Ten reasons to add Palermo, Italy's cultural capital, to your 2018 bucket list
Palermo is Italy's Capital of Culture for 2018, and there are plenty of reasons to visit the Sicilian city. When the city was awarded the 2018 Capital of Culture title, its mayor said "we have all won". He added that the most important aspect of the city's culture was its "culture of welcome", referring to Palermo's efforts in assisting the thousan...
Italian happy-hour pop-up at Phoenix Cocktail Club
Aperitivo, an Italian-style happy hour of snacks, wine and cocktails, will pop up at Phoenix Cocktail Club downtown on Mondays starting Feb. 5. Sprezzatura, which last year organized Italian dinner pop-ups, will take over Phoenix, 785 N. Jefferson St., from 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays to operate Aperitivo.
Book examines decline of Roman empire
Author: Mike Duncan, Title: "The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic", Publisher: Public Affairs 2017; 265 pp. of text "The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic" is Mike Duncan’s first book following on his career as a podcaster of 189 weekly episodes on the "History of Rome." Thi...
Gucci Museum in Florence reopens
The Gucci Museum in Florence is reopening with a new look, under the guidance of Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele, who has transformed the museum's location in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia into a delight for the senses called the Gucci Garden. The museum is divided into three sections: a gallery, a boutique, and a restaurant. The...
Pellino’s Ristorante May Get a Sibling Nearby
One of the many Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End may soon have a new sibling nearby. The owners of Pellino’s Ristorante (2 Prince St., Boston) have purchased the property that previously housed a Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop (283 Hanover St., Boston) and are seeking permission to change the use of the space to allow for seating and a beer,...
CIAO members hear of past and future events at recent meeting
CIAO Board members met Jan. 2 at Laurie Detenbeck’s home to discuss past and upcoming CIAO events. The board was saddened to learn of the death of Margaret Valone, who was one of the driving forces of CIAO. She was very active in the club until her confinement to the Chautauqua Nursing and Rehab Center. She will be greatly missed by all who knew an...
Michael P. Rizzo, 89
He was a dedicated public servant – nearly 40 years as a police officer – and a gifted draftsman and artist — natural abilities that he passed on to his children. Michael P. Rizzo led a life rich in family, sports and civic duty. The Inwood native and Cedarhurst resident died on Dec. 30. He was 89.
Buonissimo! Italian specialty markets benefit communities for decades
For decades, regional Italian markets have been filling a niche in their communities by serving a variety of Italian products, from meats and cheeses to hoagies. Catalano Importing Co. in Scranton and Sabatelle’s Market in Pittston are among the surviving small Italian speciality markets in Northeast Pennsylvania. Paul Catalano, owner of Catalano I...
Pomposa Abbey - The 1,000-year-old abbey is the birthplace of modern musical notation
Guido of Arezzo was an 11th-century Benedictine monk and Italian music theorist. During his time at the abbey, he realized singers needed a faster, easier way to memorize the chants that so often saturated the hallowed air. Guido crafted a system that used lines, clef signs, and colors to indicate the pitch, which transformed music into information...
Mungo’s heartfelt fundraiser turns 25
Southwest suburban businessman Frank Mungo Jr. has been battling blood cancer in his own heartfelt way for a quarter of a century. His Valentine’s Day Dance benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Feb. 10 at the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook. When Mungo launched the event, blood cancer treatments were just begi...
Con La Vucciria, i colori e i sapori della Sicilia per le strade di New York
Tradizione, arte, artigianato, il Mediterraneo con i suoi colori e soprattutto la Sicilia rappresentata in maniera totalizzante da Palermo. La Vucciria, il concept store itinerante ideato da siciliani, sbarca oltreoceano. Il 7 gennaio partirà un container per gli Stati Uniti d’America, a New York dove sarà scelta una location e poi a Londra, in Can...
Alan Aurelia honored for his inspirational work in music business
Some may find it ironic that one of Alan Aurelia's personal interests is visual arts, given his celebrated reputation for spreading joy with the sounds of music. Aurelia is music director of the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO), which he founded, and holds other musical posts in an array of different genres, including: founder, artistic director and...