The Feast of Mount Carmel
Typical of all these Little Italies was the celebration of the popular feasts to which were reminiscences of their homes in their native lands. The feast of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel enlivened the desire to have a church dedicated to the fulfillment of religious duties and to venerate the Blessed Mother.
“Come hungry” is the advice for visitors to the annual religious festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Belmont, the Little Italy of the Bronx. "You can't get a bad meal here; why wouldn't you come hungry?" asked Frank Franz, president of the Belmont Small Business Association. The festival will fill E. 187th St. between Arthur and Cambreleng Aves. with Italian-flavored sights, scents and sounds. Neighborhood icons such as Mike's Deli in the Arthur Ave. Retail Market will join food vendors on the street, offering fresh panini, mozzarella and espresso, among other Italian specialties. "This is going to be something really beautiful," said David Greco, the son of Mike Greco, who opened Mike's Deli in 1951. "There's a lot of fun things going on. We want to have our friends from all over come here." The Entertainment will include live performances by the local groups, musicians, and comedians. The feast includes an evening Mass in Italian at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on 187th St. The procession of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be on Sunday.