Take a Mobster-Themed Walk Through New York
Airbnb Experience host Brian Cicioni reveals the inner workings of ’70s mafioso on a flashback trip through Brooklyn and Queens.
Much like Ray Liotta’s mobster-turned-informant Henry Hill narrating the misadventures of the Lucchese crime family in Goodfellas, Brian Cicioni reveals the inner workings of ’70s mafiosi on this flashback trip through Brooklyn and Queens.
The native Pennsylvanian found his way into becoming an Airbnb Experience host through his love of New York City. It didn’t hurt that he’s watched Goodfellas dozens of times and has devoured countless books about the real-life gangsters who inspired the movie. It seemed only natural that he’d share his passions by showing travelers the Gotham he now calls home.
“I’d never want to live like these guys did, but it’s so interesting as a voyeur,” the 39-year-old says.
Cicioni’s guests hit up mobster haunts from Henry Hill’s childhood home to the former site of the bar where Jimmy “the Gent” Burke (the inspiration for Robert De Niro’s character) planned the infamous 1978 Lufthansa heist. (Burke was also rumored to have buried several bodies under the bocce court next door.) On a recent tour, Cicioni managed to get his guests into the basement where the real-life Parnell “Stacks” Edwards (played by Samuel L. Jackson) was murdered by Tommy DeSimone (Joe Pesci’s character was renamed Tommy DeVito). A visitor from Dublin was simultaneously horrified and delighted to be told he was standing where Edwards’ corpse was discovered. (Martin Scorsese, De Niro, and Pesci are reteaming in the upcoming mob flick The Irishman, by the way.)
But for Cicioni, the real star is New York City. And he gets no greater pleasure than introducing visitors to the spots they can’t walk to from Times Square. “Every tour, someone thanks me for taking them to real New York neighborhoods they would never have known about,” he says.
Brian’s Experience: abnb.com/goodfellastour
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About the author: Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
