Columbus Day isn’t until Oct. 12, but the Italian American community was out in full force six months early when the North Bergen Public Library held their “Taste of Italy” event on April 25.
The afternoon was packed with activities, entertainment, education, and food, food, food. Hundreds of attendees showed up from the area to share in the festivities and traditions.
The performance room of the library was packed to capacity well before the starting time of 1 p.m. An overflow crowd filled seats in the central area downstairs and enjoyed the entertainers on a video screen.
“Fantastico!” gushed West New York resident Nancy Boccalini. “I come to the park sometimes and I just happened to see the news so I thought I’d come and join in the celebration. They’re very talented performers and they’re joyful too, and it’s contagious. A great way to celebrate a beautiful spring afternoon.”
North Bergen resident Alex Fenton, who describes himself as “around 12, 10” years old (“You’re 11,” scolded his dad, Neal. “What a scam artist”), watched the show on the video screen, especially enjoying when performer Jim Nicoletti stepped into the outer room to greet the audience with song.
Nicoletti enchanted the crowd with his renditions of tunes by Italian American Frank Sinatra. “I guess Mr. Sinatra was actually your neighbor, right?” said Nicoletti.
The troupe I Giullari di Piazza performed a selection of energetic tarantella dances and songs from southern Italy, accompanied by drums, tambourines, castanets, and chanting.
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Entertainment for all ages
Marylou Romano founded the not-for-profit organization D’Italia Programs in 1998 to perpetuate Italian American culture. Serving as emcee for the performers, she offered both humor and history.
“My grandparents came over around 1912,” she said. “Between 1880 and 1920, over five million Southern Italians came here. Why? Who would leave Italy?”
The answer: “Between the earthquakes, the malaria, the lack of opportunity, our people came here for a better life. And those of you who are Italian American, in fact everybody in this room knows what that’s about, because that’s about being American.”
Among the performers she introduced was tenor Theodore “Ted” Tomasso, belting out selections from Verdi to Mario Lanza, and Charlie Rutan, playing the zapogna, a folk instrument nicknamed the “Italian bagpipe.”
“The Italian bagpipe is closely associated with Christmas because many Southern Italians believe this is the instrument that the shepherds played on that first Christmas Eve,” he explained.
Also entertaining the crowd was Alessandra Belloni, described by Romano as “America’s expert on Southern Italian traditional singing and dancing and percussion.”
“We do the Southern Italian traditional authentic ritual drumming and dances that some of you might not be familiar with, but this is really what the immigrants brought with them when they came here,” said Belloni.
Beginning with an all-female drum performance, an ancient tradition, her group I Giullari di Piazza launched into a colorful and energetic series of tarantella dances, their flowing costumes whirling about the stage area.
Kids were enthralled by the pizza tossing exhibition by Joe Montuori of Pizzalino’s in Bayonne and got their chance to play with musical instruments and dance later in the day.
A feast and a half
Food was plentiful and delicious, including pizza, sausage, breads, pasta, salads, and more. The library provided 500 plates, then had to find 200 more.
Upstairs were the ever-popular desserts. Gelato was a big hit, and 600 cannolis were devoured in a flash. Pizzelle, a thin, crispy waffle cookie not unlike an ice cream cone, was cooked up fresh on a griddle.
The library traditionally holds one “Taste of” event a year, spotlighting a regional culture and cuisine. This year’s Italian festival was especially popular.
“There are so many new faces in the building today,” said Library Director Sai Rao. “Some people, they live right in North Bergen but they haven’t come out to the library. This brought them out. And everybody’s smiling. That’s what you want. You want them to be happy. It’s their library. Feeding them, educating them, giving them a taste of the country.”
“This is the first festival I’ve come to,” said Boccalini, from West New York. “I really hit the jackpot. I’m so happy that I was christened with the Italian American one because I’m Italian American. So perfecto!”
Vendors providing food at the hot buffet included Rose’s Deli, Roma Pizzeria, San Filippo di Sicilia, and 90 Park Restaurant.
Former Hudson County Surrogate Donald DeLeo introduced the event, with Mayor Nicholas Sacco offering a welcome to the audience. Among those attending were Commissioners Frank Gargiulo and Allen Pascual, Police Chief Robert Dowd, and newly elected school board appointees Claudia Rodriguez and Ruth Shaw.
“Several people asked me what my next country will be and when it will be,” said Rao.
Well, the secret is out. Rather than wait a whole year for the next event, the library is hosting “A Taste of India” on May 9 at 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Branch, 2123 Kennedy Blvd. Food, literature, music, dance, and mehendi (henna) will be provided. The event is free of charge.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.