The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace Walk Through 2011 Atlantis Show at Caesars Palace/ The Forum Shops Walking into Caesars Palace from the parking deck Caesars Palace : Caesars Palace Hosts Celine Dion On Stage Once … By Stephanie Sajor Dion wοuld be play different other three-year consent at The Colosseum. Her last three-year show, A New Day Live in Las Vegas, Web Cardinal Network » Seating at Caesars Palace Coliseum? Can anyone tell me about seating at the Caesars Palace Coliseum? I am looking to book tickets and there appear to be three sections to the coliseum seating chart: the orchestra section, 1st mezzanine, and 2nd mezzanine. … Las Vegas Hotel | Celebrity Preview: Playboy Playmates, Pacquiao … Hyphy Crunk, OB-ONE and Mark Stylz are at Rain at the Palms, Mike Posner is at Wet Republic at MGM Grand by day and Pure at Caesars Palace by night. Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin ‘s newborn daddy, celebrates his 21st birthday at Chateau … SIN CITY Caesars Palace has its spectacularly beautifully, newly renovated Coliseum theater for them. Maybe sell-out crowds will be flocking into Vegas over the next three years, and super stars can save Las Vegas. Author O’Brien’s foundation, … KeithMendez says: WSOPC Caesars Palace Won By Chris Johnson http://bit.ly/iF3uzt
Continue reading …• Press F5 or auto refresh for the latest news • Email rob.smyth@guardian.co.uk • Click here for live, in-running league tables • Get the latest scores from around Europe 3.38pm “Plugging shamelessly,” begins Jonathan Wilson promisingly. “Dennis Bergkamp talks at great length about his first touch for the winner v Argentina in 1998 in Issue One of The Blizzard. You can order it here .” You can and you bloody well should, too. (The great Barry Davies also talks about his commentary for Bergkamp’s goal against Argentina in Issue Two, if Wilson decides its worthy of inclusion.) 3.37pm: Newcastle 1-0 Birmingham (Ameobi 36 pen) Carl Cort gives Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot. 3.36pm Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell has been sent off for handball on the line at Newcastle, who also have a penalty. In other news, Notts County have equalised at home to Brighton. With Walsall 2-0 down, Notts County look safe at the moment. 3.36pm “I was never Dunc’s biggest fan,” says Jon Gard. “HOWEVER, watching that United goal and celebration has just made my day. Although you’ve also upset me by reminding me the first album I ever got was Now That’s What I Call Music. The first one.” 3.35pm Southampton 2-0 Walsall, Rochester 2-1 Torquay. 3.34pm It’s all happening in Stevenage, and it’s not every day you read that sentence on the Guardian. Nicholas Ajose has equalised for Bury to make it 2-2, but Stevenage are still in the play-off places. 3.33pm Bristol Rovers needed to win by 15 goals at Colchester to have any chance of avoiding relegation to League Two. They are losing 2-0. 3.32pm Southampton lead Walsall 1-0. It doesn’t mean much at the top – Southampton were effectively promoted anyway – but it does at the bottom. If Walsall lose and Dagenham & Redbridge get an equaliser at Peterborough, Walsall will be down. 3.31pm: Everton 0-1 Manchester City (Toure 30) Yaya Toure puts Manchester City ahead at Goodison Park from David Silva’s pass. City are finishing the season strongly, and if they win today they will be only two points behind Arsenal. 3.30pm These are the latest EPL (sic) scores: Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan Bolton 0-0 Sunderland Everton 0-0 Man City Newcastle 0-0 Birmingham West Ham 0-1 Blackburn 3.29pm Ben Strevens has put Wycombe 2-1 ahead against Southend. If they win they will be promoted regardless of what Shrewsbury do at home to Oxford. It’s currently 0-0 there. 3.28pm “Re: Joy of Six first touches,” says Ryan Dunne. “Good God! That Baggio clip is amazing. Take it you’d have Bergkamp and Berbatov in there too?” A gentleman never tells. 3.27pm It’s Carlisle 0-1 Yeovil. This, my scrambled brain is pleased to report, is of no significance whatsoever. 3.23pm “I think I could tell you what’s going on,” lies Edie Richards, “but it would involve a third email, which makes me look sad, and a disingenuous link to my website, to a piece that’s actually about why clever players fail. In short, no-one would come out a winner from it. I’d like to apologise for sending this * *And for the further link I’ve put in the word ‘this’ ” 3.22pm Wycombe have equalised at home to Southend, so they leap back into the League Two promotion places. I think. What day is this? 3.21pm …Stevenage 2-1 Bury… 3.20pm “David Silva had the touch of the season from a crossfield diagonal ball from Kompany,” says Katie McKeown. “I dare you to find an example of better control this year!” So long as you don’t double-dare me. Actually, I really want to write the Joy of Six: first touches. This is number one . 