The Italian Connection

Dear Readers, The Romantic Month of February, was chosen by co-author, Lawrence DiStasi, to launch his latest book “Esty”. Esty, a diminutive for Esther, was his Hungarian born maternal grandmother (his paternal grandmother was born in the Campania Region province …

Dear Readers, March is the month I like to recycle my “St. Patrick was Italian” column and remind you that Italo-Irish author, Tomie de Paola’s delightful book for children “Patrick- Patron Saint of Ireland” is available at the S.F. Museo …

Dear Readers, As March begins dozens of Cardinals have gathered in Rome to elect a new Pope.  After nearly eight years as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, 85, surprised the world on February 11 by …

Dear Readers, April-Aprile comes from the Latin word aperire which means to open. This is the month to open your umbrellas for April showers and watch the buds open for Spring flowers and Italian American Connections…   St. Francis of …

Dear Readers, Marco Polo is a timely topic as the Chinese New Year of the Snake began recently, as determined by the Chinese Lunar Calendar.  Legend has it that Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy from China, but that …

Dear Readers, A February finale of Italian Connections: Art Aficionados know that the lady with the mystic, enigmatic smile and eyes that follow you across the room, known as Mona Lisa, was painted by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian painter, …

Dear Readers, On April 14, 1912 the supposedly “unsinkable” luxury liner Titanic sank and Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937), born in Bologna, Italy to an Italian businessman and his Scotch-Irish wife, heiress to the Jamison whiskey fortune, was hailed worldwide as a …

Dear Readers, January (Gennaio) the symbolic month of fresh starts is also the month when we could use a little pick-me-up after the happy hustle of the holidays, therefore  I thought I would recycle my “Tiramisù” column.   As 2013 …

Dear Readers, A March minestrone is served:   An Albanian society meeting hall in Los Angeles was once the scene of many joyous Italian wedding receptions, dances and happy memories for Signor A.C. who wondered whatever happened to the “Ghe …

Dear Readers, March…the third month of the year has 31 days and is short for “Martius mensis”, month of Mars. In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war and agriculture. Nerio, a minor Roman goddess was his wife. Jupiter …