Little Italy, San Diego, California
Encyclopedia
Little Italy is a somewhat hilly neighborhood in Downtown San Diego
, California
that was originally a predominately Italian
fishing neighborhood. It has since been gentrified
and now Little Italy is a scenic neighborhood composed mostly of Italian restaurants, Italian retail shops, home design stores, art galleries, and residential units.
Little Italy is one of the more active downtown neighborhoods and has frequent festivals and events including their very own Farmers Market. Also known as the Mercato (the Market, in Italian). The neighborhood has low crime rates when compared with other neighborhoods in Downtown San Diego and is maintained by the Little Italy Neighborhood Association, which looks after trash collection, decorations, and special events.
, south of Middletown
, southeast of Core
, and west of Cortez Hill
. It is also located on a hill thus giving its hilly terrain.
This district is bordered by West Laurel Street to the north, West Ash Street to the south, Interstate 5
/Front Street to the east and the San Diego Bay
to the west and Pacific Highway to the west.
India Street, the thriving commercial corridor, runs straight through heart of Little Italy; intermingled with high-density mixed-use buildings and single-family bungalow style historic properties. A fairly easy walk, San Diego's Little Italy is over 48 square blocks filled with rich Italian culture; which allows visitors to absorb the people, sights, and overall atmosphere.
Little Italy is one trolley
stop away from the Santa Fe Train Depot
, two trolley stops away from American Plaza
trolley transfer station, three trolley stops away from the Old Town Transit Center
, and is in close proximity to San Diego International Airport
.
Historically, Little Italy was the home to Italian
fishermen and their families. Many Italians moved to San Diego from San Francisco
after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
in search of tuna
and other deep-sea sport and commercial fish.
When Interstate 5
was constructed through Little Italy in the early 1970s, 35% of the neighborhood was destroyed and during the same time the California tuna industry was declining, which caused the neighborhood to suffer nearly 30 years of decline.
With the creation of the Little Italy Association in 1996, the neighborhood has gone through gentrification
and has seen a renaissance as Community Benefit District specializing in Italian food, boutique shopping and maintenance that makes this shopping district the place to live in Downtown San Diego. Prior to gentrification, the neighborhood was mainly composed of low-density commercial businesses and single-family detached homes. Currently, the neighborhood is mainly composed of residential units, mostly mid-rises, high-rises, and loft
s, with ground floor retail stores and a few commercial buildings.
In 2006, the Italian Historical Society of San Diego established the Italian Community Digital Archives, a project to preserve the Italian community's heritage and cultural artifacts through photographs, documents, and oral histories. As a result, a digital repository for community artifacts now exists to catalog the history of Little Italy. For more information on the heritage of Little Italy and the history of the Italian community in San Diego, you can visit italianhistory.org.
Although many of the buildings have been renovated, the new buildings duplicate the same feelings of their original establishments. Huge archways, outside eating, and lots of vegetation make you feel as though you've walked straight into Italy and stop by all the little boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
During special events, many of these family-owned restaurants let you try their specialties and open their doors to locals and visitors alike.
All around the main street, India Street, you can see public art, various Piazzas, and places that make you want to stop and take in the San Diego Sun.
With new galleries, antique shops, and home accessory stores; Little Italy North (North of Grape Street) has been dubbed San Diego's newest Art & Design District.
and Community Benefit District that is maintained by the Little Italy Association (LIA), a public benefit 501(c)3 corporation established in 1996 to oversee and expedite the revitalization and beautification of Little Italy. The Association works for the residents, property owners, and business of Little Italy.
The Italian Community Center of San Diego, a 500 member non-profit organization founded in 1981 for people interested in Italian culture and language, is located in this neighborhood. This foundation helps keep the buildings that are able to be restored alive, and keep the new-age out. They are all focused on keeping the feeling of Italy in this little nook of San Diego.
