Yogi Berra documentary captures Yankee legend's life in New Jersey and beyond
On a certain street in Montclair, New Jersey, once you arrived at the fork in the road… Just take it, as Yogi Berra might have said. At some point, Edgewood Road splits, and both sides lead to Highland Avenue. That’s where Yogi and Carmen made the home Lindsay Berra recalls from her earliest memories, with summer backyard Wiffle Ball games and gran...
First-ever cheesesteak contest at this year’s 9th St. Italian Market Festival
The cheesesteak, conceived in South Philadelphia, will be one of the main attractions at this year’s 9th Street Italian Market Festival, a highlight of the annual South Philly social calendar. It will host its first-ever cheesesteak competition, whose field of entrants will be determined by public nominations. Organizers said the shops will be invi...
You’ll Love These Unique Italian Regional Coffee Drinks
Italia has many fascinating regional coffee drinks and traditions. Let’s begin at the top of the boot and explore a few. In the Italian northwest Aosta Valley near France and Switzerland, one can enjoy a Caffè alla Valdostana. This popular coffee drink includes sugar, lemon peel, cloves, cinnamon and juniper. Traditionally drank from a wooden cup...
Banner readers’ favorite pizza: Joe Benny’s, a blend of tradition and creativity
Word-of-mouth is working for Joe Benny’s Focacceria. On the day I visited, it was responsible for one Floridian stopping in for the first time on her sister and brother-in-law’s recommendation; a pair of O’s fans made their second trip after walking by one night and noticing a line wrapped around the corner; and Joe Benny’s customers formed a stron...
The Italians of Newark
During the Great Migration, countless Italians chose to settle in Newark, New Jersey. These immigrants developed their own Italian enclaves and preserved their culture in their own way. Churches were erected and clubs were formed. Many came with only a few dollars and were listed as “peasant” or “laborer” when they entered the United States. They c...
Trip To Italy Leaves Lasting Impression On West Orange HS Students
Juniors and seniors from West Orange High School's Italian classes, Italian Club, and Honor Society had the opportunity of a lifetime when they traveled to Italy from April 6 to 15. Italian teachers Rosanna Zamloot (WOHS), Carlo Felici (LMS), and Anna Maria Grammatica (RMS) chaperoned the trip, which was organized by Zamloot. "It was a journey fill...
Popular Italian ice shop is now serving icy coffee treats in NJ
As the weather begins to warm up in New Jersey, an icy coffee treat may just be the way to cool off. Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard has announced its new line of Cold Brew Frozen Coffees. Available for a limited time, starting today, new Cold Brew Frozen Coffees come in three flavors: original cold brew, mocha, and caramel. Each cold brew fr...
A music director goes public with a secret stash of private instruments
Crisp, warm, responsive. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is on a journey to meet these benchmarks under the baton of music director Gianandrea Noseda. One of the ways in which he's shaping a new sound is through some very old instruments. The oldest is a violin made in 1686 in Cremona, Italy. Since 2019, Noseda has been quietly loaning 17th -...
Drew Maggi makes MLB Debut After 13 Years in Minors
Dreams do come true. Just ask Italian American and former Team Italy player Drew Maggi, who made his big league debut with the Pirates on April 26 after spending 13 years in the minor leagues. At 33 years old, he never held out hope that he would reach this level, and he experienced it with his family in attendance. Fans showered him with admiratio...
National Italian American Foundation Meet & Greet
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 - 6:00 PM EDT. Heinz History Center - 1212 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA. Register here. Join the History Center’s Italian American Program for a reception with representatives from the National Italian American Foundation. During the meet and greet, attendees will learn more about how our organizations work to preserve and sh...
The Italian American Cultural Association of Virginia has established the Columbus Statue Renovation GoFundMe project
The Columbus Monument had been a fixture in the Richmond community at the entrance of Byrd Park for 93 years before the evening of June 9, 2020 when the Columbus Statue was illegally torn down, vandalized, set on fire, and thrown into nearby Swan Lake by individuals protesting. Since that fateful evening in 2020, The Italian-American Cultural Assoc...
Newark Street Dedicated to Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli worked his way to Newark, New Jersey for the dedication of a street in his honor. Valli, 88, joined Newark and Essex County officials, along with the New Jersey Hall of Fame for the ceremony, which was held just around the corner from where he grew up. The ceremony took place on the Eve of Vallie’s show at the New Jersey Performing Ar...