In the best news I've heard in a long time department, Danny Cipollitti's opening a new restaurant, La Bruschetta, at 9400 Niagara Falls Boulevard.
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Known variously as the Master of Manicotti, Sultan of Sausage and Viceroy of Veal, Danny left a lot of us in the lurch when he closed his joint at 29th and Pine back in April 2003. Since then, he and his business partner, Patty Harrigan, have been working at the LaSalle Yacht Club, a nice enough place, but a bit upscale for our taste.
La Bruschetta is cozy and comfortable. Seating about 80 and featuring a patio, the place promises a casual dining experience in a neighborhood where locals, rather than tourists, go to eat.
Known for cutting his own steaks and grinding his own sausage, Danny said the home-style tradition will continue at La Bruschetta.
"We've worked out a menu that features the most popular Italian and American dishes we've served in the past," he said, "along with a couple of surprises."
With its opening set for Tuesday, Dec. 14, the place will serve lunch Thursdays through Saturdays, and dinner seven nights a week.
In the local boys make good department, I had an opportunity to meet with Nathan Pace and Rick Page last week. They were in town to scout locations for a new film they're producing.
Pace, who grew up in Medina, became an attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah, after graduating from Brigham Young University in 1993. He serves on the city council in Kaysville, a Salt Lake suburb.
Page, his boyhood friend, grew up in Lockport and became a screenwriter, director and actor.
He's worked with stars like Forrest Whittaker, Reese Witherspoon and Isaac Hayes, but is probably best known for his production work on shows such as "Touched by an Angel" and "Promised Land." He currently calls Los Angeles home.
They've formed a production company, Trackster Pictures, with one objective in mind -- moving back to the Niagara Frontier and making a series of movies here.
For Pace, the move is no small leap of faith. He and his wife, Margaret, have six kids, a couple of cats, a dog and some horses.
"I've lived in Utah for 20 years and I love it there," he said. "But it's never felt like home the way this place does."
Their first production, entitled "Lockport," is a feel-good story about a small-town high school hockey team. I've read the treatment and it's very good. Production is scheduled to begin next fall.
"We're interested in doing life-affirming pictures about Western New York," Pace said. "For too long, Buffalo and the rest of the region have been the butt of jokes on late-night TV. It's time to turn that image around."
Pace and Page returned to the west following our meeting, but expect to be back early in the spring to begin to finalize their preproduction work.
We'll be hearing from them, and I don't mean a postcard.
In the I'm glad he's a good-natured guy department, I ran into Terry Manning the other day at Gadawski's. A couple of years ago, I'd written an uncomplimentary bit about his brother, Rick, who was an All-Star centerfielder for my beloved Cleveland Indians and is now the top sports broadcaster for the Tribe.
For the record, Rick Manning was a LaSalle High School standout who was a Rookie of the Year contender when he came up with Cleveland in 1975. He hit .285 that year, stole 19 bases and scored 69 runs.
He outpaced himself in his sophomore season, batting .292, with 16 steals and 73 runs scored. He also picked up the Golden Glove award that year for his famous defensive prowess.
Between television and radio, Rick now covers 120 games a season for the Indians. He also operates a spring training camp in Florida for young up-and-comers looking to make it into The Show.
Terry chose to stay in the Falls, helping to rebuild the city where he and his famous brother grew up. He's working now on the Seneca Niagara Casino Hotel project.
With the exception of Sal Maglie, Rick Manning is the best baseball player this town's ever produced. And his brother, Terry, is one of the nicest guys.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Dec. 7 2004 |