rita cipalla

With a gifted musician for a grandfather and an opera singer for an uncle, it’s no surprise that Rebecca Novelli chose an artistic path. A California native, she worked in southern California for years as a writer, editor and educator, …

Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci might be famous for their early explorations of the New World, yet another Italian adventurer who commanded a four-year expedition to the Pacific Northwest, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand—said to be one of the …

With one of the most hotly contested presidential elections right around the corner, there’s a lot on the line for both candidates and voters alike. It’s also a make-or-break time for political reporters, whether print, broadcast or digital.   Perhaps …

It may look as though the French have taken over the Seattle Art Museum this fall, as the museum hosts a lavish exhibit on designer Yves Saint Laurent, but persevere and you can still experience a bit of Italy during …

Visitors to Tacoma’s Museum District are greeted by a mix of historic buildings as well as more modern structures, such as the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum. It’s likely that most people don’t even notice the small …

Orselli, Saturno, Tachi, Locati, Arbini. These melodic names belonged to some of the early Italian settlers who found their way to eastern Washington in the 1800s. Most were experienced farmers. Some were skilled winemakers. Together, they forged an industry whose …

The dark days and rainy nights so common to the Pacific Northwest in November are tailor-made for movie-going. Seattle’s popular Italian film festival, Cinema Italian Style, could not come at a better time. Now in its 8th season, Cinema Italian …

Take two roommates who’ve been friends for 20 years. Add the fact that their Seattle homes are five blocks apart. Mix in one person’s expertise in marketing and design, complemented by the other’s law and engineering background. The result: A …

Everyone wants to be Italian! That pretty much sums up the raison d’etre of one of the Northwest’s most lively and fun radio talk shows.   The Northwest Italian Radio Show is broadcast live for two hours every Monday afternoon …

“The body tells a story/mostly about loss.” So runs a line from the poem, “Rotator Cuff Vortex” by American poet Lucia Perillo, who died October 16 at her home in Olympia, Wash., at the age of 58. Diagnosed with multiple …