North End Italian Documentary Clip

We would like to gain your support for a new documentary about the vibrant Italian-American community that has called the North End of Boston home for well over 100 years.
Please donate at www.northendboston.org
The film is based on historical records and interviews with North Enders and their descendants from around the Boston area. It features original music written especially for the movie, home videos, and many photographs. We have already completed 95% of the production. However, we are still working hard to raise additional funds to complete this digital, high-definition film.
We are proud to say that everyone appearing on film is of Italian heritage, including university professors, writers, business owners, and many others.

[@brianrinz5586]

Now the North End has studio apartments for $2500, the churches are mostly empty, nobody cooks anything at home, nobody talks to each other, the streets are filled with tourists crowding around Mike's and Modern, BUT there is a juicery and a couple Yoga studios. Boston 2019, folks.

[@JohnDoe-iu7gt]

The hipsters and urban pioneers are ruining America no concept of family or traditions. They wait for the lady to die so they can pay 5 grand for her apartment. And the rest of America looks the same with Starbucks on every corner

[@booboobunny5655]

@gun ︻╦╤─ More like Puerto Rican’s and Salvadorans, I hardly see any Cubans around here.

[@rpk5216]

I miss Boston Italians. They are so nice. Eastie used to be an Italian neighborhood, too. Not no mo.

[@TheWriterWalker]

I love the Italians' love of family and food.

[@pun_gr2742]

Im not Italian, Im Greek. We have this almost every Sunday at my mothers house. Every Sunday is absolute joy! Hope I can do the same with my kids and grandkids one day.

[@bobdonovan34]

I was lucky enough to be invited to some family dinners in the North End and East Boston. It was a different world from the Irish families in S. Boston.

[@americanpatriot3667]

Bob Donovan I used to work South Boston on these high priced apartments the Irish didn’t play either when it was lunch they’d all eat together

[@lindacosta3381]

When families stuck together❤️😋❤️

[@camban]

Shoot the breeze, squeeze in, sit down and eat. The days before the afflictions of mobile technology, self absorption and pretentiousness infected the masses.

[@bigd22686]

camban I come from an Italian family..... phones are not aloud at the dinner table, at my moms house and mine!

[@christopherobrien1463]

One of the best things in life. Born and raised italian and irish bostonian.

[@tstan9713]

So rational, level headed, emotions in check, keep your whits about you when you drink, don't argue, best of both worlds 👏✌🏼

[@markusantonio4866]

The Boss Springsteen also, too. Strong heritage in both.

[@adriancimino9702]

I’m an Italian/Irish Londoner 🇮🇹🇮🇪

[@vanzarockin]

I'm a meatball on wonder bread >>> Boston Italrish!

[@R_Thomp]

Yep! My family moved from Brooklyn to Long Island and we did this. Grandma would make it all, Uncle Johnny would bring wine & bread, Uncle Robert would bring wine, and we'd have 4 generations in the house on Sundays with the windows open. Madonn! We were loud and the neighbors musta thought we were nuts! I would give almost anything to go back to those times, the world was a better place. If you came to my house my grandfather would force you to eat. Wouldn't take no for an answer. If you didn't eat he'd get insulted and pissed off then eat the food himself😂 I can just watch the people in the video and be happy, don't even need the talking or narration, I feel at home...

[@R_Thomp]

@Popeye semolina, olives, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella (wet), and provolone...

[@michaelreyes6258]

Same with Hispanics...I can relate to everything said on here! Great food and memories.

[@lapislazulii141]

Michael Reyes Hispanics are originally from Spain , which have ties to Italy. You will find most “Mestizos” have Italian ancestry 💙 Much love brother

[@michaelreyes6258]

Lapis Lazuli You right about that! Thanks for the input 👍🏼

[@orthodox1173]

Completely different cultures

[@carolg7570]

Lapis Lazuli true, I took a DNA test and was 25% Italy, 15% Native American, and the rest was mostly Iberian peninsula. Tiny amount if Western Europe (less than 10%)

[@raulsosa757]

@@orthodox1173 stop thinking that when they say Hispanic they are referring only to Mexicans, Hispanics are ppl with Spaniard blood. Italian culture and Spanish ( from Spain ) culture are closed related, both languages are intelligible around 80+% because they are a romance language ( they came from Latin and from all the others romance languages Italian and Spanish are the closest to Latin ) The Roman empire had a great influence in the Iberian peninsula, Even though Italy and Spain are two different countries their culture is very similar, and that culture has been taken to where both countries have had colonies or their people have emigrated to.