3.18pm It’s now Stevenage 1-1 Bury, and I had no idea what implications that has for League Two or world peace. Ah, it doesn’t mean anything. Stevenage are still in the play-off places, as are Gillingham. Torquay are not. 3.17pm Anthony Grant has given Southend the lead at Wycombe, which is big news in League Two. And it’s also Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan , with Ashley Young scoring a free-kick. That might be his last goal for Villa. So now West Ham are only four points from safety. 3.16pm “The small town nearest me, Kirkintilloch, has multiple nightclubs!” says Ryan Dunne. “Although this might be because it’s called “The Canal Capital of Scotland” and wags invariably deface the second word’s C on the signs. There must be a lot of disappointed tourists (or not).” 3.14pm: WEST HAM 0-1 BLACKBURN (Roberts 13) Oh my. Blackburn have taken the lead at Upton Park, thanks to Jason Roberts. As things stand, West Ham are six points from safety with two games to go . 3.13pm A few vital goals in various leagues: Rotherham 1-0 Torquay, Notts County 0-1 Brighton, Peterborough 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge. This is going to be a long afternoon for my poor fingers. 3.11pm Poor old Merse. He probably looked at Newcastle v Birmingham and thought he’d be fine for names. Barton, Ferguson, Bowyer, Foster, Taylor, Simpson. Easy. Bring it on. And then Birmingham brought in Jean Beausejour. But seriously, Merse is great, one of the best pundits on TV. 3.10pm: ASTON VILLA 0-1 WIGAN (N’Zogbia 10) This is a surprise for most of us, if not the statisticians. Wigan have never lost at Villa Park, and they lead thanks to a neat finish from the excellent Charles N’Zogbia. 3.09pm A goal! A net-tickler! And it’s an important one as well: Stevenage lead Bury 1-0 . If it stays like that they will be in the League Two play-offs. 3.08pm There hasn’t been a single goal in the Premier League or the Football League yet. Eight minutes multiplied by 30-odd games equals a lot of minutes. What the hell’s going on? 3.07pm Do they still play slow songs at nightclubs? Who is the Celine Dion of 2011? It wouldn’t be the same anyway, what with mobile phones and all. Gone are the days of sheepishly asking the DJ for a pen and paper so you could get someone’s phone number, then waving it around like a moron in front of your mates outside the nightclub, then watching in horror as one of your friends decides to grab the paper and eat it. 3.06pm: SECURITY! Department “Better still, I’ve decided, as everyone I know (two and a half people) has gone out without inviting or even telling me, I’m with you all the way this afternoon,” says Ethan Dean-Richards. “I narrowly missed my foot with a knife a minute ago – who knows where this could take us?* *I suspect I do .” 3.04pm Want to know more about the last day’s inaction in the Championship? Then you know what you have to do . 3.04pm QPR have been fined £865,000 for that funny business everyone has been talking about. They probably won’t care less, as they have been promoted as are currently bathing in crisp £5 notes. 3.03pm On Sky Sports, Phil Thompson is growling about a missed chance for Blackburn at Upton Park, with Morten Gamst Pedersen’s shot deflected wide. 3.02pm “I am working today so have given up my season ticket to Everton and as such am missing the return of Duncan Ferguson to Goodison for the first time since he retired,” says Joe Daly. “I also missed his last ever game where he scored in the last minute. Despite his somewhat erratic behaviour on and off the pitch he was my hero from age nine until 20. So if you can report a few Everton goals and maybe a Lescott sending off I’d appreciate it. I’m hoping they just play this on the big screens when he comes on to the pitch.” Or this , or this , or, best of all, this – which, coincidentally, was an unpopular manoeuvre in certain small-town nightclubs in 1994-95. 3pm It’s all kicking off! 2.58pm “Is it the ultimate put down for the Championship that you’ve linked to the Premier League table, there, Rob, or just something Freudian?” asks Ethan Dean-Richards. “Tee and hee.” Yes, hilarity prevails all right. 