What: Italy always has had a prominent place in Chicago, but this year it will especially be in the public eye. The U.S. Department of State has declared 2013 the Year of Italian Culture, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago is taking full advantage with a yearlong series of events.

During a particular spate of Anglophilia, certain image-obsessed upper-class Neapolitan gents of the early 20th century sent their tailors to London to learn English style. Having analyzed Englishmen’s tastes for suits with high armholes, a squared-off shoulder, a suppressed waist and armoring woolens, they came home and completely Italianized what they had learned.

For the third time in the last ten months, Barbara Zaragoza's Naples, Italy travel guide hits the #1 Amazon best seller list for Naples travel guides, ahead of Rick Steves.
 

Think of Italy and what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the food, the fashion or the fabulous works of art? Could it be the epitome of motor vehicles, the Ferrari or perhaps the beautiful city of Florence?

California could soon be the next state to do away with Columbus Day thanks to a bill proposed by Assemblymember Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina).The Native American Day bill, or AB 55, would replace Columbus Day, which falls on the second Monday in October, with "Native American Day." Assemblymember Hernandez proposed the bill Monday.

While the notion of a "genuine Italian dining experience" is certainly a subjective one, there are countless examples of "Italian" dishes in the United States that may have evolved thanks to a strong Italian-American population presence, but don't actually reflect the cuisine of Italy. The same is true with many other cuisines -- American Chinese food varies pretty significantly from what you may find in China.

In a highly anticipated and occasionally furious TV interview watched by nearly 9 million of his compatriots, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi acknowledged misleading voters about the cause of his country's financial crisis, but doggedly attacked the current government's austerity cuts and fought back when mocked.

THE southern Italian city of Naples, capital of the Campania region, has a reputation sullied by corruption and crime, both petty and organized. But change is afoot. A new mayor has ushered in initiatives to clean up the city, beginning with the unclogging of streets by disposing of uncollected trash and redirecting chaotic traffic flows.

U.S. fastfood giant McDonald's believes recession-hit Italy will be one of its higher-growth areas in the coming decade and is opening more than 100 new restaurants to convert pizza-lovers to its burgers.