Kalamazoo Italian American Club

07/30/2026

Interesting explanation of Italian heritage.

Welcome to Italian Roots and Genealogy, where history lives in our ...

07/28/2026

🇮🇹 We are looking for a volunteer who would like to present Italy and Italian culture to our friends at StoryPoint Kalamazoo (formerly The Fountains at Bronson Place). They are celebrating with a weeklong event spotlighting different locations around the world with the theme of The Amazing Race!
🌍 Amazing Race at Story Point Senior Living Center
Wednesday, August 12th - 6pm
💬 If you are interested in helping to put together a presentation discussing the culture of Italy, sharing your travel experiences, performing a food demo, or other cultural activity, please let us know! Send us an email at [email protected] or comment here and let us know you'd like to help.

07/28/2026

🇮🇹 It's time to think Bocce 🔴🟢🔴🟢

We are looking for individuals who would like to serve on our bocce committee and help plan for our bocce tournament (February 2027).

This committee would review our rules, plan for auction donations and logistics the day of the event.

If you are interested, please send us an email at [email protected] or comment here and let us know you'd like to be involved.

07/05/2026

Move over, Columbus. If you’re looking for an Italian with actual fingerprints on America’s founding, you’ll need to look past the fortune-seeking navigator who sailed the ocean blue.

Dig a little deeper into the archives of the American Revolution and you’ll find a different kind of Italian—one who left the glory-hunting to others and chose the steady work of shaping a new nation.

In 1773, Filippo Mazzei arrived in Virginia with muddy boots and Tuscan dreams, arms full of olive saplings and grapevines, determined to graft Old World roots into New World soil.

But it wasn’t wine that made Mazzei unforgettable, it was the fire in his mind and the circle of friends he kept. Men whose names are now chiseled into the very stone of this country.

Mazzei crossed paths with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. There, these two sons of restless republics became confidants. Mazzei spoke the language of Enlightenment: liberty, equality, God-given rights. And Jefferson listened.

Some even say it was Mazzei’s own words that helped inspire Jefferson’s most famous line: “All men are created equal.” A dash of Italian radicalism pulsing through every stroke of the pen.

When the American Revolution buckled under the weight of blockades and British threats, Mazzei packed his bags for Europe—raising funds, penning missives, smuggling intelligence, and quietly ensuring the American cause did not wither on foreign shores.

He wasn’t a general or a president, just a friend in the shadows. A ghostwriter of freedom. A bridge between continents.

Filippo Mazzei was an Italian who truly helped plant the seeds of the American dream.

06/19/2026

Mark your calendar for the West Michigan Italian Festival at Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids behind Russo Ristorante & Mercato

We are going to have a fun filled weekend 7/24 and 7/25. Check out their page for recent updates on:

🇮🇹 Food Vendors
🇮🇹 Live music entertainment every hour
🇮🇹 Kids corner ( arts,crafts,bounced house, games)
🇮🇹Russo Spaghetti Eating contest ( free to join)
🇮🇹 Two Days of Live Radio Remotes
🇮🇹 Ferrari Club of America
🇮🇹 The Peter Secchia Memorial Cup
🇮🇹 La Familia Soccer Tournament & more!

You can reserve your wristband and sign up for events at https://westmichiganitalianfestival.com/

06/16/2026

🎉 It's National Cannoli Day!!!

🇮🇹 This foodie holiday celebrates the classic Italian pastry that originated in the South of Italy, on the island of Sicily. Most cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of deep-fried pastry dough filled with a sweet and creamy mixture made from ricotta cheese. The shells, can be either store-bought or made from scratch with flour, sugar, butter, egg, and wine. Anyhow, they are best when crunchy!

06/13/2026

There are some beautiful machines on display at The Euro today!

06/13/2026

Winners of our pizza dough toss competition.
Thank you to Bimbo’s Pizza of Kalamazoo for donating the dough.

06/13/2026

🇮🇹 Come for the car stay for the culture.

🟢 Bocce

⚪️ Olive oil and vinegar tasting

🔴 KIAC merchandise

06/13/2026

🇮🇹 All setup with KIAC merchandise and bocce. We even have limoncello cookies! 🍪

Come on out and check out the cars 🚘 and stay for the culture.