LosAngelesLittleItaly

Little Italy Exhibit Debuts At State Capitol

The landmark "Sunshine and Struggle: The Italian Experience in Los Angeles 1827-1927" exhibit exploring the largely unknown history of Italians in Los Angeles debuted at the Capital Museum in Sacramento in October 2009.  The exhibit written and curated by Mariann Gatto, and presented by the Italian American Museum  of Los Angeles, was a collaboration with the Italian American Members of the California Legislature Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano, Cathleen Galgiani, Jerry Hill, Roger Niello, and Anthony J. Portantino"Sunshine and Struggle"  drew thousands of visitors. 

City of LA Declared October 'Italian Heritage Month'

On Friday, October 9, 2009, The Los Angeles City Council declared October “Italian Heritage Month.” Present to commemorate this special occasion were Consul General of Italy Hon. Nicola Faganello, members of the Italian entertainment and business community, and representatives of Italian organizations including the National Italian American Foundation, Order of Sons of Italy in America, Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, and many more. 

Festivities were held at John Ferraro Council Chambers, where Councilman Tom LaBonge presented attendees with a "Little Italy" street sign.

Currently, an excess of 100,000 Italians live in the City of Los Angeles. Metropolitan Los Angeles possesses 300,000 Italians, making Los Angeles the nation’s fifth largest Italian community.

Taste of Italy Held at El Pueblo

A Taste of Italy at the Pico House.

On Saturday, June 27th at El Pueblo Historical Monument’s Pico House in Los Angeles’ historic Little Italy, the Historic Italian Hall Foundation presented "A Taste of Italy Los Angeles," an evening of authentic cuisine, fine wine and Italian culture. 

More than two dozen restaurants and wineries participated in the event, which benefited the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. The 500+ attendees walked away with content bellies and a greater awareness of our city’s diverse history.

Gatto Honored as 2008 Columbian Woman of the Year

In 2008, Mariann Gatto received the Columbian Woman of the Year Award.  The award is bestowed annually upon an American-born individual of Italian extraction whose achievements have given "luster to Italy and to the Italo-American community"  and who has promoted goodwill and demonstrated a dedication to the Italian community.  Gatto Honored as 2008 Columbian Woman of the Year