Bigland will lead Alfa Romeo brand in North America
Chrysler appointed Reid Bigland to the new position of head of Alfa Romeo in North America on Monday, charging him with relaunching the Italian brand here after a 19-year absence. Expectations are high. Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne wants Alfa Romeo to go from zero to 150,000 annual sales in North America by 2018. It will start with just...
'Lidia's Italy' host Lidia Bastianich at Pabst Theater
Italian cooking maven, TV host, restaurateur and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich will bring her expertise to the Pabst Theater Jan. 16. "An Intimate Conversation with Lidia Bastianich" will feature the Emmy award-winning host of Public Television's "Lidia's Italy" for an evening of conversation and storytelling celebrating Italian food. T...
Italian Official Appoints New York Representative To Promote Puglia
Michele Emiliano, the President of Regione Puglia, has named John Mustaro, the President of the United Pugliesi Federation of Greater New York, as the official representative to promote and support Puglia business development and cultural exchange programs in America. "I nominate my good friend John Mustaro for all of his great work and timeless e...
Chicago writer-director Lucia Mauro wraps shooting on her second film, One Year Later
Award-winning Chicago filmmaker Lucia Mauro wrapped shooting this past month on her second film, titled One Year Later, set in Chicago, Illinois, and Milan and Aosta, Italy. It tells the story of an American woman, recently recovered from a serious illness, who learns to savor the essence of life through a cathartic tripto the I...
Frank Sinatra: Original Jersey Boy
Poor New Jersey, the runt of the litter. I can feel you bristling at that, my fellow New Jerseyans. We know there's more to our state than most people think. But too frequently, we are overshadowed by New York City and overlooked by Philadelphia. Just the plain-Jane little sister to our more popular neighbors. Imagine the young Frank Sina...
Stanley Tucci: Italian of the Week
On November 11, 1960, Joan (née Tropiano) and Stanley Tucci welcomed a son, Stanley, in Peekskill, NY. Growing up, the young boy showed a strong interest in acting and theater. After graduating from high school, Stanley enrolled in SUNY at Purchase and graduated with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1982. He moved to New York City and performed in p...
How Mother Cabrini Became the First American Saint
by Lily Rothman It takes a long time to become a saint — unless you're Frances Cabrini, the woman who 70 years ago became the first American saint. By the time Catholicism was well established in the United States, it was a lot harder to become a saint than it once had been, as the Catholic Church had stabilized the canonization process, as T...
Who are Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato Jr. and why are they at the Republican convention?
by Stephanie Merry The Republican National Convention has quite the line-up of speakers Monday night in Cleveland. Not only is Scott Baio speaking, but so is Antonio Sabato Jr. Wait, who? It's okay to ask. It's been a while since either of these guys were relevant, and we're using the term "relevant" pretty loosely. So here's a r...
Italy’s Maina Signs New Distribution Deals in USA and Mexico
Italian confectionery company Maina has signed new distribution deals in the USA and Mexico, which will double the exports to these countries compared to 2015. The company, specialised in the production of panettone and pandoro cakes, last year achieved a total turnover of €90 million, with exports accounting for 13.5 per cent of the total. Th...
Amanda Knox found guilty again in Italian murder case
An Italian court Thursday reinstated the murder conviction of Seattle native Amanda Knox for the stabbing death of Knox's roommate, the latest twist in a dramatic, long-running case that is likely to be appealed again. Knox, who was in Seattle while the court verdict was reached Thursday night in Florence, was sentenced to 28 1/2 years, wh...
Al Pacino Picks His Favorite 'Godfather'
The Godfather or The Godfather Part II: Which is the superior entry in Francis Ford Coppola's masterful mob trilogy? It's a debate film buffs have been engaged in for 40 years, and one that will probably go on for another 400. We asked one of the men closest to the Corleone family saga, Al Pacino, if he could make that Sophie's Choice — an...
Officine panerai is expanding its retail footprint
The luxury Italian watch brand, a division of Compagnie Financière Richemont, currently operates 10 stores in the U.S. and 64 around the world. Having recently opened stores in Paris, Hong Kong and Florence, the company is now readying a relocation of its New York City boutique, which is set to open early next year, followed by a Miami opening in F...