‘Jersey Shore’ Vs. the State of New Jersey
It’s been 15 years since the premiere of MTV’s Jersey Shore. At the time, the show stirred up mixed feelings: It irritated locals, offended media members, and even bothered the state’s highest elected official. It was also a bona fide sensation. Even after everyone’s anger and fake tans have faded away, there’s still a lot to learn from the battle...
Philadelphia’s Italian Consulate is closed indefinitely due to electrical problems
Marone! That’s what some in Philadelphia’s Italian community were exclaiming upon learning Tuesday that the Italian Consulate is closed “until further notice” after experiencing electrical problems during construction at the building housing its Center City headquarters. The timing couldn’t have been much worse, said Consulate General Christiana Me...
With a Pizza Oven Imported From Italy, This Brand-New Virginia Pizza Restaurant Is the Real Deal
Pizza restaurants are common here in Virginia, but they're not all created equally. Some focus on speed, others on generous portions, and some prioritize quality above all else. It's a rare pizzeria that offers all three, but Pi-Napo seems to hit that mark. My family and I visited this new restaurant in the Fry Springs neighborhood of Charlottesvil...
Philadelphia ready to go the distance with RockyFest week dedicated to 'Rocky' movies
Rocky Balboa fans are ready to go the distance — by bus, by ice skates, by 72 steps — to honor Philly’s favorite fictional fighter almost 50 years after the first movie launched the enduring series of an underdog boxer persevering despite the odds. Yo, Adrian, Philly finally did it! The city Rocky called home at last has a week dedicated to the box...
Foodie Friday: Simpatico Italy’s Finest
Simpatico Italy’s Finest is a spot that will make you feel like you’re in Nonna’s kitchen. And, the building has a rich history behind it. “It was originally built between 1896 and 1901, and it was an oyster saloon,” explained owner Bobbi Parlett. A lot has changed since Parlett purchased the building and began restoring it in 2001. All of that wor...
Newark School Official Named ‘Italian American Educator Of Year’
Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Granato of Newark Public Schools was recently celebrated as Essex County’s 2024 Italian American Educator of the Year. The recognition came during a special ceremony hosted by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, where N.J. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz presented the award to Granato. “You have alway...
Little hidden gem Italian market in Central Jersey, La Vucciria
We've seen some giant Italian markets opening up across New Jersey over the last few years. One of the newest ones may not be big on space but it's huge on quality and variety. It's in the quaint quiet town of Allentown, NJ. It's called La Vucciria, after a very famous ancient open-air market in Palermo, Sicily. The owners, the LoPresti family come...
Coccia Institute Works with the Montclair Women’s Club for Christmas Tradition
The Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America in collaboration with the Montclair Women’s Club, will present a conversation with Andrea Cammarato-Van Benschoten, author of The Italians of Newark, and Marialena Marzullo, an MSU Alumna/Co-Chair of the Montclair-Aquilonia Sister Cities Agreement. A Newark native, Andrea Cammarato–Van Ben...
Agreement reached between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Virginia
Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, last October met with Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia to sign an important Memorandum of Understanding, signaling the start of a new era of international cooperation between the two regions. This strategic agreement is poised to strengthen the economic,...
One Of America's Oldest Open-Air Markets Is A Diverse Foodie Paradise In Philadelphia
There are so many reasons to love Philadelphia. Brimming with heritage, it's a city chock-full of historical sites such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Independence National Historical Park. It's the "Birthplace of America," a city of so many firsts. It's where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written (and signed),...
Dr. Vitale honored as "Cavaliere dell'Ordine della stella d'Italia"
A moment of great pride for our community: Dr. Salvatore Vitale was awarded the title of "Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy", a prestigious recognition that celebrates his constant commitment to promoting italian culture and Italian values, including innovative and enterprising endeavors. Dr. Vitale has been active for many years in Maryland...
MY BIG GAY ITALIAN CHRISTMAS Comes to Atlantic City in December
It's a big gay weekend in Atlantic City onFriday, Dec, 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. in Sounds Waves Theater at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. That’s when "My Big Gay Italian Christmas" takes the stage as the third Anthony J. Wilkinson theatrical production since his Hard Rock Atlantic City residency began in early 2024. The sho...