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“The need of a college, catholic in spirit and under catholic auspices, is most evident …” — Providence Bishop Matthew Harkins to the Dominican Fathers, October 9, 1915 On November 8, 1915, setting sail from Naples, Italy and bound for New York City, the Italian-American liner Ancona carried with it approval documents of the Master General of the D...

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The Johnson and Wales University senior instructor offers a behind-the-scenes look at the NBC 10 cooking segment, which became popular before reality TV chefs dominated the small screen with cooking shows. He also explains how dining out has evolved in Rhode Island (or not). How did you get involved in restaurants, and how has the scene changed ove...

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Miss U.S. Italia Pageant, formerly known as Rhode Island Italia Pageant, has announced its decision to accept nationwide applicants to reflect the regional diversity of contestants. The Pageant will be held October 1 at 2 p.m. at the Hilton Providence, 21 Atwells Ave., and will consist of several age categories from age 7 and up. "There is so much...

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Crowds of fans lined up to shake not just the hand of NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino, but also that of his business partner, restaurateur Anthony Bruno at the grand opening of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza at Garden City on Thursday. The Florida pizzeria has moved north, meeting snow birds in their summer habitat. So while Miami Dolphins fans offered th...

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Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, the fast-growing South Florida-based concept that uses authentic old world, coal-burning ovens to create “well done” pizza, opened its first Rhode Island location today in Cranston. The restaurant is located in Garden City Center at 220 Hillside Road. Since its inception in the early 2000s, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza has...

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Fioretti Hall, the oft-used multi-purpose room at Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston, has perhaps never looked as festive as it did Saturday night. For example, the Italian colors of red, green and white were everywhere inside the jam-packed Roman Catholic Church’s parish center. Those colors came in many forms and sizes, none more striking than...

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Italian-American enclaves around the country celebrated St. Joseph’s day Sunday. This holiday comes with its own culinary tradition – a luscious pastry called a zeppole. In the kitchen at La Salle Bakery in Providence Rhode Island – a state where zeppole are famous -- a team of bakers furiously prepare. They know lines will be forming to snap up th...

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The fire is burning, the pans are sizzling, the kitchen is cranking, and customers are flocking to Avvio Ristorante. Located in the Garden City Center in Cranston, Rhode Island, Avvio is lot nicer than most neighborhood Italian restaurants and pizzerias, but a lot less expensive than you’d expect, considering the consistently fresh and authentic fo...

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If you haven't been to Pat's Italian Restaurant in a while, you haven't been to Pat's. Before a visit last month, I hadn't been to Pat's since the Boston Red Sox were down three games to the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. I was there the Saturday night the Sox lost, 19-8. For that dinner at Pat's, I dined by a fau...

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Italian immigrants have stamped New England as indelibly as any Puritan ever since they started to arrive in large numbers during the 1890s. Today, the descendants of Italian immigrants make up more than 10 percent of the population of every New England state except Vermont and Maine. Any New Englander can recognize the voice of Don Orsillo, Joe Ca...

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