Michael Jackson

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Michele

La Traviata

Do you remember the suitcases in the movie "Once Upon A Time In America"? Or the helmets in Ben Hur? What about the jewels Violetta pawns in the opera "La Traviata"? Behind each cinema, opera, theatre, and television production lie the hidden talent of a great company making and providing the props used for each production. And there is no greater stage work than that of Italian company, E.Rancati. Started in 1864 by the Sormani Family, the company employs a handful of craftsman and designers who craft accessories, jewels, furniture and other historical period props for productions made around the world. Rancati warehouses are located in Milano and Roma. If you are an opera or cinema buff, take a moment to visit their website and see the fabulous props and accessories used in various productions. Visit Rancati at http://www.erancati.com/

Opera buffs and lovers of Verdi's La Traviata, must go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYZngjS04SI for the performance of Sempre Libera - La Traviata - sung by Sumi Jo. Her voice will send chills up and down your spine. Enjoy!

Ciao e a presto,

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Thermal Spas of Italy

When we hear the word "spa" in America, we conjure up images of massages, facials, and beauty treatments.

In Italy the word "spa" equates with "wellness" and used by Italians for treating conditions and illnesses such as cardiovascular problems, respiratory illnesses, and digestive disorders.

The water of thermal baths contain a high amount of minerals, calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, all said to have healing effects.

Spas are professionally staffed by physicians who assess your health and well being and recommend specific treatments and therapies. Some of the finest spas and thermal baths in Tuscany include


http://www.termediventurina.it/

http://termemontecatini.it/

http://www.termemontepulciano.it/


All can be booked online and plan to spend a full day of rest, relaxation and wellness.


Ciao e a presto,

Oh The Italian Life

Don't you want to spend more than one minute and 23 seconds living the Italian Life? To view video, click on start button on the left.

Ciao e a presto,

Paolo Soleri

Buon compleanno (Happy Birthday) Signore Soleri. On June 21, Paolo Soleri, an author, architect, artist and eco-friendly pioneer of Arcosanti, will be celebrating this 90th birthday right here at home in the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Signore Soleri was born in Torino (Turin) Italy in 1919 where he studied and became an architect completing his Ph.D. in 1946.

He came to the U.S. at the age of 28 where he worked in a fellowship with world reknown Arizona architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Later on he fulfilled his dream of creating a nonprofit to study and develop urban sustainable communities. Signore Soleri launched his urban project which maximizes natural resources in concert with our natural environment. The prototype town is called "Arcosanti" http://www.arcosanti.org/ and located near Cordes Junction, Arizona.

And if you have never heard of a "Soleri" Bell than you must come to Arizona to see his studio located in Paradise Valley. You can tour the studio and watch the artistic craftsmanship and workmanship of authentic italian crafted "Soleri Bells". To read and order your Soleri Bell visit http://www.cosanti.com/. The Earth Cause Bell is my favorite, yes I own one, and is truly an exquisite work of art.

Come celebrate with us (a free event!) on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. in downtown Scottsdale when the Paradise Valley Town Council will honor Signore Soleri with a proclamation. There will be artists renderings of the Soleri Pedestrain Bridge showing how the supsension bridge will connect the Scottsdale Waterfront with the retail shops on the south side of the Arizona Canal. The bridge is the first to be constructed by Signore Soleri and slated to open by Spring 2010. Truly an example of All Things Italian.

Ciao e a presto,

How to Buy Authentic Italian Products

Not all "Made in Italy" Italian products are made equal. How many times have you purchased a product supposedly made in Italy and you could not believe how cheap it was? Be careful. Just because a tag or label says "Made in Italy" does not mean it is an authentic Italian product.

Consumers, wholesalers and retailers should always check for authenticity before buying because there are illegal products on the market and unless you know how to check for authenticity, you may be buying illegal goods or counterfeit goods. There are some manufacturers who are engaging in child labor and running sweat shops. I saw many back door shops in Milan and Roma so be careful when you shop in Italy or buy in the U.S.

