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My good acquaintance Dennis Caldirola invited me to sign copies of my latest titles at Seattle’s Italian Festa, and I was thrilled. Surnamed Sanelli, it’s a festival I love. The invitation gets better: “I can’t find another Italian author this year. People are still hesitant about crowds. You can have the table for yourself.” Well, an invitation li...

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Have you ever wondered which are the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Italy? The Christmas atmosphere spreads long before in the streets of the towns and villages of our country. Little Santa Clauses starts appearing on the balconies of houses, illuminated by coloured lights. Shop windows are adorned with decorations and illuminations, as are th...

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Newest Midtown Miami hotspot Italica is kicking off this year’s Miami Art Week with a line-up of creative and electrifying programming from December 1 to December 4. Located in Miami’s preeminent arts and cultural district, Italica features a modern, colorful twist on Italian cuisine with artisan pizzas and full spritz bar. Guests can celebrate all...

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You may have heard of the 'Feast Of The Seven Fishes' which is a traditional Italian dinner served on Christmas Eve. Well, it's more of a tradition here in the New Jersey/New York/Philly area than it is in Italy for the most part. It was a tradition started hundreds of years ago in coastal towns around Rome and Naples on the Mediterranean Sea. Outs...

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You don’t have to be Italian to come to the annual Christmas gala fundraiser organized by the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival committee. But the Nov. 27 event will definitely have an Italian flair to it, according to Michele Fabbro of Steubenville, president of the festival board of directors. The holiday gala is at Undo’s West, located a...

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Watch as your favorite downtown neighborhood is transformed into a winter wonderland with Christmas twinkle lights along the 48-square blocks, 10-foot tall nutcrackers and kinetic tree holiday displays on street corners, and holiday performances. Experience some of San Diego’s best holiday spirit with loved ones at this family-friendly event when y...

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When cooking school founder Loretta Paganini’s three daughters grew up, married and started families, they negotiated holiday sharing. Thanksgiving would be with their husband’s families and Christmas with their parents. That left the uber-social chef and native Italian facing a lonely November holiday. So, she and her husband Emil took Thanksgivin...

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Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is a holiday celebrated in many parts of the world, including Italy. The Italian version of the holiday is called “Martedì Grasso,” and it is celebrated with the same festive spirit as its American counterpart. In Italy, Martedì Grasso is a time to indulge in rich, fatty foods before the start of Lent. Many Italians ta...

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When the locals learned that we were moving to Pieve di Compresseto, a little village in the heart of Italy, they often remarked: “Oh, the Pievesi are famous for their gnocchi festival. They’re known for being a tightly-knit community that likes to be together.” It wasn’t long before I learned firsthand that this was true. Less than two months afte...

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Dec. 24 has always been my favorite day of the year. Until I was 12, family members numbering in the dozens would descend upon my grandparents’ tiny two bedroom apartment in Troy, New York, for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Although the Italian tradition typically means a day of fasting followed by a meatless banquet at night, my family took the i...

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