Franky in NY Foundation for the Italian Americans

Home
United States
New York, NY
Franky in NY Foundation for the Italian Americans

Bringing together Italian Americans and Italians

12/14/2024

Hello everyone! Welcome to the final chapter of , the project our two interns, Alexandra Meier and Donniae Collins, have run in these past months. Alexandra and Donniae have been in Florence on an semester of studies abroad with Syracuse University Florence. This time, they have talked with Silvana Alfonso, owner of Italian Power Yoga. Focusing on our inner self is a good way to end a ride. We hope you enjoyed the journey like we did!

12/08/2024

Folks! Welcome to a new episode of . The visual project is run by our interns, Alexandra Meier and Donniae Collins, in Firenze for an international program with Syracuse University Florence. This time they tell us the story of Ilaria Tolossi of Essere Atelier. Enjoy!

09/28/2024

Hello folks! As promised last week, here is the first episode of , the series curated by our interns from Syracuse University Florence, Donniae Collins and Alexandra Meier. Today’s protagonist is Massimo, the owner of a leather shop in the city center: a gentle human being with a beautiful story.

09/19/2024

Hello friends, long time no see! But you all know that when we go silent it means something is brewing... and voilà: it's our pleasure to introduce you to our two new interns, as always coming from the international studies program managed by our good friends at University Florence. A warm welcome to Donniae Collins and Alexandra Meier, who will be Franky's eyes in Florence for the coming three months. And we mean actual eyes: Donniae and Alexandra will run , a visual project which combines images and words to tell the stories of people from Florence - no matter where their birthplaces are.

Let's get to know them better, from Donniae...
“Hi! I’m Donniae. I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I am a first-generation American, from a Jamaican family. I currently attend Syracuse University, with a double major in Art Photography, B.F.A and Communication & Rhetorical Studies, B.S. With my values of uniqueness and knowledge combined with my love of storytelling and creating, my purpose is to inspire and create more diverse spaces through my various crafts in photography, graphic design, performing arts, and production. I want to allow my creativity to break down barriers and unify communities around the world.”
.. to Alexandra:
"Ciao! My name is Alexandra Meier and I am a Wake Forest University student, studying Politics and International Affairs and Journalism. I will be living in Florence for the next three months, documenting the city and its people. At Wake Forest, I write for our student-run newspaper The Old Gold and Black as well as a digital magazine called Her Campus. I am very excited to write about a city that I have grown to love, visiting during the summers and connecting with my Italian heritage".

We promise you, it'll be fun!

09/13/2024

In times of war, voices of peace are even more precious, today as in the past. Music, in particular, is the best instrument of peace. In fact, Niccolò Paganini, the Italian violinist and composer celebrated worldwide for his unmatched talent, used to call his violin "il mio cannone" (my cannon) because of the strong and powerful notes it produced. A peaceful one, though, and a true instrument of peace and harmony thanks to the beauty of its music.

To Paganini's "cannon" is dedicated "The Cannon of Peace" (Il Cannone Della Pace), the new documentary made by Alveare Cinema and directed by Paolo Bianchini in collaboration with Rai Documentari. "The Cannon of Peace" tells the story of Niccolò Paganini's personal violin, made in 1743 by luthier Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, and now kept on display at the Paganini Museum in Genoa. An instrument that, as well as almost all other historical violins of inestimable value, is made of rare spruces or resonance trees wood and must be constantly played, in order to continue to live and transmit the song of the tree it comes from. The idea of a documentary on music, a universal language that has always united peoples and cultures, is the core of Alveare Cinema's work, which will will be broadcasted in Italy on September 21, the United Nations' International Day of Peace, and will premiere on the same day from 1 to 3 pm, at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island. For information, visit https://cinemaartscentre.org/

07/24/2024

The Italian family in the States never stops growing. A few weeks ago, after months of hard work, Casa Italiana - Italian Cultural Center eventually opened in Seattle. Casa Italiana aims to become the beacon for the Italian culture and heritage in the Pacific Northwest area, hosting cultural events and educational programs, as well as mentorships and scholarships. The ones who pop in will find the Casa Caffè and the "Biblioteca Italiana" (aka Italian Library), a banquet hall, and the possibility to subscribe to Italian language courses.

As truck farmers in the Duwamish Valley or as miners in the Black Diamond Coal Mines in Washington State, for over a century Italians have played a fundamental role in the development of the area, literally digging the sewers and paving the streets that became the foundation of Seattle. To get updates about what happens at Casa Italiana go to https://casaitalianacc.org/

Did you like this story? Find more of them, great tips, and special perks in The Beautiful Life. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.frankyinnewyork.com

06/24/2024

This is a story of love, destiny, and unpleasant twists of life. But since love is always expected to win in the end, we have faith that even in this case everyone will eventually be happy.

