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The North End of Portsmouth is changing at what seems like lightning speed lately. That’s why a cadre of Portsmouth residents and business owners alike are doing all they can to preserve, promote, and celebrate this area, once known as Portsmouth’s Little Italy. To do this, an idea was spawned about a year ago by the Community and Neighborhoods team of Portsmouth NH 400th, LLC (PNH400)—one of seven themed pillars established to help shape the celebratory events planned for the Port City’s 400th anniversary this year. Not surprising for the creative community that is Portsmouth, it didn’t take long for the idea to take hold and become a grand vision—The Little Italy Carnival! The Little Italy Carnival (LIC) was the last to be coined a PNH400 signature event, bringing the total to three signature events. Slated for August 6, 2023, the carnival will feature the Boston Circus Guild, oral histories, children’s games, live music, a cooking competition, and lots of food! The event will fittingly wrap up with a final touch of Italian flair— a traditional community spaghetti dinner. Co-chairing the effort are locals Robyn Aldo and Dawn Przychodzien, with a dose of out-of-this-world passion from Massimo Morgia of Ristorante Massimo. “We may be co-chairs,” said Dawn of herself and Robyn. “But Massimo? He is the pillar of pillars!” Massimo laughed heartily. I had sat down with Massimo at his most charming restaurant to get briefed on the team’s doin’s and happenin’s. Dawn joined in by phone. Their biggest hope? To make the carnival accessible to all. That’s why fundraising is of utmost importance. To date they have raised $87,500. “We have an incredible team of people. We’re working really hard,” he said. The proof is in the pudding. Two raffles done. A raffle in progress. Five donations totaling $60,000 from locals who believe in the team’s mission and vision. Massimo also handed me a binder of documents that underscored the effort invested in making their vision a reality. A detailed sponsorship kit. History booklets. A mission statement. He also took the time to walk me through the history of Italian immigration to Portsmouth, their contributions to the area’s industrial history, and a few anecdotes about the incredibly vibrant Italian neighborhood that came to be as a result. A neighborhood comprised of hundreds of Italian families, social clubs, and a smattering of family-owned businesses—Italian bakeries, diners, pizzerias, breweries, and so much more. It was “a world unto itself” wrote local historian, J. Dennis Robinson in an article featured in the Portsmouth Herald back in 2005. The LIC team has connected with several descendants of the North End’s first Italian immigrants, all of whom wax nostalgic about their childhood growing up in Portsmouth’s Little Italy. Losing their homes to urban renewal was nothing but a tragedy for this tight knit community of Italian families. “It’s incredible, this history,” said Massimo, himself an Italian immigrant. “Really incredible.” The passion and affection with which Massimo spoke of this history and the team’s vision for honoring this history was infectious. By the end of the meeting, I was engulfed, emotionally, by what I had just learned. I can’t think of a better signature event to honor the history of Portsmouth’s vibrant community and neighborhoods than the Little Italy Carnival. For more information or to help make this event accessible for all through sponsorship, email littleitalycarnival@gmail.com. Post-script: The Little Italy Carnival will be preceded by the Little Italy Masquerade Ball at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club on July 29, 2023. The Masquerade Ball will be the largest fundraising event held to help make the vision of the Little Italy Carnival an event accessible to and inclusive of the whole community. Committee members: Massimo Morgia, Robyn Aldo, Dawn Przychodzien, Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf, Mary Carey Foley, Francesca Fernald, Judi Currie, Nancy Clayburgh, Julie Cutting, Carolyn Dagostino, Laura Pope.
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