Little Italy of Los Angeles Association

10/13/2026

It’s been two days, and we’re still reminiscing about our wonderful Festa Italiana! 🇮🇹❤️

As we reflect on such a special celebration of Italian culture, heritage, and community, we want to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude to one of our main sponsors, the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Their generous contribution helped make our program possible, allowing us to share the beauty of Italian traditions, celebrate our rich heritage, and bring our community together for a truly memorable experience.

We are incredibly grateful for their support and for their commitment to preserving and celebrating the cultural traditions that make our community so special.

Grazie di cuore! Thank you for helping us make Festa Italiana a celebration to remember! 🇮🇹

10/12/2026

Un italiano al giorno: meet Mario Amalfitano

Today we recognize our immediate past president, Mario, whose decades of community leadership and unwavering dedication have guided and strengthened our organization.

Tomorrow, that dedication will be celebrated through the establishment of the very first Mother Cabrini Day at Los Angeles City Hall, a meaningful occasion that honors Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini and serves as a day of pride for Italian Americans throughout our community.

Mario played a pivotal role in bringing this initiative to life, working alongside our current President Anna Manunza, CD12 and CD15 for over 3 years and never taking no for an answer when facing important challenges.

We are deeply grateful that his leap of faith will result in recognizing Mother Cabrini’s extraordinary legacy and reminding others of the enduring contributions of Italian Americans to the US.

A proud native of Ischia, devoted husband to Monica and father of three, Mario embodies the values of family, community, heritage, and service that are at the heart of our Italian American identity.

We are grateful to Mario for his vision, leadership, and perseverance.

10/12/2026

Un Italiano al Giorno: Giana Carli

Some people have a special way of bringing people together, keeping our traditions alive, and reminding us that being Italian is not just about where we come from, but about who we are.

Meet Giana Carli, a beautiful example of this Italian spirit, carrying with her the warmth, pride, and passion that make our heritage so special.

Giana was our wonderful Emcee at Festa Italiana yesterday and she delighted the entire audience with her stories and personality!

A proud NIAF Ambassador, talented actress, successful content creator and producer, Giana has been actively promoting our culture from a  ery young age with pride and joy, helping keep our Italian roots alive, even thousands of miles away.

Thank you, Giana, for being who you are, for your positive attitude, for the stories you share, and for the love you show Italy every single day.

10/12/2026

Grazie di cuore! ❤️

Festa Italiana took place yesterday, and we are absolutely overjoyed by the incredible response, the wonderful attendance, and all the positive feedback we’ve received!

We worked hard, and our Events Committee, families, and volunteers worked even harder than ever to make this year’s celebration a success.

So much time, love, and dedication went into bringing everyone together for a day that celebrates our Italian heritage, our traditions, and the beautiful community we share.

But today, we want to take a moment to say GRAZIE DI CUORE for every comment, every tag, every kind word, and every message of support. We see you, we appreciate you, and you make all the hard work worthwhile.

You are the reason we do what we do. 🇮🇹❤️

With gratitude and love, thank you for showing up, celebrating with us, and reminding us why community matters so much. This is what happens when people come together with love, pride, and a shared passion for keeping our Italian spirit alive.

Until the next one! Grazie a tutti! 🇮🇹

10/10/2026

Tomorrow, October 10, at 3:09 p.m., we will observe a moment of silence in commemoration of Tony Fanara and Joey Sorice. We ask everyone to please join us in honoring their memory and paying our respects.

10/10/2026

FESTA ITALIANA 2026
RUN OF SHOW
Schedule is subject to slight changes.

2:00 PM — Grand Opening March
San Pedro Golden Pirate Regiment Boosters Marching Band

2:30 PM — Authorities Gather
Elected officials, dignitaries, and invited authorities gather near the main stage in preparation for the opening ceremony.

2:45 PM — Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA) Board + Authorities

Ribbon cutting and official opening of Festa Italiana.

“Festa Italiana is officially open!”

