Close

A young woman on a scooter lobbed a verbal hand grenade at a tour group on a hot summer night in Cleveland’s Little Italy two weeks ago. “This neighborhood is gentrified!” she yelled as she zoomed past 65 people on Random Road who were enjoying a two-hour “Take a Hike" walking tour of local history and culture. It wasn’t clear why the woman used th...

0
378

The 40th Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce sponsored by Serpentini Chevrolet will be held on Friday August 23rd, Saturday August 24th, and Sunday August 25th at the Wickliffe Italian-American Club located at 29717 Euclid Avenue in Wickliffe, Ohio. The tournament will host 120 bocce teams (104 Open Division & 16 Women’s Division) under nine covered b...

0
288

It was with great joy that Fr. James Mayer, O.de M., Pastor of St. Rocco parish and school in Cleveland, blessed the newly placed building cornerstones on June 5, as major, campus-wide construction projects near completion. School students and staff were on hand to celebrate this important milestone. Thanks largely to a generous donation from Tom J...

0
312

MY FATHER LEFT HIS BARBERSHOP to work in construction years before I was born, yet he never stopped cutting hair. If you knew Gennaro well enough to visit his Italian home in Cleveland’s inner city, it entitled you to free kitchen haircuts for life. Try finding that in any book on proper hosting etiquette. In any case, it was one helluva perk for h...

0
327

Have you ever had a meal so good, you just can’t imagine life without it? A few years ago, locals stepped up to express their concerns when one neighborhood restaurant announced that it was closing. They rallied around the owner, helping him pull through the pandemic and keeping Scotti’s Italian Eatery open. For over 20 years now, this beloved rest...

0
264

Nominations for Honorees who will be recognized during Cleveland Italian American Heritage Month in October 2024 are being requested by the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee. The categories for nomination include:  Arts & Culture, Business, City or County Employee, Individual, Public Servant, or Youth.  Anyone is welcome to submit an ho...

0
338

For the past three years I’ve been dodging tips from friends and readers, who’ve suggested that I travel across town to dine at Antica Italian Kitchen in Avon. When it comes to driving long distances to review Italian restaurants, I’m definitely a “once bitten, twice shy” kind of guy. But earlier this year, I ran out of excuses. That’s when owner F...

0
316

After being in business for over twenty years, Scotti’s Italian Eatery has gone through a lot of rough times recently and has come out on the other side. In July of 2019, the owner was ready to call it quits due to the road work that closed the I-90 exit at East 185th Street. His loyal customers rallied around him, and he changed his mind and decid...

0
882

People discuss pizza differently than they talk about pasta, smash burgers or matzo ball soup. From message boards to social media, the dish comes with a healthy dose of zealous online debate. The latest circular obsession percolating through social media hails from a spartan storefront in Old Brooklyn. Cleveland’s newest “best pizza” is open just...

0
512

Lola Jacaj, formerly Sema, is days away from opening her third restaurant, Oliva. The new Warehouse District eatery joins its immediate neighbor Acqua di Dea (formerly Acqua di Luca) and Casa La Luna (formerly Luca Italian Cuisine). Following a split with chef-partner Luca Sema, the names of the restaurants were changed.Oliva (408 W. St. Clair Ave....

0
1123