Getty Museum in LA to return illegally exported art to Italy
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is returning ancient sculptures and other works of art that were illegally exported from Italy, the museum announced Thursday. The Getty will return a nearly life-size group of Greek terra-cotta sculptures known as “Orpheus and the Sirens,” believed to date from the fourth century B.C., according to the museu...
Abruzzesi in Hollywood Yet Unknown in the Abruzzo Region
Not every famous personality who hails from Abruzzo is known in that central Italian region. Yes, people over there have heard of Madonna, Dean Martin, Alan Alda, Henry Mancini, Mario Lanza, Al Martino, Perry Como, Bradley Cooper, Penny Marshall, and the like, all of whom have Abruzzese origins. In Abruzzo, people might even know of Florida governo...
Molto Italiano: The Sicilian Cart
It’s reductive to consider Sicilian carts as mere vehicles. These carts are so rich in color and decorations that, according to Marianna Gatto of the Italian American Museum in Los Angeles, they’re best described as “walking books”. For the painter from Palermo, Gianfranco Fiore (who decorates these carts), they represent the most popular, creative...
Columbus Transcontinental Highway Sign
In 1975, the California State Legislature established the Columbus Transcontinental Highway on interstate 10 in southern California. A sign marking the Columbus highway was installed. The Resolution naming the highway was sponsored by Italian American Legislators of the period to honor the Italian American community. A Resolution to remove t...
Insider’s Guide To Abruzzo Food And Wine
Although it holds many allures, Abruzzo has traditionally been one of the less touristed regions of Italy. This may be a blessing because it remains one of the greenest, most authentic, and still unspoiled regions of the country—one with unique appeals for food and wine lovers. Genny Nevoso is the Executive Director of the Italy-America Chamber of...
Italian Producer Luca Barbareschi Unveils Bio-Series Devoted To Bank Of America Founder A.P. Giannini
Italian-Uruguayan producer and actor Luca Barbareschi is developing a six-part series about the life of Bank of America founder and early Hollywood financier Amadeo Peter Giannini. Barbareschi told Italian news agency Ansa that he is producing the series under the banner of his Rome-based Eliseo Fiction banner. He said state broadcaster Rai had rec...
The Truth About Joe Pesci And Robert De Niro's Friendship
Hollywood has a host of famous acting duos — Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, just to name a few. But these killer pairings aren't a new phenomenon. Viewers have been falling in love with actors' on-screen chemistry for decades, leading to subsequent partnerships that seemed to only ge...
Little Italy Signs Installed in East Sacramento!
As part of the Little Italy Historic District Project, established in October 2021, seven new Little Italy signs have been installed to mark the boundaries of Little Italy. The colorful signs in brilliant green, white and red are a welcome addition to the area. They have been installed on poles and light posts throughout the Little Italy district....
Cultivating coffee, culture and community
Coffee has been woven into the Italian culture dating back to the 17th century when the first “coffee bar” was established in Venice. Italian coffee culture is special, a culmination of traditions, customs, and history. Though different regions in Italy, coffee bars have their own slight variations on coffee making and bar culture, the fundamentals...
North Beach’s Italian-language bookstore Libreria Pino moves to striking new home
Since opening in North Beach as a pop-up store specializing in Italian language books in 2017, Libreria Pino has outgrown several different locations in the neighborhood. Now, the bookstore’s starting a fresh chapter in bigger digs that will serve as its long-term home. For the past 18 months, owner Joseph Carboni has worked to transform the site o...
IAMLA: Call for Pinocchio Items
A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio explores the cultural origins, adaptations, and enduring appeal of one of the most popular characters in children’s literature. Written in 1883 by Italian author Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio has delighted generations and occupies a revered place in the canon of children’s literature. The book ha...
Festa Italiana returns to Lodi after pandemic hiatus with pizza, wine tasting
After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Festa Italiana is back in Lodi. Pizza, wine, live music and more can be enjoyed at as the popular event returns Sunday at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds. “It's a wonderful day celebrating all things that are Italian,” Carrie Sass of SASS! Public Relations said. There’s something for everyone from a pizza pie coo...