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  • Events: Reports

    Celebrate la Festa della Repubblica in New York!


    June 2nd is a special day in New York, as Italy celebrates “La Festa della Repubblica” to remember when seventy years ago, Italian men and - for the first time - Italian women went to the polls to choose the form of government that the country would have in the aftermath of World War II.


    For several years the Italian institutions in New York have opened their doors to celebrate their national day in the buildings that house them on 690 Park Avenue, landmarks not only for Italian residents, but also for the very many newyorkers who love Italy.


    This year’s program celebrates "Italy in New York" and will be focused on the ever growing and passionate love story between Italy and New York City, so beautifully simbolised in the cover made by the Italian graphical artist Lorenzo Mattotti in 2010 for the New Yorker and which beautifully serves also as a cover for this special event that will be held Thursday June 2nd in Park Avenue 690 at the Consulate General of Italy in New York.


    The Consulate General will exhibit prestigious works of art and objects from the history of design and the Italian costume. Pieces from the world-famous contemporary painter, Francesco Clemente, and designer, Gaetano Pesce, are on display, along with the famous Salvatore Ferragamo’s 9/11 collection, created in response to the horrors of September 11, 2001. Also on display are Marilyn Monroe’s and Andy Warhol’s Ferragamo shoes, Antonio Pio Saracino’s silk and digital tapestry made in Venice by Rubelli, the prestigious company that made famous around the world the fabric of silk. Four stunning Ferraris will be parked in front of the Consulate’s main entrance.


    Visitors will thus enjoy the privilege of a powerful display of an unusual combination of recent and more traditional artistic and technological Italian wonders that mirrors the tireless creativity of Italy of today in New York.


    To enhance the importance of this day the Consulate General will host initiatives that mark the Italian presence in New York in terms of solidarity, community's sense of belonging and values that are at its basis, civic engagement: a presentation of "Daybreak" by Friends of Foundation Telethon-Italy and the screening of documentaries produced by I-Italy on "Grandparents&Grandchildren in Italian America". To conclude the day, the Pulitzer Price winner Jhumpa Lahiri - who has written her last book in Italian - will do a reading of articles of the first part of Italian Constitution on fundamental principles.


    Media&press are welcome to preview the exhibit on June 2nd at 3pm, at the Consulate General of Italy, located at 690 Park Avenue New York. 




    For info and registration  >>
  • Life & People

    Robert LaPenta to Lead New York City's 2016 Columbus Day Parade


    The Columbus Citizens Foundation announced today that it has named foundation member Robert V. LaPenta as the Grand Marshal of the 72nd Columbus Day Parade, which will take place on Fifth Avenue on Monday, October 10, 2016. Mr. LaPenta is a driven and successful executive and philanthropist, renowned for his leadership experience in the aerospace, defense and electronics industries.



    The annual Columbus Day Parade, organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation and presented by the Conair Corporation, is the world's largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture in the United States. 



    The Columbus Day Parade was first started in 1929 when New York City businessman and Italian immigrant Generoso Pope led a parade from East Harlem to Columbus Circle. The parade has since become an ongoing celebration of the contributions of Italian Americans to the landscape of New York and to the United States. 




    As Grand Marshal, Mr. LaPenta will lead dozens of marching bands and floats and hundreds of marching groups in a non-stop parade of family entertainment and Italian-American celebration.


    Raised in a three-family home in Yonkers, New York, Mr. LaPenta was one of three children raised by first generation Italian-American immigrants and currently resides in Westport, Connecticut. Mr LaPenta is Founding General Partner of Aston Capital Partners, a newly formed private investment company specializing in military intelligence, homeland security companies and companies involved in green technology. He often speaks of the importance that education has played in the development of his career and has said that, instead of comic books, he grew up reading the business pages.




    Mr LaPenta was the first member of his family to attend college, and credits much of his success to hard work and focus. At his alma mater, Iona College, he is responsible for donating the largest single gift in that institution’s history. He has been an active and proud member of the Columbus Citizens Foundation since 1994, and was previously an Honoree at the Foundation’s 2011 Columbus Day Celebrations.


    "Mr. LaPenta is a game changer in the world of business, and we are incredibly honored to have him not only as Grand Marshal of this year’s parade but also as a member of our foundation," said Angelo Vivolo, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. "His selection as Grand Marshal exemplifies the core purpose of the Columbus Day Parade – to celebrate the achievements, success and heritage of the Italian American."

