 |
Evviva San Pio!
Photos by New York Scugnizzo
|
Friday evening (Sept. 23rd), my friends and I headed to Most Precious Blood Church in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy to celebrate the Feast of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. Meeting in the courtyard on Mulberry Street, we first stopped by the St. Pio statue in the alleyway leading to the church’s back entrance. Reciting a few prayers, a couple of curious passersby indulging in the ongoing
Feast of San Gennaro were happy to learn it was
St. Pio’s Feast Day.
Inside the church, we lit a few candles near the shrine to Padre Pio in memory of our ancestors and the earthquake victims in Italy. Sitting in peace and tranquility, we prayed and meditated for a short while undisturbed by the tumultuous revelry outside the church.
Afterward, we stopped by the Radio Nuova York booth (next to the outdoor shrine to San Gennaro) to say hi to our pals Polo and Roy. Discussing Italy and New York between spinning discs, the Radio Nuova York crew have been broadcasting live from the Feast of San Gennaro all feast long.
Before heading to
Ribalta for our celebratory meal, we made a pitstop at the Bowery Electric for a beer (or two). Completely undoing my state of serenity, we caught the very loud and very entertaining
i Gatti Neri NYC gig. The band rocked, but certain elements in the crowd reminded me why I don't attend these types of shows more often.
Ears ringing and hungry, we walked over to the Neapolitan hotspot for a late dinner. Being a Friday, we enjoyed some sparkling Gragnano, meatless pizza and pasta, and, of course, a couple of seafood dishes. Capped off with espresso, our celebration was now complete. Evviva San Pio!
 |
| The indoor shrine to Padre Pio |
 |
| We lit a few candles for our ancestors and the earthquake victims |
 |
| Most Precious Blood Church remains a bastion of southern Italian religiosity |
 |
| Hanging with the Radio Nuova York crew |
 |
| Grilled octopus |
 |
| Fritto misto |
 |
| Pizza Margherita |
 |
| Gnocchi alla Sorrentina |
 |
| Cavatelli alle Melanzane |
