Italian NYC

Today, Italian NYC is mostly in Throgs Neck & Morris Park The Bronx; Staten Island; and Harlem, and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Italians are one of the communities that defines New York City and the United States. The big wave of immigration came between the 1850s and 1930s. Many Southern Italians came between 1880 and 1920.

Italy made major contributions to European culture. The Roman Empire (625 BC – 476) spread Italian culture around the Mediterranean. The Renaissance (1400-1600) was the beginning of the march towards modernity.

---

Italian NYC News

New York Film Festival 2022 Main Slate Features 32 Movies From 18 Countries at Film at Lincoln Center

September 30 – October 16, 2022
FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
🇦🇷🇫🇷🇮🇹🇳🇮🇷🇴🇪🇸

Continue Reading New York Film Festival 2022 Main Slate Features 32 Movies From 18 Countries at Film at Lincoln Center

The Medieval Festival NYC 2022 is Back in Fort Tryon Park with Teatro SEA Latino Children’s Theater!

Sunday, October 2, 2022
FORT TRYON PARK
Washington Heights, Manhattan
🇵🇷

Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Italy, Animals and the Environment

Monday, October 4, 2021 🇮🇹

NYC Celebrates Italian Heritage Day!

Monday, October 10, 2022
NEW YORK CITY
🇮🇹

Columbus Day was Founded to Stop White Supremacists from Lynching Italian Americans

Monday, October 10, 2022
🇮🇹🇪🇸🇺🇸

“Filomena Marturano” is Love Cuban Style at Repertorio Español

Friday, October 14, 2022
REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL
Kips Bay, Manhattan
🇮🇹🇨🇺

Celebrate Pasta Day!

Monday, October 17, 2022
🇮🇹

Chris Botti Plays His 18th Holiday Residency of Jazz at the Blue Note

December 5, 2022 – January 1, 2023
BLUE NOTE
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
🇮🇹

Celebrate All Saints Day!

Monday, November 1, 2021

Celebrate the Feast of Saint Cecilia, Patron Saint of Musicians

Tuesday, November 22, 2022
🇮🇹

May 2023

NEW PRODUCTION PREMIERE
The Metropolitan Opera opens Ivo van Hove’s new production of Mozart’s Italian opera “Don Giovanni,” at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7pm. From $39.50. 🇮🇹

January 2023

New York City Opera presents Joel Grey’s “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” about how no one is immune from social violence, at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene in the Museum of Jewish Heritage at Robert F. Wagner Park in Manhattan’s Financial District, January 27 – February 6, 2023. 🇮🇹✡️

December 2022

Chris Botti plays his 18th Holiday Residency of Jazz at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, nightly, December 5, 2022 – January 1, 2023, including Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. From $64. 🇮🇹

NEW PRODUCTION PREMIERE (NEW YEAR’S EVE)
The Metropolitan Opera opens David McVicar’s new production of Giordano’s Italian opera “Fedora,” the tale of a Russian princess who falls in love with her fiancé’s murderer, at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 6:30pm. Soprano Sonya Yoncheva stars. From $39.50. 🇮🇹

November 2022

Italian guitarist Pasquale Grasso plays Jazz at Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village, on Monday, November 7, 2022 at 7 & 8:30pm. From $25. 🇮🇹

October 2022

The Medieval Festival NYC 2022 is in Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights on Sunday, October 2, 2022 from 11:30am – 6pm. Free with food and crafts for purchase. 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇵🇹🇷🇴🇪🇸

September 2022

New York City Opera performs highlights from Donizetti’s Italian opera “Lucia di Lammermoor” in a picnic performance at Bryant Park in Manhattan’s Garment District on Friday, September 2, 2022 from 7-8:30pm. Free. 🇮🇹

OPENING RECEPTION
Paul Corio: These Foolish Things, an exhibition of abstract paintings by the Italian American artist, opens with a reception at Mckenzie Fine Art in Manhattan’s Lower East Side on Friday, September 9, 2022 from 6-8pm. Ends October 23. mckenziefineart.com 🇮🇹

Claudio Parmiggiani, an exhibition of work by the Italian artist, is at Bortolami in Tribeca, Manhattan, September 9 – October 29, 2022. bortolamigallery.com 🇮🇹

John Baldessari: The Story Underneath, an exhibition of maquettes (sculpture models), is at Sprüth Magers in the Upper East Side, September 9 – October 29, 2022. spruethmagers.com 🇮🇹🇺🇸

