Bensonhurst has a brand new cultural center, thanks to the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn, Inc., which hosted a dedication ceremony on Monday for Il Centro, its new headquarters. Located at 8711 18th Ave., Il Centro will serve as a community and cultural center in Southwest Brooklyn. The newly opened facility has an indoor...

Lioni Italian Heroes shop in Bensonhurst has been making deli sandwiches for decades. With over a 150 sandwiches on the menu, most named after famous Italian-Americans, owner Paul DiSpirito says the most famous has to be the Sinatra. "The most popular famous Italian-American is Frank Sinatra, and there was some research done, Frank Sinatra loved sa...

Congratulations to our dear friend Bruno Codispoti on your election as Grand Marshall for the 42nd Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. What a terrific honor! From all of us at Il Regno, we wish you all the best. Evviva Santa Rosalia! The procession will start Sunday, August 27th at 3:00 PM by the outdoor chapel on 18th Avenue, a...

The spirit of Sicily will be coming to southwest Brooklyn once again, as Bensonhurst gears up for the 42nd Annual Feast of Santa Rosalia. The feast, known by locals as the 18th Avenue Festival, will span 18th Avenue (aka Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard) from 65th Street to 75th Street from Thursday, August 17 through Sunday, August 27. “It’s a traditi...

Get ready, Bensonhurst’s annual Festa di Santa Rosalia is back! The 42nd annual Italian-American Feast will start on August 17, on the boulevard named for Cristoforo Colombo, between 68th Street and 75th Street and will last through August 27. On weekdays, the Feast will bring delicious food, live music, rides, and carnival games to the strip from...

Friday, April 14 was Good Friday, and in observance of one of the holiest days for the Catholic Church, thousands of Italian-Americans filled the streets of Bensonhurst to celebrate their faith and heritage. Good Friday is the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Participants in the procession carried their own crosses as they walked...

By Paula Katinas A major Bensonhurst shopping strip will turn into an outdoor plaza – where vehicular traffic will be banned and foot traffic will be welcomed – for two days in July if an application filed with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) by a community service organization is approved.   The Federation of Italian A...

Historically an Italian and Jewish neighborhood, Bensonhurst has transformed into a multi-cultural hub of southwest Brooklyn.   The neighborhood's Italian roots are still visible in the many eateries and specialty shops nestled along the tree-lined streets of Brooklyn's Little Italy, including Lenny's Pizza, made famous by its cameo in...

by Georgia Kral   Step back in time and give your taste buds a treat by visiting these bakeries and pastry shops. Italian breads and pastries are a true delight, and we're not surprised at all that so many of these business have been around for so long.Here are some of the city's oldest... (Did we miss your favorite? Tell us in the comments!...

by Colin Campbell   "Buongiorno!" Bill de Blasio exclaimed as he began a speech today. "Viva Italia!". The front-running mayoral candidate's Italian heritage was on full display this afternoon when he made an appearance at the end of the annual Columbus Day Parade in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood that was once the heart of Brooklyn's Ital...