
to the the first film adaptation of Pinocchio, a black and white silent version dated 1911 tthat will be screened on Dec 26thwith live music by Francesca Badalini
More info at

to the the first film adaptation of Pinocchio, a black and white silent version dated 1911 tthat will be screened on Dec 26thwith live music by Francesca Badalini
More info at Thursday, December 10th. It will be an amazing night for opera lovers.
It will happen in one of The Space Cinema, a great chain of movie theaters all over the Italian territory, hosting two long waited live performances from London Royal Opera House.
I am talking off Mascani’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, two short works, each recognized as the masterpiece of its composer, are presented together in a new production of the award-winning Damiano Michieletto.
Exaggerated and cheeky, tender and inventive, energetic and ironic: 40 years old Michieletto is considered the richest talent of Italian directors, who come and go between lyrical and dramatic theater.
The two masterpieces, set up as Sergio Leone westerns, will reveal their western soul.
The event, hosted by Director of The Royal Opera Kasper Holten, will see Damiano, the great sopranos Carmen Giannattasio and Eva-Maria Westbroek, his superb cast and the amazing production team 
explore the production, the tradition of verismo opera and why composers such as Mascagni and Leoncavallo chose to write gritty operas about real life as opposed to romantic fantasies.
To know the all venues and for more info www.thespacecinema.it
The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 has been awarded to Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian children right’s campaigner Kailash Satyarthi.
Malala rose to fame after Taliban militants shot her at close range in the head for speaking out against the Islamic extremists and demanding education for girls.
Satyarthi has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the exploitation of children for financial gain.
Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said the joint prize was symbolic because it was important for “a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism.
Highlights of the 3 days event include:
Save the Children’s Peace Prize Party [in Norwegian] outside the Nobel Peace Center.
Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo City Hall.
Torchlight parade and The Nobel Banquet at the Grand Hotel
Oslo 9,10,11 of December 2014
Great time to visit Oslo, celebrate PEACE, enjoy the magnificent Grand Hotel a superb symbol of a first-class hospitality with tradition, atmosphere and style.

RESTAURANTS
40 ladroni Address Fondamenta della Sensa, 3253, ( great food, nice garden) good prices
La palanca ph 041 5287719 see pic! ( open only for lunch) take vaporetto, exit la palanca, go left. located in the great Giudecca area, tables outside, great view, facing S.Marc Square.make a reservation good prices
Mistra‘ Address Calle Michelangelo 53c also in the Giudecca aerea ph 041 522074
Ostaria alla Vedova, famous for the Best venetian meatballs and more, close to the famous Golden House, Cà d’oro Address: Calle del Pistor ph 041-528-5324. good prices
Trattoria Da Bepi adress Cannaregio, 4550 stop ferry Ca’D’oro.
Al Paradiso perduto– Address Sacco della Misericordia – Cannarreggio aerea- (the owner will pick up the fish for you)
Le antiche carampane (where real venetians go) ) ph 041 5240165 Address :: San Polo, 1911, expensive, excellent, closed sunday and monday .
TRADITIONAL VENETIAN CICCHETTI
( tapas + wine) for a drink or aperitivo during the day, evening.
Arco douzen of tapas, close to ponte rialto direction san polo) good prices
Corte del remer ( next to fiaschetteria toscana) self service great happy hour Address: calle del remer, ph 0415228789
Al Mascaron tiny tiny and traditional ( great cicchetti and more) Castello 5525, Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa ph 041 522 5995 good prices
Here my article for Zester Daily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/peak-cuisine-7-dishes-at-heart-of-european-mountain-food
3 days of gourmet food, cooking shows, meetings and…did I say food?
That’s the succulent program of the 4th edition of Milano Golosa, a gourmet bonanza
that will invade Milan Oct 3-5 at Palazzo Del Ghiaccio, located in Via PiranesI.
This annual event, created by Davide Paolini, the soul of the respected www.gastronauta.it
will take to an extraordinary journey. 
Before the show starts, the program includes several “Fuori Milano Golosa“ events where great chefs will create new and traditional dishes.
Amazing locations too, starting from the trendy furniture store Dilmos, where 7 producers will offer the best of their production during an aperitivo, that will combine excellences between design and food.
Then to the next door I Salentini Restaurant, located in Via Solferino 44, which is hosting a tasting menu featuring specialties made with local product from the Salento area, including the celebrated pasticciotto, a traditional sweet made of shortcrust pastry filled with cream or chocolate.
If you want to know ( and taste) more of Milano Golosa, check info at
www.milanogolosa.it
Milano Golosa opened today and it will indulge your palate till Monday Oct 5th
Yesterday, the annual food bonanza had several delicious preview events.
I picked up the chic APERITIVO at Dilmos, furniture store, that marked an unusual encounter between design and culinary.
Seven producers were offering their 7 treasures. 
Here they are:
testa in cassetta from Salumeria Giacobbe,
castelmagno d’alpeggio cheese Terre di Castelmagno,
caciocavallo lucano cheese Latteria Salvia Maria, 
Cerignola olives by Agricola Fratepietro, 
home made bread by Matera Pane&Pace, 

