Hard Rock's Il Mulino basks in the glory of being No. 1
Il Mulino New York isn’t for everyone. It never was meant to be. Ever since it opened its original location nearly 40 years ago in New York’s Greenwich Village, it was known for its extravagantly expensive, relatively exclusive reputation where everyone from Wall Street influencers to Manhattan’s elite — along with some wiseguys thrown in — would d...
The Italian grandmother you never had
Before Mary Poppins floated down to earth with her umbrella, and before Marie Kondo discovered The Joy of Tidying, there was Betty. Throw in a little Julia Child, and the Italian grandmother you never had, and you’ve got Betty. With a box of Italian pastries from Boston’s North End and a bottle of red wine in hand, my husband and I knocked on Betty...
Exploring the Vineyards and Farms of the Italian Alps
“When I shoot during a vacation, I generally have one chance to get the shot and I have to hope it works out,” says food and travel photographer Sandy Noto. "I've learned that my travel companions do not appreciate pulling over 50 times on the side of the road. But it has taught me how to be faster on my feet. I am a better photographer for it.” No...
Danny Aiello was proof that acting chops can be organic
Rest in peace, Cousin Sal. A role that, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Danny Aiello wanted to pass up became his signature performance. The role in Spike Lee's iconic "Do The Right Thing" netted Aiello an Oscar nomination, but it was only the beginning of a storied career that was still in motion when Aiello passed away this week at the age o...
Local dance troupe appears in Cristina Fontanelli’s ‘Christmas in Italy’ at Carnegie Hall; proceeds benefit charity
It’s not every day you’re asked to perform at Carnegie Hall along with a world-renowned vocalist. Just ask Melissa Ottaviano and her students at the Dream Studio for the Performing Arts in Tottenville — and they’ll tell you exactly how it happened. Award-winning singer, Cristina Fontanelli — who’s the PBS/WNET and NY affiliates host for Andrea Boce...
Cremona celebrates Italian torrone
Torrone is a typical Christmas Italian treat, great symbol of the history of Italian cuisine. Festivals of local patrons and sagre are the right moments and places where you can find this traditional cake. Several types of torrone and different fillings attract great eaters but there are events entirely dedicated to this cake: one of the most famou...
Dalla Sicilia alla Grande Mela: "Il mio Toro compie trent'anni e resta un simbolo di libertà"
E’ sopravvissuto all’attentato dell’11 settembre, ai colpi di un banjo di metallo dello scorso autunno, al recente piano del sindaco De Blasio di spostarne la collocazione, alle violazioni di copyright, alle femministe americane con l’intrusione della vicina statua della “ragazza senza paura”. Parliamo del toro più famoso al mondo, quello di Wall...
What's up with WTI: Editorial # 122
Ciao from Rome to all the friends of We the Italians, and Happy Holidays! While we are working on the 2019 yearbook that will be available very soon, we would be happy if the readers of We the Italians would choose our previous books as a Christmas present. That's why there's a new promotion, you can find them all discounted at $18: the one from 10...
Italian culture and history: The Ghetto of Rome
Rome is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Its history is closely intertwined with the events of the Roman Catholic Church and the papacy, which over the centuries has played the roles of both protector and persecutor of the Roman Jews. Culturally rich and vibrant, even though it is spread out throughout the city, the Roman...
Italian cuisine: Duck with Orange and Ginger
There is no better month than December, when we celebrate Christmas. Christmas lunch is always prepared with so much effort and love by everyone. This year, for my Christmas lunch, the important ingredient will be duck, a prized meat with a strong and aromatic taste. The orange duck is certainly a refined dish, with ancient Tuscan origins. Ginger i...
Italian little Italies: Palmanova, a nine-pointed star
Palmanova represents one of the most successful models of “ideal fortress city” actually built: a real jewel for architecture, military – but not only – lovers. Its star shape, with nine identical points, is in fact a hymn to urban perfection and symmetry. Two defensive lines were built, consisting of embankments supported by stones and bricks. Th...
ICA: Genealogy Documents Required for Italian citizenship via Jure Sanguinis
For those of you who may be eligible for Italian citizenship by descent, proving that you actually qualify for citizenship comes with the task of gathering multiple documents to demonstrate that you are in fact already an Italian citizen due to your Italian ancestry. In your search for this information, sometimes people find themselves becoming qu...