|
Baltimore author publishes Don't Touch the Tomatoes
| |
 Baltimore native and writer, Barbara Aquila, has published a second title, Don't Touch the Tomatoes, which was "born out of my love for my Italian heritage," she said. It's the story of her Sicilian relatives who came to Baltimore from Cefalu', Sicilia.
"My Nonna Rose, whom we affectionately called Palsie, would tell me family stories as we rolled the biscotti dough together in her small kitchen next door to us. Uncle Frank Centineo also told me stories, as did Aunt Josie Di Nenna and my cousin, Mary LoGrande ... and the Brocato sisters, including my mother Anna. I recorded my relatives on cassette tape."
The book has many mentions of Little Italy said the author, "with its festivals, Cinema al Fresco, and St. Leo's Catholic Church - what it means to Italians today and what it meant to the Italian immigrants in the early 1900s."
Her nonno, Simone Brocato, owned a shoe repair business on North Avenue. Her uncle, Ernie DiNenna, was raised in Little Italy and owned the Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Distribution Company on Caroline Street. (His parents were Rosie and Luigi DiNenna, long-time residents of Little Italy.)
According to Aquila, Uncle Ernie was called 'The Renaissance of Little Italy.'
"I have fond memories of him," she said.
Aquila grew up in in Academy Heights in Catonsville, Maryland. Her father, the late Anthony Aquila, worked in Lexington Market with his father, the late Giovanni Aquila, who had a fruit and vegetable stall.
"My father and I had special time together when he told me about his childhood on Greene Street and his service to our country in the Navy during WWII," said the author, born in 1951. "He would have loved to have seen my book in print!"
Her grandmother, Rose Brocato, was the matriarch of the family. Her four grandparents are natives of Cefalu', Sicily and knew one another there: the Aquilas, Battaglias, Centineos, and the Brocatos.
A graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Aquila taught British and American Literature at the high school level. She's
married to Danny Cook; the couple has six children and reside in Eldersburg. Her first book, Raising Six and Somewhat Sane is a "lighthearted and amusing book about raising our six children in a small rowhouse in Academy Heights," said Aquila, "and on a tight budget."
Her children are now grown and she dedicates her time to writing. "I am teaching myself to speak Italian and hope to visit my precious Cefalu' in the near future. I say, bravo! to la mia famiglia. They gave me a priceless gift - my Italian heritage."
Aquila's new book is available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Email her at baquila1@hotmail.com
|
|
|
Racheal Ray's magazine to mention Little Italy, Baltimore
| |
Promotion Center for Little Italy was contacted by a freelance writer working on a story for Every Day With Racheal Ray magazine on Little Italys across the U.S. She said it's "a hugely influential mag with over two million readers, so just being included in a story about the best Little Italys would be great for the neighborhood." The story will be published in the September issue. We'll be sure to lead you to it, or post a link here!
|
|
Who won the raffle?
|  Promotion Center for Little Italy selected these winners of the two raffle baskets and the GUESS THE MACARONI IN THE JAR contest, all available at the festival booth: - Sheila McCoy, Overlea
- Angela Oriente, Overlea
- Heather Taylor, Baltimore - Heather guessed the closest to the pieces of macaroni in the jar! ANSWER: 1,006
|
|
| 2-3 week host family needed for Italian students | |
Two Italian students from Pavia, Italy, would like the opportunity to spend 2-3 weeks with an American family during July OR August this summer. Both girls, ages 17, are in high school and study English. Both love pets and have no allergies. They are very sociable and enjoy music and dancing. If one family cannot host both girls they are willing to stay with different families. The girls will pay for their own expenses.
This is an excellent opportunity for a family with teens to have native Italians in their home. If interested contact James Lazzati at jlazzati@dhr.state.md.us or call 410-526-2245. He knows the parents and would be happy to provide other information or to get in touch with the families.
|
|
Photo blast from the past
|
"St. Leo's marching band (circa 1950) uniforms were sewn
and donated by my mom."
submitted by
John Seminazzi
Coco, Florida
Include your name, city, state, brief caption, and the year of the photo if known.
|
|
Italian 101 - Saucy! (or is it gravy?)
