The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans held its 2026  Festa della Donna on March 10 at the Des Plaines Theatre. Carmela Capriati and Sharon DePrizio chaired the event, which was hosted by Onesti Entertainment. This year’s theme was “Italian American Women Business Owners,” with 17 standout entrepreneurs sharing the spotlight. Around 150 guests turned out to hear stories about how they all got started. The honorees represented a diverse range of businesses, including consulting, retail, fashion design, bridal couture, Italian product development and distribution, real estate, financial and insurance, floral design, marketing and branding, food industry, …

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. Pascali channels ancient Sicily in breakup song Backed by an ensemble that includes a mandolin, two guitars and standup bass, Amanda Pascali’s voice lilts and wails as if it were echoing along the cobblestone streets of an ancient Sicilian village in “Cu ti lu dissi.” Described in the opening credits as “An old breakup song in Siclian and English,” the …

Two-time James Beard Award recipient chef Rick Tramonto joined Roanoke Hospitality as vice president of culinary for Grill on 21, on the 21st floor of The LaSalle Chicago hotel in the Loop. The initiative stems from the company’s commitment to ensuring that the once-vibrant dining scene of the city’s downtown financial district is restored, Food Industry News reported. A celebrity chef who has written eight books, Tramonto has worked in many facets of the industry in his career, including serving as executive chef and founding partner of Tru in Chicago, and overseeing Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood in Wheeling and RT …

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame will host its annual Night at the Fights on May 14 at the Des Plaines Theatre. This year’s event will pit amateur fighters from Ohio and Illinois against each other. Headlining the long list of celebrity boxers slated to appear at the event are Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, WBA Lightweight World Champion and honorary Night at the Fights chairman, and Christy Martin, the first woman inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and the author and subject of the 2025 feature film, “Christy.” Also scheduled to appear are former boxing standouts …

Casa Italia in Stone Park will host its monthly cenetta, Mangiare con gli amici, on May 21 in the Community Center. A happy hour with cash bar at 5:30 p.m. will be followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Served family-style, the menu will include antipasti, lasagna Bolognese, salad, chicken saltimbocca, breaded pork cutlet, roasted potatoes, broccoli in lemon and garlic, fresh fruit, coffee and cake, with a carafe each of red and white wine at each table. The cost is $50 per person. Reservations are required. Sons and Daughters of Italy in America will be spotlighted at the event. To …

I-A Literati 2026, Casa Italia’s 22nd annual celebration of local Italian-American authors, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 23 in the Florentine Room of the Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia. The event will begin with coffee and sweets, and a meet-and-greet with the writers, followed by the keynote address and presentations. Additional activities include book sales and signings. This year’s authors will be Peter Belmonte, Lou Bruno, Ryan Byrnes, Frank Di Piero, Leah Eskin, Richard Leto, Mike Rosanova and Carla Simonini. Freewill donations are encouraged and reservations are required. To register, click here.

  After 42 years, Tony Spavone’s Ristorante in Bloomingdale has changed ownership, although it might not be apparent to customers. New owners Dan and Teresa Williams, who live in nearby Wood Dale, bought the eatery at 266 W. Lake St. from founder Tony Spavone in late October. However, Spavone remains actively involved in the running of the restaurant, which has helped tremendously with the transition, Dan Williams explained. “It’s been a great partnership,” Williams said. Born in Naples, Spavone came to the U.S. as a boy and learned to cook at 13 while working in his father’s Chicago restaurant, Seven …

Gibsons Italia in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood took the top spot among the 13 Illinois restaurants featured in Restaurant Business’ 100 top-grossing independent restaurants for 2025. The modern Italian steakhouse boasted more than $32 million in sales, with an average check of $114. The No. 1 spot was claimed by Mila in Miami, with more than $51 million in sales. Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago, Oak Brook and Rosemont are also on the list, as well as Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, and Cindy’s Rooftop, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, Quartino, Swift & Sons, Cira, Luxbar, Girl …

La Scarola Italian restaurant at 721 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago has at least two celebrity fans: actor Jeremy Allen White of the FX’s hit show “The Bear” and Guy Fieri, the Emmy award-winning restaurateur and TV personality. Fieri is said to never skip a visit to La Scarola — which appeared twice on his show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” — while in town, Chowhound reported. White also pointed to La Scarola, which opened in 1998 and is owned by Joey Mondelli and Armando Vasquez, as a favorite, according to Chicago Star media.  

Restaurant industry veteran Brett Patterson was appointed president and CEO of Portillo’s in February. He also joined the board of directors of the Chicago-based fast-casual restaurant known for its Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs and decadent chocolate cake. Patterson brings extensive leadership experience across large, national restaurant brands, with a strong background in operations, team development and driving sustainable growth, according to GlobeNewswire. “This is a tremendous brand with a powerful culture, an incredibly passionate fan base, a long runway for growth, and a team that truly cares about delivering great experiences,” Patterson said.