How ‘Grease the poles’ became a Philadelphia Eagles rallying cry
If Super Bowl LIX ends in green confetti Sunday night, you can be certain Philadelphians will take to the sky. Explanations for the strange and at times obscene behavior of Philadelphia’s sports fans have long eluded the rest of the world, and the city’s obsession with climbing greased street poles is no different. However, there may just be a meth...
Ciao! Bella Bianca Italian Deli Opens on Ryders Lane
Well, we may have missed Milltown Mel on Groundhog Day, but nobody should miss Milltown Bianca of Bella Bianca Italian Deli. At the former location of Lock, Stock, and Deli 218 Ryders Lane, Milltown residents Pete and Bianca Badawy have laid out an Italian spread of gourmet sandwiches, hot food, soups, and salads that are both traditional and creat...
Michelangelo’s Drawings for the Sistine Chapel Visit the U.S. for the First Time
Dozens of drawings Michelangelo made while planning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel will go on view at the Muscarelle Museum of Art after a monumental feat in networking and logistics by the Williamsburg, Virginia museum ahead of the Renaissance master’s 550th anniversary. Curator Adriano Marinazzo, an architect and Michelangelo expert, has organ...
Clark Resident Kim Baglieri Named 2024 Volunteer Resident of the Year
On Tuesday, January 21, the Clark Township Council met for its first meeting following its reorganization meeting of January 1. During the meeting, Ms. Kim Baglieri was honored with the 2024 Volunteer Resident of the Year Award. Also of note, Councilmember Angel Albanese, who had already been serving as acting mayor of the Township of Clark since t...
Philadelphia Famiglia: How Italian Culture Bonds the Eagles Amid a Super Bowl Run
The Philadelphia Eagles are in this year’s Super Bowl because of a superior running game, along with one of the most improved defenses in the NFL since last year. Anecdotally, throughout the playoffs, they have simply appeared bigger, faster and stronger than most of their opponents. But, according to some industry experts—like my mother-in-law—th...
Merante Brothers Italian-American Market reopens in Pittsburgh (PA) after condemnation due to building collapse
Monday was a rebirth for a local family-owned market after it was forced to close following the collapse of a building next door. Now, the doors of Merante Brothers Italian-American Market were once again wide open and welcoming customers back. Months ago Merante Brothers was condemned due to city violations because of a neighboring building that h...
Scotch Plains-Fanwood UNICO Accepting 2025 Scholarship Applications from Local HS Seniors
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood chapter of UNICO, the largest Italian-American service organization in the United States, is committed to supporting local students in their educational journeys. Since its establishment in 1974, the chapter has awarded over $275,000 in scholarships to deserving students. This year, the chapter is proud to offer six schola...
Review: Facci Brings Festive Italian Fare to the Inner Harbor
There’s a lot that competes for your attention when you enter Facci, the year-old Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the Inner Harbor high-rise, 414 Light Street. There’s a lively bar, big enough to comfortably accommodate both people sipping a drink and those eating a full meal. Behind a glass partition, there’s a cook rolling homemade past...
Drexel names Italian political economist Antonio Merlo, PhD, as its 16th President
Drexel University’s Board of Trustees has confirmed by a unanimous vote political economist and academic, Antonio Merlo, PhD as the 16th president in the University’s 133-year history. Merlo, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of New York University’s Faculty of Arts & Science, will succeed Interim President Denis P. O’Brien and begin his tenure at Drex...
Italian restaurant expanding; opening 2nd West Shore eatery
A family-owned Italian pizzeria and restaurant will soon expand into a second Midstate location. From Sicily to the Midstate, Amici Pizza & Restaurant has been serving Central Pennsylvanians for the past 16 years. The long-time establishment is owned and operated by Vincenzo “Vinny” Epifanotto, who first opened his family-run Italian eatery on 125...
NJ bakery still thriving after five decades in business. Check out its next move
Some crave apple turnovers or New York cheesecake. Yet one local business has an appetite that can only be sated by pushing its own boundaries. Gencarelli’s Bakery will build on decades of success by opening a 9,542-square-foot market with an Italian kitchen at the corner of Hamburg Turnpike and St. Moritz Place. Vincent Gencarelli, a second-genera...
Nick Sirianni: We’ll tweak some things based on last Super Bowl experience
The Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last three years and the experience from their last matchup with the Chiefs will lead to some changes this time around. Head coach Nick Sirianni said at a Tuesday press conference that the basics of their preparation will remain the same. Sirianni emphasized that the team has to focus on “...