Lou Christie, “Lightnin’ Strikes” and “Rhapsody in the Rain” Singer, Dies at 82
Italian American Lou Christie, born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, the singer-songwriter who reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with the lush “Lightnin’ Strikes” and had another top 20 hit that year with the (for its time) sexually explicit “Rhapsody in the Rain,” died Wednesday. He was 82. Christie died at his home in his native Pittsbu...
How to make the "Italian beef" sandwich from The Bear
As RT enters Max’s Sandwich Shop in Crouch Hill, north London, owner Max Halley is there to greet us, glass of riesling in hand. The man who reinvented the humble sandwich, and has published several recipe books celebrating it, has an infectious passion, a booming laugh and swears frequently. His intimate wood-panelled establishment attracts huge q...
‘Tucci In Italy’ Renewed For Season 2 At Nat Geo
Stanley Tucci is heading back to Italy after Nat Geo renewed his docuseries Tucci In Italy for a second season. The series, which premiered last month, has been picked up for another five episodes. In the first season, Tucci explored regions including Tuscany, Lombardy, Abruzzo, Trentino-Alto Adige and Lazio. In the second season he will venture fo...
Miles Mastrobuoni’s Italian Dream: Will He Suit Up for Team Italy in 2026 WBC?
Born in California, Mastrobuoni’s potential inclusion in Team Italy reflects the World Baseball Classic’s relaxed eligibility rules, designed to foster global growth of the sport. At 29, Mastrobuoni has carved out a niche in Major League Baseball, contributing to teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and now the Mariners. This season, he’s h...
John N. LaCorte – Preserving Italian American History and Culture
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge – often called the Verrazzano Bridge – is among the acclaimed bridges in New York, and often noted as one of the most well-known bridges in America. Not as well known is John N. LaCorte, a pioneer in advocating Italian American history and culture, and the man responsible for naming the bridge after Italian explorer Gi...
Italian American Congressmen need your voice to advance legislation for Smithsonian Museum
A bipartisan bill (H.R. 1102) — introduced by U.S. Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Michael Rulli (R-OH) — would establish a planning commission to explore the feasibility of developing a Smithsonian Museum of Italian American History in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall. Securing enough House votes to pass the bill and green-light the feasibi...
The journey continues for rock legend Steve Augeri
From 1977-1987, the rock band Journey emerged as one of the most popular and commercially successful musical acts in history. “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “Open Arms,” “Faithfully” and several other of the band’s megahits have become anthems in the live music world, cherished by the young and young-at-heart alike. But when Journey’s popular lead singer,...
The Effect of Food on Connection to Italian Culture Throughout Generations
When one commonly thinks of Italian food, they most likely will picture the classic spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, or lasagna. The more well versed may even refer to testaroli and pizzells. However, it is unlikely that one’s first thought would be the effect that the food has on people. While it isn’t always noticeable, one of the largest symbols...
Italy names Marco Peronaci as next Ambassador to the United States
The Italian government has tapped veteran diplomat Marco Peronaci to serve as the country's next ambassador to the United States. Currently Italy’s Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels, Peronaci will relocate to Washington at a pivotal moment for transatlantic relations. He will take over from Mariangela Zappia, who is set to conclude her t...
La Perla acquired by US billionaire Peter Kern
The new owner of Italian luxury lingerie label La Perla is US billionaire Peter Kern, the former vice-president and CEO of Expedia. The news was reported by Italian daily Il Messaggero, citing sources from Italy's Ministry of Business and Made-in-Italy (MIMIT). The news has been confirmed by other sources close to the matter. Kern lives in Italy wi...
Understanding Stereotypes: A Comparative Look at American and Italian Cultures
Italian schools are frequently characterized by certain enduring stereotypes, particularly among outsiders and even within the Italian population. Among the most common according to a student from a university in Reggio Emilia, Italy is the belief that Italian students are “not good at math.” Whether rooted in standardized test scores or anecdotal...
Tucci in Italy: Recap 3 – Trentino Alto Adige’s Food and Culture
In episode three of Tucci in Italy, Stanley Tucci arrives in Trentino Alto Adige, a region in the north shaped by soaring peaks, strong cultural traditions, and layers of identity shaped by more than just nationality. Here, Austrian heritage meets Italian life, and the German language is still heard on the street in many areas. The food, like the p...