BP MARKOWITZ TO HONOR EXECUTIVE CHEF MICHAEL LOMONACO, COMMUNITY LEADER KARINA COSTANTINO, MUSICIANS VENUTO BROTHERS & FAMILY AT ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CELEBRAZIONE
6:00 P.M.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL
209 JORALEMON STREET
BETWEEN COURT & ADAMS STREETS
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
On Thursday, October 15, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will host the annual Italian American Heritage celebrazione at Borough Hall. BP Markowitz will honor Karina Costantino, community superintendent of District 20; Michael Lomonaco, TV personality, author, and executive chef and managing partner at the Porter House New York; and the Venuto Brothers & Family, founders of the Caleps and Voices bands.
Karina Costantino became the Community Superintendent of Brooklyn's District 20 in 2007, working alongside the Community Education Council in exploring new programs, training and resources to empower parents as true partners in their child's education. She previously served as principal of P.S. 22, was a former candidate for the New York State Assembly on Staten Island and was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to the Governor's Commission on Domestic Violence.
Bensonhurst native Michael Lomonaco has returned to the New York restaurant scene at Porter House New York, which marks his first solo effort as both chef and managing partner. He was executive chef at New York's '21' for seven years, and in 1997 was appointed executive chef of Windows on the World. Lomonaco was also host of Epicurious on the Travel Channel and Michael's Place on Food Network, and has regularly contributed recipes to publications such as Gourmet, Food and Wine and Bon Appetit. He co-founded the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, which gathered aid for restaurant workers' families in the wake of September 11, 2001, and participates in fundraising and events that benefit worthy causes, including City Harvest and Share Our Strength.
The Venuto Family has been singing and playing their way into the hearts of music lovers since the 1970s, when late patriarch Giovanni Venuto formed The Caleps, who performed with the greats like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Tony Bennett, and have entertained President Reagan, the Jerry Lewis Telethon and, for the past two decades, the Italian cruise line, Costa Cruises. Today, a whole new generation of music lovers is enjoying the Venuto Brothers' new band, Voices, which is creating a sensation wherever they perform