The Feast of San Gennaro Festival 2022 is on Mulberry Street in Manhattan Little Italy Downtown, from Thursday, September 15-25, 2022. The grand procession is on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 2pm. The Solemn High Mass for San Gennaro is at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood on September 19, 2022 at 6pm. 🇮🇹

The Affordable Art Fair New York Fall 2022, of contemporary art priced from $100-$10,000, is at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, Manhattan, Thursday-Sunday, September 22-25, 2022. 🇦🇷🇨🇦🇨🇷🇫🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸

SEASON OPENER AND NEW PRODUCTION PREMIERE
The Metropolitan Opera opens its 137th Season (2022-23) with a new David McVicar production of Cherubini’s Italian opera “Medea,” at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center, on Tuesday, September 27 at 6pm. Sondra Radvanovsky stars. American soprano Janai Brugger sings Glauce. From $32.50. 🇮🇹

Fulvio Testa: Nowhere | Now Here, an exhibition of watercolors by the Italian artist, is at Victoria Munroe Fine Art in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, September 29 – October 29, 2022. victoriamunroefineart.com 🇮🇹

The 60th New York Film Festival 2022 is at Film at Lincoln Center, September 30 – October 16, 2022. From $17. 🇦🇷🇫🇷🇮🇹🇳🇮🇷🇴🇪🇸

August 2022

New York City Opera performs highlights from Verdi’s Italian opera “La Traviata” in a picnic performance at Bryant Park in Manhattan’s Garment District on Friday, August 12, 2022 from 7-8:30pm. Free. 🇮🇹

June 2022

Italian American guitarist Al Di Meola (Return to Forever) plays Jazz at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, Tue-Sun, June 7 -12, 2022 at 8pm & 10:30pm (6 & 10pm doors). From $40. 🇮🇹

May 2022

New York City Opera performs highlights from Rossini’s Italian opera “Barber of Seville” in a picnic performance at Bryant Park in Manhattan’s Garment District on May 27, 2022 from 7-8:30pm. Free. 🇮🇹

April 2022

Alessandra Belloni plays Southern Italian Folk music and Alioune Faye, a Griot (West African troubadour), plays Senegalese percussion at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens on Sun, Apr 3 at 1pm. $15. 🇮🇹🇸🇳

Mike Zito Band and Albert Castiglia play Blues guitar at the Iridium in the Times Square Theater District on Tue, Apr 12 at 8pm (6:30pm doors). $35. 🇨🇺🇮🇹

The Metropolitan Opera premieres a new “Lucia di Lammermoor” starring Puerto Rican soprano Nadine Sierra and Mexican tenor Javier Camarena on Sat, Apr 23 at 8pm. From $30. 🇮🇹🇲🇽🇵🇷

March 2022

Propagazioni: Giuseppe Penone at Sèvres is an installation of very meditative Arte Povera porcelains made by the Italian artist at the Sèvres factory in France, at The Frick Collection in the Upper East Side, Thu, Mar 17 – Aug 28. 🇮🇹🇫🇷

Angiola Gatti: Momenti di Luce, works by the Italian artist in ballpoint pen on canvas, is at Ryan Lee Gallery in Chelsea, Thu, Mar 17 – Apr 30. ryanleegallery.com 🇮🇹

Pier Paolo Calzolari: Painting as a Butterfly, new paintings made by the Italian Portuguese artist during pandemic isolation, is at Marianne Boesky Gallery in Chelsea, Mar 18 – Apr 23. marianneboeskygallery.com 🇮🇹🇵🇹

Italian American comic Sebastian Maniscalco brings his “Nobody Does This Tour” to:

• Madison Square Garden in Chelsea on Mon, Mar 21 at 7pm. From $25. 🇮🇹
• Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn on Thu, Mar 24 at 7pm. From $25. 🇮🇹

The Spring Affordable Art Fair of contemporary art under $10,000, is at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, Wed-Sun, Mar 23-27, 2022. From $30. 🇨🇦🇫🇷🇮🇹

January 2022

Surrealism Beyond Borders is at The Met Fifth Avenue in Central Park to Jan 30, 2022. 🇨🇺🇭🇹🇲🇶🇵🇷 | 🇦🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴 | 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸

Lucio Pozzi: Time and Again 1974 / 2018 / 2021 is at Hal Bromm Gallery in the Financial District to Jan 25, 2022. 🇮🇹

New Year’s, based on the Roman calendar, is Jan 1. 🇮🇹

2021

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks play Hot Jazz for Swing dancing at Bond 45 Downstairs in the Times Square Theater District on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8-11pm. $25 + $25 minimum 🇮🇹

