Passionate operatic pairing Lyric Opera of Chicago will present Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria rusticana” and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” from Nov. 1-23. This pair of passionate one-act operas explores the depths of spurned lovers’ grief and the lengths they’ll go to avenge betrayal. Deadly love triangles unfold against starkly contrasted backdrops of the Sicilian countryside and a Calabrian village. Music Director Enrique Mazzola will lead a world-class cast that includes Lyric favorites Russell Thomas, Quinn Kelsey and Gabriella Reyes in an original production mounted by Australian opera, theater and television director Elijah Moshinsky. For more, click here. Italian pop phenom …

Our Good Vibes feature spotlights websites, blogs, videos and podcast from around the world that celebrate Italy’s inimitable spirit. If you have a favorite online offering you’d like to share, send it to info@franoi.com. For more, follow us on Facebook. Avant-garde trio’s video captures Windy City glory days The piano and drums take center stage in Giallorenzo’s “Vamps and Feels,” pulsating, pounding, grooving, the pace not of easy days on the porch but of hurrying and scurrying. The avant-garde soundtrack is perfectly in sync with shots of Chicago’s downtown, Lower Wacker and Lake Shore Drive. Cars drive past the lake, …

The Vatican is teaming up with two Chicago hospitality heavyweights, chef Art Smith and restaurateur Phil Stefani, to open a restaurant at Borgo Laudato Si’, located within the historic Papal Villas of Castel Gandolfo. The collaboration was announced in early September as part of the inauguration of the 135-acre property, with Pope Leo XIV presiding over a ceremony, Eater Chicago reported. The yet-to-be named restaurant is expected to open in spring. The restaurant will be open for breakfast and lunch, and “will highlight farm-to-table Italian cooking with global touches, drawing influences from Chicago and Peruvian flavors in honor of Pope …

Steve Lewis of Meadowlark Hospitality has opened Little Lark, his newest concept, at 3132 N. Rockwell St. in the Guild Row space in Chicago. Lewis is the restaurateur behind Michelin-recognized Lardon, Union and The Meadowlark bar in Chicago. Little Lark’s “high-quality yet approachable cuisine set in a carefully crafted social space makes for a special immersive dining experience on the city’s Northwest Side,” a press release states. The menu features wood-fired neo-Neapolitan pizzas, ranging from familiar favorites like sausage or margherita, to more inventive like the ‘Nduja, featuring Lardon’s spicy house-cured salumi. The sweet corn pizza includes local farm fresh …

The website The Infatuation recently named Bar Roma in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood among the best pasta spots in the city. “Their staples like oxtail ragù with tagliatelle or spaghetti and meatballs (these beefy spheres are as excellent as the pasta) strongly place this spot in the category of restaurants called ‘I Wish This Was My Neighborhood Spot,’” the website states. Chef Alfredo Ramos, a graduate of the Culinary School of Kendall College, was chef de cuisine at Printer’s Row Restaurant in Chicago when he was nominated as a top-10 sous chef in the nation by Bertolli Olive Oil. He later …

Frank Conforti Jr. — along with the three generations of the Conforti family who have run Frankie’s Deli for more than half a century — will be the guests of honor at Casa Italia’s 54th annual gala. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Carlisle in Lombard. Joining Frank Jr. in the spotlight will be his parents, Frank Sr. and Connie, and his son Mario, who have played key roles in making Frankie’s one of the most popular Italian food emporiums in the western suburbs, along with his wife, Linda, their son Frankie and son-in-law, Dominick …

“Union Proud” will be the theme of the Italian American Executives of Transportation’s 2025 awards dinner on Nov. 15 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. The IAET will honor labor leaders Michael DiGrazia, Anthony Guida and Michael Macellaio at the event, and present John Ferrentino with its Humanitarian of the Year Award. For details, click here. The following profiles were provided by the IAET: Michael DiGrazia Michael DiGrazia began his career working alongside his brothers in the logistics and warehousing industry, where he learned every aspect of transportation and distribution. As Michael often says, “There’s nothing made I can’t drive.” He …

The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 will present Gino and Tatiana Rago with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 16. A 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago will be followed by a noon dinner at The Empress Banquets in Addison. For details, call 773-763-0507 or 708-307-7180. The following profile was provided by the organization: Gino and Tatiana Rago Gino Rago was born in Chicago in 1965 to immigrant parents from Mola di Bari, Italy. Growing up, he lived briefly in Italy and spent many summers living with and visiting his grandparents. He would help his grandfather …

Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, the bishop of Assisi, Italy, and curator of the tomb and relics of Carlo Acutis, was in town in July as part of a national tour to spotlight the life and legacy of the renowned teen, who used technology to evangelize before dying of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Acutis was beatified on Oct. 10, 2020, and canonized on Sept. 7 of this year. The archbishop celebrated masses and offered public venerations of a relic of Acutis at two Chicago parishes: on July 15 at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish (St. Hedwig Church), the only …

The wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum will debut in Chicago on Oct. 5 and 6 at the iconic Navy Pier, marking the first time this trade and networking event has been held outside Italy. Over two days, the program will feature a range of masterclasses designed to contextualize every aspect of the contemporary wine industry and showcase Italian styles, regions and trends currently shaping the global wine scene. Among the event’s offerings, the Italian Trade Agency will host three masterclasses to strengthen the role of Italian wine in the U.S. market and highlight ITA’s mission as a facilitator for Italian producers abroad. For more, click …