To drink prosecco Docg di Valdobbiadene Bisol 
and …the best of the best the amazing onion and saffron pre-desserts dolcetti by Opera Waiting,
I ended the evening at the close by I Salentini restaurant.
To my taste, some dishes were excellent, some less appealing.
I started with a very salty capocollo, a nice palette of Salento oil&vinegar marinated vegetables (loooved the artichokes and the sun dried tomatoes)
followed by a disappointingly overcooked pasta (the super nice owner Antonio suspected a probable kitchen faux pas ).
The hit of the night? Great paparine, spontaneous green growing in the olive trees territory, stirred the traditional way, with celline, minuscule black olives, chilly, garlic and Salento olive oil.
Finally a rich and delicious pasticciotto, a typical cake from Lecce and its surrounding areas, made with a sweet crust and pastry cream
and a great white wine Moscato Salento Estella.
Now…curious about paparine?
Experiment your italian and check at 0’45”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnQnR8HHkuo and how how to cook them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPAFQvPx-6Y
For more info and a visit ( this year or maybe in 2016) check
http://www.milanogolosa.it/
Great surprise at Expo 2015!
I visited the Wine Pavilion boasts a wide array of communications tools, as it narrates the history of wine-production.
The exhibit brings all five senses into play, with taste taking priority. Some of the best-qualified sommeliers are on hand to arrange wine-tasting experiences blending tastes with aromas.
I attended to the Cantine Settesoli tasting hosted by charming PR Roberta Urso.
My favorite wines? 
Inzolia, a very reasonable price for a great white wine. Light and fruity, just the way I like it. Roberta suggested fatty fish such as halibut or dory with potatoes and cherry tomatoes to go with.
Grillo, with a distinct aroma of jasmine and citrus.To be served with grilled vegetables, medium seasoned cheese, legumes soups, raw meats.
The legendary Nero D’Avola with its ruby red, and a brightly intense taste, smooth and warm, with a distinctive scent of marasca, local red cherry, excellent with raw meat and grilled white meat.
The Mandrarossa wines are the toprange of Cantine Settesoli.
They come from the careful selection of both the vineyards and the vines, together with the harmonious combination of local culture, traditional farming and winemaking technology.
The tasting ended up with an amazing finale.
The “meditation” chardonnay CALADEITUFI
Mandrarossa Vendemmia Tardiva, produced in a small vineyard that slopes down toward the coast, between sandy dunes and wild vegetation. the breeze refreshes the grapes that are left to ripen on the plant. Deliciously perfect as a “solo” wine or accompanied by light cheeses, desserts, dry fruits.
Settesoli is the largest wine company in Sicily, Twenty million bottles are made in a year and they are sold in 35 countries. “Settesoli is a stellar constellation, said proudly Cantine the general manager Salvatore Li Petri, each producer is a star”.
You know the story: two drag queens and a transgender woman travel and make trouble in the Australian desert on board of the Priscilla bus.
The cult movie became a musical performed all over the world.
From London West End to Broadway, the “Priscillamania” invaded Brazil, Stockholm, Greece, The Philippines, and Spain, just to mention few.
I have to say that the most glamorous Priscilla event was the one held in Milan, Italy.
It started in an amazing tent, build for the occasion at Fabbrica del Vapore, 

featuring not only a great stage, but also many vendors selling Priscilla memorabilia,make up, boas, wigs, games and much more, Not to mention the irresistible “stick your head” posters
that transform audience into a funny Priscilla look alike.
Audience used to go before the show to have fun and stay after to get familiar with the cast in their dressing rooms. Priscilla success was unstoppable, after four months of sold out performances, it moved to Teatro Arcimboldi, the younger brother of legendary Teatro alla Scala, then celebrated the EXPO 2015 from June to October at the historical Teatro Manzoni in Milan, Priscilla-dressed up for the occasion, serving a yummy hoers d’oeuvres “happy hour”. Resident Director Matteo Gastaldo and resident music supervisor Fabio Serri conduct a stellar cast, featuring great performers, starting the three “primadonnas“ Cristian Ruiz (in the double role of Tick and Mitzi), who studied at NY Movie Center and Beatrice Bracco school in Rome and worked with acclaimed choreographer such as Debbie Allen and Susan Stroman. Marco D’Alberti (who plays Bernadette), an eclectic performer who’s carrier spans from dancing at the Accademia Nazionale di Danza and Teatro Alla Scala ballet schools, to singing acting and modern dancing. Finally the acrobatic Riccardo Sinisi, he is only 23 years old and already the…“veteran” of the show, since he debuted as Adam (among as the flamboyant, adorable Felicia) in the first Priscilla tour, back in 2013. The show boasts more than 500 costumes originally created by Oscar winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, a new number where the audience is invited to perform on stage , and of course…the Bus Priscilla.