2.54pm “Jesus,” says Niall Mullen. “I tuned in to get an update on today’s play and all I got was a belly full of 17-year-old shame to the soundtrack of Celine Dion’s ‘Think Twice’ . You weren’t, er, watching me in 1994-95 were you?” I was slow-dancing with you. You don’t even remember? I can’t believe it meant so little to you. Actually, 1994-95 wasn’t the worst time to have a nine-month nightclub-based aberration. There was some wonderfully naff music around back then. And you haven’t known true romance until you’ve slow danced to this . 2.51pm The Championship season has finished. This is the final table , and the play-off semi-finals will be Swansea v Forest and Cardiff v Reading. You don’t need to have been on Eggheads to work out who North London police will be supporting. Bolton v Sunderland team news Bolton Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Elmander, Muamba, Taylor, Kevin Davies, Sturridge. Subs: Bogdan, Petrov, Gardner, Klasnic, Moreno, Cohen, Wheater. Sunderland Mignolet, Elmohamady, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson, Colback, Mensah, Malbranque, Zenden, Sessegnon. Subs: Carson, Muntari, Riveros, Knott, Noble, Adams, Lynch. Referee Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) Aston Villa v Wigan team news Aston Villa Friedel, Walker, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Downing, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ashley Young, Bent, Heskey. Subs: Marshall, Pires, Albrighton, Bradley, Delfouneso, Delph, Cuellar. Wigan Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Figueroa, Cleverley, McCarthy, Watson, N’Zogbia, Moses, Rodallega. Subs: Kirkland, Gohouri, Thomas, Di Santo, Gomez, McArthur, Sammon. Referee Mike Jones (Cheshire) West Ham v Blackburn team news West Ham Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Spector, Hitzlsperger, Boa Morte, Sears, Cole, Ba. Subs: Boffin, Tomkins, Collison, Kovac, Hines, Piquionne, Keane. Blackburn Robinson, Emerton, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Nzonzi, Jermaine Jones, Diouf, Pedersen, Hoilett, Roberts. Subs: Bunn, Formica, Andrews, Santa Cruz, Rochina, Mwaruwari, Hanley. Referee Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 2.26pm A storming goal from David McGoldrick has made it Palace 0-3 Forest . Newcastle v Birmingham team news Newcastle Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Ranger, Ferguson, Donaldson, Tavernier, Kuqi. Birmingham Foster, Carr, Jiranek, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Fahey, Bowyer, Beausejour, Jerome. Subs: Doyle, Phillips, Bentley, Derbyshire, Parnaby, Hleb, Davies. Referee Chris Foy (Merseyside) 2.24pm “As I’m sure many other people will be telling you, today is also the day of the Highland League decider, with the noble Buckie Thistle playing at home to retain their title against their fiercest rivals, Deveronvale,” says Mike Cormack. “I’ll keep you posted…” I love Scottish football . Everton v Man City team news Everton Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Arteta, Heitinga, Neville, Osman, Rodwell, Anichebe. Subs: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Cahill, Gueye, Coleman, Vellios. Man City Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Vieira, Milner, Toure, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Given, Wright-Phillips, Adam Johnson, Jo, Boyata, Balotelli, McGivern. Referee Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) 2.16pm Leeds’ last 0.00000000000001 per cent of hope has disappeared: Marcus Tudgay has just headed Nottingham Forest into a 2-0 lead at Crystal Palace. Somewhere upstairs, Brian Clough has a big dumb grin on his face. Forest are going into the play-offs where, as things stand, they will face Swansea. 2.15pm Admirable stuff from Leeds, if ultimately futile: they now lead 2-1 at QPR thanks to Ross McCormack’s deflected shot. 2.13pm A token video of Arsene Wenger way back when, when he didn’t look like Jeff Stelling circa 1999. 2.05pm Nothing to see in the Championship. It’s still QPR 1-1 Leeds and Palace 0-1 Forest. These are the other scores . Token mention of Jimmy Glass, what with this being the last day of the season and anything being possible department Jeff Stelling looks a bit like Arsene Wenger in that video. When did Soccer Saturday start? Around 1997? It was certainly an improvement on Sports Saturday . 1.53pm In Scotland, Rangers are predictably mauling Hearts: it’s 3-0, with Hearts down to 10 men. Ten men? Pah! 1.51pm “McGugan,” says Philippa Booth, doing her best drunken-Jack-Black-in-High-Fidelity impression. “Crivens, have just seen that free kick. Have switched to Palace v Forest.” 