Illuminating Heritage Through Art: Santa Lucia Painting Bridges Cultures Between Carlentini and Omaha
A magnificent new piece of artwork has made its way from Carlentini, Sicily, to Omaha, Nebraska—a vivid painting of Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) created by 14-year-old artist Martina Piccione. Originally sent rolled in a box alongside dozens of letters for school aged children intended to travel 5,000 miles across the ocean, the painting was meant to s...
Work on new Italian-American center begins soon
The renovation and expansion of an iconic white mansion that overlooks Gray’s Lake and downtown Des Moines is expected to begin this summer with much of the work completed by fall 2026. Members of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa have spent more than two years planning and raising money for the center at 2633 Fleur Drive in Des Moines....
Denver Mourns the Passing of Jim Leprino, Mozzarella Magnate and Compassionate Philanthropist
Jim Leprino, a notable figure in Denver as well as the broader food industry, passed away at the age of 87. Known for his reclusive nature, Leprino built a dairy empire that stands as the world's largest producer of mozzarella cheese, an enterprise which began humbly in a small family shop. 9NEWS reported on the legacy he leaves behind, a global bu...
SOLD OUT – July 1st 2025 – Acquisition of biometric data at the Honorary Vice Consulate in Denver for the purpose of issuing a passport
Slots available for biometric data capture for the issuance of Italian passports in Denver on the date of July 1, 2025 are SOLD OUT. Additional passport days in Denver will be scheduled in the future, the details of which will be promptly communicated through institutional channels. As always, the possibility of booking a passport appointment at th...
Documentary Underway to Showcase “Little Italy” History, Evolution to Present-Day Columbus Park
A new documentary about Kansas City covering Columbus Park history — formerly known as the North End — has begun production. It will focus primarily on the Little Italy community, which formed in the North End, the development of Guinotte Manor housing development, its name change to Columbus Park and its eventual evolution to the neighborhood it i...
A Taste of Italia: A Walking Tour Through Omaha’s Little Italy
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Fourth Annual Little Italy Walking Tour invites the public to explore Omaha’s rich Italian-American heritage through stories, historic landmarks, and authentic cuisine. Organized by the Carlentini Omaha Association USA, Inc. and the Nebraska Trailblazers, this unique event begins at 5:00 PM at the Gene Leahy Mall Arch...
Magnifico! How downtown Fargo turned Italian for two weeks in 1971
The September 1971 local news in Fargo, North Dakota, had turned its attention to an Italian invasion downtown. A good one, of course (like the British one seven years earlier which brought the Beatles to our shores). This was a renaissance of art, music and food as members of an Italian trade delegation immersed themselves in Fargo to teach Americ...
Catholic Central Union of America gifts Italian immigration files to Italian Community of St Louis
The Catholic Central Union of America, founded in 1855 and headquartered in St Louis, has gifted their Italian immigration files to the Italian Community of St Louis. The files include tens of thousands of documents regarding immigration settlement from the 1880s until the 1960s. Before Catholic Charities, the Catholic Central Union of America was...
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Italian Architect and Educator María Luisa deMin Puggioni
The College of Architecture and Planning hosts a variety of exhibitions each year, providing opportunities to showcase student work, faculty research, and the work of prominent architects, educators, and historians. CAP hosts exhibitions that illuminate architectural histories, explore emerging practices, and supplement classroom curriculum, thereb...
North America’s First and Only Leonardo da Vinci Museum is Slated to Open in Colorado
North America’s first and only Leonardo da Vinci Museum is opening in Pueblo, Colorado later this fall. The museum will feature interactive exhibitions and life-sized replicas based on da Vinci’s drawings and sketches. It’s approach will center on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) as an educational guide to problem solv...
Save the date – Passport Day in Minneapolis – March 26th and 27th 2025
Italian citizens are informed that, in collaboration with the Honorary Consul and the The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul, a ‘Passport Day’ is scheduled for March 26th (afternoon) and 27th (morning) 2025 for the acquisition of biometric data for the purpose of issuing an Italian passport, without the need to go to the Consulate Gene...
Da Vinci exhibit invents excitement for Pueblo
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America hosted a live talk and Q&A event at the Pueblo City-County Library District Rawlings (Main) Branch recently. The event was free to the public and took place Feb. 6. The stage featured three speakers, with Craig Eliot Cisney, vice president of the board for Southern Colorado Science Center, guiding the d...