A while ago, I began a series on our website devoted to Little Italies. The series is a success, with many people offering suggestions and our offerings growing on a regular basis.
And, truthfully- I tell it like it is. All of these Little Italies, (except for possibly Boston, for some reason) are shells of what they used to be. Many of them are called Little Italy out of respect and nostalgia than as a true reflection of population. This year's census reflects that more so than ever before- there isn't a single Italian born resident of NY's Little Italy.
When I wrote about NY's Little Italy being a “shell”, people got mad. Very mad. People with a love of tradition and a desire to have an ethnic enclave of their own (like the burgeoning Chinatown) e-mailed me saying that “People only go there because it's a Little Italy- no one is interested in Chinatown” or “The restaurants in little Italy are world renowned- it will always be a hotspot for Italians born in NY and from around the world.” I omitted some of the nastier replies. Let's just say, they started with an “F”
I'm not arguing that the love of a Little Italy is strong- especially among the Italians in the area. But, what I'm saying is, a smaller Little Italy isn't necessarily a bad thing. Italians moved to the area around 1880, and their dominance in the area was very short lived. By the 1940's, Little Italy had already seen its highest population come and go.
That's a great thing because it shows Italians prospered very quickly. Within a generation or two, Italians came and moved out to greener pastures in Brooklyn and Queens. We, a few generations removed, become nostalgic for the “glory days” of Little Italy- but that's a bad approach. The “glory days” weren't when Little Italy was teeming with Italians, the glory days are now as their descendants are prospering on a very large scale.
So, take it for what it is- a cool tourist spot with a ton of history to it. Enjoy the ambiance and take in a meal or two. And remember- the place is still littered with Italian shops and eateries 130 years after massive Italian immigration started. That speaks volumes about the success and appeal of the Italian culture.
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