1.50pm You’ll probably be wanting some permutations for the rest of the Football League, then. League One Brighton and Southampton are promoted (effectively if not mathematically in Southampton’s case) Huddersfield, Peterborough, MK Dons and Bournemouth are in the play offs Swindon, Plymouth and Bristol Rovers are down (effectively if not etc in Bristol Rovers’ case) That means one of Dagenham & Redbridge (47 pts), Walsall (48 pts) and Notts County (49) are going down. All three are playing sides in the top four League Two Chesterfield and Bury are promoted, while the final automatic place will go to either Wycombe (77 pts) and Shrewsbury (76) Wycombe or Shrewsbury and Accrington Stanley will be in the play offs. The final two places are between three sides on 68 points: Torquay (goal difference +23), Stevenage (+17) and Gillingham (+12) Stockport are down, and the other relegation place will be taken by either Barney (45 pts) or Lincoln (47). Barnet’s goal difference is superior, so if they win and Lincoln fail to win, Lincoln will go down Confused? Splendid. Now if you’d just like to lie down on the couch… 1.26pm Leeds are at least going down with a fight at QPR, where Max Gradel has made it 1-1. 1.11pm Talking of Lewis McGugan, this is surely the free-kick of the season. [Cliche] If Cristiano Ronaldo had scored it… [/cliche] 1.10pm We already know who has been automatically promoted (QPR, Norwich) and relegated (Sheffield United, Scunthorpe, Phil Brown FC) from the Championship. We also know that Cardiff, Swansea and Reading are in the play-offs. The remaining play-off place is between Nottingham Forest and Leeds, who are three points and six goals behind Forest. In other words, Leeds need snookers, a miracle, another miracle, and a six-goal swing. It’s not going to happen: they trail 1-0 at the champions QPR , thanks to a goal from Heidar Helguson, while Lewis McGugan has put Forest 1-0 up at 10-man Crystal Palace . So Leeds now need an eight-goal swing. They are facing an eighth consecutive season outside the top flight, which equals their worst run since the 1950s. You can get all the latest scores from the Championship, and the rest of Europe, by clicking here . Preamble Hello. You don’t need to have spent your teenage years in small-town nightclubs – waiting for the slow songs* and then, at 1.44am on a Sunday morning, roaming wild-eyed across sticky flooring as U Sure Do by Strike morphs awkwardly into Celine Dion’s Think Twice – to know what blind panic feels like. Just take a look at the bottom of the Premier League every April and May, when the search for points, any points, becomes all-consuming. Nothing else matters. Not performances, style of play, dignity, or even the fact you apparently want to slow dance to Celine Dion with someone picked entirely at random through rendered eyes across a dimly lit dancefloor. That is certainly the case for West Ham, Wigan, Blackburn and Birmingham today. The only relegation head-to-head (please don’t call it a six-pointer, or you’ll stir the pedant in me. And, as the poster for all Hulk films would say in an ideal world, you wouldn’t like me when I’m pedantic) is between West Ham (32 points) and Blackburn (38). It’s not quite a must-win for West Ham, as they have two winnable games still to come (Wigan away and Sunderland at home), but if they fail today they will be under all sorts of pressure. Time, then, for their manager’s most Churchillian oratory. Avram? Hello? Even his most Duncan Smithian oratory would be an improvement. Anyway, these are today’s fixtures in the Premier League: Aston Villa v Wigan Bolton v Sunderland Everton v Man City Newcastle v Birmingham Tottenham v Blackpool (5.30pm) West Ham v Blackburn We’ll also keep an eye on the last day of the season in the Football League. The Championship matches kicked off at 12.45pm, although there is basically nothing to play for save that most overrated of emotions, pride. * Do they still play slow songs in small-town nightclubs? Do nightclubs still exist in small towns? JJs in Sittingbourne was shut down. Life has never been the same since really. Premier League Rob Smyth guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Libyan rebels say city will be starved of fuel after light aircraft drop bombs on oil tanks Libyan government forces have bombed four large oil tanks in Misrata, destroying the city’s only source of fuel, according to rebels. Light aircraft normally used for spraying pesticides were deployed for the overnight attack in Qasr Ahmed, close to the port, rebel spokesman Ahmed Hassan said today. Bombs were dropped on four large storage tanks, destroying them and sparking a huge blaze that spread to four more, he said. “We cannot extinguish it because we do not have the right tools,” Hassan told Reuters. “Now the city will face a major problem. Those were the