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The US reconfirms its position as Italy’s number one wine partner, 792.8 million euros in value (+5.5% compared to the same period in 2023). Italian wineries continue to invest heavily in promoting their wines in the States, and will be the stars of many events scheduled on the US market. Everyone is waiting for the grand debut of “Vinitaly USA”, o...

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Chicago Opera Theater is set to open its 2024-25 Season with the North American premiere of “Leonora.” The Italian opera composed by Ferdinando Paër to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa and Giacomo Cinti is based on the same story as Beethoven’s later opera “Fidelio.” According to musicologists, Beethoven was influenced by Paër while composing his...

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The revitalization of Avondale (IL) along Milwaukee Avenue continues as the area’s newest restaurant, Void, has opened. Void opened last week at 2937 N. Milwaukee Ave. after an extensive renovation to the space, which was formerly Moe’s Tavern, an old-school dive bar that closed during the pandemic after more than 10 years in business. Void serves...

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At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, the Italian American Veterans Museum will present a revealing documentary about the search for a group of American soldiers declared MIA during the campaign to liberate Italy during World War II. “The Lost Mountaineers” is dedicated to the memory of 25 G.I.s who perished when their amphibious vehicle sank in Lake...

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The Torchio Pasta Bar, nestled in a 19th century building at 738 N. Wells St., Chicago (IL), has been a beloved culinary gem for years, and its allure only continues to grow. As a recent convert, I'm finally experiencing the buzz firsthand, spurred on by friends who couldn't stop raving. “ You have to meet the owner Bill, he’s a real charmer,” they...

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Most people outside of Chicago associate the Windy City's cuisine with two dishes. First and foremost, there is Chicago deep-dish pizza, ever the center of "is it really pizza" debates. Right behind it is the Chicago-style hot dog, famed for its ardent anti-ketchup stance. It's curious how these two dishes came to define the perception of Chicago c...

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Labor Day weekend will see the Feast of Maria SS Lauretana of Altavilla Milicia in Chicago, a historic Sicilian event, return to Golf Mill Park. The event, called “Italian Fest” by many in Niles, has roots dating back to the year 1623 in Sicily and 1900 in the Chicago area, and is part Sicilian Catholic observance and part street festival with food...

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Every city has its own traditions, customs and superstitions, and Chicago is no exception. But it can be difficult to explain to an out-of-towner the street etiquette of “dibs,” the rivalry between the North and South sides, why ketchup on the Chicago hot dog is frowned upon and why anyone would ever drink Malort on purpose. Also, the importance of...

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Thursdays at 6 p.m. September 12 – 19, 2024 and October 3 – 10, 2024. Free screenings with registration. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chicago International Film Festival, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago presents the retrospective ITALIAN WOMEN DIRECT, featuring a selection of films by Italian women directors that have been pres...

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Fiercely protective and understandably proud of its manifold culinary delights, the sun-splashed Italian region of Tuscany launched an initiative called Vetrina Toscana to promote authentic fare around the world. The group has now designated its first certified Tuscan restaurant in the U.S.: Tre Dita, which just debuted at the towering St. Regis Ch...

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