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by Christopher Columbus Italian Club of Charlotte   This week's travels in the search for all cool things Italian leads to Memphis, TN. I was really hoping that Elvis or BB King was of Italian descent, but sadly after doing some fact-checking, they were not. Looks like the most famous Italian to call Memphis home is Tony Grano, past presiden...

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by Hannah Sayle   Here, in a cozy, well-appointed house in the heart of old Cordova, Cafe Fontana's chef/owner Thomas Schranz filters his earliest cooking memories through the lens of familiar Italian classics for an unforgettable dining experience.   "Twice a year my father traveled to Europe on business," says Schranz. "When he came...

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The Memphis City Council approved the relocation of the Columbus Statue from Columbus Park at Third and Adams to Marquette Park. The Statue has been removed from the park for restoration. The UNICO Memphis Chapter Foundation (UMCF) (an IRS recognized 501c3) is now accepting tax deductible donations to relocate the Columbus Statue to Marquette Park....

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One of the best-reviewed movies of the year, "Caesar Must Die," makes its Memphis debut at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, during the third annual Italian Film Festival USA at the University of Memphis. Directed by the brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, winners of the Palme d'Or at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival for "Padre Padrone," "Caesar Must Die" ch...

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Russo’s Restaurants, the founders of dining concepts that include Russo’s New York Pizzeria and Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, announced today plans to significantly enhance the brands’ footprint in the Greater Memphis Area in order to continue expansion into key markets.   Demonstrating the excitement around the brand, Russo’s kicked o...

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Frank Monteverde was the first and only Italian American Mayor of Memphis, TN from 1918 – 1919. He also was the first native Memphian to hold that office. He defeated the "Boss" Crump machine that had held a tight grip on Memphis politics. Many of the local politicians in Memphis at that time were members of the KKK which made his election even mor...

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Memphis Italian Festival will be held Thursday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31, at Marquette Park, at the corner of Mount Moriah Road and Park Avenue.   The 25th annual event will celebrate all things Italian with food, music, sports competitions and more. Visit memphisitalianfestival.com for tickets and schedule.   Source: ...

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by Michelle Corbet Wednesday Memphis joined an elite list of cities when it became the seventh city in the world to open a Beretta Gallery. Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is an Italian-based multinational firearms manufacturer.   Established in 1526, Beretta is the world's oldest industrial dynasty, tracing its roots through 16 generat...

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By Madeline Faber   The professional biking world is looking to put Memphis on the map. Victory Bicycle Studio has been tapped to serve as the first U.S. service center for 3T, a Milan, Italy-based manufacturer of high-end bike components. But the ride isn't stopping there as 3T is looking to position Memphis as its North American distr...

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"Italian food is Italian because it's all based on our mamas. Their whole lives were dedicated to feeding their families. That was their heart and soul," says Valencia Gionti Davis, president of the Ladies Italian-American Civic League.   As the 25th Memphis Italian Festival arrives this week, there is no better reminder of Italian heritage...

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