    "It is a true honor to be named Grand Marshal of a parade that celebrates Italian-American achievement," said Mr. LaPenta. "I cannot wait to lead the march down Fifth Avenue with my family in October.”




    MORE ABOUT THE COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION

    The Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York's Fifth Avenue since 1929. For more information, contact [email protected]



    MORE ABOUT ROBERT V. LAPENTA

    Robert V. LaPenta has more than 40 years of executive management experience and has generated billions of dollars of shareholder wealth throughout his professional career. He is Founding General Partner of Aston Capital Partners, a newly formed private investment company specializing in military intelligence, homeland security companies and companies involved in green technology. Until August 2011, Mr. LaPenta was Chairman, CEO and President of L-1 Identity Solutions, which he co-founded in June 2005 with a $100 million investment in the biometric, authentication and credentialing company Viisage. In five years, Mr. LaPenta built the firm into the largest biometric identity solution company in the world. It was acquired in August 2011 by S    afran Morpho for $1.6 billion. 
    Previously, Mr. LaPenta co-founded L-3 Communications in 1997, following a successful 24-year executive career at Loral Corporation. He and a partner formed L-3 as a leveraged buyout of ten advanced electronics business units from Lockheed Martin. As President, CFO and board member of L-3, he guided the company from $500 million to $8 billion in annual revenue and a stock-price appreciation from $5 to $170 pre-split.

    In various positions culminating as the corporate Senior Vice President and CFO for Loral Corporation from 1972 to 1996, he helped grow revenue and market capitalization from $20 million to $7 billion.

    Mr. LaPenta’s hobbies include golf, boating and skiing in addition to owning and breeding thoroughbred horses since founding Whitehorse Stables in 2001. Mr. LaPenta’s horses have won the Belmont Stakes, the Florida Derby twice and several other graded stakes races. War Pass, one of Mr. LaPenta’s most successful horses, won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was voted the Eclipse Award as the champion two-year-old. To date, his horses have earned over $30 million in purses and sales.

    Mr. LaPenta is a graduate of Iona College, a member of the Board of Trustees and has donated approximately $10 million towards the construction of the LaPenta Student Union Building, the Ryan library, and the trading floor and business center for the Hagan School of Business. Mr. LaPenta recently committed an additional $17.5 million to help build a new business school at Iona College which is expected to be completed in 2018. Mr. LaPenta’s family includes his son, Robert V. LaPenta Jr, daughter-in-law Aryn and three grandchildren. He and his wife Laurie live in Westport, CT.

  • Events: Reports

    THIS WEEKEND on i-italyTV/NYC Life


     
  • Events: Reports

    Grandparents & Grandchildren in Italian America - Nonni e nipoti nell'America italiana

    The  project explores the relationship between different generations of Italians in America and is narrated firsthand by the protagonists. Five couples of grandparents and grandchildren tell their stories in a conversation that touches on central issues concerning Italian identity in the US. 

    Introductory remarks by:

    - Francesco Genuardi, Consul General of Italy in New York 

    - Michael Arena, Pulitzer Prize, Director for Communications and Marketing, CUNY

    Presentations by:

    - Gaetano Calà (Director of ANFE and member of CGIE)

    - Letizia Airos (Editor in Chief and co-founder i-Italy)

    - Ottorino Cappelli, PhD (Project Manager and co-founder i-Italy) 

    The protagonists of the video will be present. 

    They include:

    - Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Amanda Cole

    - Joseph Tusiani and Paola Tusiani

    - Aileen Riotto Sirey and Emma Bankier

    - Rosaria Liuzzo and Mara Sparacino

    - John P. Calvelli and John D. Calvelli

    WHEN: Italy National Day, June 2nd, 5PM 

    WHERE: The Consulate General of Italy in New York, 690 Park Ave.

    The first conversations will run on our television show, which airs every week on NYCTV (Channel25 & 525). Immediately after airing, they will be made available on the web (www.i-Italy.org) 

    Il progetto è stato realizzato con ll sostegno del Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale - Direzione Generale per gli Italiani all'Estero e le Politiche Migratorie. 

