Columns

Upon hearing the news of Claudia Cardinale’s passing on Sept. 23, film fans throughout the world expressed their sorrow at the loss of an elegant, down-to-earth icon who always greeted fans with a warm smile and embraced her stunning beauty with humor and sophistication rather than conceit. Cardinale was born in Tunisia in 1938 to Sicilian parents. Her maternal grandparents were originally from the Sicilian island of Trapani but settled in La Goulette, Tunisia, where a large Italian community was established. Her early life seems something of a fairytale, but success brought its share of problems. As a young girl, …

When talking with other Roselandites, the topic of “The Ave” (Michigan Avenue) is never far away. If the conversation continues for a while, talk always turns seasonal. Typically, we chat about cruising The Ave to check out who was hanging out; then about shopping at the different stores; then about dining at the pizza places and restaurants. July Sidewalk Sale would then come up, inevitably followed by Christmas on The Ave. The Ninth Ward Aldermanic Office, run by either Alderman Lupo or Alderman Adducci, would send workers up and down The Ave hanging huge red-and-white candy canes with lines of …

There are two events that take place every ten years. The first one is that I get the chance to finally take a nap! The other is the United States Federal Census. The Census is used to measure how many people are in each area of the country, and then to divvy up the federal funds to do the most good. The Constitution requires it, and a census has been done every ten years since 1790. U.S. Census records contain many pieces of data that help us, and there are many problems. We can find out the country of birth …

Since the early 1980s, Italian Christmas movies, or “Cinepanettone,” have been an integral part of the Italian culture. These movies are intended to be lighthearted, romantic comedies, which take place at ski resorts or other exotic locations frequented by wealthy Italians during Christmas week.*  Hence, the moniker coined for this frivolous genre combines the Italian abbreviation for “film,” “cine,” with the beloved Northern Italian Christmas sweet bread, “panettone.”* The comedy of every  Cinepanettone movie has its roots in Italian stereotypes. The vacation set-up is used to caricature and poke fun at Italian families from different walks of life, who meet …

I remember a day, many years ago, that dawned gray and raw. Peering down from behind my sixth-floor window, I saw what had been a typical South Bronx street mantled in drifts of untrodden snow. Fat flakes were still falling obliquely against the streetlights, and the Sears Car Repair Center parking lot directly beneath my window looked eerie. Its ingrained splotches of motor oil had been temporarily blanketed, and the candy store/bookie joint across the street looked almost cozy. A stray dog crossed the deserted road, leaving tiny paw prints behind as he picked his way amid the swirling snowfall. …

Imagine sipping an espresso on your sun-drenched terrace in Puglia, reading your latest copy of the soon to be released digital version of Fra Noi, and thinking, “I could get used to this.” If you’re an Italian-American considering moving to Italy for retirement, there’s a special tax regime that might make the decision even sweeter — a flat 7% tax on all your foreign income, including pensions. But before packing up and heading south, it’s important to understand who qualifies and how the regime works. Here’s a clear, friendly guide to help you navigate Italy’s 7% flat tax for foreign …

What’s in a name? More than you know, actually. More than I know. Today’s journey shows us that names are not consistent, even though we would hope they are. I hope I am able to explain how you should make decisions regarding names, even when they aren’t 100% perfect. Here are the traditional rules for naming children: Rule 1: First son is named for his father’s father. Rule 2: First daughter is named for her father’s mother. Rule 3: Second son is almost always named for mother’s father, except when there are two grandfathers with the same first name. They …

Here we are once again, with thanks on our mind, and we have plenty to be thankful for. Having grown up or lived in the Roseland-Kensington-Pullman neighborhoods, many of us have certainly had occasion to pay our last respects at the Panozzo Brothers Funeral Home. The business began on 115th Street and moved further east to Calumet Avenue until they eventually left Roseland for Chicago Heights. Throughout the years, our ability to have a steadfast reliance on Panozzo’s in their time of need was always reassuring. I recall as a child having to accompany my parents whenever a close friend …

Just as the Venice International Film Festival wrapped up in September with the Best Actor prize awarded to Toni Servillo for his role in Paolo Sorrentino’s “La grazia,” the Toronto International Film Festival began with 10 Italian films making their North American premiere. Among them was Pietro Marcello’s much anticipated “Duse,” which was featured in the festivals Centerpiece program. The film follows the last years of Italian stage actress Eleonora Duse who was active in the later part of the 1800’s until 1909 when she retired from acting. “The choice to focus on the last years of her life came …

When I was a little kid in the Bronx, I naturally imbibed my notions of thrift from my parents and our Italian American milieu. An example occurs to me from the time I conceived a craving for Silly Putty. My mother and I were in the five-and-dime on Third Avenue when, right there on a toy shelf, I spotted a few dozen of the little plastic eggs that had become the latest childhood craze. But it occurred to me, what can you really do with Silly Putty, which was essentially a big wad of gum? Yes, it bounced and could …