This track has all the potential to be a Gentleman’s Club Classic:
Lil Wayne ft Bobby Valentino Mrs Officer/comfortable
Or a least it seemed like that Wednesday night.
Is it just me, or are Exotic Dancers easier to swoop in a Down Economy?
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
And “55 seconds” was about the amount of time I was sober.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Its no secret that I am not a fan of credit cards. I prefer CASH.
With the Down Economy, younger G’s I know have been telling me about a phenomenon that has been gathering speed: Bar Poaching.
Yet another reason not to use credit cards
Bar Poaching is when someone at the bar overhears the name on your tab and continues to order drinks on your tab.
And at the end of the night when you go to pay, you get racked. Unless of course, you are using a fake credit card, which is acceptable.
You have been warned.
Just hope people the poachers don’t hit you for Bottle Service, credit card guy.
CASH has way more style points anyway.
Side Note:
I don’t Bar Poach. I can afford drinks. Furthermore, I get pro-bono’d almost everywhere anyways.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Chris Paciello spent seven years in jail for his role in a heist gone awry, ending his run as one of South Beach’s biggest nightlife forces. Today, two years removed from his release from prison, he is enjoying his new life as an L.A. restaurateur.
The pivotal moment in Chris’ criminal career occurred on February 18th, 1993. He was 21 years old and drove the car containing members of the Crew to Staten Island after they had heard rumors about a cash-filled safe hidden in the Shemtov residence. “The worst thing I did was get into that car and take a ride to go rob that house,” Paciello says with remorse. “It was so routine for me to do these crimes that it never crossed my mind that something like that could happen. When I heard that gunshot, I knew my life was over. I couldn’t even fathom what happened. I never hurt anyone for money. Yeah, I fought with people. I’m the type of guy who will knock you down and then feel bad and help you up. I would rob these banks and no one was getting hurt. After that, I knew we were at a different level. It was a different ball game. I had to get out of New York. I had about $400,000 to my name from illegal activities. I was very unhappy with life at that point. I knew I was either going to end up dead or in jail for the rest of my life.” Except for his lawyer, he never told anyone the events of that day.
South Beach Stories
In September 1994, Paciello relocated to Miami Beach with his life savings and a desire to open a nightclub. With one foot in the past (he brought along a drug-dealing, club-experienced partner named “Lord Michael” Caruso) and one in the future (he swore off delinquency), Chris tackled the world of nightlife with his typical bravado. “I felt a New York-style nightclub would work in Miami,” he says. “I don’t know if it was vision, brains, balls or just plain stupidity, but I did it. I figured out how to use my drive and motivation to become successful doing legal stuff.” Risk opened in November 1994 in the former Mickey’s space (actor Mickey Rourke’s failed nightclub) on Washington Avenue. While it wasn’t the Second Coming of nightlife, Risk was known for its progressive music and anything-goes atmosphere. “Risk wasn’t clicking at first,” Chris continues. “It was successful. I was making money, but not a lot of money. There was a famous party at that space called Fat Black Pussycat. I brought it back. It was a legendary night. It kept Risk going and introduced me to all the locals.”
Going Hollywood
Chris was released on September 8th, 2006. He has the date tattooed on his right wrist. “I was shell-shocked for about a week or two,” he acknowledges. “In jail, everything is so controlled and provided for you. And then all of a sudden you have these choices and responsibilities. I was messed up. I didn’t think I would be, but I was. I wanted to remember the small things that are so important. Like walking into a shower without having shower shoes on. Eating with metal utensils, not plastic. Opening the refrigerator when you want a drink of water. The little things that you can’t do in jail. Jail is humiliating and demeaning. Most of the people, including myself, deserved to be there at that time. I try not to be bitter. I have no right. I hurt people and I deserved to be there. Right now, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
While people assumed Paciello would return to Miami Beach or New York, he chose Los Angeles for a fresh start. For the first year he readjusted to civilian life and took stock of his situation. As for worrying about his safety, Chris downplays any threats from the Mafia. “I’m not bragging that nobody could touch me,” he says. “I could walk outside and get hit by a car. But I lived my life way worse in New York looking over my shoulder, carrying guns and robbing drug dealers. Those things could have gotten me killed a lot quicker than me changing my life and becoming a citizen. I’ve heard that I had reconstructive surgery. I own a club in Israel. I live in Brazil. I’ve heard it all. I’m here. You see me. I look the same. I’m out all the time. If someone feels they want to come after me and get revenge, then that’s going to happen. I don’t live my life in fear.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
There is a lot of talk on Bottle Service these days. Here is an interesting take by nightlife legend Steve Lewis:
The consensus is that Tenjune and clubs which cater to the Wall Street crowd will be most affected and that the highest end joints like 1 Oak and Rosebar will not see a difference.
