Annual Fall Cultural Event
This year the Fall Cultural Event will take place on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 7pm at the beautiful Casa Belvedere in Staten Island. Our guest speaker will be “The Man Behind the Opera” - Louis M Barrella!
Louis Barrella has been a dedicated Music Educator for over 40 years, specializing in Music and Opera Appreciation in schools and for many Cultural Organizations. Most importantly, he has given workshops and organized student trips for the Education Department of the Metropolitan Opera for 35 years and continues to do so.
He has been a Guest Lecturer at Colleges, Museums and Cultural Institutions throughout the Metropolitan Area, making over 500 presentations since 1993. He is a Board Member of the Enrico Caruso Museum, the "Name the Tenor" Quiz Master at the Mario Lanza Luncheons and a regular Co-Host at the Columbus Citizens' Foundation Opera Nights. He has made multiple presentations at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, conducts an Opera Class each semester since the Fall of 2015 and has made over 10 presentations for the GMM Speakers' Bureau since 2009.
In 2003, he received the Dr. Leonard Covello Lifetime Achievement Award from The Italian Teachers' Association for his Outstanding Contributions to Italian Culture which he proudly continues to promote!
Every Fall on the Wednesday following Columbus Day the society gathers to celebrate Italian Heritage month with an educational lecture involving some aspect of Italian American Culture. These events are hosted at Italian Themed Restaurants around Manhattan. Recent events have taken place at Casa Italiana at NYU, Bamonte’s of Williamsburgh Brooklyn, Barbetta, Trattoria Dell'Arte, Patsy's and SD26. Lecture topics have included: artists’ exhibit by Carlo Levi and “Blind Visions”, “The Italians of Brooklyn”, "The Slow Food Movement" in Italy, An educational Italian Olive Oil Tasting and meal pairing and a lecture by Sam Gargiulo on becoming an Italian American newscaster and stories of The Yankee Bat Boy.
Due to SARS-2 Covid- 19 Pandemic 2020, the Fall Cultural event was produced as a virtual meeting, with our colleagues we were able to meet with a Sommelier from Italian Wine Merchants for a private Wine Tasting. Selections from Lombardia, Friuli-Venezia Guilia and Toscana were enjoyed, with the wine delivered to all attendees residences in advance. Saluti!
Fall event 2023 Casa Belvedere in Staten Island completes our 5 Borough Tour of the Boroughs NYC!!
Fall Event 2020 -Virtual Wine Tasting at Home !
“2019 Fall event
Art and Artichokes Casa Iliana and Trattoria dell’Arte”
2019 Fall Cultural Event at Casa Italiana NYU and Trattoria Dell’ Arte
Carlo Levi’s Disegni della Cecita’
President Saulle and new member Dr.Petrucci with Dr. Del Pin
2018 Fall Cultural Event
Bamonte’s of Brooklyn
New Member Frank Manetta was officially imducted
to the Society.
Marianna Randazzo Signs copies of her book
The Italians of Brooklyn after an educational and
entertaining presentation
Dr.D’Agostino Program director and Dr Mastropietro Membership Director and attendees at Casa Italiana
The Recipe Hunters recounted their travels exploring the Italian Countryside in search of traditional recipes handed down through oral tradition from generation to generation!
Fall Cultural Event 2017
Past President Gadaleta Introducing The guest speaker at our Olive Oil Tasting and Pairing in 2016
Past and Present Presidents of The Society posing with Laura Maioglio owner of Barbetta Restaurant.