  • Facts & Stories

    Mark Mazzetti of the New York Times Wins the 2016 Urbino Press Awards



    Washington DC, May 11, 2016 – The New York Times reporter Mark Mazzetti is the winner of the 2016 Urbino Press Award, the Italian prize that is awarded annually to an American reporter or columnist. The prize will be awarded during a ceremony to be held over the summer at the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino.
     
    "The choice of Mark Mazzetti as winner of the 2016 Urbino Press Award is a testament to the recognition of the value of entrepreneurship and of journalistic dynamism" said the Italian Ambassador in Washington, D.C. Armando Varricchio." The partnership of the Embassy with the Urbino Press Award is the result of a significant cooperation that looks to the future of journalism and to the way foreign policy is narrated to the readers, and Mazzetti was therefore added to a list of important American journalists who have distinguished themselves in journalistic investigation."
     
    Mark Mazzetti has been the Washington correspondent of the New York Times on national security issues since 2006. Prior to joining the New York Times Mazzetti was staff writer with the Los Angeles Times, Pentagon correspondent for US News & World Report, and Washington D.C. correspondent for the Economist. An investigation carried out in 2009 with other colleagues on the increase in violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan and on how US policy reacted to such violence won him the Pulitzer Prize. Mark Mazzetti is the author of the book "The Way of the Knife: The CIA, Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth" published in 2013.
     
    "When more than a decade ago, with Giovanni Lani, we created  the Urbino Press Award” - says Giacomo Guidi, fashion designer and co-founder of the award – “we thought, with the highest philanthropic sentiment, of a cultural event that could create something useful for the city and the territory. I believe that with our engagement, and contributions of various organizations, we were able to build a real bridge with the United States of America. During these past years, the award-winning journalists, beacons of excellence of the most prestigious U.S. print media, presented an extraordinary testimony, narrating the facts of this complicated decade. They made us understand that at the foundation of their daily work, often conducted in high-risk places, there is a deep sense of duty to keep the public informed, as well as the greatest respect for the truth. This is the great lesson that the Urbino Press Award winners, year after year, have offered to the city of Urbino. "
     
    "With great engagement - says the Mayor of Urbino Maurizio Gambini - the institutions of the city, including the Urbino International Centre and the Marche Region, have renewed their support for the prize for the U.S. press, now in its eleventh edition. The fact that the name of the city of Urbino is linked to an international cultural initiative of excellence makes us proud. The Urbino Press Award offers a great chance for the whole region to play its role on the world stage. The Washington event is an excellent opportunity to develop contacts with the U.S. media and with various sectors of the U.S. economy. The follow-on award ceremony that takes place in the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino is always an exciting event which allows us to take a front seat on the international stage."
     
    The Urbino Press Award, with its Chairman Giovanni Lani, counts among its previous winners Diane Rehm, Michael Weisskopf, Martha Raddatz, Thomas Friedman, David Ignatius, Helene Cooper, Sebastian Rotella, Wolf Blitzer, Maria Bartiromo, and Gwenn Ifill. The award is made possible through the generous support of the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington D.C., the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), the fashion house Piero Guidi, the Marche Region, the City of Urbino, the Urbino International Centre, and the dairy industry Val D'Apsa.
     

     

  • La Festa della Repubblica a New York


    Settanta anni fa, il 2 giugno del 1946 gli italiani e, per la prima volta, anche le italiane si recarono alle urne per scegliere, attraverso un referendum popolare, la forma di Stato che l’Italia avrebbe avuto dopo la fine della seconda guerra mondiale e la sconfitta del fascismo. Negli stessi giorni, il popolo italiano fu chiamato ad eleggere un’Assemblea Costituente con il compito di redigere la nuova Costituzione dello Stato italiano. Dopo 85 anni di monarchia gli italiani scelsero di diventare una Repubblica e il 1° gennaio 1948 la Costituzione dell’Italia repubblicana entrò ufficialmente in vigore.

     
    In tutto il mondo, le rappresentanze diplomatiche italiane onorano la Festa della Repubblica il 2 giugno insieme alla comunità italiana e alle autorità locali. Da alcuni anni le istituzioni italiane di New York hanno deciso di celebrare la festa nazionale negli edifici che le ospitano e che rappresentano un punto di riferimento non solo per gli italiani residenti e di passaggio, ma anche per tutti i newyorkers che amano l’Italia.
     
