Sorry, missed that last post. Yeah, I think it's fantastic. I don't care for any argument either way as to what happens; it doesn't really matter, and any search for an absolute answer is missing the point.
Anyway, for the benefit of those who are at a social, intellectual, political and cultural disadvantage by not being a friend of mine on Facebook, here are some pics I took from the
Sopranos tour...
^ Joe Gannascoli, dealing from the back of his jeep. Basically, you had to wait in line, then in order to get a picture with him, you had to purchase something. He greeted you by saying, "Hey how you doin' what can I get ya?" Then as you were looking round the merchandise, he'd say what it was, as if you needed clarification: "Books, pens, t-shirts, license plates, posters." So I say, "Gimme a poster please. That one." It's not a poster; it's an A4 print-out that he then signs. While he's signing, he says, "Anything else anything else?" So, as if I have no choice, I look about again and choose a 'BADA BING' license plate (which is a New York license plate, not New Jersey!). "Forty bucks," he says, just like that. The funny thing is that my friend who was with me, couldn't believe I'd just bought a license plate, but then thirty seconds later found himself buying exactly the same 'poster' and exactly the same license plate, in fear of getting something else and it being even more expensive. Fastest eighty dollars spent ever. He must have made two grand quite easily, the crook!
^ The Lincoln Tunnel, which connects NY and NJ, from the opening credits. "Walk Up This Morning..."
^ Approaching the New Jersey Turnpike, where Tony pays the toll in the credits.
^ The Muffler Man!
^^ The Pulaski Skyway.
^ The New Skyway Diner, where Matt Bevilacqua and Sean Gismonte shoot Chris. ("Full Leather Jacket", season 2 episode 8.)
^ Nothing to do with
Sops, but I like the photo.
^ The Meadowlands in Harrison, where Christopher and Georgie dig up Emil Kolar. (Georgie: "Fuck, is that him?" Chris: "Now that would be some fucking coincidence if it wasn't wouldn't it?") ("The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti", season 1 episode 8.)
^ AJ's high school, which in the show has the lettering covered.
^ Route 1/9 Truck bridge; as seen in the opening credits.
^ Pussy's auto body!
^ The bridge Junior walks over when he's confused and lost, hence my imitative canting angle. ("Where's Johnny?", season 5 episode 3.)
^ The corner on which Richie Aprile throws a baseball bat at Matt Bevilacqua. ("Full Leather Jacket", season 2 episode 8.)
^ The Irish American club, which neighboured Satriale's Pork Store. It's also where the FBI raided Big Pussy and Jimmy Altieri's pool game. ("Nobody Knows Anything", season 1 episode 11.)
^ The site where Satriale's Pork Store stood.
^ The view from Satriale's, where Tony first sees Julianna Skiff. ("Johnny Cakes", season 6A episode 8.)
^ The parking lot in which Artie pulls the rifle out on Tony. ("I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano", season 1 episode 13.)
^ One of Father Phil's many churches. Visible from Satriale's.
^ Pizzaland!
^ Docks in Belville, NJ, where Paulie beats Dick Barone's son Jason. ("The Fleshy Part of the Thigh", season 6A episode 4.)
^ Holsten's, the diner from the final scene.
^ At the back of the Bing!, where Tony punches Ralphie after the latter has murdered Tracee, in one of my favourite episodes. (Ralphie: "It's my fault she's a klutz?" Tony: BAM!) ("University", season 3 episode 6.)
^ The real-life Bada Bing! Domestic beers $3. I had a Heineken, which was $6. In New Jersey, it's illegal to sell liquor in a topless bar, so the show is actually factually incorrectually.