Cleveland’s ‘I Love Lillo’ coffee and lemon liqueurs expanding availability
In 1994, Charlie Manno was assigned to entertain two Italian priests on a trip to Chicago. When the Rocky River man took the priests to the airport after their visit, they wanted to reward his kindness. So, Father Franco Todisco pulled out a notepad and wrote down an old family recipe for infusing lemon and coffee liqueurs. Manno thought nothing of...
Detroit Opera: Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
The Detroit Opera - Detroit Opera House is having an incredible concert of Verdi’s Aida on the 30th of December and those of you that are in Michigan not miss the chance to hear the incredible Christine Goerke, Soprano directed by the fantastic Yuval Sharon. Not only is this a one night only event, but part of the proceeds using promo code VERDI200...
Cubs, Ben DeLuzio Agree To Minor League Deal
Italia team member Ben DeLuzio has signed a minor league deal with the Cubs and will compete for a big league roster spot. DeLuzio, an outfielder on the Mission Classic journey to Italy with IABF and FIBS, is on the Italia WBC roster.He spent most of the 2022 season in Triple-A with the Cardinals and was a late season call-up, playing in 65 big lea...
Remembering a Local Hero
Although Veterans Day honors the living, anytime is appropriate to honor the memory of a courageous local hero, John T. Frisina, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps. I learned of him from my Benedictine High School classmate Russ Davis, a member of the undefeated Bengal football team and “mythical” Ohio Champion of 1964. While visiting Little Italy for Col...
Rockford's Nino Cimino writes, stars in new 'American Western' film
You've likely seen the Cimino name before. It's on pizza-place signs around the Rock River Valley, in Loves Park, Durand, Winnebago and Pecatonica. Vince Cimino opened the first Cimino’s Pizza in Loves Park in the mid 1970s. Now, his son, Nino, 42, continues to make the Cimino name known in Hollywood. Nino Cimino's film "American Western" is stream...
Tony's Italian Ristorante celebrates 40 years with new chef at the helm
In the middle of the pandemic, Tony’s Italian Ristorante was struck by a huge loss on the heels of the Columbus Brewery District restaurant’s 40th anniversary. Antonio Stanley, the restaurant's chef and an employee of 32 years, died at age 53. The restaurant’s owner, Tony Scartz, lost not only a friend but also a key ingredient to the restaurant’s...
Chris Antonetti named MLB executive of the year
Italian American Chris Antonetti, Guardians President of Baseball Operations, was named Major League Baseball Executive of the Year. He was recognized at the General Manager meetings in November. “There were so many teams, so many organizations, so many executives that were incredibly deserving,” said Antonetti. Fellow Italian American Jerry Dipoto...
International Short Film Day in Chicago
International Short Film Day: Short films available from December 21 at 1pm CT to December 23 at 12am CT. Organized by IIC Chicago, online, free. Registration here. During the shortest day of the year the ICC of Chicago celebrates the International Short Film Day in collaboration with the Italian Short Film Center. The credentials to watch the shor...
In fond memory of Dr. Paul Rubino
The Italian American Veterans Museum in Chicago lost one of its most avid supporters with the passing of Paul Joseph Rubino, MD. Educated at St. Ignatius High School, Loyola University and Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine, Paul as a Naval surgeon tended to often-critically wounded military personnel during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge, he joi...
As Andretti breaks ground on $200 million facility, F1 expansion answer 'getting close'
“Lots of fun things to come.” The phrase — or versions of it — loomed over Andretti Global’s pivotal groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning like a billion dollar-sized elephant in the room. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers, one of the many local and state government dignitaries on-hand at the 90 acres of of dirt, gravel, grass and trees...
Buddy LaRosa, LaRosa's founder, inducted into Ohio restaurant hall of fame
Cincinnati pizza icon Donald "Buddy" LaRosa was honored by the Ohio Restaurant Association on Tuesday and inducted into the organization's hall of fame. LaRosa opened LaRosa's Pizzeria in the West Side in 1954. Since then, the pizza chain has grown to include more than 65 locations in Southwestern and Central Ohio and Northern Kentucky. As of 2014,...
Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci commencement speaker for 2022 fall UIC undergraduate ceremony
More than 1,900 University of Illinois Chicago undergraduate students and 1,300 graduate students will be celebrated during fall 2022 commencement ceremonies Dec. 10. About 800 graduate students are expected to attend the graduate ceremonies, which will be held at 9 a.m. at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave. About 1,400 of the eligible underg...