    Quest’anno il programma delle nostre celebrazioni avra’ come filo conduttore “La presenza dell'Italia a New York” e sara’ incentrato sui forti legami che, in particolare in campo culturale ed economico, da sempre contraddistinguono il davvero speciale rapporto del nostro Paese con questa citta’. Il Consolato Generale sarà una vetrina nella quale saranno esposte prestigiose opere d'arte e oggetti appartenenti alla storia del design e del costume italiani, tutti con un legame particolare con New York.
     
    Per dare ulteriore risalto all’importanza, anche simbolica, di questa giornata ospiteremo inoltre in Consolato tre iniziative che ben rappresentano il profilo della nostra presenza a New York in termini di solidarietà, radicamento della comunità e valori, anche in temadi impegno civico, che la caratterizzano. Inizieremo con la presentazione dell'organizzazione  “Daybreak” a cura di Friends of Telethon Foundation-Italy, seguirà la proiezione di filmati realizzati da I-Italy nel contesto del progetto “Nonne e nipoti nell’America italiana” che prevede la partecipazione, fra gli altri, di Matilda Cuomo e, per finire, un momento di approfondimento sulla Repubblica italiana, di cui quest’anno ricorre il 70esimo anniversario, con la lettura di alcuni articoli contenuti nella prima parte della nostra Costituzione da parte della scrittrice americana, vincitrice del premio Pulitzer, Jhumpa Lahiri, autrice di un ultimo libro scritto in lingua italiana.
     
    Per tutto il 2 giugno le sedi delle nostre Istituzioni saranno accessibili e ospiteranno manifestazioni musicali, artistiche, culturali ed eventi che esalteranno le eccellenze italiane in ogni campo.
     
     
     
    PROGRAMMA
     
    1 giugno 2016
     
    17.00 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). "Sun, Wind and Sea: renewable energies for a sustainable future of Islands", seminario sulle eccellenze italiane in materia di tecnologie ambientali ed energetiche per le isole, in collaborazione con Associazione Marevivo e Fondazione UniVerde e con la partecipazione del Sottosegretario all'Ambiente, On. Silvia Velo.
     
    2 giugno 2016
     
    11.00 –17.00 -Agenzia ICE di New York (33 East 67th Street). "Authentic Italian Food".
     
    16.15 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). Presentazione di "DayBreak. Friends of Telethon Foundation Italy".
     
    16.30 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). Consegna Onorificenze.
     
    17.00 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). Presentazione del progetto di i'Italy "Nonni e nipoti nell'America italiana".
     
    18.00 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). Lettura della Costituzione della Repubblica italiana da parte del premio Pultizer Jhumpa Lahiri; gli studenti della Scuola d'Italia cantano l'Inno di Mameli e l'Inno alla Gioia; saluto delle Istituzioni.
     
    19.00 – 20.00 - Istituto Italiano di Cultura (686 Park Avenue). Concerto Rossano Sportiello Jazz-trio con Rossano Sportiello, Nicky Parrott e Marion Felder.
     
    3 giugno 2016
     
    16.00 - Consolato Generale d'Italia (690 Park Avenue). Tavola rotonda sulla promozione della lingua e cultura italiana, alla presenza di una delegazione del Senato della Repubblica guidata dal Sen. Claudio Micheloni, Presidente del Comitato per le questioni degli italiani all'estero.
     
    20.30 – 22.00 pm- Furman Gallery Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street). Premiere di "Open Roads: New Italian Cinema 2016", offerto dall'Agenzia ICE in collaborazione con LuceCinecitta' e Film Society del Lincoln Center.
     
    Dal 20 maggio al 8 luglio, l'Istituto di Cultura (686 Park Avenue) ospitera' la mostra
    Il 2 giugno la mostra sara' aperta dalle 14.00 alle 18.00
     
     
     
    Si ringraziano coloro che hanno contribuito alla realizzazione della giornata, in particolare FRANCESCO CLEMENTE, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, FERRARI, iGUZZINI, JHUMPA LAHIRI, LORENZO MATTOTTI, GAETANO PESCE, ANTONIO PIO SARACINO, SEBASTIANO TRONCHETTI PROVERA e tutte le aziende italiane per il loro sostegno.




