Stumble It!
The first time young Foodie tasted mussels ( drowned in marinara sauce,) was in New York's Little Italy during the San Gennaro Festival celebrated in September along Mulberry Street. The 11 day event is a lovely exercise in Italian-food gluttony, with cannoli sampling high on the list. 
Around 300 AD, the eponymous saint from Napoli, whose crime was ministering to imprisoned Christians, survived being tossed in an oven, placed on the rack, and presented to wild beasts for their delectation in an arena. ( "What am I to you, " he wailed, "Just a cut of meat?!) He did not make it, however, through his beheading. 
In any event, San Gennaro became revered and New York has been putting on his festival for 78 years. The folks on the other coast have been in the biz five years now. Los Angeles Italian-Americans, like the people in New York, created a foundation to host their festival and both efforts fund philanthropic undertakings for those in need. In LA you can play boccie with "Hollywood's most prominent Italian-American celebrities," and all the ricotta cheese you can eat comes from Precious, the company whose name is imbedded in the official festival title.
In a neat piece of synchronicity (?), in New York the statue of San Gennaro is paraded around Little Italy and then returned to its rightful place at the Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry St.
Total Disclosure: A PR lady emailed me about the LA San Gennaro event---but hey--some people like to plan their foodie adventures well in advance, right? So mark your bi-coastal calendars now.
Another One: Las Vegas http://www.sangennarofeast.net/
Other Italian Festivals: http://www.italylink.com/festivals.html
( Love the smoking Mt Vesuvius behind S.G. )
Well, how could I resist putting in my two cents when the subject is so near and dear to my heart? Ever since my days living in Japan and China, I have been a huge fan of cultural festivals of all kinds. I'll have to check out this San Gennaro celebration next time I'm in L.A.
Posted by: thebizofknowledge | August 26, 2006 at 01:56 PM
I am in diet.And looking around without logic
Posted by: rüya tabirleri | February 25, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Good topic.
Posted by: Sohbet | February 28, 2007 at 04:57 AM
I have a diet site.I will translate these staf ,if you let ,and publish it on my site .
Thank you.
Posted by: Diyet | February 28, 2007 at 04:58 AM
I like Italian foods though I am French :)
Posted by: Nakliyatlar | March 21, 2007 at 04:18 PM
i like italian food and always go italian restaurant and enjoy food with my favorite italian wine.
Posted by: jackee | August 04, 2007 at 12:37 AM