Genuine Italian Products come with a special True Italy service tag and have an authenticity code and serial number printed on the label. The label bears the logo that appears in this post. To check for authenticity, you go to http://www.trueitaly.com/, enter the authenticity code and click on the Check it now button. If you find that the product is not authentic, you should return it immediately and demand a refund. There are many unscrupulous vendors out there waiting for your dollar or euro. Don't become a victim.

If you are a wholesaler and looking to buy authentic products, please consider http://www.italianmoda.com/. They are a highly reputable and respected company with various authentic Italian brands. In 2008, Italy was the 12th largest trading partner with the U.S. with exports to Italy of $15.5 billion and imports from Italy of $36.1 billion. While prices of authentic Italian products are higher than a similar product, you are buying the real thing and Italian quality will last you a lifetime, not 90 days.

I hope this authoritative information is helpful for any consumer, buyer or seller of All Things Italian.

Ciao e a presto,

World Air Games

Jason Stephens, from our home town of Gilbert, Arizona is the only American glider scheduled to compete in the World Air Games on June 13, 2009 in Torino, Italy. Stephens is a three time national championship holder and co-owns a flying school with his brother.

Some of the worlds' top glider racers will be competing at a height of 1,000 - 3,000 meters.

Follow this race and visit the website www.wag209.com/eng/ for information about the World Air Games Gliding, Parachuting, Ballooning and many other air games.

Ciao e a presto,

Technorati Profile

FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2009

Don't miss the September 13, 2009 Formula One Race in Monza, Italy.

Number of Laps: 53

Circuit Length: 5.793 km

Race Distance: 306.720 km

Lap Record: 1:21.046 - R Barrichello (2004)

To obtain ticket information or see the track, teams, records, etc, visit the website at http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/italy_818/circuit_diagram.html
Ciao e a presto,

Calcio: Italian Soccer

To appreciate All Things Italian, you must learn to love the game of soccer (calcio). It is by far, a game of speed and intensity loved by both men and women. Italy comes to a standstill when a soccer match is scheduled.

If you are serious about soccer, and keeping up with the game, scores, matches, players, the most comprehensive website is http://www.italian-calcio.blogspot.com/

More to follow on this blog about the best places to go four wheel driving, Italian touring clubs, race car driving, diving and more.

Ciao e a presto

Italian Companies Seek USA Partnership with Biotech Companies

The Italian Trade Commission (http://www.italtrade.com) and the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (I.C.E.) are seeking USA partners for their biotech companies in Italy. To read more, go to the Trade Commission website, click on the business events link on the left sidebar and look for the news headlines on the right sidebar "Italian Biotech Takes Its Capacity For Innovation to BIO 2009".

For those of us who live in the southwest, biotech is our strength. As a member of the Italy-Chamber of Commerce West, I am anxious to get this message out to American businesses.

Unfortunately, we missed the biotech convention that took place two weeks ago in Atlanta, Georgia, but don't let that stop us from passing on this jewel of information.

If you are looking to start a new business, or expand an existing business, and want to develop a partnership with an Italian company, the Trade Commission is a great source of information. On their website you can access the business directory of Italian companies across a wide range of industries. You can also submit your own business proposal.

So, please pass this post onto individuals and businesses interested in All Things Italian and upcoming business opportunities with Italian companies.

Grazie e a presto,

Bello Giardino

Just about every Italian I know, and certainly every good cook, grows and harvests their own herbs. Creating your own small organic Italian herb garden is relatively easy and rewarding.

Six herbs most widely used in Italian cuisine are basilico (basil), origano (oregano), Rosmarino (rosemary), prezzemolo (flat Italian parsley), salvia (sage), and menta piperita (peppermint).

If you have a backyard, you can dedicate a small area of 4'x 6' to a garden. If not, herbs do just as well in pots. An east facing direction is ideal for a small garden or potted herbs.

To prepare your garden plot, you will need to build a border 2 feet in depth using wood, bricks or stone to hold in your soil. Once you have your border, add bags and bags of garden or vegetable soil and leave 5 inches from the top of your border. You can also use compost if you decide to add vegetables like carrots, garlic, and yellow peppers - veggies need good compost to flourish. If you use compost, make sure to turn the compost over numerous times. Then rake the compost until it has a nice even look and leave it undisturbed for two weeks.

