The Italian American Museum has struck a deal to sell three buildings it owns on Grand Street to a development group that will build a bigger museum in the base of a residential condo the group plans to erect on the site.The museum, founded by Joseph Scelsa, a retired sociology professor at Queens College who specialized in Italian American history and research, will use the larger space to expand exhibitions and hold events.”This space will be all about the Italian-American experience,” Scelsa said. “We want to show the contributions to society and the art that Italian-Americans have made. We’ll have more room for galleries in this new facility, along with areas for classes, lectures and performances.”
Source: Italian American Museum sells three buildings in bid to expand | Crain’s New York Business
Gaga gave a monologue on equality and then launched into “Edge of Glory”, dedicating it to her family and in particular to her cousins Antonino, Giuseppe and Maria Germanotta. “Today I’m here with my whole family,” she said, seated at the piano. “I met my Italian cousins for the first time; they came up from Sicily. I think about how my grandparents left such a beautiful place, of the sacrifices they made. Being here makes me feel like I’ve made them proud,” she said.
