Adelina Patti: The Italian Bel Canto Soprano who was in a league of her own
The life of Adelina Patti could almost be the plot of an opera in itself. A child star from a musical family almost literally born on an opera stage, she rocketed to celebrity with her earliest performances to earn a fame that spanned continents and made her an extraordinary fortune. Thrice married, her personal life was tinged with scandal before...
Sanelli: A Revelation on Manitou Beach
Around this time of year, when gardens look a little abandoned, stakes and strings holding up what’s overgrown, no matter how choked—and much of is—it’s the last of the cherry tomatoes, made brighter by sunlight and still sweet like they mean it, that remind me how I could live without squash or pumpkins, but I could never live without tomatoes. To...
NIAF and Iconic Producer De Laurentiis Shine Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and Aurelio De Laurentiis are pleased to announce the establishment of an annual film production grant program to support aspiring filmmakers who wish to tell compelling stories about Italians and Italian Americans.Officially known as "The NIAF/Aurelio De Laurentiis Film Prizes," this new collaboratio...
Biden Pays Surprise Visit to NIAF Gala, Celebrates Italian Americans
U.S. President Joe Biden made a surprise speech yesterday at the 48th anniversary gala of NIAF, the National Italian-American Foundation, introduced by first lady Jill. “Italian-Americans have done a lot for the United States,” the commander-in-chief said after arriving at Woodley Park. Biden then exchanged a few words with Italian Ambassador to Wa...
First Lady Jill Biden to Join NIAF’s Anniversary Gala
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is honored to announce First Lady Jill Biden will attend its 48th Anniversary Gala on October 14th in Washington, D.C. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Dr. Biden is the first Italian American First Lady, with Sicilian roots tracing back to her great-grandfather Gaetano Giacoppa."We are honored to host Firs...
IAP 297: how we’re celebrating Italian American heritage month
Happy Italian American Heritage Month Paesani!!! We’re kicking off our favorite month of the year with a good old-fashioned “Power Hour” roundtable, with Rossella, Pat, and John catching up on how they’ve spent the first few weeks in a month filled with Italian American Pride! We’re discussing the galas, gatherings, and get-togethers that we’ve all...
Italy’s Integrated Promotion Strategy and Public Diplomacy at the Center of the “Sistema Italia” Meeting in the United States
“With the joint statement adopted in July in Washington, which gave an all-round boost to Italy-U.S. relations, Prime Minister Meloni and President Biden also committed to strengthening our economic partnership. They identified strategic lines and priority areas along which, within the framework of the Farnesina’s [Italian Foreign Ministry] diploma...
In Watershed Moment, First Lady Jill Biden Welcomes Italian American Leaders to the White House
First Lady Jill Biden hosted a delegation of Italian American leaders Thursday evening at the White House to highlight a bellwether of cultural progress that has taken shape within the community. Dr. Biden, the nation’s first-ever Italian American First Lady, met with Basil M. Russo — president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian Ameri...
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at an Italian American Heritage Month Reception
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the White House! Ambassador Zappia, we’re honored to have you with us this evening. And we’re grateful for Italy’s continued partnership on the world stage and in supporting Ukraine against Putin’s unprovoked war. Every family has its own mythology – stories we tell again and again, stories that help illuminate the f...
The Muchness of Madonna
“I want to be alone,” Greta Garbo’s dancer character famously said in “Grand Hotel,” a quote permanently and only semi-accurately attached to the actress after she retreated from public life. Garbo was first on the list of Golden Agers in one of Madonna’s biggest hits, “Vogue,” but the pop star has long seemed to embody this maxim’s very opposite....
Meet the Italian Racecar Driver Who Became a New York Luxury Real Estate Developer
Even during his 35-year career as an Italian racecar driver, Alessandro Zampedri always knew he wanted to shift into real estate at some point. After a journey that took him from Italy to the Indy 500 and across the world racing Porsches, the 53-year-old worked as a developer on projects from coast to coast in the United States. For his latest pro...
Jonathan Di Bella looks to reconnect with Italian roots as a ONE world champion: “That's a big important thing in life”
Reigning and undisputed ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Di Bella is proud of his Italian heritage, and he wants to return to his motherland to show off his new gold hardware. Di Bella captured the highly coveted ONE Championship gold in October of last year, and has become one of the most prominent Italian fighters in the promoti...