Columns

For many Italian Americans, owning a home in Italy has always carried a special emotional appeal. A small apartment in Florence, a pied-à-terre in Rome, a house in Naples, a retreat in Bologna or another historic city: the dream is often simple. Use the property for part of the year, rent it out when not in Italy, and allow the home to help cover its own costs. Until recently, that model was relatively easy to understand. Not effortless, of course — nothing involving Italian bureaucracy is ever free hassle — but manageable. Today, however, short-term rentals in Italy have become …

How do I say, “I am going shopping in Italian?”  Well, that depends on the type of shopping to be done!  The different Italian phrases that describe the act of “going shopping” are listed in the tables below.  Notice that all Italian shopping phrases use the verb fare, which means “to do” or “to make.” Grocery Shopping fare la spesa to do the grocery shopping to do some grocery shopping (the grocery shopping = la spesa) (groceries =  la spesa / i generi alimentari)   General Shopping fare spese to do the shopping (clothes, shoes, or other personal items) fare …

A newsman once interviewed Don Hewitt, who ran “60 Minutes” as executive producer for decades. (He was Mike Wallace’s boss!) He asked Don why “60 Minutes” was a runaway success and most of the other news magazine shows were not. Don answered rather quickly, “It’s four simple words. Tell Me A Story.” Many of us who research our family tree can get caught up with the nuts and bolts of finding the basic vital facts of our family members: When and where were they born? When and where were they married? When and where did they die? These six basic …

Recently when I was sitting at my computer, an old column from more than 10 years ago popped up. I received a lot of comments on it and realized that there is still an interest in the things I wrote about so many years ago. As a result, I’ve decided to present some of the information from that and another column a while back. I hope you all enjoy this look back at the past. Let me say that many of us have left Roseland, but we’ve never left behind the people, places or good times that Roseland gave us. …

In June, Film at Lincoln Center and Cinecittà presented “History, Italian Style,” a film series tracing Italy’s rich and complex past through an exceptional lineup of more than 30 epic classic and contemporary films. The series, which followed the 25th anniversary of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, featured masterworks by directors including Luchino Visconti, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Federico Fellini, alongside contemporary voices like Mario Martone and Alice Rohrwacher. Audiences had the opportunity to experience historical moments, from the Risorgimento and Belle Époque to the Fascist era and its aftermath. The series opened with Bertolucci’s “Novecento,” presented in a newly restored …

For many Italian Americans, Italian citizenship by descent has long represented more than a legal status. It has often been seen as a way to reconnect with family history, preserve an Italian identity across generations, and formalize a bond with the country of origin of parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. After the 2025 reform, however, the legal landscape has changed significantly. Italian citizenship by descent has not disappeared, but it is no longer an almost automatic consequence of having a remote Italian ancestor who retained Italian citizenship when the first American generation was born. The key recent development is the long-awaited …

Two cars came to meet us at the seaport of Naples in July 1960, manned by my uncles Zi’ Federico and Zi’ Mario, and with my four grandparents as passengers. I limped along in the blazing sunshine behind my parents, great-uncle Ernie, and little Maria, since my stitched left shin had just taken a nasty shot from a fellow arrival’s suitcase. When we all met in the parking lot, there were hugs, moist kisses, tears, clasped hands, laughter, a tip to the porter and a windstorm of shouted questions in Italian: “How are you? Did you get seasick?” “What’s the …

The 25th anniversary edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema is upon us, and it’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century has gone by since the first edition in 2001. This year’s lineup features 15 films that exemplify the richness and diversity of contemporary Italian cinema, from young filmmakers to veterans, from comedies to dramas to documentaries. “It’s always a pleasure to bring the most exciting new films in Italian cinema to our audience here in New York, and this year’s edition of Open Roads should prove especially stimulating, spotlighting some of Italy’s greatest up-and-coming talent, but …

There was a time when Sicily meant departure. Today, it is quietly becoming a place of return. Across the island, something is shifting. Not just in the lifestyle narratives that have long drawn foreigners to southern Italy, but in fiscal policy itself. In a move that is both symbolic and surprisingly concrete, the Sicilian regional government has introduced a new incentive designed to attract residents from abroad — including Italians who once left and are now considering coming back. The idea is simple and striking: Move to Sicily, and the region will refund up to half of your income tax. …

Summertime is here and there are plenty of options to keep you busy. The plan for this month’s column is to offer several opportunities to visit Roseland, Pullman and Kensington. The first thing that comes to mind since it is June, is the St. Anthony Festival on June 14. The end of the month is covered by the longstanding Annual Pullman Garden Club Tour. The next thing that comes to mind is the Taste of Chicago in the Pullman Neighborhood. The Pullman National Historical Park has a full schedule of offerings for the month of June. The Roseland pizza get …