The G Manifesto

Chris Paciello Back in Action in Los Angeles

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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.”

Click Here for Mob Over Miami

Click Here for Clubland: The Fabulous Rise and Murderous Fall of Club Culture

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.

Source

Click Here for Mob Over Miami

Click Here for Clubland: The Fabulous Rise and Murderous Fall of Club Culture

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

Rakim – Guess Who’s Back

Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach Back in Action

MARILYN RUBINSON recalls her stays at the Fontainebleau hotel as a series of high-fashion snapshots. There were afternoons at the cabana, “a blue hotel towel wrapped around my head like a turban and wearing high-heeled Lucite shoes,” she said. There were evenings at the Gigi Room, rubbing shoulders with New York’s dashing mayor, John V. Lindsay; and she remembers sweeping down the dramatic lobby staircase in a form-fitting, stone-colored gown. “In those days everyone made an entrance,” Mrs. Rubinson, 84, said. “I made lots of entrances.”

In that heady era the hotel was the diadem of Miami resorts, a 560-foot-long, sickle-shaped showplace dominating the Collins Avenue waterfront, where Miamians like the Rubinsons, who own a chain of clothing stores, and well-to-do snowbirds came in the winter to roost.

“Everyone who was anyone was there,” Mrs. Rubinson said. “People wore black tie and jewelry. Everyone was young.”

And everyone lived large at the flamboyant resort, conceived from its outset to evoke a modern Versailles. “It was the place for entertainment, for glamour — an icon even among the locals,” said Cathy Leff, the director of the Wolfsonian museum of design here. “Even now if one asks, ‘Within the city of Miami Beach, what is the most important landmark in the popular imagination?’ it would be the Fontainebleau.”

Can an icon of the past be restored to its former glory? New owners and architects of the Fontainebleau have invested $1 billion to buy and restore it in the conviction that it can. Its original fusion of Modernist rigor and Hollywood cheek, dreamed up by the maverick architect Morris Lapidus, was derided as Bronx baroque, until the singular style of Miami Beach was rediscovered by the Ian Schrager generation.

“In its day in the ’50s and ’60s, the Fontainebleau was state of the art in glamour,” said Jeffrey Beers, the New York architect responsible for an extensive update of the interior. “We would like to restore that in spirit.”

When the refurbished resort is officially unveiled on Nov. 14 with a series of parties and a taping for television of a Victoria’s Secret fashion show — perfect! — visitors will be able to judge for themselves if the mission succeeded. Even recently, as the hotel was still a construction site, it was clear that the old duchess had flounced out her skirts.

“How many places like this can you go in America that are not in the desert?” said Jeffrey Soffer, executive chairman and majority partner of Fontainebleau Resorts, which is building a Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. Indeed, as he strolled the raised oceanfront walkway that overlooks the property, it was obvious the resort had much in common with over-the-top hotels on the Strip.

Mel Dick, who moved to Miami from Brooklyn in the ’60s, visited on his honeymoon. He recalled being drawn to a sign outside the hotel barbershop that beckoned, “Come and have your shoes shined by the former lightweight champion of the world.” It was Sidney Walker, known as Beau Jack, recalled Mr. Dick, a wine company executive. “I sat down in the seat and I gave him five dollars. I told him: ‘I don’t want you to shine my shoes. I just want to look at you.’ ”

Source

I love the Fontainebleau Hotel and I can’t wait for opening day.

My Grandfather had sparred with Beau Jack in NYC when they were both youngsters. I remember my Grandfather (old-school G and head breaker with IRA connects) told me a story of how he saw Beau Jack shining shoes at Fontainebleau Hotel.

After saying hello to his old friend, my Grandfather offered to shine Beau Jack’s shoes. G move to the fullest.

Respect.

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

Scarface-Maria Conchita Vamos A Bailar

San Diego VS San Francisco

I was swooping to this fly Model Girl from Miami Beach the other day. We were talking about California.

It was pretty apparent that she had no idea the difference between San Diego VS San Francisco (no one ever said Model girls were experts in geography, did they?).

So I gave her a basic difference: San Diego is voting of Banning Drinking (Prop D) and San Francisco is voting on legalizing Prostitution (Prop K).

She didn’t get my point, but its safe to say, San Francisco is a more enlightened city.

