2 small museums keep state's Italian past safe
For decades, a hermit in Arizona hoarded a trove of things that had belonged to Father Pietro Bandini, a Catholic priest who led 40 families out of the malaria-infested Delta to establish an Italian enclave in the Ozark Mountains. As a young scholar, the man had worked on his doctoral dissertation and somehow accumulated glass negatives, maps...
Armani Outlet to open first Hawaii location on Oahu Nov
by Darin Moriki Italian designer Giorgio Armani's fashion company will open its first Hawaii outlet store next month in Waikele Premium Outlets on Oahu, according to public records verified by outlet management. Giorgio Armani Corp., the New York-based subsidiary of the fashion designer's Milan, Italy-based Giorgio Armani S.p.A.,...
We’re All Italian at Teatro ZinZanni
By Alice Kaderlan The success of any particular ZinZanni show depends in large measure on the appeal of its emcee, the circus master who keeps the show moving and the laughs coming in the non-circus skits featuring unsuspecting audience members. Until the current show, "Be Italian," I had only seen male emcees, including the brill...
Celebration benefits scholarship fund
The Italian American Club of Maui will host a Chocolate Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ulupalakua Ranch on April 10. The cost is $10 and includes wine tasting, beverages and chocolate desserts. Participants are asked to bring a favorite chocolate delight to share. The event will begin with a no-host lunch at the General Store at 11 a.m. Des...
Orchestra brings a piece of Italy to Whidbey
by Celeste Erickson With all the makings of an Italian drama, the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra will conclude its 2013-2014 season with "Italian Spring" this Friday, May 16. Under the direction of Tigran Arakelyan, the free concert features music from soloist Gloria Ferry-Brennan and the winner of the young composer competition,...
Sharing a Passion for Italian Culture, Travel and Cuisine
by Kerry-Lynne Demarinis Meeting Chef Renato Solpietro for the first time is a happy experience. He is passionate about life in general and Italian culture and cooking in particular. His wife, Adrienne Davis is just as outgoing - picture a glass jar full of swirling fireflies and you have a good image of the exuberance and joy that emanate...
Sin City Decadence: Carnevino Reinvents the Classic Italian Steakhouse
Some of the most decadent meals in Las Vegas can be found at classic steakhouse or Italian restaurant. But when celebrity chef, Mario Batali and renowned restaurateur, Joe Bastianich decided to pair the two concepts together, the results has been nothing short of sensational. Carnevino opened in 2008 at The Palazzo, and since then it has r...
Andrea Bocelli tours Ruvo Center to support program; Tony Bennett’s 90th next Keep Memory Alive gala
By Robin Leach When Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli usually takes the stage, it's before an audience of thousands in a stadium, arena, park or an Olympic or Expo ceremony. In 2011, more than 150,000 Brazilians packed into an open-air concert, and his cold, rainy evening concert in Central Park with our Caesars Palace headliner Celine Dion dre...
Utah Opera: Relating to Violetta and Alfredo of Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’
Don't tell Sara Gartland that opera plots are outlandish. This is a woman who met her future husband in an opera house, suffered a stroke while Skyping him, then had her wedding held up for 90 minutes while nine groomsmen were freed from a broken-down elevator. Gartland will sing the title role in the upcoming Utah Opera production of Verd...
POMPEII: The Exhibition opens at Pacific Science Center
Near the modern town of Naples, Italy is an ancient city, frozen in time. Pompeii was a thriving community, destroyed by a volcano in the year 79 AD. Nearly 2.5 million tourists visit the site every year. But for Seattleites who can't make the trip, more than 150 artifacts from Pompeii are going on display at the Pacific Science...
Putti party: Chihuly’s ‘Venetians’ brings Italian glass festival to Museum of Glass
It might seem overkill for a museum to have two big exhibits by the same artist in six months. But then, Dale Chihuly — or at least his glass art — is all about overkill, exploding with color and form and size. And there's no doubt that for Tacoma's Museum of Glass, following his "Drawings" show with one of his "Venetians" (from the George...
Artist Iole Alessandrini explores relationship between space and light
by Rita Cipalla The interplay between light and space fascinates Seattle artist Iole Alessandrini. Her complex site-specific installations use controlled environments to explore these elements, often incorporating custom-built lasers, mirrors and other optics. By adding video, music or computerized sound, she creates an intense personal ex...