Brothers Don (l.) and Dean Caputo — whose father owns the Patio on Taylor Street — prepare italian sausages at Festa Italiana in Little Italy on Aug. 14, 2015. [DNAinfo/Dave Newbart]
LITTLE ITALY — Four-thousand pounds of meat — in four days.
That's how much Italian sausage and beef the Patio will likely sell during the four days of Festa Italiana, which continues through Sunday in Little Italy.
"That's a lot of food," said Dean Caputo, whose father opened the restaurant at 1503 W. Taylor St. in 1948.
Caputo, who grew up near Taylor Street but now lives in Winfield, said the four-day festival featuring all things Italian — and more — is the ony outdoor street fair the restaurant does.
"It's a lot of fun," he said.
The 11th annual Italian fest is being staged on Taylor between Ashland Avenue and Racine Avenue. The festival starts daily at noon and continues to 11 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 15; and until 10 p.m. on Aug. 16. It's expected to draw thousands of people to the longtime Italian neighborhood, which sits between the University of Illinois at Chicago campus and the Illinois Medical District.
The outdoor festival features classic Italian dishes from longtime family-owned restaurants on Taylor Street and new neighborhood spots.
Tim Blackley, of Newbury, Ohio, shows off a meatball sub he got from Conte Di Savoia, an Italian grocer on Taylor Street, at Festa Italiana in Little Italy on Aug. 14, 2015. [DNAinfo/Dave Newbart]
Workers ready cookies and other pastries for sale at the Ferrara Bakery booth at Festa Italiana on Taylor Street in Little Italy. [DNAinfo/Dave Newbart]
In addition to the Patio, other neighborhood stalwarts also have booths at the fair, including Conte Di Savoia, 1438 W. Taylor St., as well as some in Tri-Taylor west of the medical district, like the Original Ferrara Bakery, 2210 W. Taylor St.
New this year, Italian chef Nonna Maria, star of the Web series "Cooking With Nonna," will be doing live demonstrations at the fest. She is doing demos at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Through an online contest, one lucky grandmother will be chosen to cook at the fest.
As far as music, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, singer Michael Andrew will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack with a special performance to commemorate what would have been Sinatra's 100th birthday this year.
A full lineup is here.
After 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, a procession led by an Italian marching band will travel from the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 W. Lexington St., through Little Italy, up Taylor Street to the Rosebud stage at the fest, where centuries-old Italian songs will be performed.
In addition to the Rat Pack tribute, a diverse lineup of live music acts will be featured on the festival's three stages, including:
• The Chicago Jazz Orchestra featuring Paul Marinaro singing the songs of Frank Sinatra
• Kimberly Gordon singing Rosemary Clooney songs
• Italian/Argentine piano whiz Mauro Frosio
• An Italian dance ensemble teaching tarantella, a well-loved Italian folk dance
Angel Spiccia, John Michael Coppola, Moreno Fruzzetti, Flat Cats and Joe Policastro are also slated to perform.
In addition to live music and great food, festival goers can compete in meatball and cannoli eating contests and purchase Italian-themed art and traditional Christmas ornaments.
While at the fest, attendees can take a trolley tour of Little Italy, the city's oldest Italian neighborhood. The neighborhood served as a gateway for thousands of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century.
Participants will be asked to give an optional $5 donation upon entering the fest. The donation benefits the University Village Association.
Festa Italiana is sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azurro and is organized by StarEvents.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
