Growing Up Italian featuring Marianne Leone and Chris Castellani
Thursday March 3, 2022 — 7 p.m. EST. Zoom Webinar (Register Here). Join us in conversation with author and actress Marianne Leone (Jesse, Ma Speaks Up) and author Chris Castellani (Leading Men, All This Talk of Love) to discuss the many aspects of growing up as a first generation American in an Italian immigrant household. I AM Books in partnership...
Things to do in North End, Boston (Little Italy)
Looking for the best things to do in North End, Boston? This guide to Boston’s Little Italy has got you covered! When you think of Boston, there are a few things that immediately come to mind — clam chowder, Sam Adams (the beer and the man), Boston Cream Pie, lobster rolls… you may not, however, think of Italian food. While Boston is primarily know...
NH bill to keep Columbus Day, observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day in August draws opposition
A Republican-backed bill to preserve Columbus Day and have New Hampshire celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in August drew opposition at a public hearing this week, in a reprise of a fight last legislative session when Abenaki leaders spoke against the August date. Rep. Jess Edwards, an Auburn Republican, who is a co-sponsor of HB 1173, favored the...
HDC OKs Columbus-Replacement Statue
Cristoforo Colombo was always aloft on his pedestal, looking out toward the harbor and sea, to catch the next ship and to sail off to his next conquest. His replacement – the Italian, or perhaps universal, immigrant family – will have come from the sea, from far away, and to stay, to put down roots and to begin their American success stories. That’...
NOIAW News: Robin Tagliaferri Named as RI President
The National Organization of Italian American Women announced the appointment of Robin Tagliaferri as the new Rhode Island Region President to its membership on the 6th of January, 2022. Tagliaferri brings to NOIAW a deep, well-rounded portfolio in nonprofit administration. Her career spans some 25 years with experience in museums, arts organizatio...
The Child is the Teacher – The Life of Maria Montessori
Tuesday March 1, 2022 — 6 p.m. EST. Zoom Webinar (Register Here). Join us for a conversation with author Cristina De Stefano, celebrating the release of her book The Child is the Teacher – The Life of Maria Montessori. Moderated by Chiara Durazzini of I AM Books. The series “Libriamo! From Italy with Books” is presented by I AM Books in collaborat...
Italo American Club to offer free tours
The Italo American Club, 477 Broadway, Providence (RI), will be offering free tours beginning Monday, Feb. 7, and every Monday thereafter from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The club owns the former John E. Troup II house, built in 1881. The Italo American Club invites the public to schedule a tour by calling 401-621-5600. “We are proud of our Italian heritage...
Knightsville native writes book on Italian influence in newspapers, radio
Alfred Crudale knew Rhode Island had strong Italian roots and produced several Italian newspapers throughout the state. However, he did not realize that number exceeded his expectations until he started conducting extensive research at the Rhode Island Historical Library in Providence for his book “The Voices of Italy: Italian Newspapers and Radio...
Post-Columbus Monument Modified
Gone are the benches, planters, flood lights, and gravel walking paths. The sculpture itself — of an aspiring immigrant family — remains in the picture, as a controversial plan to replace the former Wooster Square Christopher Columbus monument moved to a new stage. That was the update offered Wednesday night at a meeting of the Wooster Square Monum...
The Italian Table: Food, Stories and Traditions
Thursday February 3, 2022 — 7 p.m. EST. Zoom Webinar (Register Here). I AM Books in partnership with NIAF presents “Our Voyage: Italian American Stories” — a 10-event series focusing on Italian American authors and literary themes. These one-hour conversations are free and open to the public, but registration for the Zoom event is required. After r...
Boston’s North End Loses a Neighborhood Storyteller
The Italian American community deeply mourns the loss of one of its great pillars on Sunday, Jan. 16. Anthony Vincent Riccio’s great passion was chronicling the lives of the Italian immigrants who settled in Boston’s North End, as well as those who settled in New Haven. I met Anthony for the first time in 2018 at a joint signing at I Am Books in Bo...
He turns 100 as the business he helped found in 1946 is still in the family
Every so often you come across a moment that captures the heart of Rhode Island. And so it was last week on an industrial stretch of Providence’s Valley Street, home to a humble business that for three-quarters of a century has played a hidden part in creating our landscape. I went there last week to see its last surviving patriarch, Raymond Ardent...