After 25 years in business, the homey red sauce Italian restaurant Aunt Suzie's is going to the great cannoli in the sky. The owner, Irene LoRe, posted an open letter on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District website announcing her decision to call it quits on January 1st. LoRe, who is also the executive director of the Fifth Avenue BID, opened Aunt Suzie's when Fifth Avenue was a very different (i.e. seedy) scene, and the closure marks the end of an era. more ›

Though Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino differ in political views, style, and level of crazy, they do have one key thing in common: being Italian. But even with that, former Staten Island BP Guy V. Molinari told the Times, "As Italians, they are very much the opposite of each other." Meaning Paladino doesn't wear his gold chains in the shower? more ›

After an earthquake in central Italy has left over 200 dead, injured hundreds, and made thousands homeless, New York's Italian-American community is mobilizing to lend a hand. Queens College's Maria Fosco told NY1, "The towns there are very old towns, medieval towns. These are old Roman cities, they're not equipped to handle earthquakes," which is why Italian-American Museum president Dr. Joseph Scelsa said, "They will be devastated. The housing will not hold up. We know that people will be homeless as they were in 1980. I worked on the relief fund with Mario Cuomo at the time when he was lieutenant governor. We sent aid over to Italy and we know we're going to have to do that again." (NY1 has details on donations to the IAM.) According to the American Red Cross, it is "ready to provide further assistance if requested. The Italian Red Cross has not yet asked for international assistance." more ›

On Friday Gothamist visited the set of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Undead, a bizarre little indie shooting in the East Village. The movie is a sequel of sorts to Tom Stoppard’s hilarious existential comedy Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, but with “sexy vampires, the Holy Grail and Hamlet.” Jake Hoffman (son of Dustin), who appeared on some Arrested Development episodes, is a broke, frustrated ladies man who jumps at the chance to direct an off-Broadway play written by a pale, mysterious Romanian, played by John Ventimiglia, best known as Artie Bucco in the Sopranos. (Pictured above.) more ›

Last week, Rudy Giuliani ruffled some Italian-American feathers when he did an impersonation of Don Corleone during a California campaign stop. Newsday reports that the former Mayor "recycled" an "old New York gag" by saying, "Thank youse all very much for invitin' me here tuh-day, to this meeting of the families from different parts'a California." more ›

- The "Trouble with Vito" series in the Daily News continues! Now it's a suspect photo of Congressman Vito Fossella with Sesame Street's Elmo and Rosito that has appeared in both re-election media and a "taxpayer-financed constituent mailing." Fossella's people say that muppet picture and other were "indvertently" used on a reelection website. Inadvertently or advertently so the Daily News could plaster it on the front page? more ›

Via Emilia's Traditional Lasagna more ›

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