Lido Civic Club Honors Exceptional Leaders in Business, Government
At its 88th Anniversary and Past Presidents Gala, the Lido Civic Club honored as its Man of the Year local businessman and philanthropist John DePaola. Lido bestowed its National Public Service Award on public servant Ronald Vitiello. DePaola is the CEO of Long Roofing and the founder, with his wife Jill, of the Bo DePaola Family Foundation in memo...
The seven fishes and Italian Christmas cookies
We haven’t done the seven fishes since I was a very little kid. Like pizza, spaghetti with meatballs and sweeping the sidewalk, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is one of those traditions with roots in the old country but is primarily an Italian-American invention. Mine was just the third generation born on US soil on my maternal grandfather’s side, t...
Zerillo Realty opens new office in Norridge
Local realtor and Fra Noi website columnist Giuseppe Zerillo is moving up in the world. Just four years after going into business for himself, he outgrew his first office in Park Ridge, prompting a move last fall to larger quarters on Cumberland just north of Lawrence in Norridge. The new location contains offices for three leasing agents and five...
Off-piste: Carve a path in Cervinia, Italy
Buckling up my ‘ABS’ backpack, transceiver concealed surreptitiously beneath my ski jacket and airbag toggle slung over my shoulder, I feel a little like James Bond off on a secret mission in the Alps. That’s until I fly off the chairlift 20 minutes later and go hurtling headfirst into the face of our guide Andreas, who starts to look a little more...
Easy Gourmet With One-Pot Cioppino
Pack some serious gourmet into your next one-pot masterpiece and let the simplicity of single-dish cuisine open new culinary avenues, without the messy cleanup. Ever since the Middle Ages we've been doing it: bubbling, simmering and stewing away at a delicious hodgepodge of meats or fishes, onions and herbs, vegetables and more in a big, iron pot....
Dream trip for car lovers: Ferrari, Maserati and more in Modena, Italy
Walking through the historic city center of Modena, Italy, cobblestone streets dating back centuries meander away from the main square, lined with boutiques, cafes and gelato shops. Couples walk arm-in-arm, laughing groups of friends and window shoppers stroll underneath the arcades. Noticeably absent from the scene are cars - the rules are that on...
We Can’t Stop Watching ‘The Godfather’ Because It’s Not Cynical About America
The 45th anniversary of “The Godfather” has brought us another Blu-Ray box set and another round of critical reappraisal of the mafia movie classic. The secret of the film’s enduring appeal, however, might be found in its opening line: “I believe in America.” It is often said that “The Godfather” is an ironic commentary on the American Dream. That...
Creative New Dishes and Italian Classics at the Updated Olde Stone Mill
On the banks of the Bronx River in Tuckahoe, the beautiful Georgian style building that was built in the 1800's as a cotton mill and converted into a manufacturer of rubber goods and then to a pharmaceutical company was reinvented as a restaurant many years ago. About 10 years ago, under the ownership of Louis DiNapoli, owner of the popular Angelin...
‘Call Me by Your Name’ promises to make you swoon
Since it premiered at film festivals earlier this year, “Call Me by Your Name” has inspired reviews that sound as though they were written in mid-swoon. Frankly, the movie itself encourages this: It’s a lush wallow at an Italian villa, a coming-of-age story that presents sensual adventure and a warm portrait of a functional family. Everything’s ide...
Outdoor Presepe Napoletano in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
If you’re planning to visit the spectacular Dyker Lights Christmas light displays in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, be sure to stop by John Miniero’s house on 14th Avenue, between 79th and 80th Streets, to see his wondrous annual outdoor prespio. The Neapolitan Christmas tradition has been a neighborhood favorite for many years and continues to amaze on...
Cilino’s opens in Wellman
“Life comes at you fast,” certainly not a new adage, and at times can come off a bit cliched. But the turn of phrase still has its basis in truth, particularly when it comes to being first-time restaurant owners and operators. When Cilino’s opened its door for the first time Dec. 17, for a short three-hour soft opening ahead of their grand opening...
Councilor LaMattina says Farewell in Final Speech
Last Wednesday after eleven and a half years as District 1 City Council, and a 30-year career as a public servant for the City of Boston, Councilor Sal LaMattina addressed his colleagues in the Council Chambers for the last time. In a stellar career that spanned three mayoral administrations LaMattina, in his last City Council meeting before leavin...