    Per tutte le informazioni fare riferimento al sito del Consolato Generale >>
  • Facts & Stories

    NIAF Commemorates Memory of Judge Giovanni Falcone, Francesca Morvillo, and Security Agents





    The National Italian American Foundation and U.S. Italy Fulbright Commission join the Fondazione Giovanni e Francesca Falcone in honoring the memory of Judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and the three agents of his security detail, who were tragically killed 24 years ago, on May 23, 1992.
     
    “The legacy of the Falcones is one that has inspired Italians and Italian Americans alike to stand up to the worst of our society and actively pursue integrity and fairness.  We at NIAF seek to honor their sacrifice and help spread their message of faith in what is right,” said NIAF President John M. Viola.
     
    In remembering Judge Falcone's legacy, and all Mafia victims, these three institutions have created the Fulbright -Fondazione Falcone-NIAF Awards for an Italian and a U.S. citizen doing research in the fields of criminology.  NIAF encourages interested U.S. and Italian students to apply for the 2017-2018 edition. "The Fulbright Commission is proud to have partnered with NIAF and Fondazione Falcone to provide opportunities to youth who believe in justice and the rule of law," said the Commission's Executive Director, Paola Sartorio. 
     
    The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization with its headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org.
     

      
  • Events: Reports

    THIS WEEKEND on i-italyTV/NYC Life


     

  • DINING OUT SPECIAL - Cafes and Coffee Shops in the City

    Italians wake up by preparing coffee, spreading the aroma of the most popular drink in the ‘Bel Paese’ throughout their homes. Yet there is no precise schedule for drinking a good cup of coffee; you can savor an espresso just after lunch, in the middle of the afternoon or after dinner. So, along with Italian flavors, New York coffee shops are also adapting Americans to the customs of Italians—who, even in the “Starbucks capital,” often sip their coffee perched at the bar.

    UPPER EAST SIDE 

    Da Capo
    1392 Madison Avenue
    (917) 526-8112
    www.dacaponyc.com
    cuisine traditional ambience rustic
    price $$
    Serving the typical “granita” (a sort of Slushy made from sugar, water and flavorings) that Sicilians normally eat at breakfast, a barista wearing the fa- mous and traditional Sicilian hat called a “coppola” and a long bar to sip your coffee. The island in the south of Italy has inspired Da Capo, a coffee shop opened by the same owner as Zibetto Espresso Bar which has transformed an old bagel shop in Carnegie Hill into a new cafe to drink a coffee or have a snack. At Da Capo, which in Italian means ‘to restart from the beginning’, you can try a unique coffee blend from Bologna in a small and rustic yet ele- gant setting. Savor an espresso, double espresso or macchiato alongside small Piedmontese desserts such as “Baci di Dama” (“Lady’s Kisses”). Da Capo also offers a selection of Italian sandwiches, the most classic being made with Par- ma ham and buffalo mozzarella.

    Via Quadronno
    25 East 73rd Street
    (212) 650-9880
    www.viaquadronno.com
    cuisine homemade ambience friendly
    price $$

    There is a small street in the Porta Romana neighborhood of Milan where a young baker named Giuseppe Tusi used to prepare sandwiches in the late 1960s. It is from that street name, via Quadronno, that the story of this cafe began, arriving in Manhattan between the turn of the century. Via Quadronno - which today has two branches in New York - carries a long Italian tradition that can be seen in the menu. Both a sandwich shop and a restaurant, Via Quadronno is the perfect place to relax and sip an authentic cappuccino after visiting one of the Upper East Side’s museums. Amongst its specialties there is also a coffee known as “marocchino”, one of the many varieties of Italian espresso; a small cappuccino with a pinch of cocoa powder.

    Midtown
    Zibetto Espresso Bar
    1221 6th Avenue
    (646) 838-6364
    www.zibettoespresso.com
    cuisine traditional ambience friendly
    price $$

    Step into this Midtown cafe and you’ll be transported to Italy, thanks to the quality of the coffee, homey at- mosphere and typical Italian custom of drinking your coffee at the bar. Zibetto Espresso Bar has expanded and opened a new branch in the heart of Manhat- tan, upholding its tradition dedicated to four words that in Italian all begin with M: blend (“miscela”), grinder (“macinadosatore”), espresso machine (“macchina espresso”) and the hand of the barista (“mano dell’operatore”). It is on these bases that the coffee shop has built its promise; to brew an original espresso coffee with careful attention, a true blend and the use of typical Ital- ian machinery, but still at a reasonable price. The espresso, cappuccino and macchiato can also be served in the ‘summer’ style - that is with cold milk or with cold foam on the cappuccino. And this is just a small sample of what you can try at the Zibetto Espresso Bar; to truly feel like you’re in Italy you must also savor one of their cream donuts, sfogliatelle, tiramisu or cannoli.

