I recently worked with two northern Italians (from Rome). They live on the upper west side (doing well, financially). I tried to strike up conversation about the Italian presence in Queens and some of the neighborhoods. I was trying to segwey into discussion about Parkside, my favorite restaurant ever. They laughed. They don't even consider anything south of Naples to be true Italian. So there are differences in identity even within Italy.
It's not the first time I've worked with people from northern Italy. The last time a woman declared that if anyone mentioned the words "spaghetti" or "mafia" that she would take her shoe off and throw it at them. Just saying.
Don't know if this ties in with the topic but discrimination is ubiquitous. There is discrimination within families (parents favor one child over the other). Dating is discrimination. Shopping is discrimination.
I work very close to that area, it is a mostly Mexican area, with Italians last in numbers behind Columbians and other South American groups. They say the last time it was Italian in Corona was way back in the 1980's or earlier.
Corona and Spaghetti park still had a sizable population of Italians in the 90's. The Corona Park Salumeria moved a few neighborhoods over to Whitestone.
In Corona: The Bakery boys is still on 104th street, as is Mama's restaurant (they have a satellite branch within Citi Field and probably making huge bank), Parkside, Lemon Ive King, the Genovese "members only" club next to parkside, the Bocci Courts across the street which are filled with ex-neighborhood people coming from Long Island, Leo's Latticinni on 104th street, and Corona Pizza (which is still Italian). There was an N'dragheta cocaine dealership/restaurant near parkside called 'la cocina' but likely out of business after the big bust.
I ride through on my bike after trips to Flushing Meadows sometimes and still see Italian flags adorning some houses, especially near Flushing Meadows by the science center.
If you knew all this, I apologize. I like that neighborhood and always felt nostalgic there.
