SORRENTO CHEESE SUMMER IN LITTLE ITALY BEGINS MAY 12, 2007 WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND LITTLE ITALY WALL OF FAME INDUCTION OF ACTOR / SINGER GIANNI RUSSO

Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy, a summer-long celebration that continues every weekend through mid-September along the Mulberry Street Pedestrian Mall in historic Little Italy, officially began on the weekend of May 11, 12 and 13, 2007. with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, May 12, at the intersection of Mulberry and Canal Streets. This was immediately followed by the addition of actor/singer Gianni Russo to the Little Italy Wall of Fame which is on display in the patio of Most Precious Blood Church, 109 Mulberry Street.

A number of city officials and local community and business leaders joined actor Gianni Russo and Father Fabian Grifone, pastor of Most Precious Blood Church, at the ribbon cutting and the Wall of Fame induction that followed.

The Little Italy Merchants Association (LIMA), which operates the Mulberry Street Mall, was represented by its president, Ralph Tramontana, owner of Sambuca’s Café, LIMA Vice President Joe Maino, owner of handbag and accessory stores on Mulberry Street, and Vincent Generoso, a LIMA Vice President whose family owns one of the oldest restaurants in Little Italy, Original Vincent’s, at the corner of Mott and Hester Sts.

Aaron Peterson, Sales Manager of Vespa Soho, attended the ceremonies and announced that Vespa would be donating a beautiful red Vespa motor bike to Most Precious Blood Church which will raffle it off during the summer in order to raise needed funds to maintain and improve the place of worship.

Gianni Russo joined Frank Sinatra, Jr. on the Wall of Fame. The actor, who began his career playing Carlo, Marlon Brando’s wife-beating son-in-law in “The Godfather” classic movie, was elated to have his photo added to the Wall of Fame. “When I was growing up, I lived right across the street from this church,” he said.

Presented by the Little Italy Merchants Association, an organization representing restaurants, cafes and other businesses in Little Italy, Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy attracts more than one-million visitors annually. Now in its fifth year, the summer-long festival is held every Friday (6 PM – 11 PM), Saturday (11 AM to 11 PM) and Sunday (11 AM to 10 PM) along Mulberry Street between Canal and Broome Streets and on Hester Street between Mott and Mulberry Streets.

Sorrento Cheese is the major sponsor of the summer festival. Other sponsors include Bolla Wines, Peroni Beer, Tuttorroso (Red Pack), Rienzi Pasta, Bindi Desserts and Vespa Soho.