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My family is originally from Paestum, Cilento, and, like many southern Italians, moved up to Rome for better work opportunities. I was born in Rome and am the oldest of three boys. We came to the United States when I was about 4 years old. South Philadelphia was our first stop and with all the native Italians living there at the time, I honestly fe...

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Marc Vetri, the acclaimed Philadelphia chef behind the Vetri Family Restaurant Group, this week debuted Pizzeria Salvy. Vetri devoted the restaurant, in the Comcast Technology Center in central Philadelphia, to the theme of his father, even modeling their logo off of his dad Sal’s signature glasses. And just in time for Father’s Day! The new concep...

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NIAF proudly hosted its third annual Philadelphia Testimonial Dinner on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the Union League of Philadelphia to honor the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Sirianni and the Chief Security Officer and Senior Advisor to the General Manager of the Eagles, Dom DiSandro. The event recognized the significant contributions o...

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Philly foodies will get a taste of great things to come with the opening of “Martorano’s Sicilian Slice” at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The new pizza shop by celebrity cook and South Philly native Steve Martorano and his wife, Marsha Daley-Martorano, officially opens Wednesday, May 31, at 3 p.m. Complimentary samples of Sicilian Slice pizza will be...

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"No other Italian American organization has ever weighed in with the U.S. Supreme Court on a cultural issue or devoted so much time and resources to protecting the Italian heritage as has COPOMIAO under the visionary stewardship of Hon. Basil Russo; and the unwavering support of his distinguished peers, the 1492 Society and Philadelphia City Counci...

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Thomas Jefferson University’s Class of 2023 comprises doctors, medical practitioners — and a legendary Italian tenor. Andrea Bocelli was awarded an honorary degree at the university’s 199th commencement ceremony on Wednesday in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. The ceremony felicitated newly minted graduates from the Jefferson College of Life Scien...

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My parents immigrated from the picturesque town of Isca sullo Ionio in Calabria. In 1964, after completing his two years in the Italian army, my father, Saverio, left Italy to meet up with his father, Domenico, who had already been in the United States. He found work right away in a clothing factory, then eventually in his trade as an auto mechanic...

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Seven Philadelphia shops competed in the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival’s inaugural cheesesteak contest Saturday. When the smoke cleared and judges voted, the winner was Lorenzo’s, whose shop is about two blocks from the contest. Vinny Caramanna, working a grill at the cheesesteak contest, looked over at the judges tasting his sandwich. H...

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Longtime Philadelphia music personality John DeBella was presented with a bronze commemorative plaque on Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts during 2023 Walk of Fame ceremonies on April 20. “This is the greatest honor of my career,” he said. “I am overjoyed for being added to this incredible list of talented people. Anyone have a good metal polishing...

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It was the 1930s in South Philly, and Pat Olivieri ran a hot dog cart near the Italian Market. One afternoon, Olivieri couldn’t stomach the thought of another hot dog for lunch, so he sent his brother to the butcher. They chopped up and seasoned the fresh beef, topped it with onions and laid it across a bun. In that moment, a cab driver, also cravi...

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