I believe Tenjune, Marquee and those “types” of joints will do just fine because of brainpower at the top. These guys will adjust, buckle down, trim fat, and find a way. The theory that bad news will drive them to drink has always rang true. Look for clubs heavily dependent on corporate revenue streams to be hardest hit, but even those will survive. It may be more weddings for the Capitale, Espace kind of spaces, and those might be less extravagant, but the sharp pencils at those places will erase some costs and come out ahead. Those in trouble are the marginal places run by fairly inexperienced operators who came in on the big wave of the model/bottle era and will surely crash into the beach. I expect vacancies with properties flipping into other hands. It may be a great opportunity for a reemergence of the fun fun fun dive clubs of the 80’s. Landlords unable to develop properties may again welcome club runners to maintain a revenue stream until people can actually afford to buy condos again, or there are lending institutions that will actually finance them again.
It may be a great opportunity for a reemergence of the fun fun fun dive clubs of the 80’s.
My friend “Hugo” AKA The Viper just told me about a new spot in Miami Beach called Bella Rose. (I typically don’t go to South Beach until winter).
Hugo told me that the spot was dope and he was peeling girls like bananas at a jungle hideout in Panama. Seems like this place is a return to South Beach before the corporatization.
The good part, is Alfred Spellman disses Bottle Service:
“I think Bottle Service has pretty much destroyed night life but, luckily, I think the pendulum is finally swinging away from the models-and-bottles era that’s basically dominated night life since the turn of the century,” Spellman, said. “It creates a one-dimensional atmosphere and we want diversity.”
Bottle Service Update: Half-bottle service in Las Vegas
One of my droogs just sent me an article about Bottle Service in Las Vegas.
New York-New York Hotel & Casino’s new nightclub — ROK Vegas — will offer half-bottle service when it opens to the public Labor Day Weekend. It’s billed as a Vegas first. Half bottles start at $175, plus tax and gratuity.
The idea is to “enhance the VIP experience by offering guests more choices for their tables,” according to press materials, plus give nightlife lovers a more budget-friendly club option.
With the Market getting pummeled like Tommy “The Hit Man” Hearns in the third round with Marvelous Marvin Hagler I have been getting tons of emails about how to save Money in a Down Economy.
Here is a great tip:
If you are anything like me, you will have fly girls that you swooped out of Nightclubs, Gentleman’s Clubs, off the street, and from bars at your crib, five nights a week, kicking off their heels and enjoying a few drinks.
The drink of choice, typically, is to make up a Grey Goose (or some other clean vodka) and Soda for yourself and something vodka related for the fly girl. Or pop a bottle of Champagne. But we all know, top shelf liquors and French Champagne can eat into your Bankroll, especially in a Down Economy.
So for a Down Economy Hedge, save your empty Ketel and Goose bottles and funnel in some low grade vodka. Also, go down to the little Italian Market down the street and pick up some low cost Italian Proseccos or Spanish Cavas. Show me a girl who can tell the difference, and I will show you someone with a more stylish Jab than a young Muhammad Ali. (Even Sophistos can’t really tell the difference, and I have done the unofficial case studies to prove it.)
Just make sure you “mark” the real bottles of liquor for yourself. You don’t want to drink the cheap stuff, it will make you look older.
What do I do?
I don’t sweat it too much. I can afford top shelf spirits. (Pulling Heists is pretty much recession proof).
Although, I will pull this “hustle” sometimes especially on snotty, snobby Bottle Service club girls.
For the innovation factor, of course.
The Rest is Up to You…..
