Zampogna beckoned to Pizzoferrato
Daniel Pizzoferrato says that the first time he heard someone play the zampogna, it felt like he was listening to the sound of his ancestry. That moment 10 years ago prompted Pizzoferrato to embark on a journey to master the ancient Italian instrument, which he now showcases at Italian-American Christmastime celebrations in the Chicago area. He als...
Frank Calabrese, one of Chicago horse racing’s all-time greats and printing shop founder, dies at 96
“The first bet I ever made was at a bookie joint when I was 11 or 12,” Frank Calabrese once told the Tribune. “I bet 50 cents and got $36 back and I was hooked.” Calabrese went on to become one of Chicago racing’s all-time greats, a thoroughbred owner who tied for the lead in winners at Arlington International Racecourse in 2000 and then won more r...
Explore the history of opera Saturday in Terre Haute, IN
The sounds of opera will fill the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute during an event this weekend. Operatic Soprano Tiffany Herring will perform Saturday during an event called “History of Italy and Italian Opera in Eight Vocal Pieces”. Herring will sing eight pieces spanning from the earliest days of opera in 17th century Florence, Italy, all the way...
Little Italy Holiday Artwalk adds artists and tours
A year-end tradition, Little Italy Holiday Artwalk – Dec. 6 to 8 - has a few additions this year including organized tours of the Little Italy neighborhood and of the 1908 Baroque Revival Holy Rosary Church. The artwalk will take place 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. The goal is to bri...
Film Showcasing Career Of Iconic DJ Dick Biondi Debuts Thursday At BAC n Chicago
The long awaited documentary about the coolest, hippest, Radio Hall of Famer – the late, great Dick Biondi – will receive a special viewing Thursday, Nov. 14. The film screening and fundraiser starts at 6 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Proceeds from the screening will go toward putting the final touches on the film bef...
Special Olympian makes Italian American Sports Hall of Fame history
Evanston’s Caroline Colianne was named the first Special Olympian to join the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. “For them to recognize what our athletes bring to the world is fantastic,” said Peter Beale-DelVecchio, president and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Illinois. “So often they’re told, ‘You can’t do thi...
Italian American Chamber of Commerce Goes to the Opera
Members of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan, along with their spouses and friends, attended the Detroit Opera production of La Traviata on October 27, 2024. One of Giuseppe Verdi's most beloved operas, it was enthusiastically received by the group and a packed house. The opera was directed by the internationally recognized Fran...
Maniscalco brings family stories, not politics, to comedy stage
One of the top selling comedians today brings his act to the Covelli Centre (Youngstown, OH) next week. Maniscalco’s current tour will be filmed for an upcoming special that will debut on Hulu as part of its new “Hularious” series of monthly standup performances. In a statement last month announcing the deal, Maniscalco said, “How many times do you...
SCIM / Julia Lovejoy Cuniberti: The Midwesterner who Adapted Italian Culinary Traditions for American Kitchens
When: The November 20 2024, 18:00 (Local time) - Where: Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago - For a fee: No On the occasion of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago presents an event dedicated to the tradition of the Mediterranean diet, inspired by the theme Mediterranean Diet and Heritage Cuisine: H...
Fontecchio: “It’s an honor to be Italian in the NBA, I wish there were more of them”
One of the special observers of this start of the season in the NBA, at least by Italian fans, is without a doubt Simone Fontecchio. The Italian, who was unable to participate in the Pre-Olympic this summer due to an injury, seems to have recovered the right physical condition and in these first matches he is carving out an important space for hims...
Recognition pending for Fortunato
It’s been more than half a century since the late Joe Fortunato executed his last play on the field as part of the Chicago Bears’ defense. Acclaimed during his time in the NFL, the linebacker and Mingo Junction (OH) native never got the Pro Football Hall of Fame recognition his supporters say he deserved. But that may change very soon. On Sept. 10...
Zapparoli makes seamless move from Italy to Champaign, IL
Sienna Zapparoli watched the Paris Olympics women’s indoor volleyball gold-medal match last August. Well, some of it. She was asleep for most of the action seven time zones away. Zapparoli moved from Italy to Champaign this year for a “change of perspective,” and during that transition, Italy and the United States played each other for the gold med...