Gianni Russo to Be Honored as Little Italy's 'Man of the Year' at Mulberry Street Mall Ribbon Cutting, Today

Summer in Little Italy will officially start on Saturday, May 25, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12 Noon marking the opening of the Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall, it was announced by Ralph Tramontana, President of the Little Ital Merchants Association (LIMA) which has operated the Mall since its creation 25 years ago. The ceremony will take place at the corner of Mulberry and Canal Streets.

A number of elected officials will participate in the ceremony, including NYC Comptroller John Liu, Councilwoman Margaret Chin, who represents the Little Italy and Chinatown communities, and Upper West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who is running for Manhattan Borough President. They will join LIMA officials and other local business owners in cutting the ribbon signifying the start of Summer in Little Italy.

Actor-singer Gianni Russo, a native New Yorker and former resident of Little Italy, will be presented with The Key To Little Italy by LIMA in recognition of being named "Little Italy's Man of the Year." Russo, who has co-starred in more than 40 films, including "The Godfather," "Sea Biscuit," "The Freshman" and "Any Given Sunday," is currently performing with his Band at New York City's prestigious Four Seasons Restaurant.

The ceremony will begin with a medley of patriotic songs performed by acclaimed soprano Manna KnJoi. Little Italy's own Red Mike Festival Band, which has performed in Little Italy since 1927, will also be on hand to play traditional Italian folk music and other brass band musical selections. Following the ceremony, there will be a luncheon at Il Cortile Restaurant, one of Little Italy's most popular restaurants.

On Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day), there will be a special Outdoor Mass celebrated by Father Fabian Grifone in the outdoor patio of Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street between Canal and Hester Streets. Tenor Joshua Benevento, who performs with the Metropolitan Opera, will be the featured singer. The Mass will be followed by a Memorial Day tribute to Little Italy residents who have served in past and current wars. There will be a US Marines Color Guard and local community leaders will read aloud the names of those warriors who have served in those conflicts.

The Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall operates every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The hours of the Mall are Fridays, 6 PM to midnight; Saturdays, 12 noon to midnight; and Sundays, 12 noon to 9 PM. After New York City schools end classes in June, the Sunday closing hours will be extended by one hour to 10 PM.

During the Mall weekend hours, Mulberry Street between Canal and Broome Streets, as well as Hester and Grand Streets between Mott and Baxter Streets, are closed to vehicular traffic. Local restaurants and cafes with special permits from the City of New York are allowed to move tables to the sidewalk directly outside their establishments, creating one of Manhattan's most popular al fresco dining areas, free of air pollution normally created by the exhausts from passing autos and trucks. Visitors often compare the Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall to the "quaint piazzas of Italy" where diners can leisurely sit, eat a variety of Italian cuisines, enjoy cappuccinos and cannoli, and 'people watch.'

During the summer weekends, the Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall also features a number of special activities and events for the entire family, including an annual Pasta Eating Competition, free musical events, strolling clowns, puppeteers and tastings.

There are approximately 35 restaurants, cafes, Italian food stores, wine shops and the Italian American Museum in the area. Sponsors include Peroni Beer and Pepsi Cola/Schweppes and 7-Up.