BOOK: Immigrant NYC cops ‘The Italian Squad’ fought the mafia, anarchists and bigotry
If you’re going up against the mob, you’d better have a gang. The New York Police Department put one together back in 1904. New immigrants, and new kinds of crime, were flooding the city and the old Irish cops on the beat didn’t understand either. It was time to launch a special force. They called it “The Italian Squad.” Paul Moses’ latest book pay...
Corning Celebrates its Friendship with Italian Sister City
People from Corning’s sister city in Italy, San Giovanni Valdarno, celebrated their long-lasting friendship with the people of Corning. Corning’s Mayor William Boland and San Giovanni Valdarno’s Mayor Valentina Vadi exchanged loving embraces, gifts, and decide to re-sign their allegiance to one another, that has been intact for 20 years. Mayor Bola...
The Grand Mulberry uses a custom-formed brick to animate a New York facade
In 1932, 98 percent of the heads of households in the area of New York City now variously known as Little Italy, Soho, or the Lower East Side were Italian emigrants, The New York Times reported. This wave of immigrants, who largely arrived in the U.S. from the 1880s through the 1920s, were preceded by the Italianate, a mid-19th-century tripartite s...
Italian American Tony Di Piazza's association donates $20,000 for a library in Romagna
The hearts of Italian Americans in support of the people of Emilia Romagna devastated by the floods. An important solidarity initiative starts from Tony Di Piazza, former vice president of Palermo calcio, and his cultural group, Associazione culturale italiana di New York, of which the Italian American is chairman. In fact, $20,000 will be donated...
Cinema Guild Books June Release For ‘Umberto Eco: A Library Of The World,’ Documentary About Italian Literary Giant’s Voluminous Interests
Cinema Guild announced it will release the film, directed by Davide Ferrario, beginning June 30 at Film Forum in New York City, followed by an expansion across the country. Umberto Eco: A Library of the World, which takes viewers inside Eco’s extraordinary personal library, premiered at the Rome Film Festival last October. We have your first look a...
Emma and the Angel of Central Park. The Story of a New York Icon and the Woman who Created It
My book Emma and the Angel of Central Park. The Story of a New York Icon and the Woman who Created It is the first biography ever of Emma Stebbins, the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City. Her iconic Bethesda Fountain with the Angel of the Waters will celebrate its 150 year anniversary on May 31st and my book comes out a...
James Saraceni is recognized as the outstanding Italian American for 2023
James Saraceni is the son of Thomas and Louise (Belluci) Saraceni. His grandparents, Arthur and Amelia (Soccio), immigrated to America from Vasto, Italy, which is located on the Adriatic Sea. They had the courage to leave their country, for a better life, at the young age of sixteen. They had twelve children. His maternal grandparents, Biaggio and...
The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Display Special Loan of Colossal Limestone “Giant” from the Mont’e Prama Foundation, Sardinia, Italy
The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today the significant loan from the Mont’e Prama Foundation, Sardinia, Italy, of a colossal limestone statue of a boxer known as Manneddu (mannu in Sardinian means “large”). The nearly seven-foot-tall figure, dating from about 900–750 BCE, will be on view for six months—from May 25 through December 6, 2023—i...
Italian residents to visit for Batavia ‘reunion’
Descendants from Valva, Italy will be meeting for a second time to share stories and to make new connections at Roman’s restaurant in the downstairs lounge on May 27. The activity will take place 3 to 5 p.m. at the restaurant on 59 Main St. Those interested can bring a copy of their family tree to share with others. Many families immigrated to Bata...
Countdown to 500th Anniversary of Giovanni da Verrazzano's discovery of New York City is underway!
Click here to view video announcement. Verrazzano, the son of a noble family, was born at the Castello Verrazzano in Greve near Florence, Italy. In his early 20s he moved to Dieppe to start a maritime career, and sailed on behalf of the French monarchy. In 1523, with the support of the French king Francois I, as well as Florentine bankers, Verrazza...
Passport renewal applications exclusively for Italians residing on Long Island (NY)
Notice is hereby given to compatriots registered with AIRE and residing in the Long Island area of New York State that on Friday, May 12, 2023 starting at 9:00 a.m. it will be possible to apply for a passport by appointment at the premises of the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge in Glen Cove, NY.Interested parties can request an appointme...
Italy Donates 125-year-old Olive Tree for “Future Ambassadors of Peace” at UN
On May 5th, 2023, the Italian Permanent Mission to the United Nations will donate a 125-year-old olive tree to the United Nations International School (UNIS) as a symbol of peace. The tree was previously displayed at the Growing Peace Exhibit, which showcased the centennial of aeronautics at the UN. The Italian Ambassador, Gianluca Greco, will atte...