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The G you should have Killed last year
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Snoop Dogg “Cali Iz Active” Director’s Cut ft Tha Dogg Pound

Guest Manifesto: ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS

By DevX

(Click Here for The G Manifesto’s Best Halloween Costumes to Swoop Girls)

(Click Here for DevX’s Guest Manifesto: Bold Men CREATE Opportunities)

Most men are born timid, chances are — you were too. Most societies across the world today have promoted a culture of political correctness, conflict aversion, trend following, and a desire to be liked by all. And this isn’t entirely a bad thing. Going down this path will get you an OK house in the suburbs with a plain wife, 2.5 kids, and a dog named Spot. If this is a lifestyle you desire, stop reading now. For my real and aspiring G’s, please continue…

Bold Men Have Wills of Steel

One of my favorite UFC Fighters when I had time to watch TV was Tito Ortiz. The guy was a beast unleashed and if you had the misfortune of getting in his way when he was on a rampage, you were going to pay. He had a quote, which I try to live by that says: “RESPECT: I don’t earn it; I just fuckin take it!” But even as much as I admired the rawness of this cat, there’s another lesser known UFC Fighter who was a true man of boldness. Lee Murray. Let that name marinate for a bit.

Back in 2002, outside a London nightclub, Tito and Lee exchanged words, which eventually led to blows. Tito let out a left-right combo which both missed Lee. Lee then followed up with a 5 punch combo that knocked Tito the fuck out. COLD.

If that was the end of the story, he’d be an interesting side note in UFC history. But its what Lee did after which really impressed me with the strength of this man’s character (whether you agree with the DIRECTION of his character is another matter altogether).

In 2006, Lee was the alleged (ha! I love this word) mastermind behind the 53 million Pound CASH robbery from a British bank (about $100M US). He then fled to Morocco, which coincidentally(?) has no extradition treaty with England. The British gov’t has been coming after Lee since the robbery, but the Moroccan gov’t has steadily refused to give up Mr. Murray. (Side note: There are two women I have ever met that have given me the “Thunderbolt”, one was Moroccan.)

Lesson: I’m not recommending anyone going out and pull heists. Most people who try this would probably drop the ball and end up behind in the back seat of a squad car. What I DO recommend is that you find where you have an edge and adopt a mentality with an will of steel that was required for Lee to pull off what’s he’s done…while he was STILL in his 20’s. You have to have an unbendable vision of what you want, and anyone that stands in your way has to be dealt with accordingly.

Caution: Boldness without planning, boldness without information is leveraged stupidity. Do NOT do this. This is like doubling down when you have no edge. You will lose. Notice that Lee had a well executed after plan. Unlike many of the smash and grab low level criminals you find in major cities, he didn’t go back to his apartment or his mom’s house. He got out the country and went to a non-extradition country.

To win at chess, you have to see several moves ahead and anticipate your opponent’s move. If you don’t have the wisdom, the time, the STRENGTH OF WILL, and/or the balls to do this, stick to Checkers.

Source: Story adapted from 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

By DevX

ill bill & the beatnuts – yae yo

Down Economy hurting Luxury Hotels

Even as midprice hotels began losing business this past summer, luxury hotels continued to fill their rooms. Companies treated the hotels as perks for top executives and quality locations for high-level business meetings. And many leisure travelers considered a stay at a top hotel – even for a couple of days – to be worth the cost.

Times have changed.

Since mid-September, almost in parallel with the stock market turmoil, demand for high-end hotel rooms has plummeted. Patrick Ford, president of Lodging Econometrics, said that U.S. luxury hotel-room revenue rates “slowed in mid-September and really ratcheted downward during October.”

Revenue per available room, the standard measure of performance, dropped 14 percent at upscale and luxury hotels in the week ending Oct. 18 over the comparable week last year, according to Smith Travel Research. For hotels in general, the decline was about 8 percent.

Source

This is a good thing.

I was at the Bellagio in Las Vegas for the first time last week (I typically stay at Wynn or THE HOTEL). I had to say there because I was invited to a meeting of Democratic heavyweights there. Bill Maher guest speaker. Chilled with Maher a Spearmint Rhino for a little too.

Bottom rooms were like $159 a night (of course I didn’t stay in the “bottom room” and it was pro-bono, but that is neither Google Stock nor Body Rock).

Super cheap. Motel-like prices.

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

Mos Def, Q-Tip & Dash – Body rock