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.
