News From Italy
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Events/Festivals by month Summer/Fall 2022
Summer/Fall 2022
August
- Festa Coloniale Italiana in San Francisco August 27th, San Francisco
September
September
- Julian Grape Stomp Festa, September 3rd, 2022, Julian
- 88th Festa Italia, September 9-11, 2022 Monterey, CA
October
Little Italy San Jose July Newsletter
The July 2022 Newsletter from Little Italy San Jose:
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Keep Connected - www.LittleItalySJ.com    July 2022 Newsletter Little Italy San Jose Renaissance!!
Read more.... |
Monday, July 25, 2022
About The Italian Californian
About The Italian Californian
Benvenuti! My name is Christopher Forte and I am The Italian Californian. My immediate family were very assimilated and far from their roots so when I had become interested in our Italian heritage at a young age when I was immersed in a culturally diverse setting in Southern California I went on a quest to learn more about it. Once I discovered the richness, beauty and storied history that Italians have even right here in California, going as far back as when it was a Spanish colony, I dived into it headfirst, with a zeal to preserve that history and culture and share it with the world.
And that is where this web site comes in. With my esteemed colleagues, my sister Michelle L. Forte and her daughter, my niece, Marissa Forte, our quest, the goal of this publication is to preserve, celebrate, promote, and share the Italian American heritage of California with the world. We do not see this site in competition with any other Italian and Italian American publication, indeed the entire mission of this site to promote those publications and media and help them thrive. The more exposure the Italian American community gets, the better. We have the same goals, and we want to be an additional voice and advocate achieving those goals. "A rising tide lifts all boats," so the saying goes, and we just want to be a part of that tide.
To accomplish this, TheItalianCalifornian.com will be a gateway to everything Italian and Italian American in California. Here you will find directories with useful links to Italian and Italian American social, cultural, charitable and professional organizations, to Italian neighborhoods and enclaves in California, to museums and cultural centers, as well as to sources that can educate you on the history of Italians in the Golden State. Looking for an Italian restaurant? There will also be a link to sources that can help find one near you.
There will be a few original articles here as well, and while we'll be covering as much of California as I can, we will be focused mainly on my home of San Diego. This is not only because it is easier for us due to our limited staff and budget, but because despite the city's thriving Italian American community with so many organizations and events, the community lacks its own distinct publication and media outlet. So, we hope to fill that void.
Christopher Forte, the President & CEO and Editor-in-Chief and author of this post, is the Facilities Coordinator for the Amici House, which is San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood event and heritage center which is run as part of the Heritage program of the Convivio Society. I also sit on the Convivio Society's Little Italy Heritage Commission, am a member of the House of Italy, the former 2nd Vice President of the Italian Catholic Federation ICF Branch #230-Our Lady of the Rosary, and am a volunteer for the Little Italy Association and am very active with my church, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, an Italian National Parish. I am a former board member of the Sons of Italy (now the Sons and Daughters of Italy San Diego Lodge #1627) (OSIA) and am a member of San Diego's Italian American Civic Association (IACA). I have over twenty years' experience in personnel and financial management and have a Certificate in Writing for Publication.
The goal of my colleagues and I is to make The Italian Californian be the premiere promoter of all things Italian and Italian American in California and the most efficient gateway and directory for those who want to navigate the Italian American community in the Golden State.
-Christopher Forte,
President & CEO,
Editor-in-Chief
Italian Food/Restaurants in California
Italian Food/Restaurants in California
To read about the differences between "Italian food" known in America and authentic Italian food in/from Italy, click here. And to read about how those differences occurred and why "Italian AMERICAN" food is so popular in the United States today, click here.
Thursday, July 21, 2022
History of Italians in California
History of Italians in California
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Introduction: The History of Italians in California
by Christopher Forte
The story of Italians in California defies two stereotypical historical narratives. The first is about Italians: You probably know the common narrative as repeated by so many movies, especially Mob movies, and documentaries about the mass migration of Southern Italians and Sicilians to the US in the years 1880 to about 1920 or so, how most of them entered through the eastern ports like Boston and New York, and mainly settled at first in urban enclaves called "Little Italys" like the famous one in Manhattan. That most of them were poor, faced some prejudice, and worked hard to be accepted and successful. You might have heard how some made it West to make it big in agriculture and wine-making. But how many of you knew that Italians were in the West during the time of the Gold Rush? Becoming the largest immigrant group in the Mother Lode? That there were Italian ranchers in the Sierra Nevada foothills as early as 1852? Did you know about all the places named after Italians, including Italian Camp, Italian Diggings, Italian Bar and the Italian Bar Trail in Tuolumne County, the Italian Mine in Nevada City and Italian Bar on the American River in El Dorado County?
