November 2020
restaurants giving back
🇮🇹 Aldo's Ristorante Italiano prepped this fabulous lineup of 200 servings of chicken marsala over penne pasta and donated them to The Franciscan Center in Baltimore to serve to their underprivileged clients. Proprietor Sergio Vitale of Aldo's is pictured left with other volunteers at the center.

🇮🇹Vaccaro's donates 10% to the Maryland SPCA for each bag of doggie biscotti they sell in their locations.

🇮🇹Sabatino's asks customers for $5 per order to donate back to those nonprofits who host a Sab's in the Suburbs.

🇮🇹La Scala Ristorante Italiano celebrates 25 years! During October the restaurant donated 10% of its mercato sales to the March of Dimes; during November, the recipient charity will be Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As well, it is running a Feed Baltimore campaign - for every two pounds of pasta sold, La Scala donates one pound with sauce to Our Daily Bread to help feed the less fortunate families in Baltimore.

🇮🇹 Angeli's Pizzeria is contributing to reducing their carbon footprint. "We want to come together and strengthen our community. If you have any empty wine bottles, please let us take them off your hands!" For each bottle, your order will be discounted by $1. Bring 15 wine bottles, get a free large cheese pizza! "We are glad to be a part of Baltimore’s community!"
HIRING: Angeli's team is growing ... they seek energetic, driven, and professional cooks, servers, and bussers to join the staff. Contact Juniet Ozturk by emailing your resume.

🇮🇹 Chiapparelli's supported Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and its KIDS CAN’T WAIT fundraiser. On October 16th, Chip's 'Family Meal' specials donated a percentage of sales to Johns Hopkins.

🇮🇹 Germano's Piattini owners Cyd & Germano are busy setting up the NEW Madonnari Gallery which will house an exhibit dedicated to the art of the Madonnari and present ongoing exhibits of featured artists, art, and antiques for purchase. Sneak-peek-it Saturday, November 7th / 3-6 pm as they host a Book Signing for Promotion Center for Little Italy launching Italians in Baltimore. Pictured below is a partial piece of the gorgeous mural painted on the outside wall at 227 Slemmer's Alley.
around the neighborhood
Maryland Governor issues Italian American Proclamation
On October 20, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a Proclamation "WHEREAS, the State of Maryland recognizes the important contributions the Italian and Italian American people have made to this state and country throughout our history ... WHEREAS, during the month of October, Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the Italian American community and to exhibit gratitude for its culture and heritage that have immediately enriched the lives of the people of our nation and the world ..."
This Proclamation is deserving for all of our Italian American brothers and sisters throughout the great state of Maryland. Baltimore's Italian community is grateful to Governor Hogan for this important recognition!
WE VOTE FOR RAVIOLI!
Carryout Ravioli Dinner
Sunday, November 15
11 am to 4 pm
$13 per meal

Includes ravioli or spaghetti, meatballs, garden salad, and fresh Italian bread. No dine-in this year, sadly, CARRYOUT ONLY. But carryout ravioli is better than no ravioli at all, si???
Associated Italian American Charities of MD fundraises in absence of fall dinner dance
AIAC has launched a charitable fundraising campaign with a goal of $100,000 to help fund donations for 2020 which are gifted to a number of charities it supports. "This year has been a tough year for all of us," said Mike Gallerizzo, AIAC Dinner Dance co-chair, "however, we should never forget our charitable mission and the moral obligation we have to help those in need."
Since 1953 AIAC has contributed millions of dollars to many
charitable programs.
Pandola Learning Center offering in-center* and online sessions
ITALIAN ARANCINE
12-1:30pm, $25
Sat, November 7
In the Learning Center, Little Italy chef and Joe Benny’s proprietor, Joe Gardella, will demonstrate how to make these scrumptious, rice balls filled with cheese or meat.

BOOK CLUB
12-1pm; no fee
Sat, November 14
In the Learning Center, book discussion facilitated by Carmella Walsh, Ph.D, on the title, The Daily Miracle: A Memoir of Newspapering.

MALLOREDDUS
12-2 pm, $15
Sat, December 5
Also called gnocchetti, Sardi, or little Sardinian gnocchi, learn to make this typical pasta from Sardinia, Italy, without eggs or fancy equipment. Instructor Laurie Anne Filippi Boucher, Esquire, Chef. ONLINE GOOGLE CLASSROOM
*In-Center sessions will follow government guidelines for safety and protection due to COVID. Complete a registration form on pandolalearningcenter.org, including your email address. Need more info? Contact Rosalie Ranieri, principal, 410-866-8494 or by email.
Homemade Italian Christmas Cookies in the oven!
Using authentic recipes their grandmothers brought from Italy, these cookies are baked by Lodge members. Order early - these sweets sell out quickly.

  • $12 for container up to 15 oz.
  • $6 for 10 pizzelle
  • order by email, include phone #, quantity, pickup date
  • pickup at Lodge Sat/Dec 5 (1-4p) or Sun/Dec 6 (10a- 2p), 905 E. Pratt Street.
(sample photo only -
actual cookie order will differ)
dues are due
Little Italy Lodge Members ... watch for an email soon that will allow you to charge annual Lodge dues. If you prefer to pay by check, use the address shown.

