Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

^Most of the stories I hear date back at least 15 years. 

 

I did see a black couple eating down there last summer or the summer before.  I do believe things have changed... but, then again, it is never one of my suggestions when we go out to eat with black friends.

My friend at work is a black woman who lives in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood and sends her kids to Holy Rosary School in LI.  She has only said good things about her experience with the neighborhood.

My friend at work is a black woman who lives in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood and sends her kids to Holy Rosary School in LI.  She has only said good things about her experience with the neighborhood.

 

Excellent! Glad to hear.

Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

Sorry, I'm not going there!  My cousins live in UC and are worried how the location change of the station to Mayfield will affect them using it.

Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

Sorry, I'm not going there!  My cousins live in UC and are worried how the location change of the station to Mayfield will affect them using it.

 

The station is right on the border, and I agree that a lot has changed in the neighborhood. Today it is mostly families, asians, young people, and case students walking around. There are even black cooks in Little Italy. I doubt that was the case in the past.

Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

Sorry, I'm not going there!  My cousins live in UC and are worried how the location change of the station to Mayfield will affect them using it.

 

The station is right on the border, and I agree that a lot has changed in the neighborhood. Today it is mostly families, asians, young people, and case students walking around. There are even black cooks in Little Italy. I doubt that was the case in the past.

 

I don't doubt things have changed, but I'm from the old school and I'm not going to drive thru or patronize businesses in LI.

Then you're doing the same you accuse the prior merchants of Little Italy of doing -- pre-judging people. You're hating them without knowing anything about them.

Then you're doing the same you accuse the prior merchants of Little Italy of doing -- pre-judging people. You're hating them without knowing anything about them.

 

No....no....no.  I'm not investing, but I'm not judging.  There is a difference.

Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

Sorry, I'm not going there!  My cousins live in UC and are worried how the location change of the station to Mayfield will affect them using it.

 

The station is right on the border, and I agree that a lot has changed in the neighborhood. Today it is mostly families, asians, young people, and case students walking around. There are even black cooks in Little Italy. I doubt that was the case in the past.

 

Not in the least.  It's changed for sure, big time.  There's no way the station would have gone there otherwise.

 

There's still little if any tolerance for groups of young black men acting in a stereotypical manner, especially during the Feast.  But that's cultural, not racial (though it's roots are in the latter), and I daresay some predominantly black neighborhoods could use a dose of that.

....Compared to the men from Little Italy who have been so well-behaved throughout history.  :roll:

^^you forgot to add the disclaimer that one of your friends is black

Today it is completely fine for blacks to go and eat in Little Italy.

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a black person in Little Italy that is not accompanied by a white person (well MAYBE once or twice), so I'm not sure black people would agree with you.  Also, my roommate in college (he was a very dark-skinned Indian kid) was harassed walking through Little Italy at night once when a group of a few young adults (not college students) threw a garbage can toward him from a little ways away (presumably just to rattle him) and yelled a racial slur indicating they thought he was black.  Granted, that was almost 15 years ago now.

Sorry, I'm not going there!  My cousins live in UC and are worried how the location change of the station to Mayfield will affect them using it.

 

The station is right on the border, and I agree that a lot has changed in the neighborhood. Today it is mostly families, asians, young people, and case students walking around. There are even black cooks in Little Italy. I doubt that was the case in the past.

 

Not in the least.  It's changed for sure, big time.  There's no way the station would have gone there otherwise.

 

There's still little if any tolerance for groups of young black men acting in a stereotypical manner, especially during the Feast.  But that's cultural, not racial (though it's roots are in the latter), and I daresay some predominantly black neighborhoods could use a dose of that.

 

WHOA!!  What exactly is a stereotypical manner?  I know you wrote what you did to get a rise, but comments like this are just as ignorant - if not more - as the perceptions of people of color, by non people of color.

Whatever it is, it's cultural, not racial.  Stereotypical stuff from one race..... I mean culture.

Whatever it is, it's cultural, not racial.  Stereotypical stuff from one race..... I mean culture.

