John’s Italian Restaurant in Rockford celebrates 50 years
It may not be an official historic landmark, but John’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Rockford has been a mainstay in the city since the 1970s. The popular eatery is celebrating its 50th year in business this month. John’s started in 1974 as a takeout place near the corner of 11th Street and Harrison Avenue. Five years later, it moved to its cur...
Organizers hoping for big, dry Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival
The Warren (OH) Italian-American Heritage Festival brings back former residents and attracts out-of-town guests every year. One visitor isn’t welcome this year (or any year) — rain. After heavy storms affected last year’s event, Corey Hovance, president of the festival’s board, referred to this weekend’s event as its “redemption year.” “Being the p...
Little Italy’s Feast of the Assumption Celebrates its 125th Year
Little Italy’s Feast is the celebration heard all around Northeast Ohio. The iconic, weekend-long event is known best for its spectacle of Italian cuisine, turning Mayfield Road into a vendor market of pasta, pizza, cannolis and Italian treats in town. Games, casinos and music keep the entertainment alive, but its reason for the season makes the fe...
A Street in Chicago is Being Named After Late Producer and Musician Steve Albini
Late producer and musician Steve Albini was a longtime resident of Chicago, so the city has decided to name a street in the city in his honor. As Pitchfork notes, thanks to an ordinance passed by Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, the 2600-2700 block of West Belmont Avenue in Avondale, between North Rockwell Avenue and North California Avenue, will offi...
Springfield Italian eatery will move to downtown Urbana
Eatly, a seasonal Springfield (OH) restaurant, will soon move to a larger location in downtown Urbana and open year-round. The restaurant, which has been open at 601 N. Fountain Ave. since 2021, will be “steps off the square” in Urbana. While it will continue serving its traditional Sicilian fare, owner Tom Thompson said he will add homestyle foods...
Dance maestra Nan Giordano
Indefatigable after 40 years at the helm of Giordano Dance Chicago, Nan Giordano continues to advance the legacy of her father, jazz-dance pioneer Gus Giordano. Nan Giordano says she’s blessed with a high level of energy — energy that enables her to dance, mentor dancers and produce performances, but also to run the business side of an arts organiz...
Women’s Army Corp Medic Marie Sartor Pawelek
Marie Sartor Pawelek was born 100 years ago in Eveleth, Minnesota, the only child of Luigi and Eva (Pivetta) Sartor. Her parents emigrated from a small town near Venice, Italy. With all of their relatives back home in Italy, Pawelek’s parents socialized with their Italian neighbors. Luigi joined the Order Sons of Italy in America and Eva was active...
Scannicchio elevated to presiding judge
Cook County Circuit Court Justice Regina Scannicchio has been elevated from acting presiding judge to presiding judge of the Domestic Relations Division by Chief Judge Timothy Evans. Scannicchio was named acting presiding judge on Sept. 23, 2022. She was first appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2011 after 23 years as a private...
Italian Fest to return to Iron Mountain
Italian Fest will return to Iron Mountain (MI) on Aug. 10. Attendees can sample Italian cuisine and wines or join in on the Italian dinner toss and grape stomp. Kids will have inflatable bounce houses and can watch a showing of the Pixar movie Cars 2. First National Bank & Trust Veteran Outreach Committee Chairman Matt Donovan said the bank has par...
Amaseno lodge to stage landmark feast
Amaseno Lodge No. 3 of Chicago Heights will host its 50th anniversary Feast of San Lorenzo and San Rocco from Aug. 9-11. The lodge was formed in 1913 by immigrants from Amaseno, a small farming village 60 miles south of Rome. Settling in Chicago Heights’ Hungry Hill Italian enclave, they brought with them a deep devotion to San Lorenzo, an early Ch...
Enrico's Spaghetti-Eating Contest: Championship
When: Sat, Aug 31, 2024 at 3:30 PM - Where: Breidert Green Park, Frankfort, IL, 60423 - What: Enrico's Italian Restaurant is thrilled to announce the return of its highly anticipated Annual Spaghetti-Eating Contest. To qualify for the championship, competitors may first place 1st-4th in one of our qualifying rounds. Competitors will face off in a t...
Is Cleveland’s Little Italy in danger of being loved to death?
A young woman on a scooter lobbed a verbal hand grenade at a tour group on a hot summer night in Cleveland’s Little Italy two weeks ago. “This neighborhood is gentrified!” she yelled as she zoomed past 65 people on Random Road who were enjoying a two-hour “Take a Hike" walking tour of local history and culture. It wasn’t clear why the woman used th...