[@davecharette9773]

Let's try to encourage this wonderful tradition and pass it on to the next generations! A family that prays together, stays together!

[@Provos7777]

What an amazing time, I wish it was still like this today. Things would be a lot better

[@lukeyaple5949]

Sure Sunday dinners are great, until your uncle decides to blurt out you never had the makings of a Varsity athlete in front of everyone.

[@tonysoprano5580]

It's hurtful and undermining, and it's what i'm teaching my kids not to do. So i don't want to hear it again, END OF SUBJECT

[@lukeyaple5949]

Are you communicating from beyond the grave T? Was it the guy in the member’s only jacket?

[@tonysoprano5580]

@@lukeyaple5949 I used my idiot son to shield the bullets... kid was a fucking disgrace.

[@johnriley8519]

Uncle June's a dick! But you gotta love the guy!

[@tonysoprano5580]

@@johnriley8519 Uncle June's in the muff...

[@portknoxx7]

I’m a polak & kraut, but we always had Sunday dinners like this. It was a big Catholic traditon for the past 100+ years. I’m lucky im 25 and caught the last of that time. My gma & mom even learned the gravy from the ginnys, made it so good people thought we were Italians. All from NYC & Nassau County, Long Island.

[@al-du6lb]

I'm not even Italian or from Boston, but this nearly brings a tear to my eye.

[@gravityreaction3334]

I’m from Boston and my now my family lives on the south shore of mass. We still do Sunday dinners a lot and the close knitted community is real here in New England. It’s a common thing in this part of the country, part of our culture you could say.

[@anthonypetrozzelli5429]

Wow! This brings back so many great memories. My aunt and uncle lived in the North End. Every Sunday was sacred, and I can still smell my mother's gravy on Sunday morning. Sunday's was special with my mother, father, grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. I grew up in a close family. I remember the great Italian food and family. I was so blessed to have that growing up😊

[@thefloridianbadger2594]

I just became .5 Italian after watching this

[@MrSupernova111]

@bobinsuffolk lol

[@TheWriterWalker]

The Floridian Badger, lol! Believe it or not, me, too! Lol.

[@antoninstancl200]

Italian gravy is tomatoe sauce

[@MrAllisonguru]

Antonin Stancl nope

[@antoninstancl200]

@@MrAllisonguru Yup!

[@victorsr6708]

MrAllisonguru yes

[@nahpoli]

no its not!!

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

I grew up San Pedro and Lomita California (South Bay area of L.A. county) and had Sicilian American childhood friends who would have me over on weekends to finish up left-overs from the week and sometimes Sunday dinner after the family gathering ended. I don't recall the use of the word "Gravy" used at all so it must be an East Coast thing. There were pockets of Italian immigrants in the SF Bay Area too (Joe DiMaggio's home) so I don't know if the term was used there at all. My fondest memory was my friend Gilbert's cousin Yvonne who had olive skin and deep blue eyes. I was just 7 years old but madly in love with her. LOL

[@thesweetestthing7141]

Love this video. I' m italian, thank you so much. This made me cry....,

[@italianplastick4031]

Nobody wants to be part of my huge family when they hear us talk...... But when they taste our food.... 👌🇮🇹

[@TheWaveFiles]

Love this .Italian by my father from Pisa.It warms my heart to hear those accents and see those family reunions.

[@leacastori1138]

I was a skinny child but when we went away to see nanny and Grampy for the weekend I would always go back home weighing two or 3 pounds more. It was nothing like this food and company. Lots of laughter lots of love. What a good foundation for a human being to have this.

[@MrSupernova111]

Now we have overpriced apartments and tourist restaurants in the North End.

[@billscott11]

NY Italians same back in the day miss the good ol days, "Sit down and eat" in my case I got fat but you were a healthy young man lol

[@wzelo5680]

Roberto no

[@johnnyboy704]

NJ, Boston and NY Italian wise are 100% the same.

