A & E

The Mob Tours, whose motto is "We'll take you for a ride," offers historical tours of organized crime sites in Western New York. They're offering a special rate for the month of October to observe the 25th anniversary of Mafia soldier Joe Vallachi testifying against the mob and exposing the entire Mafia structure in America.

One of the most powerful bosses fingered by Vallachi was Stefano Magaddino, the head of his own crime family in Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Mike Rizzo, who founded The Mob Tours, says Vallachi, Magaddino, who was a charter member of Charles "Lucky" Luciano's Mafia Commission, could be heard on wiretaps cursing Vallachi. If Magaddino is not as well known as John Gotti or "Crazy Joe" Gallo, Rizzo says, it's because he was so good at what he did that he managed to operate under the radar most of the time.

The tours run Saturdays at 11 a.m. The bus boards at 303 Rainbow Blvd. in Niagara Falls. Reservations are recommended.

Details: 716-578-4939.

This time of year, many homeowners brighten up their front steps with pots of brick-red or yellow chrysanthemums. But true fans of the flower might want to check out one of several chrysanthemum shows taking place around the country this fall. At the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, N.Y., "Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum," billed as a "cultural exhibition and flower show," will run from Saturday through Nov. 16.

"Kiku" is the Japanese term for meticulously cultivated chrysanthemums, which are pinched, staked and tied to grow into specialized shapes. Varieties include ozukuri, with hundreds of blossoms in dome-shaped arrays, all from a single plant; ogiku, a single-stemmed plant as tall as six feet with one perfect flower; kengai, a cascading frame covered by small-flowered mums; and shino-tsukuri, mums that open wide with different-shaped petals that change as they age.

The city of light has an unfortunate blight: the locals' reputation for rudeness. That's why some friendly Parisians have banded together to show complete strangers around their Paris, the one not found in travel books -- for free. And forget stereotypes of the Francais-only French. The Paris Greeters are happy to speak English, or nine other languages of your choosing.

These local volunteers are not certified tour guides, but are regular folks eager to show off delicacies at their favorite boulangerie, or point out a tranquil park perfect for watching autumn shades fill in the famous skyline. "I've always heard my American friends say things like, 'Paris is wonderful -- except for the Parisians,"' says volunteer Christian Ragil. "And I always wanted to do something about it." When he retired, he decided to join the Greeters, which has grown since its inception a year ago to 120 volunteers who have guided 1,100 visitors.

To meet a Paris Greeter, sign up at least two weeks in advance. Note that Greeters will not accept tips, but will expect you to pay for their transportation fares.

The island of Sicily was overrun and occupied by nearly every ancient people -- Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Vandals, Goths and Normans. What does this have to do with a book titled "Eat Smart in Sicily?" As authors Joan Peterson and Marcella Croce point out, each invader introduced different kinds of food to the island.

This culinary legacy is richly detailed in the first chapter. The Romans contributed a fermented paste made from fish guts called garum. The Arabs introduced confections and couscous.

The Eat Smart guides are intended to educate and encourage travelers to immerse themselves in a foreign culture through its cuisine. This would seem to be particularly important when it comes to Sicily, where food is something of a secular religion. "Eat Smart in Sicily" introduces the reader to the four distinct regions of Sicily and their regional mainstays. The authors also provide tips on shopping in Sicilian markets. For those unsure of what to order, a menu guide provides an extensive list of dishes in Italian or Sicilian, with English translations, and a list of helpful phrases. (Ginkgo Press; $13.95 softcover; 145 pages)

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News