Meet Fiat’s 124 Spider, Italy’s MX-5-based answer to the MX-5
by Rowan Horncastle Say 'ciao' to the new Fiat 124 Spider, Italy's take on the Mazda MX-5's two-seat, rear-drive roadster formula. And a very faithful take it is too. Unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Fiat has revived the 124 nameplate for the first time in nearly fifty years. But don't be fooled, because under those fun...
Billboards marking the collaboration of Italian and Californian designers to be posted around San Francisco in anticipation of San Francisco Design Week
The Italian Cultural Institute and the California College of the Arts are pleased to announce "High Up: Graphic Design around Town," the second installment of the Mapping the City project, developed by art historian Marina Pugliese for the IIC. As of Thursday, May 19, a series of 11 billboards has appeared in elevated strategic locat...
La Serata—Italian Conversation Evening
Thursday, December 1, 5:30-6:45pm. La Serata—Italian Conversation Evening. "Blaxploitalian" documentary screening and Q&A with director Fred Kuwornu. Open to all who want to improve their language skills, learn about the Italian culture, share their talents, speak with native speakers, and socialize with members of the local community and other...
Hollywood on the Potomac: Cafe Milano Turns 25
by Janet Donovan Cafe Milano keeper of the gate Laurent Menoud tells us that catering a birthday lunch for Pope Benedict XVI was "one of the greatest days of my life."The 81st birthday celebration for His Holiness fell on April 16, 2008 at the Embassy of the Holy See during the Pontiff's visit to the Nation's capital. "I've met ma...
Italian Family Festa 2012 - “Experience A Little Bit of Italy in San Jose”
The Italian American Heritage Foundation (IAHF) will be presenting its 32nd Annual Italian Family Festa 2012 in San Jose next month.Italian culture and local history will convene in an eventful weekend-long celebration at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens beginning Saturday, August 25th and continuing through Sunday, August 26th. "We are please...
Art and Invention between Greece and Rome
Ancient Sicily as a center of cultural innovation An island at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Sicily occupied a pivotal place in antiquity between Greece, North Africa, and the Italian peninsula. The exhibit Sicily: Art and Invention between Greece and Rome, now on view at the Getty Villa in Malibu, showcases ancient Sicily as a major center...
Hidden Voices – Italians in the Golden State
by Alessandra Mastroianni A conference on the Making of Southern California to homage Italy and its birthday anniversary. Yes, because in the process of becoming what California is today, a lot was done by Italians. Immigrants who left their country for necessity or for desire to start a new life, finding themselves in a new and d...
Little Italy San Jose Updates!
So it looks like there is some movement in San Jose's new Little Italy neighborhood. First off, Paesano's is about to get some company. Bel Bacio Cafe should be opening any week now and they are also trying to get a Pizzeria/Wine Bar. The giant arch at the entrance of Little Italy is a go (design below). Last but not least, they are raisin...
Abbruzzesi & Molisani di California Celebrate their 24th Anniversary
by Tony Ghezzo On January 19th, 2014, the Abruzzesi e Molisani di California celebrated their 24th Anniversary at the Castaway restaurant, beautifully located at the top of a hill in Burbank. Approximately 100 members, relatives and friends were delighted to participate to such a happy occasion entertained by the music of Tony Ciaramitaro...
OVERPAINTING An exhibition by M. Galbiati and C. Berg
ARENA 1 GALLERY, in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles, presents OVERPAINTING, a selection of works by SONIA COSTANTINI, PAOLA FONTICOLI, PAOLO IACCHETTI, ELENA MODORATI and ALBANO MORANDI. The show is part of a project that include two exhibitions, one in the United States and one Italy, and creates an oppo...
Building with Air
Dante Bini will present his book Building with Air, chronicling the invention and evolution of the remarkable 'Binishell' structural system, the inflated concrete dome Dante invented in 1964. Dante and his son Nic Bini will also talk about subsequent 'air-powered' construction methodologies, which are becoming more technically daring and a...
38th Italian Film Festival, San Rafael
For 38 years running, the Italian Film Festival has brought high-quality Italian feature films, including new releases, to Northern California, thanks to the dedication of Lido Cantarutti, the festival's organiser. This year's edition presents eight films on the following dates: 27 and 28 September; 4, 5, 11, and 25 October; ...