In February, family-owned Vento's Pizza in East Liberty made its last pie after its owner, Al Vento Jr., called it quits after some 67 years in business. Vento's was a community staple not just for food. Starting in the 1970s, it became a hub for "Franco's Italian Army" after the fan club was started by Al Vento Sr. and other members of the Italian...

This large-model Nativity set is most commonly found in churches, not homes. The donor’s father, Joseph Marchetti, worked as an artist for the Joseph Poli Company. Established in 1890 in Pittsburgh's Lower Hill District, the company specialized in decor for churches such as statuary, altars, railings, fonts, and sacramental robes. This Nativity set...

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA. Join the Italian American Program for a book release celebrating photographer Michael Rosella. A lifelong photographic artist, Rosella turned his lens to his hometown for his new book, “Pittsburgh Streets 1950s.” This remarkable collection of photo...

George Bochetto — the attorney representing Italian Sons and Daughters of America in its fight to block the removal of Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue — presented legal arguments to the judges of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning. ISDA’s legal position, in part, stems from a 1955 ordinance that permitted the statue’s construc...

The Columbus Day Parade has been a tradition for 35 years in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy. The parade made its way down Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood Saturday morning as spectators of all ages lined the streets. “Everybody’s here, having a beautiful day, enjoying the parade, that’s the only thing that matters,” said James Pion...

Pittsburgh Opera kicks off its 2023–24 Season with more than just its mainstage operas. From free and casual events to the glitz and glamour of the full opera experience, Pittsburgh Opera offers a plethora of operatic entertainment this fall for every taste and price point. Pittsburgh Opera’s fall line-up provides an easy entry point to patrons new...

Heinz History Center, 5th floor Mueller Center. 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA. Monday, October 2, 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). Free to the public (in-person & virtual). Register here. For additional questions, please email here.  Join the Italian American Program during Italian Heritage Month for a free reading with author Joseph Bathan...

Get ready for a throwback to the old “Italian American Power Hour” days, as you join four friends at the kitchen table for a breakneck conversation about something we all love… being Italian American! When Rossella, Pat, and John are brought together with some of their favorite out-of-town Paesani for the 46th Biennial National Convention of the It...

Four days of celebrating Bloomfield’s rich Italian heritage will kick off this Thursday, and you’re invited — whether you’re Italian or not. “Everybody’s Italian this weekend!” says local musician and Bloomfield native Sal Richetti, Little Italy Days promoter since 2012.  Little Italy Days was started in 2002 with the goal of celebrating the town’s...

I haven’t said hello through my column in quite a while, so I thought I’d do so now to let you know how excited I’ll be to see many of you at the upcoming ISDA National Convention in Pittsburgh. The ISDA Order and Fraternal conventions are truly the bond that holds our wonderful organization together. They provide us with not only the opportunity t...