[Photos for GL courtesy of E.C. Stephens]

To those who live in Carroll Gardens or who travel Third Street, none of this will probably come as news. Yet’s it’s still interesting. Perhaps you’ve noticed the Magic Touch sign at Third and Hoyt Streets? If you’ve looked closely, you understand that it was “cocktail lounge” and an Italian restaurant and not a massage parlor. Well, per GL correspondent E.C. Stephens, who shot the photos here, “It used to be a notorious Italian mob hangout, now it’s just studios. The owner, she still pays a $50 yearly “illuminated sign” tax for having the old fixture up. Check out the two sides, one side says cocktail lounge, the other side says Italian Cuisine.” The mob in Brookyn? Hanging out in Carroll Gardens and Gowanus? Dear God, say it ain’t so. Repeat after us: There is no mafia. There is no mafia. There is no mafia. But, for those who believe there is, and have dined at Red Bamboo in Fort Greene…that was another “notorious” mob hangout back in the day. Also, we think that sign should be landmarked. It has always brought us joy.