Making her mark: Marianna Brunetto
The Convivio Now and Again Series comprises oral histories from Italian-community members. In this excerpt from an interview with Marianna Brunetto, she discusses some cherished remembrances of her time growing up in Little Italy and the impetus that led her to take a leadership role with the Little Italy Association. Without question, Marianna Bru...
Trainer Carlo Vaccarezza is a new face at Santa Anita Park
Carlo Vaccarezza is a new name among trainers in Southern California, but he’s not a racing novice. Far from it. The 68-year-old native of Italy, who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s, sen out 20-1 morning line long shot King Theo to a ninth-place finish in Friday’s $65,000 Santa Anita feature race at one mile on turf, a course over which Vaccare...
Dalla Terra Winery Direct Adds Sardinian Producer Vigne Surrau to Its Portfolio of Family-Owned Italian Wineries
Dalla Terra Winery Direct® announced today that Vigne Surrau has joined its group of family-owned Italian estates, making it the first Sardinian winery to be added to the company’s import portfolio since being founded in 1990. Established in 2004 by the Demuro family, Surrau is located just fifteen minutes from the stunning Costa Smeralda in the no...
Columbus presentation by Richard DiGiacomo
January 21/ Thursday / Columbus presentation by Richard DiGiacomo / 7pm PDT. Click here to join. Organized by the Italian American Heritage Foundation. Zoom Presentation by Richard DiGiacomo, regarding his research and book, The Critics of Columbus, The Character Assassination of a Great Explorer. This is a rescheduling of his October talk. Richard...
Memory Lane: Dave Cavagnaro, 'Mayor of East Napa'
Dave Cavagnaro was far more than a successful businessman. Known as the unofficial “Mayor of East Napa,” Cavagnaro made it his life’s work to enhance local life in a variety of ways. He is credited with bringing the circus to town, orchestrating the annual fair-time parades, organizing a volunteer fire-fighting unit and establishing immigrant assis...
Holocaust Memorial Day :: Witnesses of Witnesses
The Italian Cultural Institute and the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January, remembering the tragedy of the Holocaust that occurred during World War II with the screening of the video Witnesses of Witnesses (Testimoni dei testimoni), created by Studio Azzurro to document the...
The South Coast Chef Bringing Italian Family Cooking Home During The Pandemic
A South Coast restaurant is giving residents the chance to take-out a flavor of Italy. The Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito has introduced to-go dining, featuring executive chef Massimo Falsini’s favourite recipes from his Italian grandmother’s cookbook. Any dreams of a once in a lifetime Italian vacation may have gone up in flames this year, a...
Pizza Bella: best pizza in America
Happy Fonso bongos away to a recorded song coming out of his car. “Working for tips,” his cardboard signs says. “Your help is needed and appreciated. Thanks!” Except, since the lockdown, Old Town is pretty-much deserted. In the silence, you can hear his two-note bongos up and down San Diego Avenue. A couple of dollar bills sit in his tips bucket. “...
Bricks for Sale for Cultural Center & Museum
Little Italy San Jose has successfully launched a new Legacy Brick campaign that coincided with the groundbreaking ceremony for our Little Italy Cultural Center & Museum on November 6th. We want to thank the dozens of families who have already purchased a brick to honor their family and to support construction of our museum. These bricks will be in...
Hall of Fame Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dead at 93
Pugnacious Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, who skippered the Los Angeles Dodgers to four league pennants and two world titles, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers announced Friday that Lasorda suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at his home and was transported to a hospital, where he died. "Regarded by many as baseball's most popular ambassad...
The Art & History of Venice with Italian Guide and Art Historian Monica Latini
We are beginning a new year in these unusual times, hoping the ICC community is healthy and in good spirits. Let's start 2021 in Venice! Enjoy a three-part lecture series in collaboration with Cultural Italy. You will be guided by a Venetian art historian and guide in the discovery of 18th Century Venice: its masks, everyday life, art, stunning arc...
Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda released from hospital
Dodgers legend and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda has been released from the hospital and is now resting comfortably at home, the team announced on Tuesday evening. Lasorda, 93, had been hospitalized since the middle of November and for part of that time was in intensive care. The team provided no further information on his hospitalization. La...