Decades of Community-Building at Stake as San Jose’s Cultural Districts Fight to Survive
Like her forebears who arrived in the Santa Clara Valley generations earlier, Theresa Sabatino came looking for a fresh start. The clinical psychologist and San Jose native ran an Italian language school in Las Vegas until the 2009 recession slashed attendance by 90 percent. After hearing about plans to turn a decaying pocket of downtown between Hi...
Five Books on Italy To Read in Quarantine
For our list on great books about Italy, we’re going to keep it lighthearted - no heavy tomes, no dense, exacting reads; life in quarantine is already hard enough. The books we selected are witty, fun, will give you a glimpse into the the mind and lifestyle of the Italians or transport you to Italy. We suggest you turn off the TV, stop bingeing on...
You Always Hurt the One You Love
My guest on Episode 3, author Christopher Castellani, talks to me about his love for family and family stories, but also the ways in which both, at times, can feel overwhelming, and how art helps us to integrate the varied emotions. We talk about the writing life, his struggle with coming out and being accepted, and how our Elementals—our culture'...
I Madonnari Goes Virtual
Even though the physical distancing decree is still in place, it doesn’t mean Santa Barbarans have to miss out on one of our favorite springtime events — the I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival. Rather than setting up camp in front of the Old Mission steps, artists will create their chalk paintings in their driveways. Each day, viewers can...
Italian restaurant will replace longtime bar in Baltimore County
A veteran Essex bar will soon transform into a restaurant serving Italian-American cuisine. The building that once housed Schiesser's Idle Hour will become Buon Appetito, a sit-down restaurant serving classic dishes like pizza, shrimp scampi and chicken Marsala. Restaurateur Mauro Peralta, who also owns Siesta's Banquet Hall in Dundalk, is working...
Sicilian Contribution Markers rejected for New Orleans French Quarter
Efforts are still underway requesting the City of New Orleans to allow marker in the French Quarter which focus on the Sicilian Contributions. However since September, New Orleans has refused to proposed markers to be installed in Jackson Square, any other city land, or the river walk in the French Quarter. After the Dingley Tariff was passed in 18...
6 Classic Italian Cocktails to Make at Home When You’re Craving Italy
There’s more to the Italian cocktail repertoire than the Bellinis and after-dinner amari that visitors frequently order while traveling through Italy. While Campari and sparkling wine are frequently found in ingredient lists on cocktail menus across the country, there’s also plenty of gin, whiskey, and tequila for everyone’s taste. Here are six rec...
Il New York Times promuove l’Italia: perché è tra i Paesi dove tornare
Il turismo ricomincia a muovere i primi passi verso la giusta direzione, anche se ci sono ancora molte limitazioni. Anche molti Paesi stranieri stanno iniziando ad aprirsi alla possibilità di viaggiare, ed è dunque tempo di pensare a quali potranno essere le destinazioni che ci faranno sognare. A sorpresa (ma non troppo) c’è anche l’Italia. È il Ne...
Italian Street Corn at Vilardo's Gives Summer A Jump-Start in Nutley
Summer may be more than a month away, but that didn't stop Vilardo's Italian Deli from starting the season a little early with Italian Street Corn. Picture it, all the flavors we associate with Summer in Sorrento, on that most-American icon: corn-on-the-cob. Pecorina, parsley, lemon, butter, and pink peppercorn thyme seasoning from Spiceology come...
Rome prepares for the 2022 Ryder Cup
Sporting events in Italy have a long-standing history of bringing fans together from all walks of life and turning out crowds in the thousands. One of the most popular sporting events being football. Now the 'eternal city' will embrace a new sport, golf, by hosting the Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf Course, 10 miles out from central Rome, being...
Ben Cirella’s family’s restaurants embody the spirit of ‘alla familia’ during COVID-19
Two weeks ago, Ben Cirella pulled his silver Volvo up to the entrance of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, N.Y. Elmhurst has been at the epicenter of New York City’s disastrous COVID-19 outbreak. Queens has 56,719 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the most of any city borough, and has recorded nearly 6,000 deaths. After being overrun by a ballooning numb...
Spritz, Appetizers and Facetime: An Italian Aperitivo at Home
In such strange times as these, with the global coronavirus emergency changing our daily habits, it’s all the more important to look for some fun in your daily routine, especially when you’re stuck at home. That's why we suggest treating yourself to the occasional homemade aperitivo with your family or closest friends – just like we do in Italy! Ma...