only source of fuel for the city. “These tanks could have kept the city for three months with enough fuel.” Nato was notified by the rebels about the planes before the attack but did not respond, said Hassan. Misrata, the last remaining city in the east held by the rebels, has been under siege by Gaddafi’s forces for more than two months. It has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting between loyalists and rebels. Government forces last month flew at least one helicopter reconnaissance mission over the city, according to the rebels. Arab and Middle East unrest Libya Middle East Muammar Gaddafi Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Lib Dem business secretary says coalition can continue, but warns of ‘major issue’ arising over NHS reforms Vince Cable has lashed out at the Conservatives for being “ruthless, calculating and thoroughly tribal”, after the Lib Dems’ massive defeats in Thursday’s elections and the AV referendum. However, the business secretary said the coalition can still continue in a “businesslike” fashion. “Some of us never had many illusions about the Conservatives, but they have emerged as ruthless, calculating and thoroughly tribal,” Cable said. “But that doesn’t mean to say we can’t work with them. I think they have always been that way, but you have to be businesslike and professional and you have to work with people who aren’t your natural bedfellows and that is being grownup in politics.” The referendum on changing how Britain elects its MPs was a major concession secured by the Lib Dems when they formed the coalition with the Tories last year. But in Thursday’s poll it was rejected by 13,013,123 votes to 6,152,607. During the campaign there was much animosity between the “yes” and “no” camps. Speaking on the BBC today, Cable conceded that the main purpose of the coalition was to sort out the “economic mess”, and not bring about electoral reform. But he made it clear that the Lib Dems would not accept future policies which go beyond last year’s agreement with their coalition partners, including proposals on NHS reform. “We have a coalition agreement, which is a very good agreement and which is balanced and which we have to deliver, and that is the text around which we should operate in future while not losing sight of the central purpose of the coalition, which is to sort out this economic mess,” he said. “The health service reforms went some way beyond what was in the coalition agreement and that is going to be a major issue as we go forward.” Alternative vote Electoral reform Vince Cable Liberal-Conservative coalition Liberal Democrats Conservatives Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown praised years of diligent work by the military and by intelligence professionals to pinpoint Osama bin Laden’s location. The al-Qaida leader’s death, Brown said, sends a clear message to others like bin Laden. (May 7)
Continue reading …The father of the only US soldier held captive in the Afghan war appealed to the Pakistani military for help in freeing his son in a video posted on YouTube on Friday. (May 7)
Continue reading …This counters the previous description of al-Qaida groups as being independent of centralized control: WASHINGTON – The wealth of information pulled from Osama bin Laden’s compound has reinforced the belief that he played a strong role in planning and directing attacks by al-Qaida and its affiliates in Yemen and Somalia, senior U.S. officials said Friday. And the data further demonstrates to the U.S. that top al-Qaida commanders and other key insurgents are scattered throughout Pakistan, not just in the rugged border areas, and are being supported and given sanctuary by Pakistanis, a senior defense official said. U.S. counterterrorism officials have debated how big a role bin Laden and core al-Qaida leaders were playing in the attacks launched by affiliated terror groups, particularly al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen, and al-Shabab in Somalia. Information gathered in the compound, officials said, strengthened beliefs that bin Laden was a lot more involved in directing al-Qaida personnel and operations than sometimes thought over the last decade. And it suggests bin Laden was “giving strategic direction” to al-Qaida affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, the defense official said. Bin Laden’s first priority, the official said, was his own security. But the data shows that he was far more active in providing guidance and telling affiliated groups in Yemen and Somalia what they should or should not be doing. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material.