    Macchiato Espresso Bar
    141 East 44th Street
    (212) 867-6772
    www.macchiatocafe.com
    cuisine traditional ambience modern
    price $$

    “Single or double shot?” you’ll be asked at the Macchiato Espresso Bar - though it wouldn’t be unusual to also hear it in Italian - when a single shot isn’t quite enough to wake up. The name Macchiato Espresso Bar doesn’t leave much to the imagination; their specialty is an espresso coffee or mac- chiato, served with a dash of milk. This midtown coffee shop uses a unique blend prepared by baristas of a store called “Macchiato 44” and is best en- joyed alongside a pastry. The atmosphere is deliberately modern though with a touch of the more traditional Italian, such as the long bar where you can stop to order an espresso and drink right there, perched at the counter.The menu of the Macchiato Espresso Bar in- cludes breakfast and also a selection of various sandwiches and salads. So just like in Italy you can enjoy your coffee after a sandwich.

    FLATIRON

    Lavazza (at Eataly)
    200 5th Avenue
    (212) 229-2560
    www.eataly.com
    cuisine typical/modern ambience classic
    price $$

    Inside Eataly, a symbol of Ital- ian excellence, you can’t miss the chance to try one of the oldest and most famous Italian coffees, Lavaz- za. “The more you down it, the more it lifts you up” (“più lo mandi giù e più ti tira sù”) is the historic slogan of the company, founded in 1895 in Turin by Luigi Lavazza. Today Lavaz- za has become one of the symbols of Italian espresso abroad.
    There’s no better way to start the day or to finish a meal than by savoring an Italian coffee while surrounded by Italian flavors inside their Fifth Avenue store. Yet there is more than just coffee and cappuccinos on the menu here; the Lavazza store also serves sandwiches made with the most authentic Italian ingredients. Amongst these is the Val- dostano, prepared with cooked ham and Fontina cheese, and the Tirolese, with smoked ham and Asiago cheese.

    Caffè Vergnano (at Eataly)
    200 5th Avenue
    (212) 229-2560
    www.eataly.com
    cuisine traditional/piemontese ambience classic
    price $$

    An authentic Italian espresso from 1882; Vergnano coffee has a 134 year long history, beginning in a small store in a little village in Turin, Piedmont. The quality of the grains— chosen from various countries around the world—, the high level of attention to the vari- ous phases of preparation, and the use of exclusively Italian coffee ma- chines means you cannot help but find yourself at home in this temple of Italian flavors, in Eataly on Fifth Avenue. Stopping at Vergnano and ordering a coffee is like immersing yourself in an Italian atmosphere and savoring the experience of a true coffee prepared at home, but enjoyed instead at the little counter of the bar. You can choose between espresso coffee or a macchiato with a dash of milk, paired with a home- made dessert, pastry or croissant; an ideal way to start the day or to take a break from work.

    GRAMECY

    Piccolo Cafe
    157 3rd Avenue
    (212) 260-1175
    www.piccolocafe.us
    cuisine typical ambience
    cozy price $

    Sample an authentic Italian espresso in a friendly and cozy atmosphere. Its name is Piccolo Cafe and its phi- losophy is to not only bring a piece of Italy to New York, but also to respect the environment. All of the wood in the cafe is recovered from an ancient Venetian villa and the Italian ambi- ence is accentuated further by a vin- tage collection that belonged to the grandparents and Italian friends of the owners.The Piccolo Cafe has four branches in Manhattan and in each one you will find a wide selection of Italian products, beginning with good coffee. The coffee grains have come from various parts of the world, in- cluding Brazil and South America. They are then toasted in Trieste and turned into a coffee blend. Along with breakfast, the Piccolo Cafe offers typi- cal Italian sandwiches with ham and mozzarella. And if you wish to dine in the restaurant, there is also a vast selection of homemade pasta dishes.