2:55 PM — National Anthems
Franklin Elementary School Dual Immersion Program led by Maestra Cristina Mazza Dual Immersion Teacher. A special thanks to Maestra Daniela Pino who cannot be with us today because she is celebrating the arrival of her grandchild!

Students perform the national anthems (Italian and US) followed by "Sara' perche' ti amo" (Ricchi e Poveri) e "I suoni delle cose"

3:05 PM — Tiger Squadron Flyover
Tiger Squadron

Special flyover over the Festa Italiana celebration.

3:09 PM — A moment of silence in commemoration of Tony Fanara and Joey Sorice

3:10 PM — Opening Ceremony with special remarks by:
Councilmember Tim McOsker

LILAA President Anna Manunza and Vice President John De Girolamo

Consul General of Italy Raffaella Valentini

Honorable Christian Di Sanzo

City Supervisor Janice Hahn

Assemblyman Mike Gipson

Councilman Danny Hang, City of West Hollywood

3:25 PM — Honoree Proclamation Ceremony
Emcee: Giana Carli
Special Guest: Miss California Alessandra Amato

This year’s honorees are:

The Hon. Christian Di Sanzo, Representative of the Italian community in North and Central America
Dr. Emanuele Amendola, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles
Joe Tutino, official voice of the Los Angeles Galaxy
George Palaziol, beloved community leader and volunteer
The Italian American Club of San Pedro
Vincenzo Porcu of Carasau Ristorante, Vendor of the Year
4:10 PM — Dance Performance
Richard Henry Dana Middle School Dance Team
Led by Sabrina Buscaino Kaercher

Performance of the Tarantella

4:20 PM — Opera Italia performs one song
Founder Francesca Taylor

Singers: Elle Moody (Soprano), Gabriel Quintero (Tenor), Zach Mascarinas (Baritone) and Ashley Likins (Mezzo-Soprano)

4:30 PM — Live Performance
Kelly and Michele Cutri

5:00 PM — Opera Italia
Opera Italia

15-minute live opera performance.

Founder Francesca Taylor

Singers: Elle Moody (Soprano), Gabriel Quintero (Tenor), Zach Mascarinas (Baritone) and Ashley Likins (Mezzo-Soprano)

5:15 PM — Live Performance
Richard Henry Dana Middle School Dance Team
Led by Sabrina Buscaino Kaercher

Performance of Mambo Italiano

5:30 PM — Live Performance
Mimmo Bologna will perform two songs

6:00 PM — Chiara Izzi Quintet announced by Dr Emanuele Amendola, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles
Chiara Izzi Quintet

“Hits on a Journey” — a live musical journey featuring the Chiara Izzi Quintet.

6:55 PM — Mimmo Bologna
Mimmo Bologna

Two-song performance.

7:30 PM — DJ Francesco Signorile
DJ Francesco and DJ Angelo Di Leva

DJ sets, and the Festa Italiana celebration continues into the evening.

10/09/2026

Un italiano al giorno.

Remembering Alessandra “Ale” Gambini — A Queen in the Kitchen

Today, we celebrate the memory and legacy of our dear Alessandra “Ale” Gambini, Italian food advocate, author, and the passionate voice behind A Queen in the Kitchen.

This was a very hard post to write for us. Ale had such a bubbling personality and warm smile and whenever we saw her at events, she would light up an entire room.

Through her love of Italian cuisine, Ale shared the beauty of Italy’s culinary traditions, bringing authentic flavors, family heritage, and the warmth of Italian hospitality to audiences around the world.

Her passionate work celebrated more than food: it was a heartfelt tribute to our culture, identity, and the stories passed down from one generation to the next.

Italian cuisine is a language of love, tradition, and connection. Through her passion and dedication, Ale helped keep that language alive, inspiring others to discover and appreciate the richness of Italian food culture.

Today, we honor her contribution to the Italian community and remember the joy she brought to the world through her culinary passion.

She is deeply missed by her community in Los Angeles and beyond but her passion for Italian cuisine and her legacy will live forever. passione per la cucina italiana è un'eredità che vive per sempre.

10/09/2026