A beloved Chicago pizzeria was recently ranked among the 100 best in the world by the Italian culinary website 50 Top Pizza. Spacca Napoli (1769 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago) came in at No. 93 on a list that included pizzerias from France, the Philippines, Spain, Japan, Denmark and more. Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Naples and I Masanielli in Caserta...

The Italian Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Aeronautica Militare has assembled a sweeping exhibit that will be available for a private viewing on Nov. 21 in the Chandelier Room at Casa Italia in Stone Park. The exhibit comprises 36 4-foot by 8-foot panels, organized into a timeli...

Chicago’s Italian American community, represented by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), came together this week to address opportunities and challenges that are elevating and impacting our shared heritage. JCCIA President Ron Onesti convened the meeting and invited COPOMIAO President Basil Russo to speak on the transformative s...

Italian-American conductor Nicola Rescigno played a significant role in developing both the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Dallas Opera, which he co-founded with Carol Fox and Lawrence V. Kelly, in 1952 and 1957 respectively. It was Rescigno who brought Callas to America for her 1954 debut, and became one of Maria Callas’s favourite conductors, alo...

There are over 40 events scheduled from November 13th to 19th in the United States for the eighth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, an integrated promotion initiative by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled in 2023 “At the table with Italian cuisine: well-being with taste.” In the background, there is the candidacy of...

It is almost impossible to successfully defend Kevin Durant. Even at 35 years old, the superstar forward has one of the most advanced scoring arsenals in the league, a near 7-footer with deep range and soft touch on his jumper who can shoot over defenders with a hesi pull-up jimbo whenever he wants. Alex Caruso drew the assignment against Durant wh...

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 6, at the FermiLab in Batavia, near Chicago, for the "Quantum Garage," the new and innovative Laboratory of the Super Conducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) directed by Italian Anna Grassellino. The ceremony, which was attended by more than 300 scientists from the FermiLab's partner cou...

Nearly two thousand years ago, in 79 A.D., the city of Pompeii was trapped in a time capsule by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Practically forgotten, it began to be unearthed in the 1700s, when the King of Naples, Charles of Bourbon, gave impetus to the excavations. The amphitheater, the villa of Cicero and the temple of Isis were uncovered. Soon,...

A big part of the "fun" for me when I produce shows is being able to work with the acts that I love. At 59 years of age and a classic rocker from the '70s, I have a deep appreciation for those musical acts that paved the way for today's entertainers. One of those groups that I grew up really enjoying was one that nobody realized just how popular th...

The Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago and the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago, announce a series of initiatives that will take place on November 13-19, presented on the occasion of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, a yearly initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The theme sele...