Christmas, the world’s most popular Italian holiday is Sat, Dec 25. 🇮🇹

The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhall’s directorial debut based on Elena Ferrante’s Italian novel, opens at IFC Center in the West Village on Fri, Dec 17 with director Q&As Fri, Dec 17 at 8pm. $13. 🇮🇹

Chris Botti’s 17th Holiday Residency is at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, Dec 6, 2021 – Jan 2, 2022 (including Christmas and New Year’s Eve) at 8 & 10:30pm (6 & 10pm doors). From $55. 🇮🇹

COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet is at The Joyce in Chelsea for two weeks, Tue-Sun, Nov 16-28. From $26. joyce.org 🇨🇴🇮🇹🇺🇸

Tanino Liberatore: Poetry Interrupted! is at Philippe Labaune Gallery in Chelsea to Sat, Nov 13. philippelabuane.com 🇮🇹

Chris Botti plays Jazz Pop at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, on Fri, Nov 12. 🇮🇹

Vera Girivi is at Sargent’s Daughters in Two Bridges, Manhattan to Nov 7. sargentsdaughters.com 🇮🇹

Lino Tagliapietra: Journey (blown glass) is at Heller Gallery in Chelsea to Sat, Nov 6. hellergallery.com 🇮🇹

Tatiana Trouvé: From March to May at Gagosian Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side ends Oct 30. gagosian.com 🇮🇹

The E/AB Editions Artists’ Book Fair is virtual Oct 18-31. FREE eabfair.org 🇧🇷🇨🇦🇫🇷🇮🇱🇮🇹🇲🇽

The Medici: Portraits & Politics 1512-1570 is at The Met Fifth Avenue through Oct 11, 2021. From $12. 🇮🇹

The 59th New York Film Festival is at Film at Lincoln Center, Fri, Sep 24 – Oct 10. 🇦🇴🇧🇴🇧🇷🇨🇦🇨🇴🇫🇷🇮🇳🇮🇹🇲🇽🇵🇹🇷🇴🇪🇸🇺🇸

The Feast of San Gennaro is in Manhattan’s Little Italy Sep 16-26. FREE. 🇮🇹

Moschino shows offsite at New York Fashion Week on Thu, Sep 9, 2021 at 2pm. 🇮🇹

---

Italian Culture

Classical music, opera and ballet have Italian origins. Italian fashion is popular. In the U.S. Italian culture has largely become U.S. American culture. Everybody eats pasta and pizza these days.

The Romans absorbed Greek culture from Greek communities in Southern Italy, and spread this culture around the Mediterranean. When Rome fell, the culture was preserved in Spain by Jewish poets working for Muslim sultans and Christian kings. The Italian Renaissance made Italian culture a pan-European culture. This culture took over the world during the Colonial Era.

The influence of Roman Catholicism is profound, even in traditions that we no longer see as religious. Christmas is just one example of an Italian tradition that has lost its religious meaning.

---

Little Italy NYC

New York City has many Little Italys. The most popular are the Little Italy neighborhood in Downtown, Manhattan, and Arthur Avenue in The Bronx.

Little Italy, Manhattan

• Little Italy, Downtown
• Italian East Harlem

Little Italy, The Bronx

• Arthur Avenue
• Morris Park

Little Italy, Brooklyn

• Bensonhurst
• Dyker Heights
• Carroll Gardens
• Italian Williamsburg

Little Italy, Queens

• Ozone Park
• Howard Beach
• Middle Village

Little Italy, Staten Island

• Rosebank

---

Italian Heritage Day

Italian Heritage Day was formerly Columbus Day.

We now know that Columbus was a terribly evil man. He wasn’t the great navigator we are led to believe. He was lost, and his crews were going to die, when Indigenous Taíno of the Bahamas rescued them in 1492. The Calabash squash crossed the Atlantic as long as 10,000 years ago, so the squash was much smarter than Columbus. Once you enter the trade winds and currents, there is no turning back until you arrive in the Americas. He was just lucky to survive.

Columbus lied about “discovering” the Americas to claim the reward for himself. The colonizers he brought immediately enslaved the Indigenous in what today we would call death camps. The workers didn’t just give up and die. They were worked to death. Eventually Colombus’ Spanish sponsors called him back to Spain, stripped his wealth and power, and jailed him for how badly he abused Indigenous Americans.

Columbus Day was started in the United States to discourage the lynching of Italian Americans after a major incident forced the US Government to pay reparations to Italy.

The celebration transformed “Italians” into “Americans.” Nobody thinks of Italian Americans as “others” any more. That’s why it is cherished. We are proud of our Italian heritage, but can we get rid of this icon of evil? There are many other great Italians.