Continue reading …Thursday night’s “Daily Show” made a brief departure from all the talk of Osama Bin Laden to catch up on the GOP’s search for a 2012 presidential candidate. Jon Stewart couldn’t help but notice that frontrunners Donald Trump and Sarah Palin (“The Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr” of the GOP) were absent from the first debate. He then went over their latest gaffes. Donald Trump’s newest golf-related PR blast has him comparing his opposition to same-sex marriage to his reluctance to trying a new putter. With a set-up like that Stewart coudln’t resist the obvious joke. “I don’t want to say anything but, I think gay people and straight people use the same putters,” Stewart said. “…It’s really a matter of hole selection.” While Trump is off being a “traditionalist” in both marriage views and golf club choice, Sarah Palin is still as entertaining as ever. Watch Stewart’s segment below and hear him rip her for the “important political advice” she gave Obama on the dead Osama bin Laden photos via Twitter (of course). WATCH: The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon – Thurs 11p / 10cIndecision 2012 – Indecision Edition – Donald Trump & Sarah Palinwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire BlogThe Daily Show on Facebook
Continue reading …While there is nothing light-hearted about real crime families, TV shows like The Sopranos and countless movies have made loveable characters out mobsters. In reality, “Fat Tony” Rabito probably wouldn’t be the best dinner companion — especially if you owe him money — but eating at the hallowed Mafia haunt in Brooklyn where he’s been banned from offers a side of excitement for thrill-seeking diners. Recently Mark Iacono, owner of Lucali, another Brooklyn eatery with speculated ties to the mob, made headlines recently when he got into a knife fight with a known wiseguy on the street near the pizzeria. Now charged with attempted murder, his new notoriety puts the reality of the Mafia into stark relief. But just like viewers can live vicariously through the reality program Mob Wives without being married to the mob, visitors to these 13 restaurants can sop up the same spaghetti sauce without dodging bullets. We hope. To catch some present-day gangster action, ultra-exclusive Rao’s and scene-of-the-crime Sparks Steak House are the usual suspects, while Chicago’s Green Mill takes you back to Al Capone’s heyday. Instead of a fedora and pin-stripe suit, these days goodfellas are more likely to be juiceheads that look something like Café Martorano’s owner, nephew of former South Philly mobster “Long John” Martorano, although he chose the culinary life over La Cosa Nostra. Many of the mobster restaurants are a real slice of Americana. History buffs gravitate towards places like Campisi’s in Dallas, where mob-affiliated Jack Ruby, Lee Harvey Oswald’s hit man, was known to hang out, and hipsters can check out a real speakeasy in Providence, R.I. — Camille’s which has seen many a famous face, whether a made man or a Hollywood leading man. Rao’s, New York City With all the photos of mobsters lining the walls, there’s no hiding the mafia connection behind this East Harlem institution. Even Martin Scorsese used Rao’s as inspiration for “Goodfellas.” Alongside wiseguys, you can enjoy classic Italian food with celebrity regulars such as Woody Allen. Most likely you’re going to have to know someone to get a seat. If you don’t, at least you can try their line of jarred pasta sauces. Valbella, Greenwich, Conn. The Greenwich, Conn., restaurant was mentioned in the book Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family According to agent Joaquin Garcia, the Gambino crime family had a regular table at the ritzy establishment. Il Mulino, New York City Opened by the Masci brothers, hailing from Abruzzo, in 1981, the Greenwich Village spot was blacklisted by the NYPD at one point for being an upscale favorite of mobsters. However, if Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have dined there, we question how notorious Il Mulino can still be. Green Mill, Chicago Way back in the day, Al Capone was a regular at this Chicago cocktail lounge. A secret passageway behind the bar that allowed for an easy escape is still around today, which might come in handy if you’re at the Green Mill on a blind date. Bamonte’s, New York City The more than a century-old Williamsburg, Brooklyn, haunt was a favorite of mob consigliere “Fat Tony” Rabito of the Bonanno family. The Feds the portly Rabito from returning to this eatery, among others, after his release from prison in 2009. Campisi’s Egyptian Lounge, Dallas This Dallas, Texas, restaurant was opened by a Joe Campisi, a member of the Civello mob family. Close personal friend and regular patron, Jack Ruby, who assassinated Lee Harvey Oswald, was said to have eaten at Campisi’s the night before the Kennedy assassination. Sparks Steak House, New York City Mob boss “Big Paul” Castellano and his bodyguard were gunned down at the entrance to the Midtown Manhattan steakhouse, allowing John Gotti to take his spot as head of the Gambino crime family. Rapper Cam’ron name-dropped Castellano and Sparks in “Welcome to New York City.” Bomb Bomb Bar-B-Q Grill, Philadelphia This South Philly eatery was at one time a regular hangout for mobsters. Frank Barbato Sr. bought the restaurant in 1951, and named it after an infamous pair of mob-related explosions