Everyday there’s a different saying written on the chalkboard at La Prima Espresso Company in the Strip District. I stopped in to get a coffee on my way to Ohio last week. Their coffee is so good. I took a bag of beans and a bag of ground to my Ohio families.
Baked in Bloomfield ( using a special pizzelle iron)
Maria Merante – Celebrating all things Italian since 1983
Anise or vanilla? They are delicate and delicious.
Under new ownership as of last Monday- Jeff Gallagher is the new owner of JUKE records– click to read Post-Gazette article.
There are hardback books, CDs and cassette tapes, too. Check it out for a walk down memory lane.
The Bocce Tournament is Saturday. We missed the celebrity bocce on Thursday night with Mayor Peduto and Franco Harris. Heard it was fun
I was able to show some of the men their photos from two, three and four years ago. Must have been out of town last year. One of my favorite city posts are the men playing bocce at night years ago
Anthony and Adam Marino. Twins/brothers. I was able to show them photos from previous years. See links above.
Did you know?
Nana’s Place by Gibsons- Homemade Soul Food in Bloomfield.
Takeout. Call your order in and pick up. A nice place to sit and wait, pictured below.Cash only which is always good to know ahead of time. I’m going to return another day and photograph the women cooking and working for the People at Work series, THANK YOU.
“Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends….”live music across the street
Wood Fired Pizza below.
And I bought a book for the grandkids at East End Book ExchangeEast End Book Exchange They say they have rare books, too.
Saturday afternoon I went to Little Italy Days in Bloomfield with my friend V and this evening I went over with Steve.
The street was blocked off and it was quite festive. Can’t put up the aromas of the various food items.
Maria Merante with a tray of Lemon Knots at Merante’s on Liberty Avenue
At the rectory- Formerly St Joseph’s
Live entertainment at Center Stage
Simon and Garfunkel Cover
Grass Fed Beef and Free Range Chicken without Antibiotics Right on Liberty Avenue at DJ’s Butcher Block.
Information about this celebration at St. Raphael’s in Morningside arrived in my inbox from the community list-serve. Said there would be fireworks. When I got there a band from Cleveland was playing Italian songs and couples were dancing. A large statue of Saint Rocco was illuminated and people would go up and kiss their hand and touch him. He is the protector of contagious disease and pestilence. There was a statue of a dog with a loaf of bread in his mouth right by his side and you can read his story here. At first I took a few timid photos with my phone as I felt conspicuous. But when the fireworks started I pulled out my regular camera and propped it against the chain link fence and caught the scene. The full moon looks less dramatic in the image than it felt in person. Used a 24-70 L series lens and the remote cable to reduce camera shake. The fireworks were fun and everyone thought they were over and then more would shoot up and an audible oooooh and aaaaah came from the crowd. A nice summer evening, it is 64 degrees right now! 
