NY’s ‘Italian American of the Year’ shares dream of Smithsonian museum — and why he’s rubbing elbows with MLB stars
Rome wasn’t built in a day, either. New York’s “Italian American of the Year” has big aspirations to spotlight the powerful paesans who have been the nation’s backbone for generations: a Smithsonian museum dedicated to culture Italiano. “It’s not about the Sunday sauce,” Chris Vaccaro, founder of the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island...
Discount Shoe Repair, the 'sole' of downtown Syracuse, celebrates 50 years
50 years ago to the day, Ralph Rotella opened Discount Shoe Repair in downtown Syracuse. Today, he was recognized by city hall for the heart-- and sole-- he's brought to Central New York over the years. Common Councilors Marty Nave and Pat Hogan stood alongside Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh to present the proclamation. In his remarks, Hogan recalled the...
Shadows of Little Italy
Niagara Falls native Gabriel Porto was a proud Italian-American. His book, aptly titled “Memoirs of an Italian American”, was self published in 2023 on Amazon. As one might suspect, “Memoirs of an Italian American” is Gabriel Porto’s autobiography. Porto was a first generation Italian-American whose parents migrated to the United States in the earl...
‘We Will Not Rest’: Italian American Leaders Step Up Fight for Dual Citizenship
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), led by ISDA President Basil Russo, held its Annual Summit on June 7 in the heart of Little Italy at NYC’s Italian American Museum. At the summit, Russo and his peers were unanimous in approving a new resolution that steps up the Italian American community’s fight for d...
COPOMIAO meets again at the Italian American Museum in New York
Seventy-eight leaders from the Italian American associative world will gather in New York on June 7 for the annual assembly of COPOMIAO – the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations – which this year will take place among the streets and authentic landmarks of Little Italy. This is more than just a meeting: it’s a moment to...
Preparations underway for St. Anthony’s Italian Feast Days
A decades-long tradition is returning once again to Little Italy in Endicott, NY. Preparations for this year’s St. Anthony’s Italian Feast Days are underway in Little Italy. Even though most of the work comes a week before the festival, event organizers start making reservations for the equipment in Jan. “This last week just seeing everything show...
The Feast of Saint Anthony returns to the Bronx
Mark your calendars! One of the Bronx’s most beloved traditions is back this June as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church hosts the Feast of Saint Anthony in the heart of Bronx Little Italy. From Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15, East 187th Street and Arthur Avenue will come alive with live music, rides, amusements, and of course—plenty of del...
Astoria to Honor Beloved Humanitarian and Restaurateur Giuseppa "Mama" Vendome with Street Renaming Ceremony
Astoria, Queens, will honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Giuseppa Vendome with a street renaming ceremony celebrating her decades of selfless service, particularly in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001. In recognition of her enduring impact, on June 14 at 1:15 PM, the corner of 24th Avenue and 26th Street will be officially...
Italian American Podcast Ep. 370 PT. 2 Diplomacy in Little Italy: The Consul General of Italy in NY
We are back for Part 2! What does it truly mean to be Italian in today’s interconnected world? This question guides our exploration into the intricate world of Italian American cultural identity and education. We tackle the stereotypes that often misrepresent Italian Americans and reveal their essential role in promoting “Made in Italy” products. O...
Colonial Italian American Organization to Host Meatball Cook-off
The Colonial Italian American Organization — CIAO — of Williamsburg will be hosting a meatball cook-off at Frothy Moon on May 31. CIAO was established in 1988 and initially was set up as a heritage organization for people of Italian origin, be it through family or marriage. Over time, the organization has opened up to anyone interested in anything...
Caputo Prize Exhibition in New York
Created in 2024 to celebrate Mulino Caputo’s 100th anniversary, the Caputo Prize represents a corporate patronage project designed to support a new generation of artistic talents. Targeted at the students of Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli, the Caputo Prize invited young artists to explore the connection between art and food, culminating in a con...
St. Anthony visits New York, Brooklyn and Paterson. USA
Two Holy Relics of St. Anthony of Padua will visit the Archdiocese of New York as well as the dioceses of Brooklyn and Paterson from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 15. The two first-class Relics will be accompanied by Fathers Mario Conte and Fabio Turrisendo, two Franciscan friars from the Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy. The two...