La Famiglia
Early in Christopher Castellani's new novel, "All This Talk of Love," Frankie Grasso wonders whether he and his family are "at the end of something." Frankie is a 30-ish graduate student in English literature, still a long way from the end of (for one thing) his dissertation. An answer begins to take shape when his sister, an affluent stay-at-home...
Let's Learn About: Bocce in Pittsburgh
By Brady Smith Bocce is widely considered to be the one of the world's oldest sports. The origins of the game can be traced to ancient Egypt and hieroglyphics on tomb walls, which depicted the Egyptians tossing rocks at a specific target. According to historians, the game evolved from using polished stones to throwing the rounded balls...
Fans Flock to Michéal Castaldo’s Première Performance at SOPAC
Fans from near and far gathered at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in South Orange, New Jersey, to hear Michéal Castaldo, an award-winning Italian tenor, songwriter, and producer, perform on September 21. The two-show event, A Musical Celebration of the Italian Spirit—A Feast for the Ears, Eyes, and Soul, was produced by Ma...
NIAF 39th Anniversary Awards Gala
During the NIAF 39th Anniversary Awards Gala, as the Foundation celebrates Italian American culture and heritage, noted actor, writer and director John Turturro, who is featured in the highly anticipated PBS documentary series "The Italian Americans," will showcase the project before thousands of black tie-guests from across the United States and I...
DelGrosso Foods Sponsors "The Italian Americans" on PBS
You know DelGrosso Foods for their array of premium sauces and amusement park, and now they're bringing you something a little bit different. They're the sponsors of the four-part PBS series "The Italian Americans", a documentary that begins with Italian immigration to the United States and follows the culture to the present. In celebratio...
Valley's second Villa Grande Pizzeria opens in Catasauqua
Italian favorites such as calzones, lasagna and chicken parmigiana are once again being served at 7 Lehigh St. in Catasauqua. The building, which housed Carmen's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria from 2007 to 2014, is now occupied by Villa Grande Pizzeria. Co-owned by Jimmy Tomini and his sons, Alfani and Nori, the 60-seat restaurant debut...
Prato Bakery brings a piece of Italy to Jersey City
By Steven Rodas Prato, a small city in Tuscany just north of the capital of Italy, is home to delicious baked specialties such as the cantucci. This traditional cookie is one of the many treats you could smell baking right here in Jersey City at the newly opened Prato Bakery. "The residents come almost every day and sometimes...
Sons of Italy lodge missing links to history
An approaching 100-year milestone for the state's oldest active Sons of Italy lodge has sent its leadership on a quest to resolve a long-time predicament. The problem: Much of the history of Alighieri-Garibaldi Lodge 494 of Westmont, Order Sons of Italy in America, is missing. Italian immigrant families founded two Sons of Italy lodges in...
NJIHC Chair Recognized as “Man of the Year”
On Thursday April 28th, New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission Chairman Robert DiBiase was recognized as Man of the Year by the Ocean County Federation of Republican Women during their Annual Gala. This title is given to "individuals who have given a lifetime of service to improving their community and insuring the quality of life in Ocean County."...
An Italian garden oasis in Fells Point
Tucked away on a quiet street in Fells Point stands a collection of ivy-covered rowhouse that have been merged over the years to become a sanctuary for married couple Vincent Peranio and Dolores Deluxe. Deluxe, 67, and Peranio, 70, bought the first of the four rowhouses, which date to the 1830s, over 40 years ago. Each time an adjoining ho...
Dish of the Week: 'Nduja, A Spicy And Spreadable Italian Sausage
By Travis Mitchell D.C. has many fine spots for sausages. The half-smoke is a local institution, and other area butcher shops and meat-loving chefs are introducing their own takes on classic sausages and house charcuterie. One of the types popping up more frequently is 'nduja, a spicy and spreadable sausage hailing from Italy's southern Calabria r...
Washington Onora Giorgio De Chirico: L’ambasciatore Bisogniero Presenta La Mostra Alla Phillips Collection
I Senatori Tom Udall e John Barrasso, il Congressman John Tanner, il Direttore finanziario di Lockheed Martin, Bruce Tanner, la Direttrice di Arena Stage, Molly Smith e numerosi altri VIP americani membri dello Steering Committee o sostenitori del Gala annuale della Phillips Collection di Washington hanno reso omaggio alla cultura italiana in un ev...