Acclaimed Calabrian Singer-Songwriter Michéal Castaldo to Perform at the Italian American Museum

Michéal Castaldo's latest cd titled,

"Bergamot: Like a Breath of Fresh Air"

Thursday, September 5th (7:00 PM)

Italian American Museum

155 Mulberry Street

New York, NY 10013

Please join us for a special musical performance by independent Classical Crossover artist Michéal Castaldo.  Michéal's latest cd, Bergamot, is a lively, upbeat recording of original, Calabrian folk, Italian classics and classic American hit songs, all sung in the Calabrian language.  The music on this cd preserves Michéal's southern Italian culture, is very unique and creative and features Mediterranean tempos which bring in a flavor of Greek, Byzantine and Spanish influence. 

Copies of the cd will be available for sale and signing.

Suggested donation of $10 per person

PLEASE RESERVE EARLY 

To reserve a place for this special double feature, please call the

Italian American Museum at (212) 965-9000 or email: ItalianAmericanMuseum@gmail.com

Knight Without Fear and Without Reproach

Giuseppe Petrosino - a true “supercop”

Lt. Joe Petrosino, NYCPD, Badge #285

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.com

By Niccolò Graffio

“When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death – this is heroism.” — R.G. Ingersoll: Speech in New York, May 29, 1882

Growing up, like many American-born boys, I was enamored with tales of superheroes, men with “powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men” who used their powers in the fight against evil. The names of these fictitious heroes no doubt would ring a bell with many who are reading this article: Superman, Spiderman, Thor and Daredevil, to name just a few. To a young boy like me it was exhilarating to read of the exploits of these people in comic books, even if in the back of my mind I knew they didn’t really exist (except in the world of imagination). Of all of them, my favorite was always Batman.

Why Batman, you say? Simple: unlike the others, Batman wasn’t blessed with extraordinary powers no real human could possess. True, he was highly intelligent, very athletic and a capable fighter, but nothing about Batman (except perhaps, some of the technology he utilized) was out of the realm of the possible. In short, Batman was a “normal human.” I guess then you could say he was my favorite because I could most identify with him. Continue reading

A Look at Boston's 94th Annual "Feast of All Feasts!"

The 2013 Feast of Sant'Antonio di Padova da Montefalcione

Viva Sant'Antonio!

Photos courtesy of Bobby Maida

Dear readers, our friend Bobby Maida, recently returned from his trip to Boston's North End, where he and members of the East Harlem Giglio Society and Sons of San Paolino di Nola participated in the annual Feast of Saint Anthony. Bobby was kind enough to share some of his wonderful photos with us.

The New York contingent presented a plaque to Boston's San Antonio di Padova da Montefalcione Society declaring their support and solidarity 

(Above and below) An explosion of confetti rains down on the crowd 

The procession makes its way through Boston's North End

(Above and below) Along the route, devotees make donations 

Bobby and the guys had the privilege of carrying the Saint 

The festivities continued deep into the night

At midnight Saint Lucy joined Saint Anthony

For more fantastic pix by Bobby Maida visit https://bobbymaidasgigliopictures.shutterfly.com/

Announcing the 2013 Feast of San Padre Pio, Tuckahoe, New York

Photo courtesy of Bobby Maida

Sponsored by the Generoso Pope Foundation

September 20th—22nd

Hours: Friday 5PM—9PM; Saturday 2PM—10PM; Sunday 2PM—7PM

Generoso Pope Foundation

24 Depot Square

Tuckahoe, New York 10707

(914) 793-7777

Free Admission

Food • Live Entertainment • Vendors

Friday, September 20th at 6 PM: After Mass will be a procession from the Church of the Assumption (100 Pleasant Avenue) into Depot Square.

Sunday, September 22nd at 7 PM: There will be a procession from Depot Square to the Church of the Assumption.

Danny Vecchiano & The Giglio Band will lead both Processions

* All schedules and activities are subject to change, so please check with organizers for any updates.

A Look at the 2013 Festa di San Rocco in Astoria, Queens

Viva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

On Saturday, August 24th, I had the great privilege of attending the annual Festa di San Rocco sponsored by Societá Gioventú Quagliettana in Astoria, Queens. As always, our Quagliettana brothers and sisters did an outstanding job hosting the celebration, but this year was a little extra special for me because I had the thrilling opportunity to carry the Saint. 

After a wonderful service by Father Vincent at Saint Joseph's Church (43-19 30th Ave.), we enjoyed a delightful meal and some music outside the society's clubhouse at St. Rocco's Place (37-04 28th Ave.). The festivities lasted deep into the night.

I offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Quagliettana Society for their hard work and generosity. Viva San Rocco!