     GREENWICH VILLAGE

    Caffè Reggio
    119 MacDougal Street
    (212) 475-9557
    www.caffereggio.com
    cuisine old style
    ambience sophisticated
    price $$

    A coffee machine from 1902 displayed in the centre of the room, paintings from the 16th century and a true Italian cappuccino. In the heart of Greenwich Village is one of the oldest cafes in New York, taking its name from Reg- gio Emilia, the city in Emilia Romagna that is home to the famous Parmesan cheese. Caffe Reggio opened in 1927 and is one of the pioneers of the cap- puccino in New York; espresso coffee and milk whipped to foam that Italians drink only at breakfast, accompanied by a croissant. Seated at the small tables of Caffe Reggio, a number of celebrities have sipped a cappuccino, including the actor Al Pacino. Still today the cafe continues to be a regular celebrity hangout, both for New Yorkers and tourists. Though famous for its cappuccino, over the decades Caffe Reggio has expanded its menu to serve not only breakfast but also lunch and dinner. Amongst their many specialties there is, for example, the Canarino Voltaire in honor of the renowned philosopher of the French Enlightenment; a generous breakfast of poached eggs on a bed of rice to start the day, of course accompanied by a good coffee. Due to its calm yet sophisticated atmosphere, Caffe Reggio lends itself particularly well to a day spent relaxing sat at one of the many small tables.Take a break during a frantic day surrounded by Italian art and flavors.

    Filicori Zecchini
    42 East 46th Street
    (212) 867-1888
    www.filicorizecchini.it
    cuisine old style
    ambience casual
    price $$

    An Italian story which begun in 1919 in Bologna inside a small store founded by Aldo Filicori and Luigi Zecchini. Today it continues to pass on its passion for coffee by select
    ing its own grains and guaranteeing a quality product based on a strong and decisive aroma. Filicori Zecchini has linked its name to three shops in Manhattan where you can sample an authentic espresso, enhanced by its title of “certified Italian espresso”. There are a variety of blends on offer, including the “Gran crema” for a more mild flavor or “46th & Madi- son”, the result of a synergy between Italian and American tastes. Coffee is the perfect drink to start the day, paired with a croissant or one of the many varieties of chocolates found at the bar of Filicori Zecchini: flavored with orange, vanilla, spices or caramel.

    EAST VILLAGE

    Tarallucci e Vino
    163 First Avenue
    (212) 388-1190
    www.taralluccievino.com
    cuisine homemade
    ambience casual
    price $$

    Inspired by the Italian saying “tutto finisce a tarallucci e vino” (“it all ends with biscuits and wine”), or that in the end everything will be fine, Tarallucci e Vino invites you to sip a good glass of wine accompanied by tarallucci, a small flour-based item resembling a biscuit, though savory. Founded by two Italians, Luca di Pietro from Abruzzo and Lorenzo Baricca from Emilia Romagna, Tarallucci e Vino has four branches in Manhattan with a warm atmosphere typical of Italian cafes and small restaurants. Notably, in their East Village store you can try a true Italian breakfast, which of course must begin

    with a good coffee. The philosophy of the cafe is to bring a slice of Italy to New York with a close attention to high quality and authentic ingredients. Homemade pastries like croissants or donuts filled with cream or chocolate can accompany a good coffee.

    Veniero’s Pastry
    342 East 11th Street
    (212) 674-7070
    www.venierospastry.com
    cuisine typical
    ambience classic
    price $$

    They began serving coffee at the end of the 19th century and after a while also started baking biscotti. This is a story of emigration, the values of the Italian family and the memories of the tradition behind Veniero’s bakery, one of the oldest in New York, opened as far back as 1894 by Antonio Veniero. Emigrated from a small village on the Sorrento coast, Veniero began his business with coffee and biscotti. He made it through the Great Depression of the 20s, and by the 60s he had ex- panded to become one of the most renowned Italian bakeries in New York. In a classic environment with painted ceilings and Venetian decoration, Ve- niero’s is the ideal place to enjoy a slice of cake accompanied by a good coffee. Cannoli, sfogliatelle, biscotti and even the great cheesecake: at Veniero’s everyone can pair a coffee with their fa- vorite dessert.