After two weeks have passed, and the weather is somewhat mild (best time to plant is Spring when the frost is gone and the ground has warmed) you are ready to plant. My personal preference is to plant from already rooted plants and not from seed. I buy my herb plants from Home Depot or Lowe's and prefer ones that come from Monrovia California home to some of the country's best nurseries. I like Monrovia herbs because you can plant the entire container.

Dig a hole large hole and make sure its deep enough to allow for plant growth (width and height). Place the entire container in the hole, fill with soil, and give it a good watering.

Every few weeks, I feed my herbs and vegetables with organic vegetable food by sprinkling a few tablespoons around the base of the plants, and give them a good hand watering.

My garden is hooked up to an automatic timer which I have set to come on around 5:00 a.m. in summer, and run for a minimum of 3 hours. This is in addition to interim hand watering. If you live in a very hot climate, you will need to protect your herb garden during those hot summer days, and can do this inexpensively. Just measure your garden area and buy some tan shade screen netting or tarp, and place it over your garden. You can also buy, at a local hardware store, some plastic poles with notches and attach your tarp or netting to the poles. This not only protects your garden from the blazing sun, but provides enough filtered light to keep your herbs and veggies happy and green.

Treat your garden and all living things with love and care, and you will have many days of fresh aromatic seasonings for years to come.

Saliva (sage) is wonderful on Turkey, Pork, and Chicken. It's also the main ingredient in Tuscany White Bean Soup. Basilico (basil) and menta piperita (peppermint) are fabulous in salads and tossed with pasta and fresh tomato sauce. Both these herbs make great pesto. Try some fresh Rosmarino (rosemary) with lamb, and some prezzemolo (flat Italian parsely) on roasted potatoes. What would pizza be without fresh orgiano (oregano)!

One final note, as your herbs grow wide and full, cut them and dry them on a paper towel and make an aromatic container of herb d' Italia for those wonderful winter dishes.

Buon appetito!

Ciao e a presto,

Pamper Your Hair

The next time you visit Florence, take time out to pamper your hair at GabrioStaff Olimpo Hair Spa. This simply gorgeous salon has a variety of personal beauty treatments for the hair that will leave you feeling and looking glamorous (seducente) and oh so Italian.

GabrioStaff Olimpo is located at Via de Tornabuoni 5, Firenze, telephone 055/214668. Tour their website http://www.gabriostaff.it/ to see what awaits you in Firenze. And don't forget to make an appointment well in advance!

Ciao e a presto,

Remember The Smart Car?

Here is a Not So Smart Car in Roma

The Decision

After eleven years of travelling between the US and Italy, I came to the realization that it was time for me to pursue my passion for All Things Italian which led to my launching When In Italy LLC in the fall of 2005.

When In Italy LLC offers like-minded Italophiles a chance to fulfill their dream of owning and living in Italy through a fractional share ownership program.

Picture yourself celebrating life's special moments, like your hard earned law degree, or 25 years of marriage, surrounded by family and new friends in the privacy of your own home overlooking the Tuscany valley.

Fractional share ownership is an affordable and practical way to live overseas where you can truly savor and immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle Italy has to offer. To read more about fractional share ownership, visit my website at http://www.myitalianhideaway.com/

There's more to follow in the days ahead about Italian real estate, wine, food, festivals, hideaways and All Things Italian.

Ciao and a presto,

The Potato Croquette

The end of a two-week business trip is coming to a close and my italian team and I will need to make some decisions on which properties best meets the high standards for U.S. fractional share offering by My Italian Hideaway. We covered over 160 kilometeres of driving and inspected over 15 villas, apartments, and townhomes immediately eliminating 5 properties.We have met with the geometra (surveryor) poured over technical floor plans for hours.

Now I take the day off and am getting an early start because I am going to have lunch with my friend Claudia and it's my turn to bring pranzo. I love the drive to Asciano as it takes me through the Le Crete Senese rolling hills of limestone and clay, a landscape too surreal for Toscana. The surrounding hill towns of Montecontieri, Val d'Asso, and Trequanda shimmer in the light of early morning.

