BP Fossella named ‘Man of the Year’ by Italian American Civil Rights League
The Italian American Civil Rights League (IACRL), a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Italian American heritage and history, named Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella “Italian American Man of the Year,” during the organization’s annual Christmas celebration and awards ceremony Sunday in the Little Italy section of Manhattan. The...
Our Lady of Peace Parish Celebrates 125 Years in Gowanus
Over the weekend of December 13, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan led a parish’s 125th anniversary celebration: Our Lady of Peace Church in Gowanus marked the milestone with a Mass and dinner. The now Franciscan parish was founded by the Vincentians in 1899, but the Diocese of Brooklyn brought in the Franciscan province of the Immaculate Conception b...
The story behind the new LA PORTA in downtown Northport
When he opened his LA PORTA in Northport Village this summer, owner Rob Simmons didn’t need to do any advertising. Just the aroma of burning wood mixed with Italian flavors wafting onto Main Street had people pouring in. They were “flooded” right out of the gate, he said. “Our storefront has folding windows, so it opens up completely,” Simmons expl...
Lombardia Style Arrives in New York
The Lombardia Style has landed in New York. "Destinazione Lombardia" was recently presented in New York at the exclusive Bar Milano of Eataly on 5th Avenue. An evening organized in collaboration with Enit, the national tourism agency, was dedicated to the "Lombardia Style", a new regional territorial marketing brand that identifies the excellences...
Long Island Bishop Lawrence Provenzano to step down in 2026
Long Island Bishop Lawrence Provenzano, whose New York diocese includes the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens and the two suburban counties to the east, announced Dec. 10 he plans to step down in 2026 after 17 years as bishop. Provenzano was consecrated bishop in September 2009. He previously had served as a priest in the dioceses of Western Massachu...
MoMA Celebrates Marcello Mastroianni With Retrospective of the Italian Actor’s Films
In honor of what would have been the prized actor Marcello Mastroianni’s 100th birthday, his daughter Chiara kicked off a retrospective of his work at the Museum of Modern Art Thursday night. The Italian actor, who was born Sept. 26, 1924, died Dec. 19, 1996, at the age of 72. Running through Jan. 5, “Marcello and Chiara Mastroianni, A Family Affai...
Harry’s Table by Cipriani
The story of the Cipriani family begins in earnest in Venice back in 1931. Giuseppe Cipriani was a bartender who was working in a little hole in the wall, out of the way bar on a dead end street in Venice. But Giuseppe Cipriani had bigger plans. His philosophy was to establish a place where the customer never feels oppressed by décor, treats custom...
A History of Mayor LaGuardia on WNYC, Adapting 'Nickel Boys' for the Screen with RaMell Ross, Making Music for Fostered Dogs
As WNYC celebrates its centennial this year, All Of It presents a special on the life of one of New York City's most important mayors: Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York who led the city during the aftermath of the Great Depression, Hitler's rise to power, and World War II. He was a Republican mayor in...
WWII Veteran Bonfiglio Celebrates 99th Birthday with Family
Rosemary Summers and her daughter, Sarah Summers, are both SUNY Oneonta graduates. Sarah wanted to honor her grandfather, Vincent James Bonfiglio, who recently turned 99 years young. She and her sister, Laura Summers, flew in from Austin, Texas and joined relatives and loved ones from Kentucky and New Jersey for the celebration. Bonfiglio is a Worl...
Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball President Marco Mazzieri Meets With Hofstra Baseball
In town to accept an award from the Italian American Baseball Foundation, Marco Mazzieri spent time with the Hofstra baseball team last week. Recently elected President of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball, Mazzieri spoke with players and coaches about his experience in international baseball. Mazzieri found himself in Hempstead than...
L&B Spumoni Gardens Has Finally Opened Its Long-Awaited Dumbo Location
L&B Spumoni Gardens has been in the works to open 46 Old Fulton Street, between Elizabeth Place and Hicks Street, for years. Now, according to an Instagram announcement today, it has finally, finally opened in Dumbo. The South Brooklyn pizza legend first announced plans to expand five years ago. Since then, the restaurant had long appeared ready fo...
Fiasconaro Panettone Heads to New York
From Sicily to the conquest of the United States: this year, Fiasconaro panettone will be featured in Washington at the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Atlantic Council, the influential American think tank that in September honored Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Fiasconaro panettone will also make its way to New York for the Hol...