The couple in the picture is Alice and Thomas Barrella, getting married on Flag Day, June 14th, 194 in Lodi, NJ. They were childhood sweethearts: Thomas was a proud WWII Army Infantry Purple Heart Recipient, honored for his bravery during the Rhine River assault - one of the battles which led to Germany's capitulation. Despite suffering from the wounds, in 1960 he managed to build the house for his family, which had become bigger after Alice's and Thomas' daughter Julianne Barrella was born. As Juliane says, that house was a true "labor of love." But unfortunately Thomas didn't enjoy it for a long time: he suddenly passed away in 1971 at the age of 47 of a cerebral brain hemorrhage. Julianne and Alice were devastated, but they stayed strong and became even closer. Then Alice got sick, and Julianne had to take care of her, enduring hard times filled with huge medical expenses and bills. Now her fight is tougher than ever: not only is she overwhelmed by bills and financial hardship, she also has to deal with the Borough of Lodi, NJ that served her with foreclosure papers due to a substantial amount of property taxes owed to them. As of the end of 2023, the amount that she had to raise was $354,078.80 with interest added daily.

Julianne does not want to believe this is a lost cause: she simply does not give up, in honor of her father's legacy and of all the loving memories she has about her family's home. This is why she has started a Go Fund Me campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-julianne-keep-her-family-home) and can also rely on the generosity of her friend Rabbi Adam Baldachin, who is helping realizing a miracle (Rabbi Adam Baldachin for Rabbi's Discretionary Fund -memo for Julianne Barrella - Shaarei Tikvah, 46 Fox Meadow Road, Scarsdale, NY 105839).

We, as Julianne, also believe in miracles, in spite of everything. Do you?

06/22/2024

Hello folks, ready for a new tip on how to enjoy Florence and stay on the budget? Our intern Kate Jackson, on the international studies program run by Syracuse University Florence, is exploring the city in search of useful tips for a budget-savvy vacation. Let's see what she has for us today.

As I probably mentioned before, I love spending time outdoors. Although not hard to do in Florence, wide-open green spaces can be difficult to come by. The best free parks I have found include Parco delle Cascine, Parco del Mensola, and the Giardino dell’Iris, all of which offer outstanding scenery and various paths to explore. If running is not your style, do not fret there are so many other things to do outside for virtually free before the summer heat takes over.

The markets around Florence are one of my favorite places to roam. With so many different goods for sale, your eyes will never get tired of window shopping. Another reason why Parco delle Cascine is such a great stop is the markets that pop up there every Tuesday and stretch a full kilometer along the river. In addition to shopping, Florence offers some other especially appealing sites to set your wandering eyes on. For one, the city’s street art is very impressive. Street musicians too are even easier to come by, especially in the city center, and they may surprise you with their niche talents.

One of the best sights to visit outdoors is the Piazzale Michelangelo. During daylight hours it offers outstanding views of the entirety of Florence, but the skyline just before dusk is even more remarkable. Many other famous sculptures can be explored outdoors in the Piazza della Signoria, under the Loggia dei Lanzi. Directly to the right of this, the Fountain of Neptune sits in all its whimsical wonder as well.

While exploring Florence has been the utmost highlight of my time here, the beach is only an hour or two away. Cinque Terre, Forte dei Marmi, and Castiglioncello are all a very manageable weekend trip away. Last but not least, Florence is situated in the valley of various other smaller towns which offer great hikes and an escape from the bustling of the city. Specifically, Fiesole
has a very peaceful hike in Parco di Monte Ceceri.

06/15/2024

Hello friends, ready for a new tip on how to enjoy Florence and stay on the budget? Our intern Kate Jackson, on the international studies program run by Syracuse University Florence, is exploring the city in search of useful tips for a budget-savvy vacation. Let's see what she has for us today.

One of the best ways to experience Italian culture is the food! However, navigating tourist areas where food is frequently overpriced and inauthentic is a real challenge in Florence. Not to worry, I will offer a few tips on how to uncover some of the best and most affordable meals.

First of all, breakfast is a relatively cheap meal in Italy, no more than 5 euros. Many cafes offer deals when you get a cappuccino and a pastry together. As long as you avoid the city center there should not be any problems here. There are also several cafes, which often double as bars, bookstores, or libraries, where study abroad students or others who work virtually can go to focus while also grabbing a bite.
Moving on to lunch and dinner, street food is often the way to go. While I do enjoy a good sit-down meal with friends, when you’re on the go and trying to save money, “take-away” food is the perfect option. There are a number of famous sandwich places in Florence you can easily find with a little research, Never get a sandwich for over 10 euros though, trust me there’s better for less! Aside from sandwiches, pizza is an easy meal to find for 5 to 7 euros. There's a pizza shop on almost every corner of Florence and most of them offer plentiful servings. If you are like me and can not eat pizza, pasta, and bread for every meal without craving some vegetables, there are also healthier options. While somewhat hidden, salad places in Florence do exist, and many offer bowls for around 9 euros!

Finally, your last alternative is to buy food at the market or grocery store and cook it yourself. Although this can seem overwhelming, it is so easy to find incredible produce—delicious fruits, vegetables, bread, meats, cheeses, and more—in Florence markets. The Mercato Centrale is also a great place to go explore, although touristy, you can get almost anything here and often keep it on the less expensive side.

Address

Manhattan
New York, NY
10028

Telephone

+16463988178

Website

http://www.frankyinnewyork.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Franky in NY Foundation for the Italian Americans posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Franky in NY Foundation for the Italian Americans:

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in New York?