[@gbalo241]

boston is one of the best cities to live in i miss it alot

[@stephlu9684]

My Canadian grandparents cook the same lol, so many similarities in different cultures , love 💜

[@bigstevehoward45]

How could someone dislike this video. HELL I'M A SOUTHERNER AND I LOVE IT. ares was the same way but with different food.. it was normally Chicken fried steak mashed potatoes country white gravey texas bread .or if would be grilling bbq.

[@leacastori1138]

This so-called advanced society with advanced technology sort of ruined everything in a way… so many good memories I feel badly that my own child did not get to experience that which we did. My mother was right when she said she felt like a rich woman when family was all around her.❤️

[@AhmadAli-mb7ce]

I have visited this place, it was amazing and I felt very comfortable and happy especially when I meet old Italian men

[@timbuktoo7050]

This was amazing. Much Love and respect from Malden.

[@robf4639]

OMG I can't wait to see this!

[@littlewing478]

Bringing me back to the most important days never to be forgotten

[@RonnieD1970]

This ia Gold. Born in Brockton and raised in Norwell I used tk visit the North End often and found it very family oriented.

[@jackjohnson7396]

Great video, very familiar with the area. Went to the festival for decades, so much fun too.

[@Naji_1]

Thank you youtube for showing me how much italians 🇮🇹❤️ appreciate their food 💯

[@plaistowbill]

@2:19 Your mom is a kind person.

[@raymondj8768]

IN MISS THOSE DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Tombombadillo999]

Ciao to the italiani overseas 👍🇮🇹❤️

[@mrzed2349]

Italians are the same here in new Jersey.

[@spencernelsen1697]

They are Americans of Italian heritage. Its a shame to real Italians in Italy. They are NOT the same.

[@mrzed2349]

@@spencernelsen1697 yes i.agree. I was saying that Boston Italians have the same customs as Jersey Italians

[@Fan_Made_Videos]

@@spencernelsen1697 That's an ignorant statement. That's like all of the white Americans who claim to be traced to the Mayflower all of sudden saying "We're not really of English descent" because they don't currently live in England.

[@jiminsapplebottomjeans3945]

Spencer Nelsen i’m italian and i’m proud of the italian immigrants in usa and whatever other country they chose, stop hating on them.

[@mrzed2349]

@@jiminsapplebottomjeans3945 hating. Are you crazy. Love them. My closest friends are Italian

[@allmine853]

first words out of my nonnas mouth was .....did you eat yet??

[@michaelreyes6258]

I believe I’m really Italian because I love and enjoy all Italian foods and culture.

[@TheSleepy1326]

Ok you got yourself a deal - we will take you!

[@italianplastick4031]

Okay fair enough, we'll take ya!

[@michaelreyes6258]

OHMsweetOHM 😆

[@michaelreyes6258]

Alana Di Stefano 😂 SWEET!!

[@kimjong-un9407]

I believe im a horse

[@CarlettoPuglia]

My Ma used to make leftover melagian (eggplant) sandwiches dripping with olive oil for me and my brothers to bring to school. My friends used to ask me what the hell that was so I let them have a bite and they loved it !!

[@biglou2385]

im Portuguese and I feel we have a lot in common. food and family very important. boy how time has changed . I miss the good ol days

[@bigstevehoward45]

Everyone should love everyone .this country would be way better. God bless all the states...

[@bigstevehoward45]

@Jeff Keeth yeah I reckon everything is his falt , isn't it ?? I suppose he was aginst bussing an segregation also ? Lmao

[@robmartin217]

Best cuisine in the world....

[@sharondvocs]

Wonderful! Even spotted my cousin in this ! ~ Bravo. ~ Sharon D.

[@northendhistoricalsociety2650]

+Sharon DiFronzo Thanks! You can pre-order a DVD of the whole film at www.northendboston.org

[@praneeshlal]

ɷɷɷ I Haveee Watchedd Thissss Moviee Leakeddd Versionnn Hereeee : - t.co/EQMyZQlo5e

[@user-gh2uu1wo2i]

Ty how I miss sun dinner w la Familia God keep us and Bless us.

[@guytarantino6666]

Those were the good old days until the outsiders started coming into the neighborhood destroying it.

