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On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story

by Maria C. Palmer
Ruthie Robbins
On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story

On the Rocks chronicles the real-life journey of restaurateur Joseph Costanzo Jr., from his rise to success in the 1990s as owner of the highly acclaimed Primadonna Restaurant, radio host, columnist, and aspiring politician to his sharp fall in the early 2000s, ending in an investigation and a stint in federal prison. Costanzo is a complex character, whom readers will admire for his confidence and rebuke for his arrogance, will love for his generosity and despise for his egotism, and will learn from in both his attention to detail and lack thereof. This driven, not-your-average-Joe is an unforgettable character who achieves the seemingly impossible but can’t help getting in his own way. Come along with Joe for a bumpy ride on the Rocks!

Pages: 314
Pub Date: 08-08-2023
Softcover: 19.95 9798888240274
Hardcover: 30.95 9798888240298

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The reviews are in…

  • "It's colorful, gritty; it's Cheers with an edge, and you are going to cry at the end, so there's no reason not to pick this up."


    -Alicia Pozsony, Radio Host of Resilient YOU!

  • "I always felt stories like Joe Costanzo's and The Primadonna restaurant are so important to tell."


    -Rocky Bleier, former Pittsburgh Steeler NFL player

  • "When sports figures, celebrities, and athletes came to town, everyone wanted to go to The Primadonna to eat. Joe made everyone feel like they were special, and he deserved every bit of success he had."


    -Gerry Dulac, sports journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Maria Costanzo Palmer is an author and grant writer. Growing up as the oldest child of an award-winning restaurateur, Maria unexpectedly became a daughter of the incarcerated. This experience ignited an interest in working for Get on the Bus, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting children with their incarcerated parents. A former host on L.A. Talk Radio, Maria was recently featured on Food and Beverage Magazine Live and has made a number of media appearances. You can find Maria on FB and IG @joecostanzoprimadonna and on Twitter @mariacpalmer. For more information, visit www.mariacpalmer.com.

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Ruthie Robbins is an award-winning educator who worked for the Montour School District in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, and for Johns Hopkins University Talent Development Secondary. Ruthie grew up in "The Rocks" but now teaches English Language Arts and music in Buffalo, New York. Best known as co-creator of a popular interdisciplinary unit for Pittsburgh's Kennywood Park, Ruthie is currently working on other books and is preparing to launch The Writing Factory Online, a comprehensive writing program for middle schools.

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