Passing on the love and devotion

Family and friends pose for a group photo outside the society clubhouse

This lucky young man had the honor of carrying the relic 

The color guard beam with pride

The procession makes its way to Saint Joseph's Church

Devotees carry votive candles

(L-R) Vice-treasurer Rocco Fasano,

Father Vincent and President Vincenzo Carpinelli

(Above and below) Members of the ladies auxiliary sing devotional hymns 

Exiting a packed Saint Joseph's Church

After Mass we made our way back to the society clubhouse 

Michael Aromando and The Metropolitan Festival Band 

The revelry continued into the night with great food and music

For more photos visit us on Pinterest

Also see:

• Pix from the 2012 Fiaccolata di San Rocco in Astoria, Queens 

• Enjoying the 2012 Sagra di Fusilli (Festival of Fusilli) with The Societá Gioventú Quagliettana of Queens, New York

• A Look at the 2012 Festa di San Rocco in Queens 

• Fiaccolata di San Rocco, 2011

Feast of Santa Patrizia, Patroness of Naples

Saint Patricia (1625) by Leonardo Carpentiero

Photo courtesy of Electra Napoli*

By Giovanni di Napoli

August 25th is the feast day of Santa Patrizia (Saint Patricia), patroness of Naples. Each year the faithful gather at the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno (Church of St. Gregory of Armenia) to venerate the saint and view the miraculous liquefaction of her coagulated blood. The church, believed to have been built by Saint Helena (c. 246-330 AD) on the site of the Roman Temple of Ceres, underwent several significant renovations and is the latest resting place of Santa Patrizia and her relics. Continue reading

* Photo reprinted from The Treasure of San Gennaro: Baroque Silver from Naples, Electra Napoli, 1987, catalogue for the exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum of Art (Oct. 28, 1987 - Jan. 18, 1988).

Feast of San Bartolomeo

Viva San Bartolomeo!

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

August 24th is the Feast Day of San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartholomew), Apostle and martyr. He is the patron saint of tanners, plasterers, cheese merchants, and those who suffer from nervous tics and neurological diseases. Widely venerated across southern Italy he is the principal patron of Lampedusa (AG), Lipari (ME), Giarratana (RG), and San Bartolomeo in Galdo (BN), among others. To commemorate the occasion I'm posting a Prayer to St. Bartholomew. The accompanying photo was taken at Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary and Saint Stephen's Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Prayer to St. Bartholomew

Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Legacy of Our Buried Past

Vesuvius looming over the temple of Jupiter at Pompeii

Photo by New York Scugnizzo

By Lucian

The anniversary of the destruction of Pompeii reminded me of my visit to the ruins. It was easy to feel that greatness while walking among the stones of the ancient city, preserved for centuries by the deadly ash of Vesuvius. It also humbled me to behold the legacy of the eruption, a destructive force of nature that, within a day, turned a vibrant city into a tomb.

Vesuvius has erupted several times since Pompeii. The last was in 1944, destroying a B-25 Bomber group located in Capodichino Airport (Aeroporto di Napoli, Capodichino) in Naples. The Allied occupational forces, which had taken the city a few months earlier, assisted in evacuating nearby villages. This was a relatively minor eruption compared to 1906, 1872, or 1631. Earlier eruptions during the Roman Empire caused ash to fall as far as Constantinople. In 1845 the Osservatorio Vesuviano (geological observatory) was opened in the Kingdom of Naples, and is the oldest scientific institution dedicated to studying volcanoes. Surviving the Risorgimento, it was allowed to continue its work, and can still be seen today after miraculously escaping the lava flows of the 1872 eruption. Continue reading

Also see:

• Preserving Our History, A Capitalist Perspective

• Pompeii the Exhibit

• A National Disgrace

Opening Night at 'The Feast'

Thankfully the rain subsided and the crowds began to arrive

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Contrary to all the rumors I heard, this year's Feast of Santa Rosalia in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is back. 

After work, I made my way to 18th Avenue to partake in the opening night celebration. Highlights include:

Venerating Santa Rosalia at the outdoor chapel 

Enjoying some delicious seafood...

...or sausage & peppers...

...and a wide array of desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth.

I had brioche con gelato (Zuppa Inglese) and espresso

at Villabate Alba Pasticceria and Bakery

The Feast will run through September 1st! 

There will be a Procession from the chapel (18th Avenue & 72nd Street) at 2 PM on Sunday, September 1st. Mass will be celebrated at Santa Rosalia Church (6301 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219) at 4 PM.

Also see:

• It's Back! The Santa Rosalia Feast Returns to Bensonhurst

• The Twilight of the Feast

• The Feast of Santa Rosalia (18th Ave Feast)

Announcing the 2013 Feast of Santa Rosalia, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

A Look at NYC's 124th Annual Feast of San Rocco

Evviva San Rocco!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

Hundreds attended Sunday's celebration at Saint Joseph's Church
(5 Monroe Street) in Two Bridges, New York

Members of the Saint Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey (above) and Figli Maria S.S. Addolorata of Brooklyn, New York (below) were among the celebrants

Contingents from the Gioiosa Marina Social Club of Brooklyn,

New York (above) and San Rocco Societa di Mutuo Soccorso

of Fort Lee, New Jersey (below) also participated

Our friends from the Societa Gioventu Quagliettana

of Astoria, Queens joined in the festivities 

The color guard and standard bearer lead the way

The procession makes its way down Catherine Street towards Little Italy

Along the route, devotees pin donations onto the saint

There were light refreshments and dancing in the streets
outside Vanella's Funeral Chapel (40 Saint James Place)

The parade rolls down Little Italy's bustling Mulberry Street

Devotees carry votive candles during the celebration

Tony and Son's Festival Band were awesome

For more photos visit us on Pinterest

Also see:

• A Look at the 123rd Annual Feast of Saint Rocco

• A Look at the 122nd Feast of Saint Rocco