Umbria in Sugar Land film festival showcases the beauty of Italian filmmaking
Sugar Land might not be the first place one thinks of as the site for an Italian film festival, but thanks to the determined efforts of some local residents, it has become a reality. The Umbria in Sugar Land film festival kicked off Wednesday night with a screening of the film, My Italy, at the Sugar Land Auditorium, preceded by an "Aperitivo Recep...
Through Italian Eyes
On tap in Albuquerque is an exhibit of fine art photography that offers a unique perspective and showcases the work of one of the most gifted members of New Mexico’s Italian community. Unseen Route 66 features the photos of Donatella Davanzo and allows us to experience Albuquerque’s 20-mile stretch of the Mother Road through her eyes.We often get s...
“Native American Day” to replace Columbus Day in Tulsa
The year 2017 marks the 80th anniversary of Columbus Day being declared a federal holiday by the U.S. government. It was on Oct. 12, 1492 that Italian explorer Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas, encountering the indigenous people who had already been there for thousands of years. And while Italian-American groups have celebrated Co...
Pizza Shack in Montgomery to relocate
The original Pizza Shack was founded in 1985 on John and Claudia Simmons’ “crazy” idea of opening a pizza place with nothing more than a KitchenAid mixer, their son Michael Simmons said. Michael–who was 5 years old at the time–is now part-owner of the local chain, overseeing the original Willis location and the soon-to-be relocated Montgomery resta...
County Commission adopts Indigenous Peoples’ Day for second Monday in October
County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a proclamation declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day should be celebrated in Santa Fe County the second Monday of October — a move several other cities and states, including the city of Santa Fe, have made to honor Native peoples on the federal holiday bearing Christopher Columbus’ name. Although...
Cake Boss bringing Italian restaurant chain to San Antonio
The Cake Boss is moving to the Alamo City!!! Well, sort of. Buddy Valastro, the celebrity chef who owns the famous Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, NJ, is expanding his Italian restaurant chain, Buddy V's Ristorante, to San Antonio, according to a Facebook post by The Shops at La Cantera. The Shops at La Cantera posted a picture on September 16 of the co...
Damiano’s Italian Restaurant aims to offer authentic Italian food in Cedar Park
Nick and Marjana Stojani opened Damiano’s Italian Restaurant in November, and the owners said everything about the restaurant is authentically Italian—the decor, the food and the family. The couple is not new to the restaurant business. They opened a restaurant in Dallas five years ago, which is now managed by Nick’s nephew. The Stojani family move...
Opera Southwest - Season 45: Not your grandma's opera company
With its non-intimidating, welcoming style, Opera Southwest has been converting down-to-earth, everyday folks into serious opera fans since 1972. There’s nothing elitist about New Mexico’s acclaimed Italian opera company. There’s nothing stuffy about it. And there’s nothing pretentious about its celebrated Artistic Director and Principal Conductor,...
Umbria in Sugar Land is coming soon!
From Wednesday September 27th to Sunday October 1st the City of Sugar Land is hosting a multi-day film festival called Umbria in Sugar Land at locations throughout Sugar Land. The festival is an international project produced by the International Film Festival of Spello, also known as Festival del Cinema Città di Spello ed i Borghi Umbri. The sixth...
Get Involved in the Houston Italian Festival!
Dear Members and Friends, the 39th Houston Italian Festival is coming up and we need your help! It takes hundreds of volunteers to make this festival a success. If you want to be on the front lines of bringing Italian culture to Houston, please be a volunteer on the Festival team. You will be surrounded by like-minded friends, old and new, and you...
Indigenous Peoples' Day resolution gets mixed reaction from The Village City Council
What was intended to be an informative discussion about the positive aspects of Indigenous Peoples’ Day led to a more strained and awkward defense of Columbus Day and the “civilization” he brought to the Americas in the 15th century. While council members were only learning about Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday night, it was clear that at least...
Kenner honors century-old tradition of St. Rosalie Procession
Italian roots still run deep in south Kenner. It is a rich heritage that has been kept alive through traditions carried down through the generations. Family and friends gathered recently to preserve this culture at the annual St. Rosalie Procession held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Hundreds processed through the streets of south...