Business

By Ginger DeShaney The line to get into the Dirty Italian on opening day Saturday, July 22, was out the door and down the sidewalk on Old Colony Avenue.   “Everything is going great,” said owner Talya Pessolano, who estimated they made 300 sandwiches on Saturday alone. “This last weekend was crazy. Crazy good. “I'm beyond thankful for the crew that showed up to not only work the opening weekend but to everyone who waited in line patiently to come into the store and try one of our sandwiches and really be there for the grand opening day,” added Talya. “And I really can't wait to have them come back again and try something new. “I'm always so appreciative of the support that comes from our [...]

New Latin Studio Proves Dance is for Everyone  By Ginger DeShaney Dance is for everyone.  “Some people think they're too old or they don’t exercise enough or you need to be in tip-top shape to do it,” said Liliana (Lili) Jimenez. “I’m just trying to break those myths about dance. That's what we're about. I really just love trying to show everybody that anyone can dance if you just try it.” Lili owns Lili Latin Dance, which opened in May above the CVS on West Broadway in South Boston. She offers classes and private lessons for all ages in salsa and bachata. There is a partner tricks class for advanced dancers and wedding choreography classes for engaged couples. She has four other instructors who teach [...]

By Ginger DeShaney When Rachel Titcomb was growing up, she started her day with Petula Clark. Now she wants her Southie neighbors to start their day with Petula’s.  “My mom really loved Petula Clark,” Rachel said. “She would blast Petula Clark every morning to wake me and my siblings up. It put us in such a good mood.” That’s the idea behind the name of her new restaurant at 81 L Street: Petula’s. “My sisters and brothers have flashbacks. There was a lot of Petula Clark going on in my house,” she laughs. Petula’s will be an all-day restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is set to open in early May, starting with dinner service, and by June, breakfast and lunch will be added. [...]

By Ginger DeShaney The amount of leather Kathryn Rizzo watched get tossed during her time working for a luxury handbag designer in New York sparked a passion.                        She had a boss who handed her a full leather hide – you could still see the shape of the cow – and asked her to get rid of it or make something out of it. At the time, Kathryn didn’t have the space in her tiny apartment or the know-how on what to do with that hide, but it stuck with her for years. “I think about how much I've thrown out now and it hurts my soul,” she said. During her time in the New [...]

By Carol Masshardt The art of plants is displayed in the work of  Julio Cesar Roman-Rios of Micro Plant Studio on West Broadway, and the inspiration was formed through his experiences of both trauma and resilience. His path to the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by a Tufts University Master’s Degree in Public Policy, he has now been a business owner for the challenging past five years. His life and work is a testament to community, possibility and effort. Healthy plants and his uniquely designed pots create an environment of hopefulness and creativity, but the inspiration is decades old. Originally from Puerto Rico, nature caught his imagination and spirit early and in what were often trying circumstances. The impact of domestic violence inflicted on his [...]

By Ginger DeShaney When you see Marisa Carlini in the neighborhood, she will likely have a smile on her face.  Whether in her shop (LUXE home interiors), coaching on the softball field or basketball court, or teaching at Miss Linda’s School of Dance, it’s important for Marisa to give back. “I care about kids; I love teaching them,” she said. “You walk out happy.”   Marisa played basketball and softball and was a dancer herself. So it was natural for her to help out in the community. Her kids, Chloe, 12, and Sadie, 13, have been going to Miss Linda’s forever. To give back, Marisa teaches 4- and 5-year-old dancers.  Her kids go to South Boston Catholic Academy and she coaches basketball there. She’s also involved [...]