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The "Neighborhood" |
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"This is my
sister Enza and I - 1974 - on Exeter Street across from the Rectory.
My dad (Domenico) owns the house at 238 S. Exeter Street - it was
the best place in the world to grow up. We came from Italy in 1972
and couldn't have picked a better place."
- Rosalie Guerra
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"The best pizza in the neighborhood - I'm going back 50
years or so - as far as I was concerned,was on the corner of
Eastern Avenue & Trinity Street.True Neapolitan pizza for a buck,
made by Gennaro Barille.We called him 'Jerry.' At that time there
was a restaurant that was known nationwide on the corner of
Albemarle & Fawn Street - Maria's - a class spot. Great food. I
shook Rocky Marciano's hand as he was exiting.
Years ago we never called it 'Little Italy.' We always
referred to it as "the neighborhood." The outsiders called it Little
Italy.In the Bronx where I spent some time - Arthur Avenue & 187th
Street - the residents of the area called it 'the neighborhood.'"
~ Giovanni (Johnny) Manna
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“I remember when my
cousin Billy Pompa went for the Guiness Book of World
Records for drinking a six-pack of beer in front of the
old Casa Bianca … I remember waiting in the rain with my
cousin Mario Pompa for Frank Zappa to come out of
Sabatino's … I remember my Uncle Joe Lopresti's butcher
shop … when Pat Wolf ran his taxi into officer Sessam's
police car in front of Sab’s. Pat said, ‘Watch me scare
him!’”
~ William "Willy" Matricciani, Bel Air, Maryland, grew
up next door to the church
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"The people always looked out for everyone. If you
wanted a color TV, you got the TV in 24 hours. The guys
always hung outside Sab's and Tony on the corner. Life
was good then. Thank God for Little Italy. Everyone who
worked at the restaurants knew each other. Felt like
family all the time."
~Rob Schunck,Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
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"I remember when I was a waitress at Chiapparelli's in
the late 70's andwatching Tony DeSales sell his art on
the corner of High Street and watching all the activity
on a Saturday night."
~Tanya Winslow, Redondo Beach, CA
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"I remember when we used to have the grease pole set up
during the festivals and all the guys would work for
hours to get the flag off of the top of the pole. My
brothers, Lindo and Mario, were always there. ‘Killer’
was the great iconic man who was front and center and
instrumental to making this event possible ... it was so
amazing to watch."
~Rosanna Monaldi Biscotti
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“I remember when girls were not allowed to hang on Mug's
corner. A favorite neighborhood game was ‘hide the
belt.’ My mother, Anita Manna, threatened to wipe up the
streets with Sister Louis Marie for giving my cousin,
Joey Apicella, a bloody nose in class that day. Nowhere
like Little Italy!”
~ Paula Manna, grew up on Stiles Street
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“I remember when Gingi Pizza from Pizza’s Restaurant
sent me to buy a pack of Chesterfield cigarettes at
Peepo's for Perry Como. When I returned and gave him the
change, Mr. Como tipped me a dollar and thanked me in
Italian.”
~ William "Billy" Bertazon, Bel Air Maryland, grew up at
812 Stiles Street
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“I remember when the perfect sunny day meant a huge
turnout for the Sts. Anthony and Gabriel festivals.
Working the Fried Dough stand with Mrs. Lucy Pompa and
her son Vince meant a day making people smile as you
handed them still-warm pieces of powdered sugar fried
dough. Every festival was like a big extended family
reunion.”
~ Cara Tana Walen, Towson, Maryland
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“I remember when the guys would play “Buck-Buck” on
Mug’s corner … Roberta Bolton, Kim Appel, Rosanna
Monaldi and I would walk around the same two blocks
every night … Mr. Joe Sabatino would toss me a quarter
on his way up to his restaurant … the hucksters would
come around in the mornings in the summer and we would
buy a bag of cherries (cheap!) and eat them on the clean
white marble steps.”
~ Debbie Sapia Narango, Frederick, Maryland, grew up at
915 Fawn Street
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“I remember when the Casa Bianca was open … and Bob Hope
came to Sabatino's to eat and the street was filled with
people and everyone was singing, ‘Thanks for the
memories.’ And this is one of hundreds. I could go on
for days – any one of us could who grew up in the
neighborhood.”
~ Joe Apicella, grew up on corner of Stiles & Exeter
Streets
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“I remember when we had dinner at Velleggia's.
Afterwards, we walked to Vaccaro's, bought a pint of
cannoli filling and went home. Only half of the filling
ever made it home.”
~ Deanna Michele, Columbia, Maryland
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"As
a young girl, I remember watching my Dad, Ray
Cossentino, coach the Yankee's Little League team at
the Pumping Station. I loved watching all the
gorgeous boys from "the neighborhood", especially
those Pompa and Apicella boys. I can still
smell the aroma of the Pumping Station, I don't
think that will ever leave you.
Anita Cossentino Chavis, Forest Hill, MD
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"I remember when we would visit Aunt Maria and Uncle
Mario at their Maria’s Restaurant in Little Italy. Other
family members would be there for Sunday family supper
and I can still see my Aunt Maria sitting on a bar stool
in the kitchen stirring the sauces or rolling the pasta.
The smell of the long simmering fresh tomatoes, the
gooey texture of fresh pastas between my fingers, the
sounds of Max on the accordion … these are memories that
transport me to a wonderful, simple and carefree time in
my life.
~ Stephanie Allori-Hillis, Monkton, Maryland
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