Before Bloomfield, Pittsburgh had multiple Little Italys now lost to history
August in Pittsburgh means it’s time for Little Italy Days, the annual four-day Bloomfield celebration spotlighting on the city’s rich Italian heritage. Bloomfield, though, was just one of several Little Italys that sprouted in Pittsburgh in the early years of the 20th century. Italians comprised one of Pittsburgh’s largest immigrant groups. Along...
Andrew Anthony Lioi, WWII hero and Baltimore community leader, dies
Andrew Anthony Lioi, a decorated World War II veteran who landed at Anzio, Italy, and returned to fighting after being severely wounded, died of heart failure July 25 at the Oak Crest Senior Living Community. He was 100. Born in St. Andrea, Calabria, Italy, Mr. Lioi was the son of Bruno Lioi and Rosaria Addino. After immigrating to the U.S. as a ch...
An Italian Festival Revived in New Jersey, Sept. 6
The faithful are invited to attend a celebration in honor of Our Lady of the Torrent on Saturday, September 6th, at St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell, New Jersey, with a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form starting at 11 am, followed by a procession and a light reception with a display of associated memorabilia. For more information, or to RSVP by cl...
“Fedeltà: Soldati. Prigionieri.” Film Screening
Wednesday, September 3, 2025. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA. Free with advance registration here. “Fedeltà: Soldati. Prigionieri.” chronicles the experiences of Italian Prisoners of War, mostly captured in North Africa and Sicily, who were sent to Letterkenny Army Depot outside Chambersburg, Pa., durin...
Italian Heritage Festival announces 2025 honorees
The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival of Clarksburg (WV) has announced its picks for the 2025 honorees that will be recognized for their contributions and achievements in the Italian-American community. “These individuals represent the best of our community,” Rocky Romano II, Honorees Committee Chair, said in the release. “Their achievements...
Ex-Philadelphia mayor's executive order to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day is invalid, court rules
Former Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney violated the City Charter in 2021 when he signed an executive order to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Wednesday. "It therefore runs afoul of the separation of powers inherent in the Charter and, accordingly, is invalid," Judge Patricia A. McCollough wrote...
Madonna Del Monte Festival notes 126th year this weekend
The Madonna Del Monte festival at Most Precious Blood Church in Hazleton (PA) returns this weekend, marking 126 years of celebrating Catholic traditions carried over from the mountains of Italy. “I sum it up as safe family fun. It’s a celebration of Catholic faith, traditions of ancestors and the present moment. It’s a family, a homecoming for a lo...
In ‘Little Italy,’ Dina Brodsky and Lorraine Loots Collaborate on a Tiny Scale
From Manhattan to San Diego to Cleveland, neighborhoods known for their Italian-American populations have endearingly been called Little Italy, where facets of the Mediterranean nation’s culture and cuisine are preserved and celebrated. For artists Lorraine Loots and Dina Brodsky, who both create work on a very small scale, a trip to Italy and a co...
A taste of Italy in Erie (PA): St. Paul's Italian Festival returns with authentic food, more
Maybe it's the authentic Italian food that gets your stomach rumbling. Maybe it's the movements of the Italian dancers that have your feet excited. Either way an Erie favorite festival returns and is set to take place Aug. 8-10 on Walnut St. The 2025 Italian Festival at St. Paul's Catholic Church at 1617 Walnut St. returns to Erie with the classic...
Big Italian festival ready to kick off in Ocean Township, NJ
One of the biggest Italian festivals in New Jersey continues with the Italian American Association of Ocean Township’s 49th annual Italian Festival held at Joe Palaia Park in Ocean Township, Monmouth County. The fun event is Aug. 6 to 9 from 4 to 11 p.m., and 4 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. The festival continues with many events, games, mus...
Abp Broglio to Celebrate Memorial Mass for Fr Capodanno
The annual Memorial Mass for Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, CHC, LT, USN, Servant of God, will take place at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20017. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio...
Philly’s Italian Market is a piece of living history
Over the course of the next year, virtually every piece of Philadelphia history will be enjoyed as tourists from all over the world visit our city. But the story of Philadelphia will be both the history that is still with us — and the throngs of history that well — hasn’t survived. If you’ve spent any time enjoying the Italian Market in South Phila...