A spot in East Harlem

[Manhattan_]

Cup of coffee at the Delightful, maybe ?

[JIGGS]

There hasn't been a delightful for years now. It closed well before that enzo the baker got zipped. The fake news said he was sitting in a car on 111 and 1st. There's a coffee shop right on the south west corner. Very unique.

EVERYBODY goes there.

JIGGS

[Extortion]

Lol going to new york expecting to see wiseguys by looking at people who you think are italian but you don’t actually know then assuming they are criminals...folks it doesn’t get anymore cliche than this.

[Extortion]

However, there are definitely wiseguys at Raos but there are all sorts of interesting people there.

[JIGGS]

However, there are definitely wiseguys at Raos but there are all sorts of interesting people there.

How do you know?

RAOs is a "Members Only" op without a "Members Only" sign on the door. The coffee shop I'm referencing is open to both cops and robbers. You should try it and report back what it taste like. The very best.

JIGGS

[Moscone65]

You can still see random groups of Italian guys talking on pleasant avenue, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Not saying they are wiseguys but they certainly could fit the part.

[Flushing]

https://forgotten-ny.com/2010/10/pleasa ... st-harlem/

[JIGGS]

You can still see random groups of Italian guys talking on pleasant avenue, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Not saying they are wiseguys but they certainly could fit the part.

Jeans and t-shirts?

JIGGS

[Moscone65]

You can still see random groups of Italian guys talking on pleasant avenue, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Not saying they are wiseguys but they certainly could fit the part.

Jeans and t-shirts?

JIGGS

No three piece suits, how the fuck do I remember exactly what they wore, they were middle aged white guys near pleasant avenue, Harlem, they looked italian.

[newera_212]

up until he passed away 6’ish years ago I used to settle up with my bookie on 116th and 1st at the dunkin donuts every tuesday. i know he actually lived down on 92nd and 3rd, but he was an old italian guy who was originally from east harlem and hung out up there all day. had everyone meet him up there. not exactly sure why or who he hung around with up there, because there weren't a lot of people who looked like him around there, but thats where he conducted his ‘business’ - collecting or paying out he’d always treat you to a coffee. good guy. always wondered if he was connected, i figured loosely but never asked. he was in his late 70s and taking bets was the only job he had his whole life

[slimshady_007]

The mob still hangs out in East Harlem and around Rao’s. Ernest Aiello was seen outside of Rao’s in a recent picture, it’s likely he has a table there.

[Lupara]

I'm trying to visualize how you tried to make a conversation with these guys. Was it like "hey, howya doing? You guys Italian?"

[kpjohnson]

ZERO.

In fact, and don't take this the wrong way, I challenge "there are always some Italian guys hanging out on the sidewalk," on 117th.

On the next visit, take a picture with one of them contraptions of these guys who are always there. The only Italians on Pleasant Avenue is Ronnie Stracci and the UPS guy.

JIGGS

Thanks for the reply. And no, I don’t take it the wrong way. I come from norway and visit maybe once each year. I’m not in EH all the time, but when I have been there i eventually found it a bit suspicious seeing a few guys there ALMOST each time.
I guess it is just random then.

Hey buddy. Thanks for the thanks. There's nothing left. Coincidentally I was born on that block you mentioned. Off Pleasant. John Bisogno's family lived next door in a building that no longer exists and is now just an empty lot. He was running with the Mangano family when Anastasia was the boss. I read Quiet Dom lived on that street too. I ain't never seen him. In them days Italians moved around. Taking advantage of the free month a landlord would give new tenants if they took the apartment. Instead everyone just moved on to the next apartment to live rent free for a month. Real disgraceful.

That block is completely gentrified. There's a fucking mini-Mall a short distance away heading east. That's how bad the neighborhood has gotten.

JIGGS

Must’ve been an interesting place to grow up! You ever been to the love cafe? I’ve talked to the owner pat several times about the mob. And they have awesome coffee and food

The new joint? That popped up only in the last few years? I'm afraid that spot is way AHEAD of my time. The only Love Cafe I been to in East Harlem was a handjob emporium/mini-brothel above an old diner on 111 and 2nd run by a Portuguese woman named "Loosie" (spelled Loosie!)

You know what you gotta do pal? All jokes aside. Next time you find yourself on Pleasant. Do what you normally do, see? Get your coffee, bagel. After small talk with what's his name, make your way towards RAO's. But don't go in there. Turn the corner on 114 and head West to 1st. But not too far. Around the corner from Rao's is a church. You can't miss it. It's only been there for 134 years. But go up to the front entrance and open the door. that is, if they don't lock it. But if the door opens, and it should, look to your right. If it's still there, you should be staring at a wall with names. Each carved out on a gold plate. You know how they do when they honor people and recognize them for something? That's what that wall is. Names of people who donated significant sums of money to that church. If you got one of them phone gizmos with the camera lens, point it at that wall and take a look at who you might recognize. Some pretty familiar names that, if you're on this forum, you're going to know who it is. Everything this forum is about. Take a picture and post that shit here. Because that would be something.

After that head down to 2nd avenue and treat yourself to a nice handjob. Ask for "Tootsa"...

JIGGS

Our Lady cost $40,000 to build back then, Jiggs.

Interesting that you would know that but I wasn't talking about our lady a mount carmel.

I typed out the address I was talking about with the european kid I was talking to. Around the corner from 114. Our lady is next block over on 115. I'm talking about the saint mary tabernacle on 114. How much did saint mary cost to build?

JIGGS

JIGGS are you referring to Holy Tabernacle Church on East 114th Street?

[bert]

The mob still hangs out in East Harlem and around Rao’s. Ernest Aiello was seen outside of Rao’s in a recent picture, it’s likely he has a table there.

I think they have more top LE people and politicians hanging out there. The New York Govenors, State Attorney Generals, high ranking FBI agents, and Mayors have all hung out there and were friends with the owner. In the 1970's it was different, the Rao brother still alive then and hanging out there had mob guys coming by, but like him things were dying out there. Pellagrino who I think was his son-in-law took over and, changed it.


What trail was it where a prosecutor asked a mob suspect a question about Rao's. and the guy responded "Why don't you ask your boss, he's there every night" or something along those lines? He was referring to the head prosecutor the D.A. worked under. Anyone?

[Grouchy Sinatra]

I'm trying to visualize how you tried to make a conversation with these guys. Was it like "hey, howya doing? You guys Italian?"

"How 'bout those Nets, huh?"