Donald Ferrone was born in Oak Park, Illinois, to Henry and Filomena Trimarco Ferrone, who were from the Little Italy on Taylor Street. He had one younger brother, Francis. Ferrone’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Salerno, Italy, and his maternal grandparents from Naples. The family lived in West Chicago before moving to Oak Park, across the...
READ MOREThe Greater Rockford Italian American Association (GRIAA) held its annual hall of fame banquet Saturday. This event has gone on for roughly three decades and honors business and people for their work in the Rockford region. Each of the hall of fame nominees have gone above and beyond to give back to their community. Everyone who was nominated was d...
READ MOREThe Italian Trade Agency of NY is pleased to announce its third edition of "THE ITALIAN RESTAURANTS TODAY" project, a series of virtual and in person masterclasses, hosted by awarded chefs, for aspiring and professional chefs and hospitality professionals, to enhance the awareness of authentic Made in Italy products, culinary techniques and present...
READ MORETwo northwest suburban high schools are showcasing exclusive programs during Italian American Heritage Month. The exclusive programs will help students grasp the impact of the culture on their everyday lives. This week, Rolling Meadows High School is taking students on a trip to Italy, without the airfare. Italian language students have charted a j...
READ MOREThis October, Eataly Chicago introduces a second iteration of Icons of Eataly, a program which celebrates Italian dishes and ingredients. Following the success of its inaugural series in May 2023, which featured the stories of six pasta dishes, the new edition will focus on Italy’s pizza. Icons of Eataly: Pizza Edition will highlight six kinds of N...
READ MOREDawn Marie Galtieri has devoted most of her professional career to nurturing Voice of the City, a small multi-arts nonprofit she founded 24 years ago in Chicago. “Our mission is to build community through making art and teaching art,” she explains. The nonprofit has a staff of two — Galtieri, who serves as executive and artistic director, and Chris...
READ MORETriton College will celebrate Italian American Heritage Month with a panel and discussion from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the Library Upper Commons (A Building - 2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove, IL 60171). The panel will feature: Frank Di Piero (Moderator); Maryann Pisano – Staff writer at Triton College; Louis H. Rago – Triton College Foundat...
READ MOREOn the day the U.S. commemorates Christopher Columbus’ landing in the Americas, Italian Americans in the Chicago area are demanding the city return three statues of the explorer that were removed due to protests. In 2020, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the removal of the statues from Grant Park, Arrigo Park and South Chicago. At the time, Lightf...
READ MOREColumbus Day is Monday, October 9, and for many Italian Americans the annual national holiday now comes with the sting of having to fight for their place in American society all over again. “In this age of cancel culture, we’ve gone from perpetuating the contributions Italians have made to America to defending them,” Ron Onesti, President of the Jo...
READ MOREWhen Riccardo Muti stepped down from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last season, after 13 years as its conductor, the ensemble promptly turned around and named him music director emeritus for life. In a two-part season opener at Carnegie Hall this week, it was easy to hear why. Under Muti, the Chicago Symphony is all power and finesse with no unsig...
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