 

When even a significant minority of the people they allegedly apply to reinforce them on a regular basis, stereotypes don't typically go away.  Though I would say the vast majority of people of other races know better than to apply the "ghetto" stereotype based solely on race, a little bit of living up to it can lead to some assumptions rather quickly.

 

Social media isn't helping.  There's always something going viral, the latest being the kid eating in the supermarket with things blowing up from there...

I think we live in different social media worlds

And with that, we return to our regularly scheduled program.

I was in town over Christmas, and was just heartbroken to learn that Primo Vino Restaurant at 12511 Mayfield (originally DiTirro's Restaurant --and before that DiTirro's Grocery) and built in 1900, will be demolished to be replaced by some ultra modern looking structure. Not long ago, the old Golden Bowl (Club Corbos) along with that beautiful, ornate brick courtyard with archways and spiral stair cases, was demolished. Yes, the building had suffered major fire and water damage, but the brick courtyard SHOULD have been retained and incorporated into something new. Instead, its now an empty green lawn, lined with some shrubs.

 

Same now with Primo Vino. My cousin and I were in there, in early Jan. We chatted with the owner, Carmen, and had a great time. But to know that yet another original structure from Cleveland's Little Italy, is going to be be turned to dust... is just beyond comprehension. Tear enough of these original buildings down, and NOTHING original will be left. Mayfield Rd and those buildings are the heart of L.I.

 

And, as mentioned in an earlier post, that building was built by my great aunt and uncle (Carolina and Giuseppe DiTirro) in 1900, to house their first grocery store. Later, it became DiTirro's Tavern and then Restaurant, before Carolina sold it, in 1945, upon retiring.

 

I WISH someone had bought it with the intention of restoring it-- removing those white stone panels that were put on in the mid 1960s, covering all the beautiful original stone work, and made it into something special. The ground floor could have been re-opened as a tavern of sorts, and second floor, tho not used now, could have been revamped into office spaces, lofts or the like. And the history would have then been kept in tact, too!

 

Me not a happy camper...  :cry:

 

Jeff

I understand the sentiment, but like so many other places - if you want to see the neighborhood preserved as you remember it, the onus is on you to 'be the change you want to see'.

I understand the sentiment, but like so many other places - if you want to see the neighborhood preserved as you remember it, the onus is on you to 'be the change you want to see'.

 

A close corollary to "It always sounds like a good idea to those who don't have to make it happen". 

It was more an observation. I guess when it comes to structures like that, of that age (115 years old), and built when the Little Italy settlement was being more established and growing, it might have been put on some Cleveland historic register that would have prevented it from being demolished. If I had the resource and was living back there, it would have been wonderful to try and keep it from the wrecking ball.

 

Again, I know that time marches on-- and was expressing thoughts and a sentiment.  :wink:

^Totally understandable, and I know many of us share much of your sentiment. There was a lot of disappointment here on UrbanOhio when the Club Corbos courtyard was demolished. It really was a cool space.  The Primo Vino building, though, had already been so altered (unattractively) that I can't say I'll miss that one nearly much. Also, I think the last renderings I saw of the project proposed for that lot did show a small retail/restaurant space on the ground floor.

Hi Staphanger...

 

I agree with your sentiment, too. Regarding the Club Corbo's/Golden Bowl ornate brick patio.. i guess, i was thinking too, what something like that would cost to re-create and build today. It would be very expensive. As i said, its too bad that whoever Corbo's sold that property to, didnt at least entertain the idea of retaining that beautiful brick patio and courtyard, even if the building had to be taken down.

 

With regard to Primo Vino, yes the front has been altered but the good thing is that the facade-those large, white stony panels, are merely bolted and attached to the original building front. Id love to see what would look like, were those panels carefully unbolted and reveal the stone beneath. The 2nd story windows on the East 126th St side were long ago covered with cinder blocks.. but those could be removed, as the window spaces and sills are still there. A couple summers ago, the owner allowed me to go inside the first floor section, that is normally locked off. It had funiture and other material strewn about--it looked more like a storage ..but the room was sound and has potential.