    LITTLE ITALY

    Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
    195 Grand Street
    (212) 226-6150
    www.ferraranyc.com
    cuisine traditional
    ambience homey
    price $$

    This spot was established in 1892 with the idea of creating a place where lovers of the Italian opera could go after a performance, to re- lax and play cards while drinking a coffee accompanied by biscotti or dessert. Since then the Ferrara Bak- ery, located in the heart of Little Italy, has passed through five generations, expanding its menu to include over 200 specialties of traditional Italian pastries. Managed by the Lepore family, this warm and homey cafe also serves good coffee to accompany the traditional Neapolitan and Sicilian desserts. For those who prefer a weaker coffee, the Ferrara Bakery offers a cappuccino and macchiato— espresso coffee with a dash of milk.

    BROOKLYN

    Fabbrica Restaurant & Bar
    44 N 6th Street
    (718) 218-7045
    www.fabbricanyc.com
    cuisine innovative
    ambience modern/industrial
    price $$

    Italian cuisine revisited with a mod- ern touch, a space decorated with a large mural by a Brooklyn artist and a name to remember the factories of Williamsburg. On the waterfront of Williamsburg you will find Fabbrica, an Italian restaurant with a distinctly Italian-style menu: antipasto, primo (starter), secondo (main) and a good coffee to finish.The atmosphere is ele- gant as light filters in through the large windows; Fabbrica is the perfect spot to stop and savor Italian flavors and to sip an authentic Italian espresso. Or- der a coffee to conclude your dinner or to start the day, pairing it with one of the many desserts prepared skill- fully by the chef. Amongst these, the tiramisu is a standout item; a dessert prepared by soaking biscuits in coffee and covering them with a cream made from mascarpone, eggs and sugar.

    A-Roma Bakery Cafe
    475 Grand Street
    (718) 388-8182
    www.aromabakerycafebk.com
    cuisine italian & american ambience casual
    price $

    A small neighborhood cafe with a huge variety of homemade pastries, amongst which are some incredible donuts—soft dough, circular-shaped pastry covered in sugar. Yet these are only one of the specialties at the A-Roma Bakery Cafe, located in Williamsburg and popular for its break- fasts.There is a distinct Italian tone in the choice of drinks, beginning with the espresso coffee, macchiato and cappuccino along with their more refreshing versions, such as cold milk and iced coffee. These drinks accompany a number of pastries that vary from meringues to tiramisu, from filled croissants to cannoli with ricotta and cream. Though the Italian touch is somewhat small, it is paired with an American tradition; at the A-Roma Bakery you can also order a bagel with cream cheese and salmon.

    THE BRONX

    De Lillo Cafe & Pastry Shop
    610 East 187 Street
    (718) 367-8198
    www.delillopastryshop.com
    cuisine traditional
    ambience homey
    price $

    They left Calabria in search of the American Dream. It was 1925 when the two brothers, Rocco and Joe De Lillo emigrated to seek their fortune in America and to bring a piece of Italy to New York. There is well over a century of history behind the De Lillo bakery in the Bronx, a place where you can en- joy a true espresso coffee. Today the De Lillo bakery evokes a homey Italian atmosphere inside a large space, where cakes are displayed on the counter. Sicilian cannoli, Neapolitan baba and chocolate and cream desserts perfectly complement an authentic Italian cof- fee prepared with care and love. Just a stone’s throw from Arthur Avenue, this street in the Bronx has long since become another Little Italy. The De Lillo bakery is the expression of that community, a spokesperson for the authentic flavors of Italy.

    STATEN ISLAND

    Pasticceria Bruno
    676 Forest Avenue
    (718) 448-0993
    www.pasticceriabruno.com
    cuisine homemade ambience classic
    price $$

    Bruno Pasticceria opened in 1973 aiming to bring Italian excellence to New York. In 2008, they cut the ribbon on their shop in Staten Island, where Italian chefs delight our taste buds from breakfast until lunch and dinner. Amongst the specialties of the bakery, you cannot miss Italy’s most popular drink—espresso coffee prepared with careful attention to quality and using exclusively Italian coffee machines. Espresso, macchiato and even cap- puccino can be sampled at Pasticce- ria Bruno, alongside a slice of cake, biscotti or perhaps the house specialty named “Torta del secolo” (“Cake of the Century”), a chocolate mousse with a layer of pears and hazelnuts.
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