The Italian Historical Society of San Diego preserves Italian cultural identity through research, exhibits, and events. Its cornerstone program, the Italian Community Digital Archives, is an online repository of Italian community historical photographs, documents, and oral histories.
The majority of events held are related to Italian culture. Most of the events center on and around India street, usually bordered by Grape street to north and Beech Street or Ash Street to the south.
Every Saturday, 9:00am – 1:30pm, on Date Street; Little Italy hosts the Little Italy Mercato. This Italian farmers' market features freshly caught fish, vegetables and fruit from local farmers, pastries from local bakeries, and art from Little Italy's very own artists.
The Saturday before Mardi Gras, there is the Little Italy Carnevale, a Venetian
mask event with several vignettes of entertainment and an open house for retail shops and restaurants.
In April, there is ArtWalk, the largest art event in the west coast with over 120,000 people attending coming to purchase various mediums of art; paintings, photography, jewelry, furniture and more. Also in April, there is Gran Fondo (Big Ride) Colnago San Diego, where over 3,000 bicycle riders from all over the world come to ride throughout "America's Finest City" in a 32, 53 or 100 mile ride that starts under the Little Italy landmark sign.
In May, the Sicilian American community of San Diego celebrates the Sicilian Festival Sicilian Festival, the first Italian festival held in Little Italy, launched in 1993. It features Italian and Sicilian entertainment, a cultural pavilion highlighting the contributions of the Italians of San Diego, vendors, and Sicilian cuisine.
Also in May, is the Taste of Little Italy (Spring), which attendees pay to sample food from over 20 participating restaurants and entertainment throughout the community. Proceeds from this event go to the Little Italy Association.
In September, there is the Labor Day Stickball Tournament, where several stickball leagues come to play on the streets of Little Italy. This time honored east coast game is played like baseball, but with some minor tweaks. Every third year the San Diego leagues host a West Coast Invitational where they invite New York and Puerto Rico to play on the streets of San Diego's Little Italy.
In October, there is the Little Italy Festa, the largest Italian festival outside of New York City
, with over 150 Italian food and crafter booths, three stages of entertainment, the Gesso Italiano Street Painting Festival, a stickball
exhibition game, bocce ball tournament and beer & wine gardens. Also in October, there is the Bulls of St. Agata Charge Little Italy; this event showcases over 50 Lamborghinis from all over the United States.
In November, is another Taste of Little Italy (Fall), which attendees pay to sample food from over 20 participating restaurants and entertainment throughout the community.
In December, there is the Little Italy Christmas Village and Tree Lighting; this event has progressively got larger and larger, with Santa Claus riding in on Little Italy Fire Engine #3 kicking off the festivities of music, shopping and bubbly snow flakes for the kids.
Annual events
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that was originally a predominately Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
fishing neighborhood. It has since been gentrified
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and now Little Italy is a scenic neighborhood composed mostly of Italian restaurants, Italian retail shops, home design stores, art galleries, and residential units.
Little Italy is one of the more active downtown neighborhoods and has frequent festivals and events including their very own Farmers Market. Also known as the Mercato (the Market, in Italian). The neighborhood has low crime rates when compared with other neighborhoods in Downtown San Diego and is maintained by the Little Italy Neighborhood Association, which looks after trash collection, decorations, and special events.
Geography
Little Italy is located in the northwest end of Downtown, just a couple of blocks away from the Embarcadero. It is located north of ColumbiaColumbia, San Diego, California
Columbia is a neighborhood located in Downtown San Diego, California. The neighborhood is largely commercial, however there are a large number of highrise condominium buildings under construction....
, south of Middletown
Middletown, San Diego, California
Middletown is a neighborhood located north of Little Italy , south of Mission Hills and Hillcrest, east of San Diego International Airport, and west of Bankers Hill. Interstate 5 passes through this neighborhood and San Diego Trolley has one station in this neighborhood....
, southeast of Core
Core, San Diego, California
The Core district is a neighborhood of Downtown San Diego, California. The Core district is the central business district in Downtown San Diego.-Geography:...