| |
TYPES OF SAUCES
aglio, olio e pepperoncino = garlic, olive oil, hot pepper
all'amatriciana = bacon, tomato, onion sauce
all'arrabbiata = tomato sauce with hot chili
al bolognese or ragu' = finely minced meat, tomato, garlic sauce
in brodo = in meat broth (usually ravioli, tortellini, tortelloni)
al burro = fried in butter
alla cacciatora = sauce for meat: tomato, onion, garlic, wine
alla carbonara = smoked bacon, egg, cream and black pepper
al pesto = basil, garlic, pinenuts, olive oil, pecorino cheese
al pomodoro or sugo = tomato, garlic, basic sauce
alla puttanesca = tomato, garlic, hot chili, anchovies, capers
al sugo = another name for tomato, garlic, basil sauce
alle vongole = clam, parsley, garlic, olive oil
Source:
Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary
|
|
|
trade sponsor
| |
 | | Click logo to visit website |
Imported by
WINE WAVE
Vincent A. Grande
|
|
paid sponsor
| | 
|
|
|
| Be sure to view
of the St. Anthony Festival ONLINE! A beautiful bath of photos by staff photographer Tom McCarthy Jr!
|
|
Festival talk on facebook and email
|
 Click photo to see more scenes from the St. Anthony festival!
SEEN ON FACEBOOK:
posted by Bernice Franchetti:
"What a beautiful day at the Festival today!!!! Great seeing family and friends!"
posted by Elaine Ferguson:
"Great day at the St. Anthony Festival. Made a few new friends and so was happy to meet up with some great people from the past. Wonderful day."
posted by Maude Covalt Swearingen:
"The Festa was great! Thanks to all of you. I got to eat two of my fav's ... eggplant parmi and cannoli. Great music too!"
posted by Joe Watchinsky:
"It was great meeting you guys. Today went well and is what the festivals are all about."
posted by Paula Louise Barbarino:
"Best way to enjoy the Italian Festival - Italian Ice!"
AND THRU EMAIL:
"Thanks for the reminder about the festival. I would have been upset if I had not known. You do good work."
~Marty
"Due belle giorni per la festivale, spero che era prospero. Ci siamo divertiti, mille grazie per le maravigliosi fotografie!"
Roberto & Laura
"What was the name of the group that played at the
festival Sunday with the female lead vocalist? She was great."
~ Carl
(Carl is referring to Michele Petti of the band, Small Miracle)
"I was at the St. Anthony Festival on Saturday and one of the bands had a guest singer, Michelle, who was going to be performing with her band on Sunday. Do you know the name of her band?"
~Karen
 | | singer Michele Petti |
"Nice event, but you missed a great opportunity to promote the local Italian businesses in the Baltimore area - construction industry, travel and tours to Italy (now that's an idea), or a rep from Baretta or restaurants and anything
else locally owned and Italian that could bring business and success to the area by supporting their own people.
Times are tough; now is the time to stick together and help each other and promote all that is Italian. Next time check out Mulberry St. and San Gennaro. See how they do it in NY!"
~ Fred Tancordo
|
from our emailbox
|  |
"We are really anticipating the visit to Little Italy as I am of full Italian decent and love visiting Little Italy neighborhoods wherever we travel. Please forward the map at your earliest convenience." ~Nina, Massachusetts
"We would really like to have someone visit our facility from Little Italy to do either a history program on Little Italy, or if you could help me find a group of Italian dancers. Thank you."
~ Denise Puckett, Charlestown Retirement Community
"I am an Italian-American from Baltimore who has offered to assist with a program at Towson University which has a group of Italian high school students coming to learn English for three weeks in July. This program includes cultural activities and excursions; the coordinator would like to include an activity in Baltimore's Little Italy which may include a discussion with the Italian-American community or perhaps a bocce demonstration."
"I would love to keep up with the events in Little Italy. I am from an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx and we had feasts with processions to celebrate certain saints' days."
~ Mary Guaragna, NY
"We came down last week and had a ball. Could not find any shops that sold Italian stuff - was a little disappointed."
~Wilbur
"It was suggested that I contact you to ask if you'd like me to give a book talk when I'm in Baltimore in mid-October. Details about my book are on Italianamericanjourney.org. I taught at Towson State in the 1970s and was named Ameritan during that time. I've written and published articles on Baltimore's Little Italy."
~ Vincenza Scarpaci
We welcome comments about The Neighborhood, reactions to newsletter items, and vintage photos. Email
|
|
|
|