Just beyond the hills, I see flocks of sheep sway their heads to the music of the morning sun. I am determined to get to the fresco mercato in Rapolano Terme ensuring my arrival for just after the vendors place the finishing touches to their meticulous and mouth watering stands of fresh fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Parking can be tough because the market, my italian hideaway market, is set in a tiny parking lot outside the tabaccheria (smoke shop where you buy bus tickets, phone cards) and by 8:00 a.m. the locals have scooped up the perfectly shaped deep purple carciofi (artichokes), roasted chickens, fresh fish. - so by 9:00 a.m. it may be too late!

Fresh outdoor local markets usually open by 7:00 and close by 1:00 p.m. and can be found in nearly very town, village, and neighborhood on a given day.What makes this market so special is, well, ok, I'll tell you. The Potato Croquette. Nonna's Potato Croquettes. Not just any potato croquette, but Nonna's potato croquette made with sheep's milk!!

Parking is easy so I begin my morning stroll up and down each isle selecting a few pieces of fruita, un po di pecorino, and a large loaf of Toscana bread (which is made with no salt). I head to Stefano's for chicken. Per piacere (polite for please) un pollo. I order one roasted chicken.

Si, signora, ritorna in un ore. Come back in an hour. Now I peak down the isle and see that Nonna has started to prepare the croquettes with her tiny but strong hands. It's too early, she won't be ready to fry them for at least an hour.

Time to get an espresso and see Eva. We spent some time chatting, laughing, and catching up on properties for sale when I check my watch and an hour has gone by. O dio mio I must get back to check on my pollo.

Stefano sees me approaching and grabs my plump beautiful golden skinned chicken, I pay and head to Nonna. Perfect timinig. She has started the frying. The line is long and I think I will faint from the smell of the potatoes . Now its my turn.

Dica! Tell me! Nonna, io vuolo (I want or take) cinque patate (potatotes). Cinque? (5). Si, cinque (5). She asks if I am sure that I want only 5 croquettes. Si, yes, certo (certainly).

I am taking pranzo to my friend and I need 5 patate croquettes. Nonna takes her hands and the croquettes and gently places them into the beautiful golden olive oil . Within minutes they are golden and bagged for me.

I've got everything I need. Claudia will have the table set, wine glasses in place next to her beautiful torta. It's not long before I steer my Opal thru the gates crazily beeping my horn. Now it is time to have some fun with Claudia. Ciao, Claudia, sono qui! Hi Claudia, I am here. I have goodies just like you asked.

Do you have the bread? Si, Claudia, I have the bread. What about the cheese? Did you get cheese? Yes, Claudia I have the cheese. How is the chicken? Just like you asked. A beautiful plump farm raised golden roasted pollo - look Claudio how fresh and juicy. Ok, I hope you didn't forget the croqettes! No, Claudia, no. I got 4 just like you asked.

To Be Continued Monday - The Decision

My Italian Hideaway

Italy, there is no place like it in the world. As I take my morning stroll through the piazza to the local mercato where fresh produce awaits me to prepare today's pranzo, I gaze at the breaktaking views of the swaying cypress trees over the Val d' Orcia.

Italy, there is no place in the world like it. Stopping for my morning espresso to catch up on the news of the village. Marco is ready to bring in the Brunello grapes and Maria just had another baby girl, Isabella.

Italy, there is no place like it in the world. You have lost your way back to the road and no cars around when you hear the chug of the tiniest car and a shy man calls out "follow me" and suddenly you are back on the main road. You yell "grazie signore, grazie" and he replies with a soft whisper and a twinkle in his eye, "prego signora" .

Follow the my story which leads you to finding and owning a charming italian hideaway somewhere in romantic Italy. Foolow me and you will find hidden gems and authentic italian products, and before long you will embrace the time you have to spend in Italy discovering and exploring hideaway villages and towns. Immerse yourself and feed your passion for All Things Italian.

TO BE CONTINUED...A DOMANI