LIFE & PEOPLE

Celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) kicked off October 26 in New York City. A “unique sisterhood that welcomes women of all ages and phases of life,” NOIAW was founded in 1980 …

Its name is Jellyfish Barge and it’s a floating greenhouse. On its wooden basement there are recycled plastic drums where to grow vegetables just exploiting sea water, solar energy and wind. No land needed. That means growing farms could happen …

In 1994, the two sisters, Cristina and Laura Capitanio embarked in a one way flight from their foggy hometown, Bergamo – an urban conglomerate founded by Celtic tribes a few hundred years B.C. in Lombardy, region of Northern Italy – …

The very best in Italian contemporary film is the hallmark of Cinema Italian Style, a film festival that runs November 12–19 in Seattle. In just a few years’ time, this popular series has become one of the city’s most exciting …

On September 26, the Italian Embassy in Washington hosted the Country Assembly of Italians living abroad. For those who have never heard about the CGIE, the Consiglio Generale degli Italiani all’Estero is the body that represents nowadays the Italian communities …

Growing up in the States, I had heard two things about the origins of Halloween: 1) that it had originated as a Pagan festival and 2) that it was the secular version of the Catholic All Hallow’s Eve. I suppose …

Growing up in the suburbs of New York City among a big Italian-American community, Professor Vincent J. Cannato has respect for his Italian origins. “My grandfather was born in Sicily and grew up in Calabria and came to America when …

How many people do you know that are capable of creating a new Italian verb and use that verb to name their art exhibit? Not many.  Leave that kind of creative genius to our own San Francisco living legend, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. …

“Se avete due pani, vendetene uno e comprate un fiore, perché anche l’anima  ha fame.”  If one has two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a flower, for the soul also has hunger.   This Italian proverb spoken by …

It is Saturday night at the Columbus Day Banquet.  The Portland Golf Club is overflowing with smiling guests, drinks in hand.  Dinner is finished, the panna cotta is on its way, the music and dancing has started.  One man still …