Eat dinner in a Mafia hangout.

I MUST recommend Gambino’s in New Brunswick, NJ (East Brunswick?)

It’s awesome. On the outside it looks a little like a construction contarctor’s office or a desposal company headquarters, but inside it’s nice.

I’m not sure it’s even still there … last time I ate there was about … 8 years ago.

REALLY good Italian food.

I love this.

Okay, I should clarify a few things here, since people probably think I’m nuts, because of this and a couple other items on my list. I’m NOT planning on sneaking into some private Mafia social club. By “eat dinner in a Mafia hangout” I mean go to a restaurant that’s open to the public and generally safe, but is frequented by mobsters and is maybe run by them. And I wouldn’t go late at night. This is like the difference between going on an organized safari (which I want to do; see #18), and wandering around alone and unarmed on a game preserve (which I DON’T want to do).

I have this idea of what a Mafia hangout would look like: it would be this smoky, windowless little room under the ground with a maroon carpet, a long wood bar, lots of old sepia-toned photos on the wall, and an old jukebox. I don’t know how many places actually fit this stereotype, but if I find one, I’ll make sure to stop in.