400-year-old books stolen in Italy are found in California
By Kristin J. Bemder Two stolen Italian books dating to the 17th century that were discovered in the San Francisco Bay Area and many other plundered ancient artifacts will be returned to their country of origin, federal officials say. The books, "Stirpium Historiae" and "Rariorm Plantarum Historia Anno 1601," were taken from Italy...
Maria Carmela Mazzone Begins Her Journey of a Lifetime
By Cookie Curci My Grandmother Maria Carmela came to California from the little town of Tricarico, Italy. The young daughter of a tight knit Italian family, she and her siblings came to America after her parents had both died from the deadly influenza epidemic that had swept over their little town. Rather than face another year living in the town...
Last survivor of 1906 San Francisco earthquake dies at 109
by Kristin J. Bender The last survivor of the devastating San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 has died, a relative confirmed Monday. William A. "Bill" Del Monte died at a retirement home in nearby Marin County on Monday. He was 11 days shy of his 110th birthday. His niece, Janette Barroca of San Francisco confirmed his death of...
J.B. Monaco - The Dean of North Beach Photographers
by Catherine Accardi Perhaps some people believe history is a thing of the past. Think again. It is all around you. You look at it every day and likely even admire it. Examples are the many Italian cultural sites of San Francisco's North Beach such as the Columbus Tower and St. Francis Church. These monuments to our cultural past...
Italians take over Blue Rock Springs Park in Vallejo
Two men and a woman, all wearing the insignia and garb of house Montague, briefly paused at a table Saturday to talk about an upcoming masquerade in Venice. "Is love a tender thing?" asked Romeo to his friends. "It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous and it pricks like thorn." "If love be rough with you, be rough with love," replie...
Italian Festa takes place Aug. 24-25 at San Jose's Guadalupe Park & Gardens
by Mary Gottschalk It will be all things Italian on Aug. 24 and 25 at the Italian Family Festa in Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. The two-day event, now in its third decade, is a celebration of the food, wine, music and culture of the country that was home to many of the men and women who settled in San Jose and the Santa Clara Va...
Writers Guild Italia: a new association to protect writers’ rights
In July 2014, a new association was founded with the aim of protecting the interests, rights, and intellectual work of many fellow Italians who are in the movie industry: the Writers Guild Italia. An easy name for a complex task that has remained unsolved for years. Screenwriter and WGI spokesperson David Bellini has introduced himself, t...
Puglia, Italy luncheon - Thursday October 23, 11:00 am
In addition to our monthly Italian regional lunch there will be a Puglia region exhibit and a very special WWII War Bride Exhibit. There are many records, stories and news articles about WWII war brides. Come and learn more about these strong and wonderful war brides from their stories and artifacts. This is the largest immigration of wom...
Tony Pirozzi, la voce che ha fatto la storia della comunità italo-americana
Se oggi la nostra lingua non è stata dimenticata, in parte lo dobbiamo anche a lui. La passione per lo sport e l'amore per la cultura hanno guidato Tony Pirozzi per quasi cinquant'anni, e il suo impegno nel promuovere le tradizioni italiane è stato vitale per conservare la memoria di tutti coloro che avevano lasciato la propria casa per raggiungere...
A new Renaissance
By David L. Coddon Coming to a neighborhood near you:• A restaurant bearing the imprint of Richard Blais, winner of Bravo's "Top Chef All-Stars."• An old-fashioned breakfast counter in a building that dates back to 1887.• A piazza inspired by the grand public squares of Europe. The neighborhood near you is San Diego's Little Italy...
A conversation with IIC Director Valeria Rumori
by Silvia Simonetti Valeria Rumori took office as new director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles a few months ago. With a strong determination to build upon the legacy of her predecessor Alberto Di Mauro and his deputies Massimo Sarti and Michela Magrì, she has firmly grabbed the reins of many events yet and is constant...
Italian greats Sir Bruno Serato and Sophia Loren meet for the first time
Saturday proved to be an extraordinary day for one of Orange County's most beloved residents. Humanitarian Sir Bruno Serato, who founded a nonprofit that feeds 6,000 underprivileged Southern California children each week, was invited backstage to meet his idol, screen legend and Oscar winner Sophia Loren, who had just finished a one-woman performan...