The second stereotypical historical story we all know that this article may change for you is the history of California itself: that it was colonized by the Spanish, then became Mexican, and finally American. In this story line you were probably taught about the Gold Rush and how many different nationalities from all over the world, but especially from Europe and eastern parts of the US, rushed to the gold fields being dubbed "49ers" for the year the first gold was found, 1849. But how many of you knew that there were Italians in Los Angeles, at El Pueblo, when it was still Mexican territory? That many of them married into the influential Californio families and owned some of the historic ranches or ranchos like Giovanni Battista Leandri who owned Rancho Los Coyotes in present-day Buena Park, and the neighboring Rancho Cañada de la Habra, and married Maria Francesca Uribe, the daughter of a prominent Californio family? (The Californios were Spanish-speaking people of Latin American ancestry who were born in California during the era of Mexican and Spanish rule. During this era, Italians and Mexicans intermarried more frequently than any other group, according to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles at IAMLA.org and at their permanent online exhibit here.) Leandri changed his name to Juan Leandry to better fit in among the Californios.
These little-known facts and more are revealed by clicking on the following links. Indeed, in my research, I have found that next to the Spaniards themselves, no other immigrant group left such an indelible and enduring impact on the development and culture of the Golden State.
_____________________________________________________________________
The story of Italians in California defies two stereotypical historical narratives. The first is about Italians: You probably know the common narrative as repeated by so many movies, especially Mob movies, and documentaries about the mass migration of Southern Italians and Sicilians to the US in the years 1880 to about 1920 or so, how most of them entered through the eastern ports like Boston and New York, and mainly settled at first in urban enclaves called "Little Italys" like the famous one in Manhattan. That most of them were poor, faced some prejudice, and worked hard to be accepted and successful. You might have heard how some made it West to make it big in agriculture and wine-making. But how many of you knew that Italians were in the West during the time of the Gold Rush? Becoming the largest immigrant group in the Mother Lode? That there were Italian ranchers in the Sierra Nevada foothills as early as 1852? Did you know about all the places named after Italians, including Italian Camp, Italian Diggings, Italian Bar and the Italian Bar Trail in Tuolumne County, the Italian Mine in Nevada City and Italian Bar on the American River in El Dorado County?
The second stereotypical historical story we all know that this article may change for you is the history of California itself: that it was colonized by the Spanish, then became Mexican, and finally American. In this story line you were probably taught about the Gold Rush and how many different nationalities from all over the world, but especially from Europe and eastern parts of the US, rushed to the gold fields being dubbed "49ers" for the year the first gold was found, 1849. But how many of you knew that there were Italians in Los Angeles, at El Pueblo, when it was still Mexican territory? That many of them married into the influential Californio families and owned some of the historic ranches or ranchos like Giovanni Battista Leandri who owned Rancho Los Coyotes in present-day Buena Park, and the neighboring Rancho Cañada de la Habra, and married Maria Francesca Uribe, the daughter of a prominent Californio family? (The Californios were Spanish-speaking people of Latin American ancestry who were born in California during the era of Mexican and Spanish rule. During this era, Italians and Mexicans intermarried more frequently than any other group, according to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles at IAMLA.org and at their permanent online exhibit here.) Leandri changed his name to Juan Leandry to better fit in among the Californios.
These little-known facts and more are revealed by clicking on the following links. Indeed, in my research, I have found that next to the Spaniards themselves, no other immigrant group left such an indelible and enduring impact on the development and culture of the Golden State.
_____________________________________________________________________
Bancroft Collection/Italian Americans in California
Italian Americans in California
Introduction
Italians were some of the first European explorers and settlers of California. Religious duties and the search for new fishing grounds were initial reasons for Italians to explore what later became the thirty-first state, but their reasons for staying expanded after arriving. Though we often associate Italians in California with San Francisco, the initial Italian settlers established themselves in such diverse communities as Monterey, Stockton, and San Diego during the years of Spanish Rule.
While the majority of Italians settled in the urban centers of the east, many, especially northern Italians came out west. As late as 1890, there were more Italian immigrants on the Pacific coast than in New England. Their reasons for leaving and for choosing California varied. Overpopulation and the French capture of the wine industry in the 1880s made leaving attractive to Ligurians. The fact that California's small immigrant community was 80% northern made it more attractive to these people. More here: Bancroft Collection/Italian Americans in California, Credit to the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.
