotti]

I should probably clarify that I'm not going to New York specifically to see mobsters. I'm visiting all the main tourist attractions, naturally, but if I go out for dinner at a nice restaurant, I think it would be cool to go to a nice restaurant where I might see a guy I recognize. That's all. I guess that it comes across as pretty pathetic, but I live on the other side of the world from New York so seeing a guy I recognize would really make the trip memorable for when I come home and continue to research these guys.

[AlexfromSouth]

Try www.searchingforwyseguys.com

[SILENT PARTNERZ]

I should probably clarify that I'm not going to New York specifically to see mobsters. I'm visiting all the main tourist attractions, naturally, but if I go out for dinner at a nice restaurant, I think it would be cool to go to a nice restaurant where I might see a guy I recognize. That's all. I guess that it comes across as pretty pathetic, but I live on the other side of the world from New York so seeing a guy I recognize would really make the trip memorable for when I come home and continue to research these guys.

Metropolitan Museum ofArt.
Set aside an entire day for it.
Sadly, CBGB's is gone.

[newera_212]

99% chance you'll see Federici if you go to Parkside for dinner. especially if its on a Saturday. regardless, its worth the trip, because Corona is a cool neighborhood. and theres a social club across from the park next to Parkside that old timers (and young guys) hang out in front of when the weathers nice. get a lemon ice next door and hang out in the park. Il Triangolo down the street from Parkside has 100x better food though, but it isnt as much as a 'scene.'

Esquire Diner on Crossbay Blvd. in Howard Beach on a Sunday morning for breakfast, another 99% chance of you seeing a wiseguy. would just be difficult telling apart who is who. likewise with Lennys Clam Bar down the street later at night. Lennys might actually be worth the trip too (far from the city, you'll need a car)

Go see if DiChiara's club is still active. you might see some other guys who still live in knickerbocker village too, hanging around.

also, some sort of relative of Big Ang runs a bar on Avenue U not too far of a walk from L&B Pizza that a lot of connected guys hang out at. its a low key place, almost a quiet dive bar. I still think you'll have the best chance of seeing a wiseguys "in the wild" in Howard Beach though...

[Fughedaboutit]

this is weird

[gohnjotti]

this is weird

I get that it probably is if you're not from NY.

Anyone know the bakery that Dom Cefalu works at?

[bert]

this is weird

It's also going to be disappointing, you don't walk around and see gangsters in these places.

[CabriniGreen]

Actually, I wonder...

Say you find some wiseguys..... where do you take it from there? Will you introduce yourself, or is it just, you want to see em in the flesh?

[gohnjotti]

Actually, I wonder...

Say you find some wiseguys..... where do you take it from there? Will you introduce yourself, or is it just, you want to see em in the flesh?

Just see 'em in the flesh. We don't even have Italians where I live, let alone mobsters.

[SonnyBlackstein]

I don’t think it’s weird at all.

We read, research and write about these guys daily, why wouldn’t we be curious about seeing some of them in the flesh?

Enjoy your trip Gohn , post any pictures

[Fughedaboutit]

I don’t think it’s weird at all.

We read, research and write about these guys daily, why wouldn’t we be curious about seeing some of them in the flesh?

Enjoy your trip Gohn , post any pictures

Sure you can be curious If it happened by chance it would be neat. But the effort it takes to travel around NY and basically stalk the place of business of these guys to just look at them? lol IDK maybe it is just me.

If I am in NY I might go to one of their restaurants to eat or something, but not be constantly looking around playing spot a wiseguy lol

To each their own