The Greater Youngstown Italian Fest was held downtown this weekend.  I stuck around for awhile after work on Friday and took some pictures.

 

^Needs a little TLC.

 

 

The Lemon Grove Cafe appears to be almost ready to open.

 

 

The Semple Building renovation also looks to be nearly complete.

 

While I was there, the beauty pageant was held.  I'm as interested in a pretty face as the next guy, :-D so here is a picture of last years winner and this year's 8  contestants.  Sorry for the poor quality, I was standing way in the back and the lighting wasn't optimal.  I must also apologize because I didn't stay long enough to hear who was this year's winner.

 

Last year's winner:

 

Contestant 1:

 

Contestant 2:

 

Contestant 3:

 

Contestant 4:

 

Contestant 5:

 

Contestant 6:

 

Contestant 7:

 

Contestant 8:

 

I hope the weather hasn't put too much of a damper on events.  It rained Saturday evening, and this morning.

Great photos..  Downtown Youngstown has so much potential...and it beginning to shape up nicely. Is Pig Iron Press Books and Print still there? It would be so great if the trains linked the center of Cleveland to the center of Yo. again. Oh, and I think contestant number 6 gets my vote!

Strictly on body I would have to go with 5, although number eight has a quiet Mediterranean dignity about the eyes.

Yeah....Eight is good...

The food aromas must have been great, and so would seeing all those people in downtown. It's an impressive downtown despite all the economic losses, and it would be great to see it busy again.

Great photos.. Downtown Youngstown has so much potential...and it beginning to shape up nicely. Is Pig Iron Press Books and Print still there? It would be so great if the trains linked the center of Cleveland to the center of Yo. again. Oh, and I think contestant number 6 gets my vote!

 

Thanks!  I just hope that progress starts moving faster than decay and the wrecking ball.

 

Yes, Pig Iron Press is still there.

 

Hopefully, when Cleveland and Pittsburgh are connected by rail, Youngstown will be a stop in the middle.

The food aromas must have been great, and so would seeing all those people in downtown. It's an impressive downtown despite all the economic losses, and it would be great to see it busy again.

 

The smells were FANTASTIC!

 

The downtown events coordinator is doing a pretty good job of having events downtown.  It's not uncommon to have a few thousand people downtown for an event on a weekend.  While still underutilized, downtown is coming back.

But here is the BEST girl...hands down winner!!!! 

Good to see downtown filled with people. My cousin was first runner-up in last year's pageant.

Super set.

Thanks!

Great to see the turnout. I wish I knew about the fest as I would have gone.

 

As for the contestants, I like #1. Too many porkers in there.

But here is the BEST girl...hands down winner!!!! 

 

I agree. Probably lower maintenance, too.

This is the 3rd year it has been downtown.  I thought the paper would do a follow up story with an attendance number, but no.  So, I don't know what the attendance was, or if the weather affected their numbers much.

 

It should be there again next year around the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August.

 

The more I travel, the more I realize cavatelli must be a NEO thing.  I'm guessing Sicilian influence...It's funny because it's always a staple item at italian festivals/restaurants around here, and most places have never heard of it.  (simple folded over pasta if anyone doesn't eat it reguarly!)

 

I was in Raleigh this past weekend and I had an OSU hat on, and one of the chefs came up to me after spotting my hat from across the room.  He said he grew up in Mayfield Hts and was starting to miss Ohio...then he paused and said "and that was the last time I ate Cavatelli and meatballs too..." 

Oh, and I think contestant number 6 gets my vote!

 

That's if you like 'em skinny. Contestant 5 gets mine!

re: the first picture -- Elephant ears and funnel cakes are my favorite Italian cuisine.

re: the first picture -- Elephant ears and funnel cakes are my favorite Italian cuisine.

 

Yes, along with French Fries, Philly Cheesesteaks, and BBQ. (also served.:lol:)

youngstown has a very rich italian history and im proud to be a product from it

2009 Miss Italian Pageant Contestants:(from L to R)

Carla Ross, Angela Morris, Ashley Slavens, Erika D'Alesio, Candace Campana (2008 Queen), Michelle Sergi (2nd runner up), Liana DeFuria (1st runner up), Gina Cappuccio, Victoria Diana, Lisa Dolasinski (2009 Queen)

cool festival and pretty girls. yeah, its nice to see dt youngstown so alive.

 

***

 

murray hill cavatelli is not unique at all, it's just a type of pasta. unless its something else in neo/youngstown? or just well loved there?

 

i just googled and it sez that pasta style originally comes from avellino in campania is southern italy, but as with most pasta styles it seems to be pretty widespread.

 

 

2009 Miss Italian Pageant Contestants:(from L to R)

Carla Ross, Angela Morris, Ashley Slavens, Erika D'Alesio, Candace Campana (2008 Queen), Michelle Sergi (2nd runner up), Liana DeFuria (1st runner up), Gina Cappuccio, Victoria Diana, Lisa Dolasinski (2009 Queen)

 

Thanks for the clarification!  I thought I had a picture of everyone.  But I screwed up and missed a couple young women. (and also incorrectly named some :( )