MACDOUGAL STREET, NYC — Tiro a Segno, a members-only club that has included leading Italian citizens, from powerful politicians to artists like Enrico Caruso, hosted a recent annual gathering of the Columbian Lawyers Association in Brooklyn.
The event brought together leading Italian members of the criminal justice community, along with guests and friends, on Oct. 14.
Tiro a Segno, which translates to “fire at the target” or simply “shooting range,” is one of the oldest Italian heritage organizations in the United States, founded in 1888 on a game preserve in Staten Island as a sportsmen’s club for hunters.
Tiro a Segno Dinner Club is located on MacDougal Street in Manhattan and features a gun range in the basement.
The club turned over the preserve to the federal government during World War I and relocated to its current MacDougal Street outpost in the 1920s. It features an elegant dining room, bar and lounge.
Today, it’s known as a first-class dinner club with excellent Italian cuisine and an NYPD-permitted, three-spot, 50-foot rifle range in its basement.
However, the highlight of this Italian heritage celebration was clearly the food, showcasing Italian cuisine from Calabria, a region in southern Italy, including insalata di polpo (octopus salad), casarecci con le seppie alla Calabrese (homemade pasta with cuttlefish), and Pesce Spada alla bagnarese (swordfish in the style of Bagnara).
Not all of the 150 guests shot guns in the basement range, but the few who did were happy to share their targets.
A celebration of Italian culture
The night was relatively informal, lacking a program and lengthy speeches. Instead, it featured quality conversation, camaraderie, singing and dancing.
Mario Romano, Esq., president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, told the Brooklyn Eagle that this gathering is by far the favorite event for most members.
“It’s just a great celebration of Italian culture,” Romano said. “It’s a way for lawyers and the judiciary to interact in a more laid-back and relaxed fashion than any of our other get-togethers.”
Romano noted that many older Italians were brought up believing that family and understanding heritage were paramount, but unfortunately, that’s not as prevalent in the minds of younger generations.
“Tonight some people will be bringing their children, as well as their wives, and it’s nice to pass this cultural experience on to them.”