From sponsor to driver, Andrea Ruotolo enjoys everything about racing at South Boston Speedway
Andrea Ruotolo’s path to the banks of South Boston Speedway are far different than anyone else. It’s a guarantee that it isn’t even close. Ruotolo was born and reared just outside of Naples … the one in Italy, not Florida. He didn’t come to the United States permanently until 2005 and he had already been bitten by the racing bug. These days Ruotolo...
Sonny Conto To Throw First Pitch For 7/16 Phillies-Dodgers Game
Years before he decided to make boxing his everything, South Philadelphia’s Sonny Conto had visions of one day pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies. The rising heavyweight prospect gets to merge those two worlds, even if only for a night. Conto will serve as the guest of honor for the Phillies’ 12th annual Italian-American Heritage Celebration ga...
Genoa, Italy ambassador performing at Pastorius Park
On April 23, Marco Bucci, the mayor of Genoa, Italy, appointed guitarist Beppe Gambetta an ambassador of the city. Gambetta was honored for representing Genoa all over the world, specifically in the U.S. Gambetta, who has performed in all 50 states, will perform for the first time at Pastorius Park on Wednesday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. He will be accomp...
Team Italy pitcher Samuel Aldegheri signed by Philadelphia Phillies
Following in the footsteps of the recent MLB signings of fellow Italian-born and developed pitchers Daniele Di Monte (Detroit Tigers) and Matteo Bocchi (Chicago Cubs), 17-year-old Azzurri lefty Samuel Aldegheri has signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Expected to report to the Phillies Spring Training Facility in Clearwate...
Native son: South Philadelphia’s first Italian-American heavyweight contender is not a myth
Long before Sonny Conto made his professional heavyweight boxing debut at 2300 Arena by pounding Jimmie Levins until the ref stopped the fight in the first round, “Sonny from S. 9th Street” was just a well-known guy from the neighborhood. Like a hyped rap act with posters announcing its first mixtape or a young punk band hustling DIY stickers, the...
Off-Broadway’s ‘My Big Gay Italian Wedding’ turns 16; Staten Islanders join the cast this weekend
“My Big Gay Italian Wedding” is celebrating its Sweet 16 with a host of special performances in New Jersey. The eccentric comedy by Grant City playwright/actor Anthony J. Wilkinson first opened off-Broadway in 2003 at Actors’ Playhouse in Greenwich Village before moving uptown to Theatre Four in the spring of 2004. In 2009, the show moved to the St...
Rutgers Going All In for Top Ranked Wrestling Recruit AJ Ferrari
Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano were humungous additions to Rutgers Wrestling in their own respective timelines and were integral to making the Scarlet Knights a wrestling powerhouse. While Suriano has one more season to win his second national title, head coach Scott Goodale and company have their eyes set on another prized addition. This one, w...
Calamari sisters coming to Newton
Back with their brand new show, Delphine and Carmela Calamari are bringing their 23rd Annual Italian Sausagefest to town. Celebrate the days of summer with these sassy, brassy broads from Brooklyn as they sing, dance, and cook delicious street fair goodies for you and your friends. Whether you're a sausage-lover or not, you'll laugh until your side...
Imperioli all smiles at the end
Former Mount Union baseball coach Nick Imperioli stood in the PNG Field home dugout, arms crossed, a wide smile across his face. The Trojans just captured their 18th District 6 championship in 28 appearances and the first title since 2012 after beating a game Philipsburg-Osceola squad 1-0 in the ninth inning, thanks to a Grayson McClain walk-off RB...
Bocci Tournament benefits Saint Francis Commons in Lackawanna County
Some say it's "BAH' chee" while others say "BOH' chee" but no matter how you pronounce it, the sport served as a competition for a cause this Memorial Day weekend. Old Forge Sons of Italy hosted their 5th annual bocce tournament as a way to help veterans. Participants paid a 100 dollar entrance fee for a four-person team. Those proceeds benefit Sai...
Opera singers prepare like Olympic athletes for 'Tosca' in Washington
On the eve of every performance, Riccardo Massi goes silent, not uttering a single word all day. It's part of the Italian tenor's strict regimen to preserve his instrument -- his vocal cords. "I experimented a lot, and I saw this is the best thing to do," said Massi, the male lead in Puccini's beloved "Tosca" through Saturday at the Kennedy Center...
Reps. Pascrell and Doyle win annual bocce tournament
Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) and Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) won the annual congressional bocce tournament hosted at law and lobbying firm Venable LLP on Wednesday evening. The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) sponsored the tournament, which began in 2012. The participants played bocce on the court on the roof of Venable's D.C. offices. Pascrell...