- April 25, 2024
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Patrick Tobin, who does a Frank Sinatra Tribute, croons to Jeanette DeRasmo of Lakewood Ranch.
Jimmy Pulver, who worked a booth at Festa Italiana in Greenbrook on Saturday, cooks sausage, onions and peppers.
Lakewood Ranch's Claire and Brooke Danley, who are twins, build pasta necklaces on Saturday during Festa Italiana.
St. Petersburg's Francine Campanello, Rosalie Gallina and Marty Lentz take a break before performing with the Italian Tarantella Dancers at Festa Italiana on Saturday.
Mary Pat McSherry and Dennis McSherry of Lakewood Ranch enjoy pizza on Saturday at Festa Italiana in Greenbrook.
Nino Ledi, the owner of Nino's Italian Bakery of Punta Gorda, stands in front of a mountain of Italian cookies at Festa Italiana on Saturday in Greenbrook.
Pete and Natalie DeMichele of Sarasota came to Festa Italiana on Saturday in Greenbrook.
Comedian Pat Capuzzi yuks it up at Festa Italiana at Greenbrook on Saturday.
Michael Della Camera of Punta Gorda finishes an order of spaghetti with clam sauce during Festa Italiana on Saturday at Greenbrook.
As Patrick Tobin did his best Frank Sinatra to "My Way," a line of people waited patiently in front of a booth serving up spaghetti and clam sauce, sausage and peppers and meatball sandwiches.
Right next door at Festa Italiana in Greenbrook on Saturday was Nino Ledi, a sixth-generation baker who was selling a selection of Italian cookies. It was slightly after noon and Ledi had yet to get busy.
"Wait until 2 o'clock," Ledi said. "Then everyone will be done eating (the main course). Wait to see what happens then."
Indeed, as festival-goers had their fill of pizza and other Italian specialties, they made their way over to the cookies.
It didn't matter if they had Italian blood. They liked good food.
"Everyone is Italian for the day," Ledi said.
Along with entertainment and plenty of good food, Festa Italiana offered activities for the kids, such as building a past necklace or riding ponies.