, and west of Cortez Hill
Cortez Hill, San Diego, California
Cortez Hill is a neighborhood located in north-east Downtown San Diego, California.- Geography :Cortez Hill is located south of Bankers' Hill, north of the Core District, east of Little Italy and west by Balboa Park...
. It is also located on a hill thus giving its hilly terrain.
This district is bordered by West Laurel Street to the north, West Ash Street to the south, Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
/Front Street to the east and the San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
to the west and Pacific Highway to the west.
India Street, the thriving commercial corridor, runs straight through heart of Little Italy; intermingled with high-density mixed-use buildings and single-family bungalow style historic properties. A fairly easy walk, San Diego's Little Italy is over 48 square blocks filled with rich Italian culture; which allows visitors to absorb the people, sights, and overall atmosphere.
Little Italy is one trolley
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
stop away from the Santa Fe Train Depot
Union Station (San Diego)
Union Station in San Diego, California, also known as the Santa Fe Depot, is a train station built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to replace the small Victorian-style structure erected in 1887 for the California Southern Railroad Company. The Spanish Colonial Revival style station is...
, two trolley stops away from American Plaza
One America Plaza
One America Plaza is the tallest building in San Diego, California and a prominent fixture in the waterfront district of the downtown San Diego skyline. The 34-story, , , obelisk-shaped tower was designed by Murphy/Jahn Architects and KMA Architecture...
trolley transfer station, three trolley stops away from the Old Town Transit Center
Old Town Transit Center
The Old Town Transit Center is an intermodal transportation station located in the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego, California.-History:The Old Town Transit Center was built in the early 1990s, and the San Diego Trolley was extended here in 1996. In 1997 the Blue Line was extended into Mission...
, and is in close proximity to San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
.
History
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
fishermen and their families. Many Italians moved to San Diego from San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
in search of tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
and other deep-sea sport and commercial fish.
When Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
was constructed through Little Italy in the early 1970s, 35% of the neighborhood was destroyed and during the same time the California tuna industry was declining, which caused the neighborhood to suffer nearly 30 years of decline.
With the creation of the Little Italy Association in 1996, the neighborhood has gone through gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and has seen a renaissance as Community Benefit District specializing in Italian food, boutique shopping and maintenance that makes this shopping district the place to live in Downtown San Diego. Prior to gentrification, the neighborhood was mainly composed of low-density commercial businesses and single-family detached homes. Currently, the neighborhood is mainly composed of residential units, mostly mid-rises, high-rises, and loft
Loft
A loft can be an upper story or attic in a building, directly under the roof. Alternatively, a loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial...
s, with ground floor retail stores and a few commercial buildings.
In 2006, the Italian Historical Society of San Diego established the Italian Community Digital Archives, a project to preserve the Italian community's heritage and cultural artifacts through photographs, documents, and oral histories. As a result, a digital repository for community artifacts now exists to catalog the history of Little Italy. For more information on the heritage of Little Italy and the history of the Italian community in San Diego, you can visit italianhistory.org.
Development
There are multiple public improvements and high-rise and mid-rise buildings under construction or approved and scheduled for construction. The northern part of Little Italy is less densely populated than the southern part of Little Italy, which is mainly made up of high-rise and mid-rise buildings.Although many of the buildings have been renovated, the new buildings duplicate the same feelings of their original establishments. Huge archways, outside eating, and lots of vegetation make you feel as though you've walked straight into Italy and stop by all the little boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
During special events, many of these family-owned restaurants let you try their specialties and open their doors to locals and visitors alike.
All around the main street, India Street, you can see public art, various Piazzas, and places that make you want to stop and take in the San Diego Sun.
With new galleries, antique shops, and home accessory stores; Little Italy North (North of Grape Street) has been dubbed San Diego's newest Art & Design District.
