Before outdoor films, mouth watering cuisine and the spectacle of bocce brought thousands of visitors to its streets, Baltimore's Little Italy was a haven for generations of immigrants. With Saint Leo's Church at its heart, The Neighborhood is a place where lifelong friendships are forged and nicknames are serious business. The community still celebrates the Feast of Saint Anthony Italian Festival in tribute to the saint who was credited with saving the neighborhood from the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. As sons went to the front during both world wars, families pulled together during the hard times. With memories of beloved local figures like Marion "Mugs" Mugavero and artist Tony DeSales, interviews with lifelong locals and a few classic recipes, author Suzanna Rosa Molino creates a spirited history of this enduring Italian community.
Suzanna Rosa Molino is the Director of the nonprofit Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore (PromotionCenterforLittleItaly.org). She is a parishioner of St. Leo's Church in Little Italy, a member of the Little Italy Lodge, and an avid team player in a Little Italy bocce league. A native of Baltimore, Molino's paternal grandparents first emigrated to Baltimore's Little Italy from Abruzzi; her maternal grandparents came from Sardinia.