 

I found these pics last night.. clear shots showing the East 126th St side and how the facade is "laid" over the original front.

Not sure where to put this, but this national map shows how few Italians there are in Ohio. They're limited to NE Ohio...

 

Italian ancestry, by county. http://t.co/7DZtx5DLF9

Not sure where to put this, but this national map shows how few Italians there are in Ohio. They're limited to NE Ohio...

 

Italian ancestry, by county. http://t.co/7DZtx5DLF9

 

What percentage Italian?  100%?  50%+?

Do you think there was a point to that post?  Maybe there will be a pizza shortage in Ohio!

actually there were a lot of Italians in my little 'hood in Painesville, not the least of whom was the notable performer Joe Dolce (I needed another excuse to post this video). It's not like he exploited any stereotypes. lol

 

http://painesvilleitalians.com

 

What percentage Italian?  100%?  50%+?

 

Did you look at the map? It says "reported ancestry," so it's anyone who identifies as Italian and said so in a survey.

actually there were a lot of Italians in my little 'hood in Painesville, not the least of whom was the notable performer Joe Dolce (I needed another excuse to post this video). It's not like he exploited any stereotypes. lol

 

http://painesvilleitalians.com

 

 

In grade school this song was deemed inappropriate, and so we weren't allowed to play the record.

 

Very dark orange place I grew up in.

RIP Mitzie Verne, Beloved Member of Local Arts Community and Grandmother of James and Dave Franco (1922-2016)

Posted By Josh Usmani on Mon, May 2, 2016 at 11:21 am

 

Although she was perhaps best known as the grandmother of actors James and Dave Franco, Mitzie Verne was better known in the local art community as a tireless champion of Japanese and Asian artwork. She and her husband Dan established the Verne Collection in the 1950s in a small building near Murray Hill in Little Italy. It’s with a heavy heart that we inform you of Mitzie Verne’s passing yesterday. She was 93 years old.

 

Mitzie R. Verne passed away yesterday (May 1), just over a month before her 94th birthday (June 16). Verne was born in Cleveland, and raised in the Glenville area on Drexel Ave., near East 105th St. Mitzie had two older brothers, Robert (Levine) and Alfred. Robert and his wife Anne owned and operated Publix Book Mart.

 

Mitzie’s father (Manuel Levine) came to the US from Russia in the 1890s. He attended Western Reserve University, eventually becoming Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals. Although rarely opposed for office, when he was, his wife was always campaigning for him. Manuel Levine passed away when Mitzie was just 15 years old.

 

Mitzie graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. Living in Cleveland, her family paid tuition for Mitzie to attend the school until her family eventually moved to Cleveland Heights. She graduated from Flora Stone Mather College in 1944 with a degree in psychology, and was immediately admitted into the Harvard-Radcliffe Management Trainee Program from 1944-45.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/05/02/rip-mitzie-verne-beloved-member-of-local-arts-community-and-grandmother-of-james-and-dave-franco-1922-2016

 

 

More security and resources to the neighborhood:

 

 

Cleveland’s Little Italy to get triple police protection under plan that would expand jurisdictions of University Circle, Case Western police

Updated: Apr. 28, 2022, 2:21 p.m. | Published: Apr. 28, 2022, 11:36 a.m.

By Courtney Astolfi, cleveland.com

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland City Council is poised to approve an expansion of the jurisdictions of University Circle police and Case Western Reserve University police that would increase police coverage in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood, and in a small slice of the Glenville neighborhood.

 

The proposed expansion won approval Wednesday from council’s Safety Committee and could be approved by the full council as soon as May 9. The change would come through amendments to existing agreements that grant the two private departments policing authority in University Circle and around Case’s campus.

 

Along with granting both departments new policing powers in Little Italy, the changes would also allow Case Western Reserve University to expand its policing to a roughly 15-block stretch of Glenville along Wade Park Avenue, where some students live. Cleveland police is the only department currently serving both areas.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/04/clevelands-little-italy-to-get-triple-police-protection-under-plan-that-would-expand-jurisdictions-of-university-circle-case-western-police.html