‘The Sopranos’ actors ready to kill it at the Patchogue Theatre in February
Big Pussy is coming to the Patchogue Theatre — and he’s bringing his friends. Early in 2023, actor Vincent Pastore, who infamously played mobster-turned snitch Big Pussy on HBO’s crime drama “The Sopranos,” will take the stage for a 90-minute show that will include fellow cast members Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti and Steve S...
The best Italian museums to see at least once in a lifetime
Despite its small size, Italy has an immense cultural and artistic heritage, one of the largest in the world. Perhaps not everyone knows it, but the Italian peninsula has over 4908 sites of artistic or cultural interest including museums, archaeological areas and monuments. Among these, names known to the general public of the world stand out, such...
Caruso’s Grocery: Making Memories
For a long time, I didn’t quite comprehend the widespread affinity for red sauce Italian American food. I wasn’t the mom who made lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs, perhaps because the best versions require the mixing of milk and meat, which isn’t allowable in our kosher home. Eggplant parmesan was an option, but my kids weren’t fans. When we dine...
2023 Maserati Grecale Modena First Drive: Cheaper's the Keeper
Even with today's inflation, $125 grand seems like a ton of money for a luxury compact SUV. It may make fabulous Italian music and dance down a twisty road better than Beyoncé, but our expectations for the range-topping, Nettuno-V-6-powered 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo proved too high to earn it a trofeo (or finalist berth) at our 2023 SUV of the Y...
Italian Cultural Center - Stone Park, Illinois
THE ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTER IS one part of Casa Italia located at the former Sacred Heart Seminary, west of Chicago. Their mission is the preservation and promotion of Italian-American culture in and around the city. The Italian Cultural Center consists of several individual galleries. The Florence Bartolomei Rosselli Library, established by the se...
Who Was Emperor Aurelian?
Within a space of only five years (270-275 AD), Emperor Aurelian achieved more than most of his predecessors (and successors). He stabilized the Danube frontier, expelling all the barbarians who threatened the Roman Empire. He encircled Rome with a massive wall that can still be seen today. Aurelian was a competent soldier, but he was also a reform...
A quick look at Italian red wines in America
American winemakers have had their trysts with Italian grapes before. For the most part it hasn’t worked out all that beneficially. Part of it is their own fault for not doing the proper homework. Easily the most successful Italian red grape in this country is Barbera, a Piemontese variety with high natural acidity and moderate tannins. It’s partic...
Italy’s Green Gastronomy Stars
Crabs are a contentious topic in Venice right now. The moeche, or soft-shell crabs - normally harvested from lagoon mudflats to star on local menus for a few short weeks in October and April - have all but vanished this year. It’s blamed on a combination of rising temperatures, overfishing and invasive alien species – chiefly, the far larger Atlant...
Author Deborah Russo’s new book “A Beauty Unbroken” follows a young woman who must make an important sacrifice in order to chase her dreams of a better life for herself
Deborah Russo, who earned her master’s degree in education from Penn State University with a Reading Specialist Certificate and taught thirty years in the public school system, has completed her new book “A Beauty Unbroken”: a fascinating story of one woman’s quest for a better life in America, and the sacrifices she is forced to make to achieve it...
Rome to Orvieto - A Day Trip and More
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Eternal City for a day, taking a trip from Rome to Orvieto is the perfect solution! This medieval town is located in the Umbria region of central Italy and is famous for beautiful churches, delicious food, and stunning views. Here's everything you need to know about taking a day trip from Ro...
Martinelli's Market in Champaign is much more than that
The new Martinelli's Market in downtown Champaign is an Italian-inspired deli, a bakery, a restaurant and a retail shop all rolled into one. And if you ask co-owner Lauren Brokish what some of the signature sandwiches are, the first three she names are the turkey, pastrami and corned-beef rubens. These sandwiches are "massive" and large enough to s...
Best Things to Do in Milan and Surroundings: An Insider’s Guide
It’s easy to get intimidated while trying to plan a vacation to Italy since there are so many amazing places to see and you have to pick which ones to visit. As a result, it is a common topic of discussion on a variety of travel blogs and websites, with many people wondering whether they should even bother going to Milan. And given the many incredi...