Little Italy Lodge OSIA #2286
Attn: Membership
905 E. Pratt Street
Little Italy/Baltimore MD 21202
WIN CASH in Knights of Columbus Raffle
St. Leo's Knights of Columbus Council / St. Vincent Pallotti Council #14535 supports various programs such as Coats for Kids, Catholic School Tuition Aid, and Feed the Hungry. Purchase a raffle ticket after 9:30 Masses from Fran Blattermann or call 410.207.7075.

Star Spangled Banner Flag House in Little Italy has long Italian ties

At the north corner of Little Italy, Baltimore, stands a proud brick building with a long and interesting history. The 1793 Star-Spangled Banner Flag House is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest houses in Baltimore. It has housed Italian residents and businesses, including a pharmacy, a steamship ticket office, Banco di Napoli, and a telegraph service. It was once owned and occupied by Mary Young Pickersgill, maker of the original American flag that flew at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to our Star Spangled Banner. Today, it is a flag museum and gift shop.
October 19 marked the 50th anniversary
of the Flag House's dedication as a National Historic Landmark, which is identified with this landmark plaque.
blast from the past
honoring Veteran's Day November 11
These images - submitted by Italian families - appear in Chapter 6 titled, Italian Americans Serving the USA, in the new book, Italians in Baltimore.
In 1953, at a US Coast Guard training base in Cape May, New Jersey, during the Korean War, seaman recruits engaged in small-boat exercises as they raced against seamen from other barracks. Upon graduation, they became seamen, first class. Carmen Meo drew arrows to himself in this photograph (“me”) and to “a friend,” Arnold Firesheets. Meo is the son of Italian immigrants Phillip Meo from Riposto, Sicily, and Silvera Fiori from Frosinone. Carmen grew up at 227 South High Street in Little Italy. (Courtesy Carmen Meo.)
Pictured while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Charlie Giro stands with Albert Riggio and two other Army buddies behind a promotional sign for a Lena Horne show in San Antonio, Texas. As the war approached, it was estimated that nearly one million Italian Americans served in the armed forces, and millions more were employed in war-related industries. After the war, many returning servicemen got married and moved out of Little Italy. (Courtesy Denise Giacomelli)
Servicemen stand at the entrance of the former Luge’s Confectionery in 1942, a popular neighborhood hangout owned by Luca & Antonia Granese. From the left are Dom Sergi, George Durago, Antonia Granese, Lou Catalfo, Sr., Lou Pizza, and Anthony “Don Jollio” Palmisano. Today, the site is home to Sabatino’s Italian Restaurant, one of the oldest family restaurants in Little Italy – in operation since 1955 and owned and operated by Vince Culotta and Renato Rotondo and families. The restaurant is named after Sabatino Luperini, an Italian immigrant who established it with his paesano, Joseph Canzani. (Courtesy Will Matricciani)
Italians in Baltimore book is here!
book signings
Interested in setting up a walk-through book signing
for your Italian-related venue or org?
🇮🇹 Madonnari Gallery 🇮🇹
227 Slemmer's Alley
Sat, November 7
3:00-6:00 pm
🇮🇹 Vaccaro's 🇮🇹
222 Albemarle Street
Sat, December 12
1:30-5:30 pm
🇮🇹 Cafe Troia 🇮🇹
31 Allegheny Ave, Towson
Tuesday, November 17
5:30-7:30 pm
just for fun
Il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio.

Translation = Old habits die hard.
Literal translation = The wolf loses its fur
but not the vice.

Pictured is the Italian Wolf, also known as the Apennine wolf, a proposed subspecies of grey wolf native to the Italian Peninsula. It inhabits the Apennine Mountains and the Western Alps. As of 2019, its population was approximately 700.
Did you know you can choose Promotion Center for Little Italy as your charity of choice on your amazon account? Amazon will donate a % to us with each purchase.
from our e-mailbox
"Best issue yet. We loved the link to 31 days of Italians. We really appreciated all of the updates and shout-outs to the generous, hard working restaurant owners in Baltimore’s best neighborhood.
Lovely to see all of the options they are offering right now. Stay well and Thanks!"
~ Garry & Maureen C.

"Phenomenal issue!!!"
~ Jeanne B

"I just received and read with delight the latest issue of Neighborhood News [October]. I think it’s the best you have ever done!"
~ Carl S

"Great issue. Thanks."
~ Sue C.

"What happened to all the 'brave' Italians when the time came to stop the Columbus statue from being pulled down?"
~ Juliana Mc.
"The world has evolved, the Italian Community has evolved and we must continue to evolve to meet the changing attitude, customs, desires, of the Italian Americans – who we are. Let’s face it; we are not our parents and our children are not us. However, we can only continue the tradition and our Italian heritage if we move forward. We learn from the past to improve the future."
~ Lou M.
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nonprofit (unfunded) Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore
"I am glad to support your publication and the awareness you
bring to the Italian American Community in Baltimore."
~ Fred Militello, 212 Mortgage
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Celebrating 10 years! Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2010 with a mission to promote Little Italy's events, community organizations, church, history, and Italian heritage.