Ciao Italia family Classics, Interview and Giveaways!

"Abbondanza!" (Italian: NOUN - Abundance, richness) That is the spirit of the new book release, Ciao Italia Family Classics by Author/Chef/TV Host, Mary Ann Esposito of Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito coming out late October just in time for Italian Heritage Month. Enjoy this culinary jewel complete with more than three generations of Mary Ann's family recipes.

"You cannot seperate food and family with an Italian family because the center of it is love."

-- Mary Ann Esposito
TV Host/Author/Chef

Listen here for an exclusive CiaoDC.com interview with Mary Ann Esposito.

DC's Festa Italiana 2011

The 13th Annual Festa Italiana promises to be all things Italian to Washingtonians and festa goers alike. Celebrating in the heart of -- what was once DC's Little Italy and is now trendy Penn Quarter -- 3rd and F Streets, NW will scream Italiana with red, white and green gelato popsicles by DC's own Dolci Gelati; pig-spitting porchetta by Toscana Cafe; homemade pizza and pasta; cannoli; and cup cakes?!; opera singing; stilt walking, oh my! Plus, CiaoDC's old time Marketing Partner and friend, Elio Scaccio will be Master of Ceremonies and will perform songs from his latest CD, Lettere D'Amore. Other entertainment on tap will include The Duke Ellington Opera Singers and Former Miss Ohio soprano, Andrea Beagel with her band, Ciao Bella. All this and more will come alive opposite Holy Rosary Italian Catholic Church and Casa Italiana. Kids activities, live entertainment and good eats are a sure bet this year. Come out and visit CiaoDC.com's canopy at Festa too. Free and open to the public. Festa Italiana 2011 will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2011, 11:30 - 5:30 p.m., 3rd & F Street, NW, Washington, DC. Judiciary Square Metro. CiaoDC.com is the proud media sponsor of Festa Italiana. Listen to interview with CiaoDC.com and Festa Italiana President, Joe Onofretti here.

Remembering the role of Italian Americans in the Labor Movement

As we embark upon the Labor Day weekend filled with cookouts, parties, weddings and trips out of town, it is easy to forget the reason for this Federal holiday.  This day that many of us have off from work, commemorates the hard work of the labor movement.  Everyone has their own opinion on labor, which has been caught in crossfires across the country this past year.  However, we should remember the benefits that we still enjoy today that were brought to us by the movement - the weekend, a 40 hour work week, and minimum wage, among others.

In addition, many Italians who immigrated to the U.S. during the height of the European immigration worked in cities across the United States in blue-collar jobs.  They contributed a lot to this country, along with laborers from all over the world.  Of course, many still do today as evidenced by Italian American Labor Councils in cities like Chicago and New York.  If you have some free time this weekend, here are a list of links from around the web where you can read about Italian American involvement in the labor movement.  Happy Labor Day!

NIAF: Milestones of the Italian American Experience

Journal of International Labor and Working Class History: The Lost World of Italian-American Radicalism: Labor, Politics and Culture

NYU: Guide to the Records of the Italian American Labor Council (1941-1996)

Cornell University: Photos at an Italian American Labor Council Concert in NYC (1942)

I-italy.org: The Fire that Changed America (Bonvicini)

Please leave your comments about these articles, leave suggestions of other articles, or just your memories on the movement.