110% Vacation time in the Dominican Republic

 I did a lot of stuff in the last month but the most memorable would have to be the R&R spent in the DR. This trip was amazing and long overdue. I've spent too much time going between Manhattan Island, Long Island, City Island and rarely but sometimes Staten Island - It was time for some real island life. So for Alexis' 30th birthday was celebrated with lots of good food, beautiful beaches, fun excursions and an amazing VIP experience from the hotel staff. We stayed at Secrets in Punta Cana and I would definitely recommend this place to a friend. Our one island hopping trip took us south to Saona Island which has amazing beaches and lots of privacy. The grounds at Secret are truly gorgeous and we could have spent an entire week in the family alone. We hope to be back. 

Beach Life

Buggy Excursion 

Saona Island

Saona Island

Secrets Punta Cana

Saona Island

Don Capria & The Godfather

May was a busy month for sure. I did a few dinner events discussing the making of The Godfather film which was a couple of great nights of food and conversation - one at Pas-Tina's in Westchester and the other night at Calandra's Italian Village in Caldwell, NJ. I went to the 2022 Black N Blue Bowl in Brooklyn and had a killer lunch with Mackie Jayson at Anthony and Son Panini Shoppe in Williamsburg. I also did The ArmChair MBA Podcast with Tom LaVecchia discussing the Colombo book and some of the behind the scenes Godfather Film stories. And for some R&R I took a trip up into the Catskills to visit my good friend Pete. Took some time to explore some of the old hotels in the Borscht Belt and did some hiking up at Lake Minnewaska. 

Jay and Big Steve @ Calandra's 

with Luke Rota and the ladies. 

with Francesco Palmieri

with John Knuffke

With Vincent Ficarra • Frank Ferraro & Mark French

Pas-Tina's 

Mackie Jayson @ the Panini Shoppe

Lake Minnewaska

The Old Nevele Hotel

at the Nevele

Giovanni Ribisi lends credit to Capria and Colombo for "The Offer"

 In April I got to experience a great outdoor show in Tompkins Square Park. Black N Blue Productions brought out MADBALL, MURPHY'S LAW, WISDOM IN CHAINS, BURN and the CAPTURERS. Perfect weather for a show and hang in the park.  The OFFER was launched on Paramount Plus featuring Giovanni Ribisi as Joe Colombo. The show is a look at the making of the Godfather film in 1971 through the eyes of producer Al Ruddy. I interviewed Al for my book and look forward to checking it out. Thanks to Giovanni Ribisi for crediting my book in his research. I also got to check out Wilber Polanco's new studio in Brooklyn, The BOOMBOX ROOM. A great spot for video and photo production. 

Giovanni Ribisi "The Offer"

Giovanni Ribisi as Joe Colombo

Giovanni Ribisi as Joe Colombo

Mackie Jayson (Cromags)

with my brother Tragedy in Tompkins Square Park

catching up with Vinny Stigma (Agnostic Front)

The BoomBox Room in Brooklyn

Omerta X Don Capria

This month was filled with traveling. I ended up in North Carolina visting my family for Thanksgiving and prior to that spent time in Michigan at the new Omerta clothing warehouse. We took some photos in preperation for Black Friday and also spent some time working on their new venture "Thee Old Fashion Gentleman" - a coffee shop that will be located in the front of the clothing warehouse.  Big things brewing in Michigan with these guys. 
The Omerta print shop

Nate modeling the new hoodies

Snapping pics of Jamal

With Mick's dog Timmy

Mick going for the bullseye on our night off

hanging in the soon to be coffee shop

Capria and Italians

 I had a lot of fun and got in some good hangs in the city last month. I drank too many espresso's at San Gennaro with Lil Mo and Marco. I snapped photos of the guys in some Omerta Gear. The streets were packed with people and the food and pastries were amazing everywhere. Then a few weeks later I hung with my good friend Louie Lombardi on an off day while he was shooting in Brooklyn. We had lunch at The Panini Shop in Williamsburg with Nino of Williamsburg Pizza and owner Sabino who also runs the Italian podcast and blog  Growing up Italian. Louis and I are discussing our first film project together. More on that coming in 2022. 

w/ Lil Mo at the doors of GOLDBAR on Broome St. 

Lil Mo at the start of the feast

Marco of @marcosworldnyc

Louis Lombardi standing guard at the Panini Shop

Sabino - Louie - Nino in Omerta gear

Anecdota wins at Sin Film Fest

This fall my team and I had the pleasure of taking a business trip down to Miami to support our film "Anecdota" at Sinister Nights Film Festival. Bella Grace was nominated along side some very talented actresses for her role in the film. We watched a ton of movies, got some quality time at the beach and ate amazing meals that I will be back for again soon. When the awards ceremony began Bella was anxious and excited and possibly to her surprise they announced her the winner. It only got better when a few awards later our film won the audience choice award. It was a great weekend and I look forward to a return trip with another film soon. Next time, for a feature. 

My necessaries

L-R Mark Reed (actor), Bella Grace, Don Capria, Paul Travers (producer) 

in the convention after the awards ceremony

Bella Grace and her father

pic w/ my neice on the Miami River

My Niece at the beach 

Mob Movie Con - Colombo Book & Omerta Clothing

This month I took a bunch of Colombo books down to Atlantic city joining thousands of crime aficionados for Mob Movie Con. I set up a signing booth with the help of OMERTA clothing in the convention center at Harrah’s Resort. The room was home to hundreds of booths filled with food, writers, actors and activities. I got to hear the announcement for a Gotti (1996) sequel film starring Armand Assante and eat dinner with some actor friends to discuss everones up and coming projects. 

w/ Federico Castelluccio

The booth at Harrah's Resort