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Seventh Letter
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns
It has never really been my language to say “Douchbags”. But after spending this summer in San Diego at The Del Mar Race Track I can see what people are talking about. (Of course, I am not refering to The Turf Club at The Del Mar Race Track, which is one of the last bastions of class in this town.)
There has to be a backlash against this whole “Douchbags” phenomenon, ie frosted hair, Affliction Shirts, Ed Hardy, Bottle Service, wrist bands, ripped designer jeans, fake tans, dog tags…the whole “I am rebel but I buy my image from a mall” stilo. You know, the whole “I am tough but deep down really gay” steez.
The Backlash can’t come soon enough.
Hell, its enough to make someone want to move permanently to Buenos Aires.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The International Playboy’s International Playboy
AKA Lo Mas Frio
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Word on the street is that Wesley Snipes, the star of “New Jack City” and an actor in “King of New York” is going on trial for being on the wrong side of The Internal Revenue Service. I really don’t have much of an opinion on the intricacies of the trial (although the venue of Ocala, Florida has got to hurt). But I do have an opinion on the man.
Here is a little story:
I had just got back to Los Angeles from a prolonged working vacation in the South of France. My good friend “Callahan” was throwing this dope gig in LA at the El Rey Theatre. Black Eyed Peas were performing. Think Black Eyed Peas before they added that girl with mad plastic surgery. You know, the one that all girls put on their ringtones nowadays. Behind the Front days. “That’s the joint, that’s the jam” days.
Anyways, it was a pretty celeb-heavy underground type-gig. That guy who was the main star of “Basketball Diaries” table was right next to our crew’s table. Mad fly LA Nightlife Princesses also.
My friend Callahan and I were chillin at the front bar talking French heists and strategy, slightly on Beans. Sipping cocktails.
Black Eyed Peas - Joints & Jam
As a young G on the rise, I was suited down of course, in a custom Italian number by…I can’t really remember. But I probably had a Glock 17 in those days as they were pretty hot then. Shirt blown open. Pocket Square. My friend was wearing whatever was the height of fashion for those days in LA. I don’t have to tell you that I was dressed doper than him. But that’s neither Sugar Hill nor E-tab Pill.
Up walks Wesley Snipes to the bar, solo, no Entourage, suited down kind of Nino Brown Style. This was not “Blade II” era Snipes, it was more “Roemello Skuggs” era Snipes.
Callahan (obviously feeling it): “Yo Wesley, I was Passenger 58!”
All three of us: Laughter. (I didn’t really get the joke at the time, but I was feeling good so I played along).
Introductions all around.
Then two mad fly girls, taller than Snipes and myself, if I remember correctly, came up to Snipes and gave him very enthusiastic hugs and kisses.
Then one of the two girls in a shitty LA attitude kind of way, says, “Who are these two guys?” meaning us. (You don’t really see this kind of attitude today as much as you saw in the good old days.) As if, I wasn’t just heisting on the Côte d’Azur and chilling with topless girls; named things like, Florence and Marie, on the beach two days prior.
Snipes then says after a slight pause for greater effect, “Callahan and Michael are my two best friends in the world” with an opened arms gesture. The two girl’s expressions changed from “over us” to “into us” immediately. After some more small talk, Snipes exited stage left and left us with the two girls, who by now, were down for whatever.
Not like we needed any help, but I have never forgotten Snipes’ gesture of Class. In my book, he has always been the coolest cat in Hollywood.
“I am not guilty, you’re the one that’s guilty. The lawmakers, the politicians, the Columbian drug lords, all you who lobby against making drugs legal. Just like you did with alcohol during the prohibition. You’re the one who’s guilty. I mean, c’mon, let’s kick the ballistics here: Ain’t no Uzi’s made in Harlem. Not one of us in here owns a poppy field. This thing is bigger than Nino Brown. This is big business. This is the American way.”- Nino Brown
I hope Snipes isn’t found guilty either.
Oh yeah, we ended up swooping the girls. Assist by Snipes.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Seventh Letter
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
(Want to see something in The G Manifesto? Send suggestions to thegmanifesto@yahoo.com)
Love is a Battle Field (Papoose / Pat Benatar) New Jack City
