Photo of the Week: Castel Nuovo Triumphal Arch in Napoli

The Triumphal Arch at the Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino), Napoli.
The Renaissance masterpiece commemorates the arrival of Alfonso I
to Naples in 1443. Photo by New York Scugnizzo

New Kindle Edition — Nobility in the Kingdom of Naples: Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies

New title that may be of interest to our readers. Available at Amazon

• Nobility in the Kingdom of Naples: Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies by Salvatore Caputo

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Publication Date: September 17, 2018
Kindle: $19.95
Language: English
File size: 20850 KB

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Celebrating the Feast of San Gerardo Maiella in New York City

Due Sicilie pride on display
at Song' e Napule

Tuesday evening, my confratelli and I broke bread at Song’ e Napule restaurant (146 W Houston St.) in celebration of the Feast of San Gerardo Maiella. Burning the candle at both ends of late, sharing a few laughs with good friends over an enjoyable meal while venerating our glorious patron was a much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of our increasingly unrecognizable city.

One of our favorite Neapolitan hotspots in Manhattan, our celebratory meal included burrata with arugula and prosciutto, frittatina di pasta napoletane, polpo alla griglia over beans, and lasagna napoletana. All delicious, the hearty dishes paired well with the bottles of aglianico del vulture we imbibed. Dolce and caffé rounded off the sumptuous repast.

Satiated, but not ready to say goodnight, our party took a leisurely stroll through the brisk autumn night, stopping briefly outside nearby St. Anthony of Padua Church (155 Sullivan St.), to walk-off our meal and shoot the breeze. 

Though a modest tribute to the saint, all in all it was a memorable evening replete with fellowship and devotion. Viva San Gerardo!

I picked up a few gifts at the Feast of St. Gerard in Newark, New Jersey

Imported burrata with arugula and prosciutto

Frittatina di pasta napoletane

Polpo alla griglia

Lasagna napoletana

Photos by Andrew Giordano and New York Scugnizzo

Song' e Napule Pizzeria ★★★★★
146 W Houston Street
New York, NY 10012
212-533-1242
www.songenapulenyc.com

Celebrating the 119th Annual Feast of San Gerardo Maiella in Newark, New Jersey (Part 2)

The "Italian Cathedral"

Evviva San Gerardo! 

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

A Look at Saturday’s 119th Annual Feast of San Gerardo Maiella at St. Lucy’s Church, the National Shrine to St. Gerard, in Newark, New Jersey. Known as the "Italian Cathedral," the church–with its vast collection of southern Italian religious iconography–is without a doubt one of my favorite places to visit. (See Part 1, The Procession and Fairground)

Saint Gerard in Heavenly Glory by Gonippo Raggi.

Mural on the apse in Saint Gerard's Chapel

(Above & below) Paintings by Raggi in the chapel depict the life of the Saint

The high alter and statue St. Gerard in the sanctuary

In the apse is a mural of the crowing and glorification of
Santa Lucia with Cathedral Church in Siracusa and Mt. Etna

Rose window with image of Santa Lucia

Clerestory windows above the aisles illuminate the nave.
Images include San Michele Arcangelo and San Sabino di Avellino

Stained glass window with San Gerardo and Santa Lucia

(L) Colorful murals enhance the church's ceilings.
(R) A large Crucifix outside the Sacred Heart of Jesus chapel

An old standard of the Societa Femminile Maddalonese
San Michele Arcangelo adorns the Sacred Heart Chapel

Among the many statues depicting the Blessed Mother are
the Madonna del Pierno and the Madonna Addolorata

I offered thanks to San Michele Arcangelo and
San Vito for graces received through their intercession

Making the rounds, I made my customary intercessory prayers
to all the saints, including to San Sebastiano and San Sabino

Once again, I was blessed with the
opportunity to venerate the relic of San Sabino

Celebrating the 119th Annual Feast of San Gerardo Maiella in Newark, New Jersey (Part 1)

The Procession and Fairground

Evviva San Gerardo! 

