It is no secret I am an Italian American, and a proud one at that. I was born on Taylor Street in Chicago's "Little Italy" neighborhood. Being a child of the early '60s, I was fortunate enough to have experienced much of the music from the Sixties and Seventies now referred to as "heritage rock" and "classic rock." How I was really lucky was the fa...
READ MOREOn Friday, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans hand delivered a letter to Chicago’s mayor, asking her to return the statues to their “rightful locations.” The letter cites Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s statement regarding the fate of the statues over the summer, calling the removal of the statues “temporary.” “We understood the mayor’s stance w...
READ MOREMonday October 12 2020 at 10:00 CDT. Arrigo Park, 801 S Loomis St, Chicago, IL 60607. Join us as we celebrate this Columbus Day, Monday, October 12 at 10:00 a.m. at Arrigo Park in Chicago's Little Italy. Our petition drive and support is growing each day and it's symbolic in that more than half of our signatures thus far are from other ethnicities...
READ MOREThe Old Neighborhood Italian American Club will host a South Side Italian American Proud and Positive Rally at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19. The club is located at 3031 S. Shields Ave., Chicago. Masks and social distancing will be required. Billed by National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame President Ron Onesti as a “celebration of our culture and a sal...
READ MOREIn light of the recent discussions about Christopher Columbus, Chicago’s Italian American community will come together this Sunday, August 30 at Noon for a “North Side Italian American Heritage Rally”. The event will take place outdoors in the parking lot of the new location of The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 3417 North Harlem Av...
READ MOREFor 7 years I have been dealing with everything that is Italian American on a daily basis, and by now I have learned to recognize when a name comes back often, involved in many things: that is a leader of the community in which he/she lives and works. This is what happens in the Italian American community in Chicago: if there is music or the celebr...
READ MORERon Onesti, newly elected President of The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, held a press conference to announce the purchase of a building at 3417 North Harlem in Chicago. The Not-For-Profit organization spent the last twenty years at its former location on Taylor Street in Chicago. The NIASHF has been the dream of its founder and for...
READ MOREItalian Americans came out in force in Little Italy Sunday in a show of solidarity following the removal of two Christopher Columbus statues in the city. Demonstrators said what they want moving forward is a seat at the table when it comes to figuring out what the future holds for those statues. “This is our history so much history so many memories...
READ MOREWhen the Arcada Theatre reopens its doors, patrons may not recognize the building. That’s because the historic theater and its sister operation, Club Arcada, are undergoing a major renovation project that includes new eateries as well as hotel suites and additional bathrooms. The building has been closed since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic...
READ MOREI am honored to have been recently elected president of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. It is a 45-year-old organization of which I have been greatly involved. The founder and former president, George Randazzo, died unexpectedly. I was chosen to lead the group, charged with fostering his legacy and his dream. Now, one of my dream...
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