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The former Symphony’s restaurant at 1945 Central St. is expected to reopen by the end of the year as DeSalvo’s Pizza, a pizza-by-the-slice “neighborhood eating and watering hole,” according to the new owners, Alex and Stacia DeSalvo. The DeSalvos, along with Backlot Coffee co-owner John Kim, will be offering New York-style thin-slice pizza, focacci...

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When Chicago Wolves assistant coach Bob Nardella was growing up in Melrose Park, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame was located next door in Elmwood Park. His father, Robert, relished taking his son to the institution’s conventions hosted in Rosemont. “It was a big thing for my father,” Nardella said. “He took me all the time. There...

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The Greater Rockford Italian American Association held its annual Hall of Fame banquet Saturday at the Venetian Club. Inductees to Rockford's Italian Hall of Fame are nominated by the community and selected annually by the GRIAA’s Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Committee. Mike Doyle was the 2021 Italian Hall of Fame inductee. Mike has had a l...

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Step through the doors of Alla Vita, and the whole room feels like it could float in the breeze. The restaurant’s titanic windows flood the space with light, while delicate pieces of linen run in waves across the ceiling, flapping back and forth. A large wooden pergola runs along one side, with plants winding up and around, like you’re strolling th...

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It's not easy to take over the reins of NIAF at this time, with a pandemic that is still doing damage and casualties, and that has left major economic and social problems in the United States. Several programs of the National Italian American Foundation, as well as other national and local Italian American and non-Italian American organizations, ha...

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Fred Bilotto has only been mayor of Blue Island since April, but his involvement in public service began when he began volunteering at the Feast of St. Donatus at St. Donatus Church. Both he and his wife, Stephanie, were born in the city, and both graduated from nearby St. Xavier University. They and their three children are now involved in the fea...

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The Original Pinsaria, 211 N. Veterans Parkway, Suite 5, Bloomington, is this week's pick for restaurant of the week. Simone Stefanucci is the chief operation officer and co-owner of the restaurant, which opened in November 2020. Stefanucci was born and raised in Rome and moved to the U.S. in November 2019 with his wife Letizia.  "I believe eati...

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Often considered one of the most inconsistently celebrated and controversial U.S. holidays, the second Monday in October marks Columbus Day — or Indigenous Peoples Day to some — in Northbrook. Columbus Day, a national holiday since 1937, commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Before it became a national holiday, i...

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Chicagoans have always loved Italian-American restaurants—we’ve got several neighborhoods chock full of them—so no matter where you find yourself, a platter of Fried Calamari or an order of Chicken Parm is always within a fork’s reach. And lately, a whole new crop of markedly fancy Italian spots have opened up around town, including Boka Group’s Al...

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ABC7, Chicago's most-watched television station, is celebrating the city's vibrant Italian American community with the broadcast of the 69th annual Columbus Day Parade. The hourlong event is hosted by ABC7 Windy City Weekend anchors Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini. They will be joined in the broadcast booth by Anthony Rago, Italian American Human Re...

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