that had occurred on the site 15 years before. Today, Frank Jr.’s attempts to downplay the mafia past has had mixed results. While his barbecue has won local praise, veal Parmesan remains the most popular item on the menu. Tommaso, New York City Most restaurateurs would not consider the opening of a mob hangout next door to be good for business. Tom Verdillo thought differently. Shortly after the restaurant opened in 1974, Gambino boss Joe Castellano opened up his “social club” next door. He soon became a regular at Tommaso, even supplying provisions like steaks along with a steady stream of customers. Verdillo came to think of Castellano as a brother, venturing out to Staten Island to cater at his home. However, you’ll have to make the trip to the South Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights to enjoy the classic southern Italian staples such as spaghetti carbonara and grilled veal chop. Cafe Martorano, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. This popular Fort Lauderdale restaurant is owned by Philly transplants and relatives of murdered mobster Raymond “Long John” Martorano. While apparently frequented by local mobsters, you’re probably more likely to see buff bods and owner Steve (left) showing off his DJ skills. Mosca’s, New Orleans Opened in 1946, it had been a favorite hangout for the powerful New Orleans Marcello crime family, especially former mob boss Carlos Marcello. The James Beard award winner is still owned and operated by the Mosca family, who renovated the space post-Katrina but kept the Creole-Italian menu intact. The Flamingo, Las Vegas Legendary mobster Bugsy Siegel was an early investor in the classic Las Vegas casino, and eventually muscled his way into taking over the project. After a number of delays, the opulent casino finally opened in late 1946, but a lack of business failed to impress his mob backers, who had Bugsy gunned down in his Beverly Hills home six months later. However, today you’re not likely to run into any mobsters dining at the Jimmy Buffett-inspired restaurant Margaritaville. Still, the décor brings to mind the Rat Pack glory days. Camille’s, Providence, R.I. Founded in 1914, the first iteration of Camille’s became famous for making illegal booze and serving it to customers during Prohibition. In addition to Presidents and celebrities, it has been visited by members of the New England mafia, including the late Providence mob boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca. Its future is now uncertain, however, after the current owner recently sold the building. – Valaer Murray, The Daily Meal More from The Daily Meal 101 Best Restaurants in America 10 Movies that Inspire Wanderlust America’s Haunted Bars 10 Best Athlete-Owned Restaurants
Continue reading …It certainly was no surprise after what happened in Pakistan last Sunday that HBO's Bill Maher was going to spend much of his “Real Time” program fawning over Barack Obama. Having done precisely that for approaching an hour, Maher ended Friday's show by calling members of the GOP paranoid, greedy racists (video follows with transcript and commentary): BILL MAHER: 30 percent of this country will always vote Republican. I'm just asking why? Yes, paranoia, greed, and racism are fun, but it's, it's like when you see someone driving a Mercury, you think, you think, “Did that person really wake up one day thinking, ‘You know what car I want to drive, a Mercury Mariner.’” No. No. You assume he knows someone who sells them or he was molested by a Kia dealer as a child. And I know this all sounds like harsh truth but Republicans are supposed to be the party of harsh truths like there's no such thing as a free lunch – and speaking of lunch, I think Obama just ate yours. Most interesting about this concluding segment was that earlier in the program, former Bush speechwriter David Frum several times stated that one of the great revelations from Sunday's raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan was that a large part of the mechanisms enabling the mission were indeed put in place by the previous White House resident. In Frum's, Obama took the ball from his predecessor and ran with it. The point he was making, contrary to protestations by other panelists, wasn't that Bush necessarily deserved credit for something that happened over two years after he left office, but that the current White House resident was utilizing a counter terrorism and intelligence structure created by the previous president thereby giving the mission and its success a distinctly bipartisan flavor. In a nation rife with hyperpartisanship and political sniping, Frum viewed this as an entree to a more civil national discussion. One thing necessary for this to happen was the nation's radio and TV talkers would need to tone down their rhetoric. Maher must not have been listening, for minutes later he called Republicans paranoid, greedy racists. Ironically, folks like Maher and others in the media constantly complain about the caustic tone in this country without ever considering the part they play in fanning the fires of acrimonious discontent. In their distorted world view, only a conservative can be a polemicist. Someone should sit the “Real Time” host down and force him to watch this installment over and over until a light bulb goes on over his head – or am I kidding myself on a Saturday morning?
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