[@shaquilleoatmeal5975]

I'd much rather have this instead of the internet.

[@yonJM]

then make it happen lol

[@ohmy9479]

Last 5 seconds in today’s home....everyone would be on their cell phones!😏

[@asstch91]

Oh, the memories!

[@fredisausthevenision1071]

Un bell sugo di pomodor E basilico!!!🇮🇹

[@chasefreak]

It varies from the area you're from-we NEVER called it GRAVY it's ALWAYS been "SAUCE!"

[@edwarddisotto1754]

Well I’m hungry now for a meat ball sandwich with gravy !

[@jennilang2464]

I remember going to some North End restaurant for Italian food, when I lived in Boston. I don't remember the name, but celeb pics were on the wall, and we may have walked down a few steps to enter? I remember the meal and canolis. It was pricey, just "ok", but I was a NYr, so i may have had a different Italian pallette. It was fun though!!! Isn't the oldest catholic church over in thar area too?

[@mrblaque215]

I’m a South Philly Italian and I love this video! Lol only real Italian Americans call it gravy 🍝 🇮🇹 🇺🇸

[@JD-ns9mr]

My mom was born in Italy and lived there till she was 17 years old and she never called it “gravy” but we are northern Italian.

[@mrblaque215]

J D no kidding? I’ve heard Italian people from Italy also not call it gravy (but sauce) but most Italian Americans I’ve met have called it gravy oddly enough lol

[@swissmissdemeaner]

Digesting in the parlor was the best.

[@TH-bk5hj]

Not Italian. But this is a wonderful snapshot of American life. Things were more innocent back then. Love it

[@gioiaferrante]

This is funny reminds me of going to Nona's when I was a child, We say sause in Scilia we say gravey so true

[@jchow5966]

Brautiful. ☮️💟

[@quincee3376]

CFL HOFer and Pro wrestler Angelo " King King" Mosca was from North Boston.

[@nathanadkins2985]

Yeah but down here in the South we have that famous Eastern Carolina bbq that has been on the pit for 12 hours. You can not beat homecooking!

[@thecigarfascination6652]

No you cant however that mustard sauce I don't like and any bbq I had, I don't like it mushy with tons of sauce coating it like that alpo stuff in the container that looks more like sloppy joes than real bbq. I'd say texas style is one of the best. Floridas is decent also. Carolina always seemed to be that mustard stuff or shredded, Beef brisket, ribs is usually what I'd stick with. Somewhere had hog shanks. I had TX and Florida bbq mostly.

[@rashidjackson3705]

Thanks for sharing. I moved to boston in 2014. Enjoy looking at old times.

[@agostocobain2729]

Good ol days

[@breakingcycles741]

I know these people are from Boston, but in the NYC area where I was born and raised, and my mother's side is Italian, we all call it sauce.

[@stevecrow7020]

Nothing like family.

[@martinthemillwright]

good people.

[@kcalb3180]

It's a huge cultural lost, my friend is Italian(his grandfather was from Italy) and he couldn't speak or understand Italian at all

[@themiddlekid1966]

Johnny Camaratta...rip

[@salvatoredantes1690]

gravy... it kills me

[@LaPotraBellaca]

Italian food is 🔥

[@booboobunny5655]

Agreed

[@therelaxationstation5258]

The good ol’days… 🤗

[@tracey7209]

Yea “eat Tracey eat! Hey you gotta stop eating now” :(

[@Modeltnick]

Newark NJ used to be like that. 14th Ave!

[@italishgirl5601]

Boston is not Boston anymore....😔

[@scottaguilar2326]

They say eat Johnny eat Johnny then when I got fat they said stop it 😂

[@mat2941]

Like my grandmother, same! Her mission is to make everyone fat

[@4EyedAnimation]

Eat! Eat!

[@josephgello955]

I miss the Sunday dinners my grandmother who we called big mama would cook a feast. And yes the meatballs would stand out.

[@naui_diver9290]

You will NEVER eat like you eat in an Italian home

[@AntonioMastrofrancesco]

Sorry guy's but it's not gravy in Italian it's SUGO di POMODORO and certainly not marinara sauce.

[@rodayodryve7998]

@Dean Gulberry 🙌🤣

[@rodayodryve7998]

@Azzury Street Finally a comment that got my attention. Where was your family from?

