NEWS FROM : Art & Heritage  

Al Grace, a Rockford icon known to one generation for his music and the next for his quirky appliance ads, died today at the age of 98. Grace owned Al Grace Appliance, 811 W. Riverside Blvd., which opened in 1999 after a relocation and expansion from Al Grace Appliance & TV, 312 Ninth St., which he opened in 1962. “He was just an unbelievable man,”...

When: Friday, April 28th at 7pm - Where: Instituto Cervantes, 31 W Ohio St. - Entrance : Free Via dei dollari” is an hour-long presentation in English with poems and songs performed in Italian. “Via dei dollari,” or Dollar Street, is the name of the avenue that runs through the center of Casteldardo, a small town in the Marche region known througho...

The IACS was invited to participate in the Sterling Heights Cultural Exchange held at their Senior Center on March 3, where many groups and cultures were represented.  IACS President Sandra Tornberg and Vice President Clarice Squillace greeted guests at a display table, sharing information about our culture and the IACS, and our event coordinator C...

One of the many great cultural events on Detroit’s busy calendar is the annual Italian Film Festival USA, which brings free screenings of contemporary Italian movies to a dozen cities across the country. The Motor City is celebrating its 10th year as part of the cinematic binge. And last year, it was the leader in attendance. More than 3,500 people...

When: April 25th at 6pm - Where: Italian Cultural Institute, 500 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450 - What: Staglieno Cemetery Genoa's magnificent, neglected sculpture museum a lecture by Author, Sculptor and Marble Carver Walter S. Arnold Genoa is not on the "grand tour"of Italy- everyone focuses on Rome, Florence and Venice. Very little attention is g...

The Italian American Veterans Museum will present its founder and chairman, Anthony Fornelli, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a testimonial dinner on June 8 at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. During a career that has spanned more than six decades, Fornelli has served at various levels of government; presided over half...

Italian Americans and Catholics came together in a common cause on March 19: Good food in honor of St. Joseph. The Italian Catholic Federation No. 220 held its annual St. Joseph's Day table at St. Celestine Catholic Church from noon to 2 p.m., and it was as popular as ever. "We have this event at St. Celestine since this is my parish," said event o...

The March 13 meeting of the Italian American Cultural Club held at St. Florian Hall began with Louise Donofe offering the blessing and reading a story of the tradition of the San Giuseppe Altar. Mariella Pittera, Lucia Scaffidi, Carm Gentile, Rita Carapellotti and Jane Antonucci made the traditional breads for the altar of San Giuseppe. Rick Pastr...

The popular, free concert "Opera in the Italian Garden" will be presented on the lawn of the beautiful Renaissance Italian Cultural Garden Sunday, July 30 at 6:00-7:30 p.m. The concert, offered free to the public by the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation, features famous music from well known operas with the Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Ballet...

On February 19 a farewell dinner was held in honor of outgoing Italian Consul in Detroit, Dr. Maria Luisa Lapresa.  Organized by the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, the Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan, the Italian American Cultural Society, the Italian American Club of Livonia, the Italian American Club of Livonia Charitable Foundation, the...

When: April 14th at 6pm - What: Foreign Faces: Race, Ethnicity and Identity in the Art of the Roman Empire- Where: Italian Cultural Institute, 500 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450 Free and open to the public. Registration at https://foreign-faces.eventbrite.com  Third Lecture: How was the 'typical' Roman supposed to appear, and how do these visual nor...

Detroit will show off movies from Italy during annual the Italian Film Festival USA of Metro Detroit April 5-30, featuring award-winning films and promising new talent. Part of a nationwide festival, there will be 13 screenings, with 11 films making local premieres. There will also be a new short film program featuring seven titles from which the a...