At the Baseball for Babbo Day of Giving on Feb. 26, the community raised $203,501 to support pancreatic cancer research. Babbo Italian Eatery donated 100% of the profits from dine-in and take out, catering and gift card purchases, as well as proceeds from a raffle and auction featuring autographed MLB memorabilia to the Seena Magowitz Foundation, b...

The Sicilian Butcher brings authentic Italian cuisine to life, blending tradition with innovative twists inspired by the foods and flavors chef Joey Maggiore grew up on. Maggiore is the founder and executive chef for The Sicilian Butcher, one of the five brands owned and operated by his Maggiore Group. His father, Tomaso Maggiore, “was a master che...

A brand-new Italian celebration is set to take over downtown Phoenix on March 1 and 2. The Galbani® Italian Heritage Festival, organized by the nonprofit Bliss Planet, will be a vibrant two-day event at Heritage Square. Attendees can immerse themselves in the flavors, traditions, and artistry of Italy, enjoying everything from mouthwatering food an...

If finding the next vibey night out is your Roman Empire, put the W Scottsdale Hotel back on your radar. The Old Town resort plans to debut Sexy Roman, a new Italian-inspired restaurant with a roving martini cart, this spring.The restaurant will replace the luxe, date-night-worthy Sushi Roku, which shuttered in July 2023 following a 15-year run. Se...

Say goodbye to Christopher Columbus Park and hello to Danny Lopez Park. The Tucson City Council voted on the change Wednesday. The park is located on N. Silverbell road just north of the Pima Animal Care Center on the Westside. Former University of Arizona student Azul Navarrete-Valera spearheaded the renaming effort of Christopher Columbus Park be...

Scottsdale has a new gelateria, and it just might serve the most authentic scoop this side of the Atlantic. Allora Gelato, located off Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard, opened its doors two months ago, following a dream that owner Lalo Fuentes has had since trying gelato in Rome in 2005. “The main reason that we chose the name of Allora is becaus...

Thursday 02/27/2025 7:00 PM, Door Time: 6:00 PM. Mic Drop Mania, 51 E. Boston St., Chandler AZ 85225. Tara Cannistraci is an Italian-American comedian, actress, and writer, hailing from the vibrant streets of the Bronx, New York. Tara's talents have lit up the stage, television, film, and even centerfield as the scoreboard host for the New York Yan...

On a late rainy Wednesday afternoon in the University of Arizona’s Integrated Learning Center, a group of 35 students savors some loaves of home-baked olive and tomato focaccia at the sound of soft music and frolicsome chatter. There are also cups of Italian-style cioccolata calda.       With food being Italy’s main wealth and best-known symbol abr...

Western Addition Restaurant Group recently broke ground for il Bracco, an upscale Italian restaurant in Scottsdale. The Italian hotspots will mark the group’s first out-of-state expansion and is poised to become a new neighborhood go-to. Slated to open in late 2025, il Bracco will be situated on the corner of Scottsdale Road and Rose Lane, within t...

A Valley Italian restaurant with a location in Scottsdale is holding a charity event Feb. 26 to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. Babbo Italian Eatery will hold its fourth annual Baseball for Babbo Day of Giving event at its eight Valley locations on Feb. 26, according to a press release. During the event, each location will donate 100% o...