Community groups
Little Italy has a Business Improvement DistrictBusiness improvement district
A business improvement district is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. Grant funds acquired by the city for special programs and/or incentives such as tax abatements can be made available to assist...
and Community Benefit District that is maintained by the Little Italy Association (LIA), a public benefit 501(c)3 corporation established in 1996 to oversee and expedite the revitalization and beautification of Little Italy. The Association works for the residents, property owners, and business of Little Italy.
The Italian Community Center of San Diego, a 500 member non-profit organization founded in 1981 for people interested in Italian culture and language, is located in this neighborhood. This foundation helps keep the buildings that are able to be restored alive, and keep the new-age out. They are all focused on keeping the feeling of Italy in this little nook of San Diego.
The Italian Historical Society of San Diego preserves Italian cultural identity through research, exhibits, and events. Its cornerstone program, the Italian Community Digital Archives, is an online repository of Italian community historical photographs, documents, and oral histories.
Annual events
Every Saturday, 9:00am – 1:30pm, on Date Street; Little Italy hosts the Little Italy Mercato. This Italian farmers' market features freshly caught fish, vegetables and fruit from local farmers, pastries from local bakeries, and art from Little Italy's very own artists.
The Saturday before Mardi Gras, there is the Little Italy Carnevale, a Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
mask event with several vignettes of entertainment and an open house for retail shops and restaurants.
In April, there is ArtWalk, the largest art event in the west coast with over 120,000 people attending coming to purchase various mediums of art; paintings, photography, jewelry, furniture and more. Also in April, there is Gran Fondo (Big Ride) Colnago San Diego, where over 3,000 bicycle riders from all over the world come to ride throughout "America's Finest City" in a 32, 53 or 100 mile ride that starts under the Little Italy landmark sign.
In May, the Sicilian American community of San Diego celebrates the Sicilian Festival Sicilian Festival, the first Italian festival held in Little Italy, launched in 1993. It features Italian and Sicilian entertainment, a cultural pavilion highlighting the contributions of the Italians of San Diego, vendors, and Sicilian cuisine.
Also in May, is the Taste of Little Italy (Spring), which attendees pay to sample food from over 20 participating restaurants and entertainment throughout the community. Proceeds from this event go to the Little Italy Association.
In September, there is the Labor Day Stickball Tournament, where several stickball leagues come to play on the streets of Little Italy. This time honored east coast game is played like baseball, but with some minor tweaks. Every third year the San Diego leagues host a West Coast Invitational where they invite New York and Puerto Rico to play on the streets of San Diego's Little Italy.
In October, there is the Little Italy Festa, the largest Italian festival outside of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with over 150 Italian food and crafter booths, three stages of entertainment, the Gesso Italiano Street Painting Festival, a stickball
Stickball
Stickball is a street game related to baseball, usually formed as a pick-up game, played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City. The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen, pensie pinkie, high bouncer or tennis ball. The...
exhibition game, bocce ball tournament and beer & wine gardens. Also in October, there is the Bulls of St. Agata Charge Little Italy; this event showcases over 50 Lamborghinis from all over the United States.
In November, is another Taste of Little Italy (Fall), which attendees pay to sample food from over 20 participating restaurants and entertainment throughout the community.
In December, there is the Little Italy Christmas Village and Tree Lighting; this event has progressively got larger and larger, with Santa Claus riding in on Little Italy Fire Engine #3 kicking off the festivities of music, shopping and bubbly snow flakes for the kids.
External links
- Little Italy Association
- Little Italy's Mercato
- Dine Little Italy
- Public Art
- Italian Community Center
- Italian Historical Society of San Diego
- Variety Art Gallery in Little Italy
- Numero Water Boutique in Little Italy
- Little Italy from San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Information on Little Italy Neighborhood
Annual events
- Little Italy FESTA!
- Mission Federal ArtWalk
- Taste of Little Italy
- Sicilian Festival
- Art Walk Guide from About.comAbout.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....