NEWS FROM : CALIFORNIA  

by Besha Rodell   The Arts District downtown has become the unlikely ground zero for large, ambitious Italian restaurants. That trend continues next month with the opening of Officine Brera, which begins serving on Feb. 5 adjacent to its sister restaurant, the Factory Kitchen (another large, ambitious Italian restaurant).   But for ow...

The reigning Missoni royalty—creative director Angela, her daughter and brand ambassador Margherita, and founder and matriarch Rosita—visited San Francisco's Academy of Art last week to attend the graduation fashion show, and the school's fashion students were giddy in the presence these Italian style icons.   But at a symposium and luncheon...

The Rev. John Lo Schiavo, former president of the University of San Francisco who presided over the university's resurgence and a shutdown of its basketball program, died Friday. He was 90. Lo Schiavo died in the infirmary at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, said University of San Francisco spokeswoman Anne-Marie Devine Tasto.  ...

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise: Italian food doesn't end at pizza and spaghetti in the High Desert.The selection of locations here may not be as expansive as larger urban or suburban communities, but ask most local residents about Italian food, and whether it's a slice of Sicilian pie or a plate of delicate ravioli tossed in a cream sauce,...

Our BIG fundraiser and Ravioli Tournament at Henry's World Famous Hi-LIfe is next Sunday!!! This is one of our big events for the year and is a can't miss event! Our Ravioli Judges are set to decide whose Ravioli is best. Thanks you to famous Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito, Rich Firato from the Downtown Icon (Firato Ravioli), Linda (Bozzo) Za...

The Italian Heritage Society of the Monterey Peninsula recently released their new book "Italian Fishing Families of Monterey", a work that is written by fishermen, their families and friends. The purpose of the 302-page book is to preserve the history of the Italian fishing community of Monterey. Impressively, the Italian Heritage Society has co...

November 7 and NOvember 8, 11 AM - 5 PM. Indian Wells Resort Hotel - 76661 Highway 111 - Indian Wells, CA 92210. Buy tickets here. http://www.facebook.com/CVItalianFestival   A community event to celebrate the Italian heritage and culture! Outstanding food, all day entertainment, specialty merchandise and a bit of old world charm. Fun f...

by Victor Laruccia   Have you missed our movies? We've missed you! And we're looking forward to meeting and greeting you once again at both our venues – La Paloma and the Museum of Photographic Arts. The North County Series begins January 21 with Smetto quando voglio (I Can Quit Whenever I Want), a hilarious story all too familiar to ma...

The Order Sons of Italy in America Weed Lodge #1269 scholarship application is now available for high school seniors planning to graduate this spring and enroll in college or trade school in the fall of 2016.Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for high school credit courses through seven consecutive semesters and have a parent(s) or grandpare...

Fifty years ago this month, the landscape of Napa Valley changed when Robert Mondavi opened his winery along California Route 29 in Oakville. The winery's Mission-style archway quickly became an iconic symbol of California wine, and Mondavi and those who worked with him forged a revolution not only in Napa but also across the country, transforming...

Finally coming to fruition as part of 2013 Year of the Italian Culture in the US, the project's first major initiatives will include two major events in San Francisco: the Meeting Between the Two Mayors and the Gala Dinner in June and the Concert of the Two Bays in October. The Viva L'Italia Gala Dinner to benefit October's Concert of the Two Bays...

by Roberto Natalini   As the traveling exhibition "Italy of The Future" makes its round of the world's major cultural capitals, the innovative international tour is now arriving in the City by the Bay. After its debut in Tokyo last April, 2013, cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Budapest will soon have an opportunity to meet th...