Can Culture, Not Blood, Make You Italian?
From a theater stage in Bologna on Nov. 9, Nadeesha Uyangoda addressed a crowd of a few hundred people who wanted to learn more about the debate on citizenship law reform currently dominating Italian news. “Ethnic minorities in Italy are often used as instruments of political propaganda, both by the right wing, to encourage white nationalism, and t...
Neapolitan Pizza Champion Taking Over 30-Year-Old Old Town Stalwart
An Old Town institution, Dinotto, closed Thanksgiving Day weekend after 30 years in three neighborhood locations. Though it’s been only a few days since Dinotto’s closure, there’s excitement already building in the space. Gallucci, with pies from a champion member of the U.S. Pizza Team is prepping to bring traditional Neapolitan pies to Old Town....
Bon Jovi opens third community restaurant to serve food to the hungry and homeless
Jon Bon Jovi may be best known for hits like It's My Life and Livin' on a Prayer, but he does more than kill it on a stage. Through his foundation JBJ Soul Kitchen, he is currently all set to open his third community restaurant, where those in need of a hot meal can access healthy and nutritious food without being worried about judgment. The restau...
Italians Celebrate Their Coffee and Want the World to Do So, Too
What do Chinese acupuncture, Irish hurling and the polyphonic singing of the Aka Pygmies of Central Africa have in common? They are all examples of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity that UNESCO has recognized since it began anointing such things in 2003, racking up more than 500 different practices and traditions so far. Italy now hopes...
LaMotta’s brings New York pizza to you
There is a shirt for sale at LaMotta's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria on San Carlos Boulevard imploring you not to go to New York for pizza, to head to LaMotta's. Their New York style pizza has been a cornerstone for 40 years in Fort Myers and though it is not on the Beach, it feels like the last stop as you leave San Carlos Island with signs direct...
Crown Point woman with 80-year voting record dies on Thanksgiving at 105
Crown Point’s Erma Mucci, who first registered to vote 82 years ago and voted in every election since, died on Thanksgiving. She was 105. “That was always instilled in us, that our voice counted and our voice mattered,” said Mucci’s daughter, Susan Garretson. “My mother was a modern woman before women were modern.” Mucci was recognized by the...
Wood you believe it! Villas, porticoes and ships in ancient Rome were built using timber from forests 1,000 miles away in modern France, study reveals
Timber from what became modern France was used to build villas, porticoes and ships in ancient Rome, according to a new study. Ancient Rome was built using wood cut from trees more than 1,000 miles away in the Jura mountains in eastern France, say researchers. Experts from the National Research Council in Italy said the planks they have studied sho...
Geno Auriemma’s Cafe Aura to open in former Cavey’s space on Dec. 10
Cafe Aura, Geno Auriemma’s latest restaurant project, will open in the former Cavey’s space in Manchester on Dec. 10, featuring modern twists on Italian favorites. “Our family has always loved the historic Cavey’s building and we worked hard to keep much of its character as we planned the layout and design for the new Cafe Aura,” Auriemma said in...
From Italy to America: Maria Bartiromo opens up on heritage, first job
FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo is proud of her Italian-American heritage. During an “Ask Maria” segment Friday on “Mornings with Maria,” a viewer inquired where in Italy her ancestors were from. Bartiromo said her mother’s family was from Agrigento, Sicily and arrived in the U.S. in 1898. Her grandfather, Carmine Bartiromo, arrived in New York from...
First gene therapy against haemophilia in Milan
The first experimental gene therapy to treat a patient affected by serious haemophilia A has been completed in Milan, sources said Thursday. At Milan's Policlinico Hospital, in fact, "the first patient was treated at the start of November, and today after almost four weeks from the infusion he is in good conditions and is leading a regular life," t...
Verrocchio: Forgotten genius of the Renaissance
Nowadays Verrocchio is not one of the artists that first come to mind when the subject is the Italian Renaissance. However, when one realizes that Leonardo da Vinci — the “Renaissance Man” himself! — was his pupil and assistant for 10 years, curiosity arises and warrants further exploring Verrocchio’s own legacy. Contemporary documents and sources...
Holiday hidden gem: Balistreri's Bluemound Inn
Balistreri's Bluemound Inn is a welcoming spot that's worth a stop any time of year, but it's particularly wonderful during the month of December. The Italian-American bar and restaurant is festooned with Christmas lights and decorations, including full-sized trees, garland, ornaments, nutcrackers, angels, stars, candy canes and kid-sized Santas. T...