Italian Americans in California
Introduction
Italians were some of the first European explorers and settlers of California. Religious duties and the search for new fishing grounds were initial reasons for Italians to explore what later became the thirty-first state, but their reasons for staying expanded after arriving. Though we often associate Italians in California with San Francisco, the initial Italian settlers established themselves in such diverse communities as Monterey, Stockton, and San Diego during the years of Spanish Rule.
While the majority of Italians settled in the urban centers of the east, many, especially northern Italians came out west. As late as 1890, there were more Italian immigrants on the Pacific coast than in New England. Their reasons for leaving and for choosing California varied. Overpopulation and the French capture of the wine industry in the 1880s made leaving attractive to Ligurians. The fact that California's small immigrant community was 80% northern made it more attractive to these people. More here: Bancroft Collection/Italian Americans in California, Credit to the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.
Foreword
The contributions of Italian immigrants to this country and particularly to the State of California cannot be overestimated. In large part, Italian-Americans defined California with their hard work, intelligence, creativity and spirit of enterprise. Italian immigrants arrived early to the Golden State and established wineries, farms, canneries, fishing enterprises, factories and banks. They enhanced the state’s culture by founding universities and creating the San Francisco Opera Company. This positive influence continues as the most recent Italian immigrants make significant contributions to California’s new frontiers, particularly in the fields of technology and research.
The Museo ItaloAmericano continues the celebration of its first thirty years of existence by presenting In Cerca di una Nuova Vita, a documentary exhibit on Italian immigration to California from 1850 to the present day. There have been many individuals and organizations that have contributed to this exhibit — too many to enumerate all here. We do wish to acknowledge the following special contributors: Alessandro Baccari, who has contributed much material from his private collection; Professor Paola Sensi-Isolani of St. Mary’s College, whose First Wave narrative provides the historical context for the exhibit; and Paolo Pontoniere, who has curated a contemporary mode of presenting the accomplishments of the most recent immigrants. More here: From Italy to California (pdf)
Italian American Museum of Los Angeles: History
The contributions of Italian immigrants to
this country and particularly to the State of
California cannot be overestimated. In large
part, Italian-Americans defined California with
their hard work, intelligence, creativity and spirit
of enterprise. Italian immigrants arrived early
to the Golden State and established wineries,
farms, canneries, fishing enterprises, factories
and banks. They enhanced the state’s culture
by founding universities and creating the
San Francisco Opera Company. This positive
influence continues as the most recent Italian
immigrants make significant contributions to
California’s new frontiers, particularly in the
fields of technology and research.
The Museo ItaloAmericano continues the celebration of
its first thirty years of existence by presenting In Cerca
di una Nuova Vita, a documentary exhibit on Italian
immigration to California from 1850 to the present day.
There have been many individuals and organizations
that have contributed to this exhibit — too many to
enumerate all here. We do wish to acknowledge the
following special contributors: Alessandro Baccari, who
has contributed much material from his private collection;
Professor Paola Sensi-Isolani of St. Mary’s College, whose
First Wave narrative provides the historical context for
the exhibit; and Paolo Pontoniere, who has curated a
contemporary mode of presenting the accomplishments
of the most recent immigrants. More here: From Italy to California (pdf)
Southern California’s Italian Roots
Italians and Italian Americans have played an instrumental role in the development of Los Angeles as one of the world’s greatest metropolises, yet the history of Italians in the region is largely unknown. Though Los Angeles is home to the nation’s fifth-largest Italian population today, and the Italian presence in the American West predates the nation’s founding, seldom is the city included in dialogs surrounding contemporary or historic Italian American communities. An examination of the region’s Italian roots reveals both the complexity of the Italian Diaspora and the exceptionally diverse fabric of Southern California’s history. More here: IAMLA.org/History
OUR STORIED PAST
RECOUNTING A HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Beginning in Little Italy and extending to the broader Italian community, Convivio (through its auxiliary, the Italian Historical Society of San Diego), is preserving San Diego’s Italian American historical narrative and creating a lasting historical tableau through education, research, archival work, historical projects, exhibitions, and events.
With the Italian Archives of San Diego, we now have a digital repository to safeguard and share photographs, documents, manuscripts, and other historical material donated by community members to help tell the story of the Italians of San Diego.
At Amici House in Little Italy—the community’s heritage, event, and visitor center overseen by the Little Italy Heritage Commission (an advisory committee of the Italian Historical Society of San Diego)—guests can learn about local Italian history and participate in diverse programs and events offering something for everyone.
Contact us for more information on our heritage programs or to contribute materials to our archives. More here: Italian Archives of San Diego
More: Google Search Results
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Italian American Links & Resources
You can find useful Italian American links and resources by clicking here.
You can find more of my articles in The Italifornian
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