Montepulciano: A tale of two Italian wines
Most lovers of Italian wines have yet to realize the difference between Montepulciano, the medieval town in southwest Tuscany, Italy, and Montepulciano, the grape. Many, if not all, think them the same, stating, “Well, that’s easy. It’s the grape grown in and around Montepulciano.” But it’s not. The grape varietal that is cultivated in and around M...
Toscano brings “un-authentic” Italian food to Revelry Brewing
After about a year without a food truck, the folks at Revelry Brewing decided to build out the downtown brewery’s kitchen space and bring in a local chef. Michael Toscano said when Revelry reached out, he was “pumped” to join forces and create da Toscano Fugazzi, now open daily. The owner of downtown’s Le Farfalle and da Toscano Porchetta Shop, To...
Living on the Islands of Italy
Ah, the lure of islands! Naturally romantic places, these spots of sea-encircled land offer a natural sense of escape. An island is a little world of its own where you can feel beyond the reach of workaday mainland concerns. It’s no surprise that many holiday dreams feature islands. Many holiday home dreams feature them too. Intimacy is part of any...
Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo to take reins of Opera Philadelphia
Anthony Roth Costanzo was hired Thursday as general director and president of Opera Philadelphia and will continue his career as a leading countertenor while taking over an ambitious company dealing with post-pandemic economic challenges. "Even though I’m an opera singer, it’s my job to ensure the health of this art form I love,” he said in an inte...
How to explore Italy in 3 days with a €29 train ticket
Train travel is having a moment, and there's no better place than Italy to try it for yourself. its beautiful cities and towns, plus an extensive and quite affordable railway network, make Italy an ideal destination for those wanting to explore more than one location without feeling like they are travelling via ticklist. To make train travel within...
Fall River (MA) Family Brings Authentic Italian Food to the City
A new Fall River restaurant caught the attention of city-goers after the owner paired their Grand Opening announcement with a friendly reminder to “be kind.” After battling breast cancer while simultaneously running a bartending school, Shannon Raposo feels grateful to see her dream of owning a restaurant come to life. The restaurant is still comin...
With Pasquino, the wall is the fly: a book review of Anthony Di Renzo, pasquinades from Rome’s famous talking statues
When you contemplate a fly on the wall, I doubt that you ever imagine that fly reporting back what it has seen and heard. You know, chin-wagging about the goings-on of a body politic, dishing on gossip, scandalmongering. I doubt, too, that you ever imagine the wall being the one—er, the thing—doing the talking. Such might be deemed the conceit of ...
An Italian TikTok foodie ate 'best pasta in America' in New Orleans. What else did he try?
A viral Italian TikTok foodie known for his often delighted and sometimes horrified reactions to American food and culture recently visited New Orleans to celebrate the anniversary of meeting his wife and sample all the delicious culinary staples the South has to offer. With his American wife and Tulane grad, Jessi Higgins, as his tour guide, Ales...
How to watch the 2024 Giro d'Italia
Grand Tour racing season is finally upon us as the 2024 Giro d'Italia gets underway with 21 days of racing taking the peloton from Piemonte to Rome.The 176-strong peloton will take on two time trials, eight mountain stages, and plenty of hilly stages and sprints as the biggest GC names do battle to determine the 107th champion of La Corsa Rosa. Ta...
Where there’s a will, there’s a trullo: the history of Puglia’s architectural icons
There’s an Italian proverb: “A chi vuole non mancano modi.” Its closest English translation is “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” An ode to the grit and determination of Italy’s people, it’s far from the passive (and clichéd) concepts of “la dolce vita” or “il dolce far niente” so praised abroad. Yes, the country has a much better balance of w...
Highland Park Is About to Get a Taste of New Jersey Italian Deli Culture
Ggiata Delicatessen, the growing chain of sandwich shops specializing in New Jersey-style Italian American creations, is opening its fourth LA location in Highland Park in May. Unlike its three other outlets, the incoming location at 5025 East York Boulevard across the street from Belle’s Bagels will host indoor seating, The Eastsider reports. The...
U.S. Soldiers honor Italian Liberation Day with local communities
In Parco della Liberta, translated as Liberty Park, in Vicenza, a new laurel wreath lies beneath the monument dedicated to Italian World War II resistance fighters, marking the 79th anniversary of Italy's liberation. In the park, Lt. Col. John Wildt, commander of the 307th Military Intelligence Battalion, joined the city of Longare’s veterans and...