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

A Look at Saturday’s 119th Annual Feast of San Gerardo Maiella at St. Lucy’s Church, the National Shrine to St. Gerard, in Newark, New Jersey. (See Part 2, The "Italian Cathedral")

Devotees pin donations onto the statue

The church was filled with votive candles 

(Above & below) After Mass, the procession departs the church

(Above & below) To the delight of the expectant crowd,
San Gerardo emerges from St. Lucy's with great fanfare 

The LaRocca family makes a generous offering

(Above & below) The statue is covered with donations

Members of the St. Rocco Society of Potenza in New York City
and the St. Joseph Society of Lodi, New Jersey show their support

The Metropolitan Festival Band

Boy Scouts carry the flags at the head of the procession 

(Above & below) The procession makes its way from the fairgrounds

Always great to see our buddy Frankie at Buon Antipasto

We made new friends at Avellino's Pizza

Large blankets of money are made to wrap around the statue 

Carnival games for the kids

Before leaving, I inhaled a delicious hot sausage and peppers sandwich

Photo of the Week: Virgil's Tomb in Naples by Franz Ludwig Catel

Virgil's Tomb in Naples (c.1818) by Franz Ludwig Catel,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo by New York Scugnizzo

Recalling the traditional birth date of the famed Roman poet Virgil, or Publius Vergilius Maro, on October 15, 70 BC, we're posting the painting of Virgil's Tomb in Naples (c.1818) by Franz Ludwig Catel.

A Look at the 74th Annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City

Statue of Christopher Columbus in front
of the Columbus Citizens Foundation Townhouse
Photos by New York Scugnizzo & The Constantinian Chronicle

Italian American pride was on display Monday afternoon at the 74th Annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City. Over one million spectators and 130 marching groups from around the globe gathered along a bustling Fifth Avenue to celebrate the world-changing accomplishments of the great Genoese explorer, Christopher Columbus.

Once again we had the privilege of marching and it was a blast. However, the one drawback to being in the festive parade is you don’t get to see the other participants. So after finishing, we made a brief visit to the Columbus Citizens Foundation Townhouse (8 East 69th St.) before returning to the red carpet to catch the Lena Prima performance and the end of the parade. Happy Columbus Day!

Members and friends of the Sacred Military
Constantinian Order of St. George show their support

Count Justin Morin-Carpentier and Vincent Gangone Jr.
with a bevy of Miss Italia New York contestants

Arriving early, I was fortunate to see the San Silverio Society
of Dover Plains, New York unload their statue of San Silverio 

Alison Scola and Venessa Racci celebrating their heritage

There were plenty of participants from southern Italy 

Rocco Manzolillo (Left) and our pals from the Lt. Petrosino Association

Outside beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral
Cav. John Viola with Bishop Nicolas DiMarzio

A million smiling faces lined 5th Avenue

Ken Rosato, Juliete Papa and Joe Piscopo covering the festivities on ABC7

It was a pleasure meeting Lena Prima, the daughter of legendary crooner
Louis Prima, at the Columbus Citizens Foundation Townhouse

Lena generously offered us an advanced copy of her new CD Prima la Famiglia

Lena had the bandstand jumping

Our pal Joe Peluso (center) and his KOC brethren

The Knights of Columbus were well represented

The Majorettes di Casperia, Rieti were fantastic

Devotees of San Pio on the red carpet

Alfio borrows a fan's megaphone and belts out a few tunes

Members of the Circolo Santa Margherita di Belice
making plenty of noise on the red carpet

UNICO National were well received

(Above & below) Members of the Orden de
Caballeros de las Capa Española de Valencia

Viva España!

Aside from the politicos, by far my least favorite contingent was the Juventus Fan Club. Admittedly, the marchers did nothing wrong, I just don’t like Juve. As a Napoli supporter I was more than a little amused to see the many Roma and Napoli fans in the crowd jeer them as they passed. Forza Napoli Sempre!