Joining the Italian Club of Dallas for a Friday night cena, or dinner, is like time-traveling. The group's warmth and sense of community evoke an era when Italian Americans lived in the same neighborhoods, attended the same churches, and socialized together. Non-members are welcome for this dinner, and my husband, friends and I are among this minority. We are curious about the menu, but it's clear that the regulars come for far more than food. 

For 40 years, the Italian Club of Dallas has fostered a close-knit community of Italian Americans, Italian immigrants, and lovers of Italian culture. Besides celebrating Italian traditions and supporting charitable causes, the group hosts Friday night dinners. Until recently the dinners had been weekly affairs; now they will be monthly and held in different venues as the club gives up its facility in Addison.