Visit the North End this summer during the Fisherman’s Feast
The 113th annual Fisherman’s Feast returns to the North End in August, honoring the long fishing tradition of Boston’s Italian-American population. The four-day festival, running from August 17 through 20, will see streets packed with food vendors and live entertainment — shutting down North, Fleet, and Lewis Streets to car traffic. While Boston’s...
Southington Italian Festival to feature market, fireworks among traditional offerings
Each year at the end of July, the colors red, white, and green fill downtown Southington in celebration of the town’s Italian-American Festival. Southington’s 18th annual Italian-American Festival will be held from Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30 on lower Center Street. Organized by the Sons of Italy, UNICO Club of Southington, and Sorelle d’Ita...
Dining Review: La Masseria in East Greenwich
The biggest challenge in assessing Rhode Island’s restaurants is in creating a hierarchy — or even a classification — for Italian restaurants. It’s the state’s most popular cuisine and, with innumerable interpretations of Italian gastronomic culture — casual, traditional, elevated, modern — it’s tough to discern which restaurants have forged an ide...
The Little Italy Carnival in Portsmouth, NH
Sunday, August 6, 2023; 11am to 4pm. Granite State Minerals - 227 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. Please click here to reserve your ticket now, as the number of attendees is regulated. This is a free ticketed event. Step right up to a most vibrant and lively celebration—the Little Italy Carnival, where the spirit of festivity fills the air with laug...
Reviving tradition, saints to march through Springfield’s Italian South End
Marchers, accompanied for the first time in years by a brass band, will parade La Madonna del Carmine through the streets of Springfield’s South End Sunday. The 11:30 a.m. procession will follow a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in honor of the feast day of the church’s namesake. The Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is hosting a d...
Frank Depasquale's guide to the best of Boston's North End
A small peninsula jutting into the Boston Harbor, the North End is one of the city's oldest and most storied neighbourhoods. Puritans from England settled the area, followed by waves of other European immigrants whose red-brick homes still crowd the narrow, maze-like streets. By the early 20th Century, tens of thousands of Italian immigrants had tr...
Vito Montelli, St. Joseph boys basketball coaching legend and Connecticut's all-time leader in coaching victories, dies at 92
Vito Montelli, a Connecticut coaching titan who guided generations of boys basketball players for more than a half century, becoming the state’s all-time winningest coach in victories and state championships, died Friday morning at his home in Stratford surrounded by his family, his son, Tommy, said. He was 92.A Bristol native and the only survivin...
Federal Hill’s Crime and Cuisine Food Tour is a Tasty Way to Experience Local Lore
Passing beneath Federal Hill’s iconic pine cone-bearing arch, a friend and I joined the Providence Tour Company group gathering in Garibaldi Park, ready to take a deep dive into the historic Italian neighborhood’s food-filled past. Our guide, Patti Sammartino, explained that the gateway’s pine cone, La Pigna, symbolizes abundance and prosperity. It...
Mercato Italian Kitchen and Bar opens second restaurant in Canton
Mercato Italian Kitchen and Bar opened in Canton on June 20. At 110 Albany Turnpike, this is the second location for the restaurant owned by Market Hospitality Group; its original spot is in Southbury. This is the latest opening from the growing hospitality group, which owns Market Place Kitchen and Bar in Avon, Danbury, Newtown, Shelton and Woodbu...
Little Italy Carnival in Portsmouth
Step right up to a most vibrant and lively celebration—the Little Italy Carnival, where the spirit of festivity fills the air with laughter and cheer! Marvel at acrobats defying gravity, jugglers showcasing their incredible skills, and a host of festive performers who will keep you entertained throughout your visit. It's a celebration for all ages,...
Barre Baseball Legend Louis “Crip” Polli to be Honored July 8 in Montpelier
A celebration to recognize Louis Polli’s legendary baseball career and official designation by the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first Italian-born ballplayer to play in the major leagues will take place Saturday, July 8, when the Vermont Mountaineers baseball team in Montpelier will host a Louis “Crip” Polli Night. This long overdue recogn...
New Haven Italian pastry shop Rocco's Bakery closes after 40 years
A staple for Italian pastries and breads in the Fair Haven section, Rocco's Bakery on Ferry Street, is going to be another city memory people talk about, especially when longtime customers go looking for their Easter pies, anginettes, ciccioli bread, chocolate lemon pie or cannoli. Rocco's, owned and run across from St. Francis Church at 432 Ferry...