Fra Noi

Fra Noi produces a magazine and website that serve the Chicago-area Italian-American community. Our magazine offers our readers a monthly feast of news and views, culture and entertainment that keeps our diverse and widely scattered readers in touch with each other and their heritage. Our website offers a dizzying array of information drawn from every corner of the local community.

SACA moves base of operations to Cucina Biagio’s

With the closing of Monastero’s in November, the Sicilian American Cultural Association needed to find a new home for its monthly meetings. After weighing its options, the venerable organization has settled on Cucina Biagio in Harwood Heights. Open to the public, the meetings often feature presentations on Sicilian and Italian arts, science, music, fashion, sports, cuisine and culture. Past meetings have included wine tastings and classical concerts. The next two meetings are March 14 and April 4. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members. For reservations, call Cathy Ciminello at 847-673-4660.

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Onesti ready to rock Evanston

Onesti Entertainment opened three new food and music venues in one place at the former 27 Live building in Evanston in January. After almost two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations, Rock ’N Ravioli Italian restaurant, Bourbon ’N Brass speakeasy bar and the Evanston Rocks music hall are now in full swing. Rock ’N Ravioli serves up recipes from the family kitchen of founder and CEO Ron Onesti. The “Rock ’N Rav” menu boasts an array of homemade fillings and sauces, including braised short ribs and potato, chicken Vesuvio, lobster and asparagus, and pumpkin with a Frangelico …

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Greco & Sons spreads a little holiday cheer

Each December, Greco & Sons holds a Christmas party to thank its Chicago-area customers. As a supplier of Italian food specialties to more than 8,000 restaurants, pizzerias, beef stands, fast food operations, schools, grocery stores and country clubs across Chicagoland, the company is a leader in the foodservice industry. Founded in 1990, the company has fostered business relationships that have helped thousands of businesses grow, especially those in the Italian-American community. The event was held at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Taylor Street in Chicago. It was a star-studded night, with Hollywood actor Gianni Russo unveiling …

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Amari & Locallo excels in community, profession

Leonard F. Amari and John G. Locallo — partners in the Law Offices of Amari & Locallo — have been selected by their peers as Leading Lawyers in the category of Real Estate Law and Real Estate Taxes. Fellow partner Joseph F. Locallo III and associates Vesna Marusic and Vincent Oppedisano have been selected as Emerging Lawyers. The distinctions are earned by fewer than 2 percent of the nearly 89,000-plus licensed attorneys in the state of Illinois. In addition, partner Katherine Amari-O’Dell has been selected to serve as one of two vice presidents of the Harwood Heights/Norridge Chamber of Commerce. …

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Dr. Imburgia takes charge at Chicago Dental Society

Louis Imburgia, DDS, a general dentist who practices in Park Ridge, has been sworn in as president of the Chicago Dental Society. Dr. Imburgia graduated from the Loyola University School of Dentistry with clinical honors in periodontics, and is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He also volunteers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Established in 1864, the CDS has more than 4,000 members in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties, making it the largest local society of the American Dental Association.

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Ciminnesi honor Antonino Napoli

Società SS. Crocifisso & San Giovanni Bosco di Ciminna (Chicago) honored Antonino Napoli as Man of the Year at its dinner dance on March 3 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. A longtime luminary of the Chicago-area Italian-American community, Napoli has been a driving force among local Ciminnesi for decades. “Tony has been a pillar of our community for nearly 60 years,” says society President Frank Faraci. “We’re so proud to be able to shine the spotlight on him.” Napoli accepted the honor with trademark humility. “There are so many people who are worthier than me but they insisted, so …

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Air Force Captain Vincent Allegrini (WW II)

Trained to fight in the deserts of North Africa during World War II, he earned the coveted Air Medal while organizing and overseeing a mission to bring desperately needed supplies to embattled troops in the jungles of the South Pacific. Editor’s Note: The following profile was assembled from the diaries of Vincent Allegrini, interviews with his son Robert, and the official history of the 33rd Infantry Division. Allegrini’s uniform and decorations can be found at the Italian American War Veterans Museum at Casa Italia. In late December of 1944, units of the Army’s fabled 33rd Golden Cross Division, comprised primarily …

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Mungo’s heartfelt fundraiser turns 25

Southwest suburban businessman Frank Mungo Jr. has been battling blood cancer in his own heartfelt way for a quarter of a century. His Valentine’s Day Dance benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society celebrated its 25th anniversary on Feb. 10 at the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook. When Mungo launched the event, blood cancer treatments were just beginning to see positive advancement. “Since the first year of the Valentine’s Day Dance, we have witnessed life-saving advances in blood cancer research while survival rates have soared,” Mungo says. “Over the last 25 years, we’ve seen the five-year survival rate for Chronic Myeloid …

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Giangrande throws party to celebrate parade’s success

Sergio Giangrande sure knows how to run a parade … AND throw a party. Thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of the 2017 chairman, float, sponsorship and TV ad sales were through the roof. When all was said and done, five major sponsors had signed on in support of the festivities, and another dozen benefactors purchased 30-second introductory “vignettes,” making it possible to broadcast the entire parade commercial free on ABC. “And we did so well on float sales that the company we work with ran out!” says Domenico Gambino, who recommended Giangrande for the chairmanship. “I’m close friends with Sergio’s …

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Music boosters blow into Windy City

On Dec. 1, the D’Addario Foundation partnered with Hungry for Music, Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony, Instruments in the Cloud, and the Chicago Federation of Musicians to hold an instrument collection event at the Ace Hotel Chicago. Sixty-five instruments were gathered at the event. Among the donors were representatives from local music retailers and music schools, as well as a young boy who donated instruments he collected for a community service project. Afterward, the instruments were loaded onto Hungry for Music’s RV for refurbishing and distribution to students in need. The D’Addario Foundation is a nonprofit that supports quality music …

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