The Chicago Food Stop celebrated National Italian Beef Day on May 26.  Operating out of a kiosk at 875 N. Michigan Ave., the pop-up promotes Chicago food producers, showcasing a new company each day and hosting special events. As National Italian Beef Day dawned, a line spread across Hancock Plaza and onto Michigan Avenue as staff from the Food Stop and Tri-Star Vending geared up to dish out hundreds of sandwiches made to order with options such as hot and mild peppers, giardiniera, and dipped or dry. Participants who bought products from the Food Stop were treated to a free …

Back in 1889, the automobile had barely been invented, and the airplane was still a gleam in the Wright brothers’ eyes. Yet, Italian immigrant Vincent Formusa had the foresight to found a company to meet his paesani’s growing demand for food products from their homeland. And so, V. Formusa Co. was launched at 710 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago. A century and a quarter later, the company turns out a wide array of Italian specialty food products at their modern plant at 2150 Oxford Road in Des Plaines, packaging them in distinctive red and yellow Marconi Foods bottles and shipping …

Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti has taken the organization’s battle on behalf of Christopher Columbus to a whole new level in recent months. In late March, Onesti spearheaded a JCCIA-hosted Tour of Italy at the Wyndham Springfield that attracted more than 250 state representatives and senators as well as lobbyists from all ethnic groups. Bedecked in red, white and green, the hotel’s penthouse was brimming with delicious Italian food and enlivened by classic Italian tunes during an “event like Springfield has never seen,” according to State Rep. Anthony DeLuca. “We wanted to let the state government …

The Calabresi in America Organization is no stranger to high-profile, large-scale events, co-hosting a massive summer festival with Società San Francesco di Paola in August, a wildly popular trip to Calabria in September and a well-attended dinner dance in October. Smaller in scope, their St. Joseph Table still packs some fundraising wallop. More than 200 members and guests took part in this year’s event, which generated $5,000 in donations to Casa Italia. The check was presented by CIAO President Chris DeSanto (on the right in the photo) to Casa Chairman Ron Onesti at the Casa’s April board meeting.  

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 21st annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 16 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in CEF grants at the event to the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Direct Effect Charities and St. Anthony Hospital. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community, and we thank all members who have contributed,” Marasso said. “Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, …

The San Rocco di Potenza Society hosted its annual pasta dinner and St Joseph Sweet Table at St. William Church on March 4. The event was attended by 250 guests and featured a lavish spread of zeppoli, cannoli, cookies, fruit and other treats. Society President Vince Cataldo, event chairmen Vito Rago and Phil Parker, and Women’s Auxiliary President Josephine Bax presented donations to St. William’s Pastor Fr. Richard Gro in support of the parish, its school and St. Vincent DePaul Society. “Society members came together as always to benefit our host parish and our feast tradition,” Cataldo says. “We’re truly …

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii is inviting current and former parishioners to purchase a paver for placement in the Shrine’s Garden of Remembrance. “If you’ve ever had a special moment in this sacred place, if you’d like to honor a loved one or commemorate a special date, please consider being a part of our Garden of Remembrance,” Shrine Rector the Rev. Richard Fragomeni says. The garden is located south of the Holy Family statue, and 100 bricks are already installed. With every 100 bricks sold, another installation will take place. A 4-by-8-inch brick costs $250 and is customizable …

Each year, more than two-dozen Italian patron saint celebrations grace the Chicago area. Kept alive by paesani from villages and cities across Italy, these events preserve some of the most cherished of our traditions. Festivities range from simple religious services to solemn masses and processions to family festivals that last several days. But they all have one thing in common: devotion to the spiritual protectors of la bell’Italia. At press time, information was available on the following events. JUNE 4 THE FEAST OF SAN PIO at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago is sponsored by the Italian Catholic Federation Branch …

Casa Italia Library curator Dominic Candeloro, Maria SS. Lauretana Society President Joe Camarda and Italian Radio Theater founder Gino Nuccio had the chance to catch up recently. With nearly two centuries of combined service to the community, they had a lot to talk about. Their spirited discussion took place at the Lauretana lodge after a screening of Michael Cavalieri’s film “La porta dell’inferno,” about sulfur miners in Sicily. The filmmaker’s appearance at the screening was made possible by Professor Carla Simonini, director of the Rubino Italian American Program at Loyola University.  

Film Festival USA will screen “The Innocents of Florence” at 7 p.m. on May 22 at Harris Hall 107, Northwestern University, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Directed by David Battistella, the documentary explores the history of the Ospedale degli Innocenti, founded in 1446 as a hospital for young mothers and babies, and the restoration of its logo, the painting “The Madonna of the Innocents.” The concert is free and open to the public. For more, click here.