I told you, this musical would not stop.
More shows are scheduled at Teatro Brancaccio in Rome and Teatro Coccia in Novara.
To know more about the Italian Priscilla tour www.priscillailmusical.it

That’s me as a patriotic Priscilla…lol
Here it comes again. The magic world of Mummenschanz hypnotizes one more time.
The group of four mimes debuted last night at Teatro Carcano in Milan, Italy.
Despite some technical issues, the show captured the audience, as usual.
The performance started with two huge hands
that opened the curtain, flirted with the audience and finally met each other to give the green light to the 80 minutes show, that boasts some Mummenschanz favorite moments and features some new numbers.
In a totally black stage the group of four mimes, bring to life an extraordinary variety of imaginary creatures who fight, love, care, have fun and …reach.
There is often a destination to land on, a goal to finalize, a mission to persue in the those creatures world. Like the paper toilet couple (she is in pink, he is in blue)
that seams to flirt, or the funny Pac Man lookalike who finally reach the top of a table. 
Searching, and reaching, a comfort zone, either they are flying or folding their bodies. One of the best moments is the classic encounter between two masked creatures, which keep changing their plastic faces, in a never ending metamorphosis, transforming themselves into animals and humans.
The company will tour around the world. Lots of dates in Italy and Usa,
Check Mummenschanz international tour at http://www.mummenschanz.com/en/
Photos Courtesy of Mummenschanz.com


LOOOVE good movies , love good food, love Venice!
Here my article in ZesterDaily.com
http://zesterdaily.com/cooking/eat-learn-mingle-venice-film-festival/
From May 7 through August 16, 2015 The Costume Institute’s spring 2015 exhibition will be Chinese Whispers, Art, Film, and Fashion. The exhibition will explore how China has fueled the creative imagination for centuries, high fashion will be juxtaposed with Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, as well as Chinese films to reveal ongoing dialogues between East and West, past and present.
Save the date!
Brodetto is an elaborate traditional Italian fish soup
Fano is a beautiful seaside town in the Marche region.
A good reason to check the FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL BRODETTO, an international bonanza of delicious fish dishes prepared by Italian and International top Chefs. In top of that, you’ll find cooking shows, wines, products, music and the warm welcome of the people from Fano.
Sept 10th-14th
For more info check www.festivalbrodetto.it
Two-time Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega will star in the new solo drama Empanada Loca, Inspired by the legend of bloodthirsty Fleet Street barber Sweeney Todd, It is the story of Dolores, a drug dealer, ex-con, and masseuse who lives under Manhattan in an abandoned subway tunnel.
September 30-November 8 at the Bank Street Theatre in New York with opening night scheduled for October 21.
info: http://labtheater.org/events/empanada-loca/)
Here my article in Zester Daily
http://zesterdaily.com/world/in-venice-chef-unites-yesterday-and-tomorrow/
Astrup Fearnley
A wonderful collection of modern and contemporary art.
Designed by Renzo Piano, is inspired by the elements that surround it, the steel cables resemble the masts of boats, the use of wood brings us back into the forests, the silver-gray facade looks like a is a prelude to a winter storm.
Nobel Peace Center.
Interactive museum celebrating the annual Nobel Peace Prize, which rewards the dialogue and cooperation to a safer world. It was awarded to some legendary champions of peace, as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa.
Munch Museum and National Gallery
Emotional appointment with the iconic “Scream” by Edvard Munch. The artist painted four copies. One is the National Gallery that hosts exhibitions of contemporary art and the other reigns at the Much Museum. Not to be missed.
Because nothing is comparable to the crisp, bright images and rich sound of 70mm film. . It traditionally offered richer sound, with more space on the soundtrack as well. It is the ideal film format for ambitious cinematic spectacles.
This summer, Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, will present See It Big! 70mm, every weekend from August 7 through 30, featuring eight 70mm masterpieces
Interstellar (2014) The Master (2012), Lawrence of Arabia (1962),
West Side Story (1961), Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Brainstorm (1983), and Tron (1982),
Vidiciatico Street Food will bring some the most delicious traditional Italian specialties
in the streets of Bologna.
The ancient town will be filled with the aromas and flavors of authentic street food including lamprey sandwich, tripe salad, stuffed olives from Ascoli Piceno, borlenghi pesto, Modena fried dumplings, kebabs Bolognese style and the succulent “porchetta” from Ariccia.
Don’t forget to try the fish skewers from Rimini with american barbecue sauce, which will add an international touch to the event.
In August:
Saturday 29
Sunday 30