NEWS FROM : MIDWEST  

Sports found Vic Lombardi. And he has spent his adult life finding ways to make it more fun and interesting for the rest of us. The son of Italian immigrants Ezio and Bambina, Lombardi did not speak English until around the age of 7. He remembers watching neighborhood kids play football, not knowing the rules, but joining the game anyway. “It was m...

A second location for coal-fired pizza from Brooklyn opened in the Des Moines metro on Friday. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria debuted at West Glen Town Center in the former Club Envy space. Zach Baldwin said he first tasted Grimaldi’s pizza in New York City and really liked it. Then he ate Grimaldi’s again in Arizona, and he said the quality and taste were th...

An eagerly expected addition to downtown Columbia's restaurant scene is now open. Endwell Taverna, which promises New York-style pizza, pasta and more, opened over the weekend at 107 N. Ninth St. Opening-week hours (minus Tuesday, when the restaurant is closed) are: - Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.- Aperitivo: 4 to 5 p.m.; aperitivo is defined as a drink...

Italian citizens are informed that, in collaboration with the Honorary Vice Consul, a ‘Passport Day’ is scheduled for June 25th 2024 at the Honorary Vice Consulate’s office in Kansas City for the acquisition of biometric data for the purpose of issuing an Italian passport, without the need to go to the Consulate General’s office in Chicago. Italian...

Lead’s Italian community will be the main focus for this year’s annual Heritage Festival, June 21-22. Lead Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Terry Smith told the city commission on Monday that the event, sponsored by the Lead Historic Preservation Commission, the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota Historical Society, South Da...

One restaurant in downtown Park Rapids is doing its best to make its Italian cuisine as authentic as possible. In 2008, Denese Jokela, a co-owner of Necce’s Ristorante and its head chef, took a trip to Italy and was so inspired by the restaurants and hospitality while she was there that she decided she wanted to bring that back to her home in Minne...

A taste of Italia right here in Omaha! The Carlentini Omaha Association and walking tour group the Nebraska Trailblazers hosted a Little Italy Walking Tour where neighbors learned about the areas rich histroy and enjoyed few good bites. Sheri Kanger hosted the walking tour, her family has lived in Little Italy for generations and says she worked wi...

The annual UNICO All-State Football Classic is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Wyoming Area’s stadium in West Pittston. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5. Derek Zambino is the UNICO chapter president, Jamie Anzalone is game chairman, and Randy Spencer is the Sponsor’s Award winner, The game features the top seniors from the Wyoming Va...

There’s new pizza coming to the party. Constantino’s, which zooms in on the cuisine of southern Italy, will open at 4200 S. Grand Blvd. at 5 p.m. on June 8 in the spot formerly occupied by The Feasting Fox, a German restaurant. According to its moniker, it will be “pizza you can’t refuse.” Add to that claim, “the best Neapolitan-style pizza you’ll...

After partnering with The Magic House for the Ciao Bambini exhibit, the Italian Community of St Louis will partner with the Missouri History Museum for an Italian Family Fun Day as part of their Summer Family Fun Series. The event takes place Wednesday, June 12, 2024 from 10am-1pm.The resounding success of Ciao Bambini, which opened September 2023,...

For 130 years, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Catholic Church has been a bastion of Italian culture. Founded in 1894 by and for Italian immigrants, the church is one of the last remaining pieces of North Denver's former Little Italy. It survived a devastating fire, anti-Italian and anti-Catholic prejudice, and every disaster of the 20th century....

The Italian American Club of Duluth hosted their annual spaghetti dinner Wednesday. The $10 meal consists of spaghetti, meatballs, a breadstick, salad, and coffee, juice or water to drink. There is even a special on wine. The club served 900 meals last year. They hope to beat that number this year so they can hand out at least three scholarships. T...