Community rallies in support of Mossuto’s Italian Restaurant after thief steals thousands
A Spokane family-owned restaurant is dealing with a small business’ worst nightmare. Mossuto’s Italian Restaurant in North Spokane was broken into last month, with the thief taking thousands of dollars. “I put so much trust in my employees and the community and everything like that, that you never think that it’s going to happen until it happens,”...
NIAF Returns to Arizona to Salute Italian Americans at the End of January
The Arizona Regional Gala will Honor Chef Joey Maggiore and the Maggiore Family at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. The demand is high to support the National Italian American Foundation in the Southwest. Tickets are almost sold out for the Foundation’s Arizona Regional Gala on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. With s...
NIAF to Honor Chef Joey Maggiore and the Maggiore Family at the Arizona Regional Gala
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is set to honor Chef Joey Maggiore and the Maggiore Family at the Foundation's Arizona Regional Gala in Phoenix on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the iconic Arizona Biltmore Hotel, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel. "NIAF is proud to return to Phoenix and honor Chef Joey Maggiore and the Maggiore family for the...
Looking back at the Italian Festival in Seattle
My good acquaintance Dennis Caldirola invited me to sign copies of my latest titles at Seattle’s Italian Festa, and I was thrilled. Surnamed Sanelli, it’s a festival I love. The invitation gets better: “I can’t find another Italian author this year. People are still hesitant about crowds. You can have the table for yourself.” Well, an invitation li...
Current owners work to preserve a 1939 Italian villa in West Seattle
THE PHRASE “hidden in plain sight” could have originated with the Cettolin house in West Seattle. Nestled along the unpretentious, extended block of 32nd Avenue between the Fauntleroy Expressway (opened in 1965) and Nucor Steel (opened in 1905 as Seattle Steel), the dwelling, upon further examination, looks to be a villa straight from Italy. Which...
The Italian connection with Salt Lake City
Back in the days when Readers sent their “Italian Connections” to me via “snail mail,” Signora Madeline C. of Utah wrote it was Fortunato Anselmo, a gentleman with “roots” in Calabria (province of Cosenza) that was responsible for establishing Columbus Day as a National Holiday after WWII. I remember Fortunato as a warm, congenial friend who was ve...
Seeking photos and stories from Pacific Northwest Italians
A history project is in the works about early Italian settlers (1880-1950) in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Please reach out to author and historian, Tessa Floreano with stories and original high-resolution photos to be considered for publication in either the book or website. The book, Italians in the Pacific N...
Scottsdale prepares for 2-day Italian festival
Last November, the Italian Association of Arizona longed to attract Italophiles to its Pizza and Wine Festival as COVID-19 was slowing. “We didn’t know what to expect,” said Frank Guzzo, the association’s executive director. “We wanted to test the waters with the Pizza and Wine Festival. It was one day, as we were still dealing with omicron. In hin...
The Great Italian Festival returns to Reno
In downtown Reno along The Row, The Great Italian Festival transformed Virginia Street into a taste of Italy. With everything from a grape stomp to gelato eating contest, Italian farmers market and of course tons of Italian food booths. The smell of the family recipes alone will lure you right into one of the main attractions at The Great Italian F...
Scottsdale Taste of Italy, music festival set for Oct. 15-16
Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy and Music Festival will bring Italian culture, food, and entertainment to the Valley this month. Hosted by the Italian Association of Arizona, a local 501(c)(3), this two-day celebration will take place on the Scottsdale Canal and feature everything from live music and unique, hand-crafted Italian items to wine tastings,...
Taste of Italy and Music festival coming to Scottsdale waterfront Oct. 15-16
For wine, panini and pizza fanatics in the Valley, a festival highlighting Italian culture is set to come next month. Visitors are invited to attend the Taste of Italy and Music Festival, located at the Scottsdale Water Front on Camelback and Scottsdale roads, on Oct. 15-16. Musicians scheduled to be in attendance include Angelo Torchia, Sahnas Bro...
Amid declining attendance, historic Our Lady of Mount Virgin Catholic Church closes
This fall, the 107-year-old Our Lady of Mount Virgin Catholic Church will not be open for Mass or baptisms, weddings or confessions. In a two-page statement from the Seattle Archdiocese issued in July, parishioners learned that their pleas and protests had come to a dead end: The historic church built to cater to the spiritual needs of Seattle’s It...