Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

The 2011 Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival will officially start on Wednesday, July 20, with the Festival kick-off dinner at The McLure Hotel Ballroom in Wheeling, an event which will honor the 2011 Italian-American of the Year.

The Festival, which attracts around 175,000 people, is touted as the second largest event of its kind in North America and one of the top 10 events in West Virginia.

The 2011 Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival runs from July 22 to July 24. (Here is the schedule)

- 2011 Italian-American of the Year
The board of directors of the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival has announced that Alphonse Ruggieri of Steubenville, Ohio, is the 2011 Italian-American of the Year.
Mr. Ruggieri is best known as the longtime host of the “Neopolitan Serenade”, a radio program providing music and news in the Italian language in order to keep Italian traditions and heritage alive in the hearts of its listeners. Now in its 71st broadcast year, “Neopolitan Serenade” airs every Sunday morning in the Weirton-Steubenville area on WEIR 1430 AM Radio and online at weirsports.net.
Mr. Ruggieri has served as president of the Italian-American Cultural Club and holds longtime memberships in the Columbus Club, the Weirtonian Lodge and the Jeffersonian Lodge. As a result of his affiliation with the “Neapolitan Serenade” radio program as its host for 38 years, Ruggieri has received myriad local, regional and international awards, including a Gold Medal in 2005 from President Carlo Azelio Ciampi — “Presidente della Repubblica” of Italy in 2005. (source)

With the 37th annual St. Anthony’s Italian Festival, the summer season of Italian festivals in the U.S. kicks off.

The festival offers a great chance to celebrate Italian heritage while sampling Italian specialties like the porchetta sandwich, broccoli, tiramisù and enjoying Italian music.

About 70,000 people attended this festival last year, roughly 12 percent higher than the year before.

St. Anthony’s Italian Festival of Wilmington which always coincides with St. Anthony’s Feast Day — falling on June 13 — continues each weeknight from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m; 2 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Daily admission is $5. (source)

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company of Philadelphia will be performing a concert at SS John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School, 10th and Moore Streets, Philadelphia on Sunday, October 25.

In addition to Opera selections, The Bel Canto will be performing Va Pensiero from Nabucco, the second act quartet from La Boheme, and selections from Camelot and Kiss Me Kate.

Salvatore Scarpa, assistant director of the Philadelphia Ballet will be conducting the orchestra.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera is made up of Philadelphia Orchestra members, with singers who have earned some of the highest awards, such as the International Pavarotti Competition. It performs extensively in the Philadelphia, NJ and NY areas to great acclaim.

For details of the event, please call 215-334-0529.
When: Sunday, October 25 at 4:00
Where: SS. John Neumann – Maria Goretti High School Auditorium, 10th and Moore Streets, Philadelphia.

The official launch of the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF) is scheduled for September 7th 2009 in Toronto, Canada.

The Italian Walk of Fame aims to contribute to the preservation and education of Italian heritage by recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Italians who have excelled within their respective fields and across a variety of industries.

From the city that is home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy comes the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF). Located in the heart of Toronto’s famous downtown tourist destination known as “Little Italy” and co-founded by Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco Lang, the IWOF will pay tribute to the extraordinary achievements Italians have had, locally and globally, in all fields including business, science, art, film, theatre, finance, medicine, literature, architecture, religion and politics.

Its establishment will provide,
- A place to recognize and celebrate their achievements.
- A platform upon which the Italian identity as well as the Italian immigrant experience can be discussed and defined.
- A means by which visitors and young people can learn some important facts about individuals of Italian origin in particular and about the immigrant experience in general.
- An inspiration to the young for further achievement.

The unveiling ceremonies will take place in Toronto’s “Little Italy” in front of the CHIN Building (622 College St.) at 1:30 pm on Sept 7, 2009. A gala awards dinner will follow later that day at the Riviera Parque Banquet & Convention Centre in Vaughan (2800 Highway 7 West) at 6:00 pm.

Stars of achievement will be presented to:

Giancarlo Giannini – Internationally Acclaimed Academy-Award Nominated Actor
Phil Esposito – Hockey Legend and Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Johnny Lombardi – Pioneer Broadcaster and Community Leader
Rudy Bratty – Real Estate Developer, Described as “The Man who Built Toronto”
Julian Fantino – Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Connie Francis – “America’s Sweetheart of Song” and International Best-Selling Artist

“The Italian Walk of Fame will recognize and honor these six individuals of Italian origin who have demonstrated an exceptional level of accomplishment within their respective fields“, said Co-Founder Marisa Beaco Lang. “In our inaugural year, a portion of the proceeds raised from the awards gala will benefit the Abruzzo earthquake relief effort“, she added.

Details and tickets for the Gala Awards dinner following the unveiling at ItalianWalkOfFame.com.