10/13/2026
🇮🇹 A LITTLE ITALY, A LOT OF HISTORY, AND A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON TOGETHER! 📸 ❤️
Thank you to everyone who joined me today at St. Louis Oasis @ Center of Clayton for:
THE HILL: THEN & NOW ⚾ 🇮🇹⛲
A Complete Cultural • Linguistic • Historical Experience
with Speak Italian with Andrea
I left today’s class feeling grateful for the opportunity to share these stories—and confident that we had some fun along the way! 😊
The Hill gives us so much to talk about: families starting over in a new country, friendships formed on neighborhood streets, traditions carried across an ocean, and the people who helped give this corner of St. Louis its unmistakable personality.
Here is a little of what we explored together:
🧳 IMMIGRATION, WORK & RESILIENCE
The experiences of Italian immigrants building new lives, the demanding work in clay mines and brick factories, and the family and neighborhood connections that helped people through difficult times.
⚾ BASEBALL, FRIENDSHIP & FAMILIAR VOICES
Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, and Jack Buck—and the connection between sports, storytelling, and the pride people feel in the place they call home.
⚽ THE HILL’S WORLD CUP CONNECTION
Frank Borghi, Charlie Colombo, and Gino Pariani, and the remarkable story of the United States’ victory over England in the 1950 World Cup.
⛪ FAITH, LEADERSHIP & BELONGING
St. Ambrose, Monsignor Salvatore Polizzi, and the importance of gathering places and community leadership in preserving a neighborhood’s identity.
🍝 FAMILY, FOOD & EVERYDAY TRADITIONS
Shared meals, neighborhood shops, familiar faces, and the everyday rituals that keep Italian-American culture alive across generations.
☕ THE HILL TODAY
Piazza Imo, cafés, markets, restaurants, and businesses such as Di Gregorio Market and Volpi Foods—as well as the celebrations that keep bringing people back together.
📖 PRESERVING THE STORIES
We also touched on Joe DeGregorio’s work sharing The Hill’s history, and why remembering the people behind the places matters.
For me, these conversations are a reminder of how much a neighborhood can hold. A storefront, a church, a ball field, or a family recipe can open the door to an entire life story.
🙏 To today’s participants: thank you for spending part of your day with me and bringing your curiosity to the room. I hope these photos bring back a happy memory—and that your next visit to The Hill comes with a little more appreciation for the stories around you.
A heartfelt thank-you to OASIS, Daniel Blunt, and Mary Saputo for their support and for making these opportunities for learning and connection possible. ❤️
🇮🇹 AND OUR NEXT TWO OASIS ADVENTURES ARE ALREADY IN THE CATALOG!
🍋 NOVEMBER: COME WITH ME TO THE AMALFI COAST
LANGUAGE, CULTURE & LIMONCELLO:
A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast Without Leaving St. Louis
📅 Friday, November 13, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:30 p.m.
🎟️ Class #11039 · $18
We’ll explore Salerno and the beautiful coastal world of Vietri sul Mare, Maiori, Minori, Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, with stops in the wider region including Capri, Ischia, and Sorrento.
Expect history, traditions, regional cuisine, lemon groves, café culture, and practical Italian to bring it all to life. A little journey together, without packing a suitcase! 🧳🇮🇹
🌿 DECEMBER: LET’S TALK PESTO!
ALL ABOUT PESTO:
Language, Culture, & Real-Life Italian
📅 Tuesday, December 8, 2026
🕛 12:15–1:45 p.m.
🎟️ Class #12012 · $12
We’ll discover pesto alla Genovese and Liguria while exploring ingredients, flavors, food traditions, and the pleasure of sharing a meal. Practice Italian for expressing preferences, discussing food preparation, and ordering something delicious.
This is an Italian language and culture program, rather than a cooking class—but do come with an appetite for learning! 🌿🍝
🎁 A LITTLE DECEMBER GIFT FROM OASIS
The catalog announces “12 Days of Oasis Classes for $12 Each” this December at the Center of Clayton—and our pesto class is included!
Eligible classes are just $12 each. Classes that are part of a series or include material costs are excluded; see the catalog for details.
📍 BOTH CLASSES TAKE PLACE AT:
St. Louis OASIS–The Center of Clayton
50 Gay Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105
🎟️ HOW TO REGISTER
Registration is handled directly through St. Louis OASIS:
https://st-louis.oasisnet.org
Look for class #11039 for November and #12012 for December.
Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and come spend an afternoon discovering Italy with us. I would love to see some familiar faces—and welcome some new ones! 🤝🇮🇹
Questions about my classes?
📧 [email protected]
📱 (240) 645-7786
With much health and much grace,
Andrea Spadafora (he/him)
🇮🇹 Speak Italian with Andrea
Language. Culture. Community.
Vi aspetto! ❤️