Casa Italia’s Festival Center was transformed into an elegant banquet hall on June 30 for the wedding reception of Renee Sarno and Joe Gagliardo. Janet Sarno, a wedding planner and the mother of the bride, was the magician behind the transformation, bringing in a crew that labored for three days to install the lighting, decorations, table dressings and dance floor that transformed down-to-earth venue into a wedding wonderland. “I’ve planned many weddings, mostly in downtown venues that were all fabulous. For my daughter’s wedding, I wanted something equally beautiful and elegant but I also wanted to bring back the spirit …
Read More »2012 Sixth Annual Fall Festival
by Joanne Spata Even the record-breaking low temperatures on Oct. 6 and 7 couldn’t cool the spirit of Casa Italia’s sixth annual Fall Festival. People flocked to Stone Park to share in the celebration, as the grapes were crushed and the aroma of a freshly roasted pig on a spit, grilled sausage and freshly baked brick oven pizza wafted across the beautiful grounds, to name just a few of the delightful sights and sounds. And if the scent of Italian delicacies weren’t enough to lure folks to the fest, the sound of Italian musical favorites floating on the crisp autumn …
Read More »2012 Christmas Baking Italian Style
The Casa Italia Cultural Committee’s presentation of “Christmas Baking Italian Style” was a great success. More than 80 people attended the event. The master of ceremonies was Teresa D’Alessandro Helfand, and the presenters included Mirella Alfano, Maria Cuscino and Antonietta Girardi. Traditional Christmas cookies and food specialties were presented from Abruzzo, Campania, Sicily and Puglia. The attendees were shown how to make buccellati, or “cucciddata,” struffoli, pizzelle, crostata, taralli, pistachio cookies, castagnole, almond cookies filled with liquor, cartellate, calzone rustico and more. All of those in attendance had an opportunity to savor the delicious cookies and food specialties. The attendees …
Read More »2012 Executive Hall of Fame Induction
by Leonard F. Amari Nearly a decade ago, as a result of the vision of Anthony J. Fornelli and his dedicated committee, the Italian American Executive Hall of Fame was established at Casa Italia in Stone Park, the home of our Italian community. At the initial meeting of this committee in 2007, Chairman Fornelli suggested to the other committee members gathered — Don Bono, Jack LaBrasca, Dominic Sergi, Joseph Weber, Phyllis Muchanti and Dominic Verlotta — that it would be appropriate to have a place at Casa Italia to honor individuals from our community who have distinguished themselves in the …
Read More »Italian Cabaret Night
by Joanne Spata Casa Italia jump-started the month of March with a magnificent Italian Cabaret Night. It was an amazing evening of glorious music, excellent company and good food. Entertainment was provided by Main Street Opera, which put on a spectacular show featuring 20 of the best arias and traditional songs to which Italy has ever given birth. Soprano Victoria Hollad, mezzo-soprano Amanda Runge, tenor Benjamin De Los Monteros, bass-baritone Chadley Ballantyne and music director Jason Carson gave rousing performances that earned a standing ovation, with shouts of “Bravo!” echoing through the Chandelier Room. In my favorite number, “Nessun dorma” …
Read More »What Casa Italia has to offer
by Joanne Spata Come rediscover Casa Italia and all that it has to offer. Here, we have a center for the preservation and promotion of our community and culture. Here, we have an oasis, just minutes from O’Hare Airport, in which you can immerse yourself in the vibrancy and richness of our Italian heritage. Surrounded by 17 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, you can indulge your senses in a feast for your mind, body and soul. We invite you to tour our Cultural Center Museum and relive the Italian-American immigrant experience. You are welcome to stroll through our art galleries, …
Read More »Casa Italia: Past, Present and Future
by Joanne Spata When I was a teenager, more years in the past than I choose to admit, I remember visiting the grounds of the Italian Cultural Center. There, on the first Sunday in August, the Cultural Center would host its annual picnic. It was a wonderful day filled with beautiful surroundings, lively music and organized games for all. The day would begin with an outdoor Mass and would sometimes end with a full symphony orchestra playing under the pavilion; followed by the explosion of fireworks under the stars. In between, if you were fortunate, guided tours were given of …
Read More »A time for every purpose …
by Joanne Spata To everything; turn, turn, turn. There is a season; turn, turn, turn and a time for every purpose under heaven. So sang the group The Byrds in 1962 in the song written by Pete Seeger and borrowed from Ecclesiastes 3:1. Whether it was written 50 years ago, or over 2,000 years ago; it is still true today. Here at Casa Italia, it is hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and that the cooler winds of fall are beginning to blow. I know that for many, summer is a time to relax; to take …
Read More »2013 Fall Festival
by Joanne Spata Tired of the same old fall festivals? Well, how about transporting yourself back in time as Casa Italia celebrates its seventh annual Fall Festival in grand Italian Renaissance Carnevale style! Come and experience the sounds, sights and aromas of the Italy of olden times while immersing yourself in the beautifully landscaped gardens of Casa Italia and the fun of a 21st century carnival and haunted house. Festivities will run from 1 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6 at Casa Italia. This weekend extravaganza packs non-stop music, …
Read More »2011 Executive Hall of Fame Induction
by Leonard F. Amari As a result of the vision of Anthony J. Fornelli, one of the great men and career leaders and contributors to the improvement of the Italian-American condition in the Chicago area, and other committed folks from our ethnic community, an Italian American Executive Hall of Fame has been established at Casa Italia in Stone Park. At the initial meeting of this committee in 2007, Chairman Fornelli suggested to committee members Don Bono, Dominic Verlotta, Phyllis Muccianti, Jack LaBrasca, Dominic Sergi, Josette Weber and Leonard Amari, that it would be appropriate to have a place at Casa …
Read More »