[@rodayodryve7998]

@Azzury Street Intresting. My family is from the far north (Piemonte) and I have never seen anyone write "in broth" here in the states. En patoa, a s' apella en breu. Of course, that is crap dialect, but your brothu was fully understood & usually served as a second course or starter for a larger meal. Nurmalment, un breu d' saori di bestie avoe rusmarin e l'aj. Semper l'agnelotin. Mil grassie pe responder-me. Thanks for responding. Che bella Calabria. 👍✨

[@MrRed-tf7bv]

🇺🇸🇮🇹❤

[@chasdenver]

It wasn't the Italian food, it was the Italian Family$$$

[@HaZe_Da_PiTBuLL]

It’s always gravy

[@samanthayork3125]

I don't understand why she said the wonderbread would kill him? cause it's like so spongey and soft? that part confused me

[@GhostSal]

Hi Samantha, she was exaggerating on purpose, it’s really was just a common old saying. Basically when you wanted to make fun of something and say yours was better by far you’d say it.

[@samanthayork3125]

@@GhostSal aww, that's cute! thank you for sharing

[@stephencoury9411]

I'm Minnesota born & raised of Lebanese descent, now studying Italian hoping to retire in Italy. Still, there's a problem. Where can I find an Italian wife? And family? I go to church, then I go home. I want to come to your house.

[@jerckmeoff7762]

They call it gravy myb ragù sauce The old lady looks Tony soprano's mum

[@ProfRavenSteel]

Mama Mia 💕

[@josephmichaeldicarlo2041]

Non cé niente cosa in questa mondo come il cultura italiani

[@tonynapoli5549]

Nonna are the meat balls ready wow what good memories I have as a child Sauce...... Sugo..... gravy ..... we know what we mean lol thanks for sharing 👌

[@nahpoli]

I was the best, my uncles would come over my mom would have Sunday sauce cooking , they would grab a meatball bread, we all did it, it was the best memory ever!

[@AntonioGarcia-tk2tb]

They all look like the Cubans from Miami. That Southern European look.

[@johnjoseph9084]

Antonio Garcia well Italy is in Southern Europe..

[@levi30512]

They look more like Argentine

[@GhostSal]

Most Italians here are from southern Italy and Sicily, so darker skin and hair are common.

[@SPIIIVA]

Thanks youtube for recommending

[@chickenwing111]

The end of the Blue Laws ruined Sundays in Massachusetts.

[@jrcimini]

We grew up calling it gravy, Red gravy for someone who didn't know what we meant.

[@mrsniffwell5367]

Strange. I had family in the North End and they never called it gravy.

[@jrcimini]

@@mrsniffwell5367 This was in Providence, RI. They may not have used the term in the North End. It was usually referring to the "Sunday gravy" made with meats, poultry, fish and simmered for a long time.

[@mrsniffwell5367]

@John R Cimini Thanks! I have always chuckled at the Gravy/Sauce usage.. Half of my maternal relatives lived in the North End of Boston. My paternal grandparents didn't use sauce or ricotta cheese. She made spinach pie, Annolini with broth. Rabbit and Pheasant. Anisette sponge cookies.

[@americanpatriot3667]

Meatbawls

[@R_Thomp]

You left out the "uh" at the end...meatbaaaaaaawls-uh! 😂

[@barbarapineda5730]

The Italians grand mum's 'r so lovely I saw them's the old days on t.v. opening the windows and they peaked out the windows sills and they hold big plates of 🍝 🍝 🍝..spaghetti, on the plates with big meats balls on it sprinkles of seasoning salts.. she's said hey son's, Marty Alfonso, Alfredo Mario Roberto, Nero Lorenzo lusi, they all start running so be neared their's momma,

[@seanmcguire7974]

I heard that the reason Italian started saying gravy for tomato sauce was cause they didn't speak English that good when they 1st came n it just caught kn after that. Some say gravy, some don't.

[@damianrodriguez5907]

My great grandpa had to go down to tijuana to eat mexican food when he migrated to the united states

[@ft9kop]

Resembles the Hispanics in South Philly

[@JohnValencia70]

Italian food the best.

[@QuantumNoir]

Wow! Exactly how we do it in Mexican American families.