Feast on Italian food, culture at trio of local events
The party is far from over in the North End — tomorrow marks the beginning of St. Anthony’s Feast, New England’s largest Italian festival. It’s the 99th year of wonderful Italian American music, amazing food and confections, cooking demos, olive oil and cheese tastings, radio and TV broadcasts, Masses and, of course, the grand processions of St. Anthony and St. Lucy. The Feast of Santa Lucia gets things started tomorrow at 5 p.m. with the exposition and blessing of the statue, followed by a procession through the streets accompanied by Italian street bands, flower girls and color guard. St. Anthony’s Feast continues through Sunday, with the blessing of the statue of St. Anthony and procession set for Friday at 7 p.m. Endicott, Thacher and N. Margin streets; stanthonysfeast.com.
Can you have too much Italian food? We thought not. A guided Italian Food Tour set for Saturday from 3 to 4:50 p.m. meets at the Old North Church and takes in some of the signature pizzerias, salumerias, wineries and coffee shops in the neighborhood. And since you’re on a tour, no lines for you! You’ll visit Pizzeria Regina (natch), Monica’s Mercato and, of course, Mike’s Pastry among others while you savor the North End. Tickets are $35-$50. Old North Church, 193 Salem St.; thebostonwalkingtours.com.
All that noshing deserves an aperitivo to cap things off. Funny you should mention it, because Eataly Boston is hosting “Sip & Savor: End of Summer Aperitivo” class at La Scuola on Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. Enjoy some fave Italian snacks while tasting and learning about the regional origins of the aperitivo, how to create variations of summer Italian cocktails and pairing the right food, and take home recipes. La Scuola, 800 Boylston St.; eataly.com.