Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company of Philadelphia will be performing a concert at SS John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School, 10th and Moore Streets, Philadelphia on Sunday, October 25.

In addition to Opera selections, The Bel Canto will be performing Va Pensiero from Nabucco, the second act quartet from La Boheme, and selections from Camelot and Kiss Me Kate.

Salvatore Scarpa, assistant director of the Philadelphia Ballet will be conducting the orchestra.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera is made up of Philadelphia Orchestra members, with singers who have earned some of the highest awards, such as the International Pavarotti Competition. It performs extensively in the Philadelphia, NJ and NY areas to great acclaim.

For details of the event, please call 215-334-0529.
When: Sunday, October 25 at 4:00
Where: SS. John Neumann - Maria Goretti High School Auditorium, 10th and Moore Streets, Philadelphia.

The official launch of the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF) is scheduled for September 7th 2009 in Toronto, Canada.

The Italian Walk of Fame aims to contribute to the preservation and education of Italian heritage by recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Italians who have excelled within their respective fields and across a variety of industries.

From the city that is home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy comes the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF). Located in the heart of Toronto’s famous downtown tourist destination known as “Little Italy” and co-founded by Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco Lang, the IWOF will pay tribute to the extraordinary achievements Italians have had, locally and globally, in all fields including business, science, art, film, theatre, finance, medicine, literature, architecture, religion and politics.

Its establishment will provide,
- A place to recognize and celebrate their achievements.
- A platform upon which the Italian identity as well as the Italian immigrant experience can be discussed and defined.
- A means by which visitors and young people can learn some important facts about individuals of Italian origin in particular and about the immigrant experience in general.
- An inspiration to the young for further achievement.

The unveiling ceremonies will take place in Toronto’s “Little Italy” in front of the CHIN Building (622 College St.) at 1:30 pm on Sept 7, 2009. A gala awards dinner will follow later that day at the Riviera Parque Banquet & Convention Centre in Vaughan (2800 Highway 7 West) at 6:00 pm.

Stars of achievement will be presented to:

Giancarlo Giannini - Internationally Acclaimed Academy-Award Nominated Actor
Phil Esposito - Hockey Legend and Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
Johnny Lombardi - Pioneer Broadcaster and Community Leader
Rudy Bratty - Real Estate Developer, Described as “The Man who Built Toronto”
Julian Fantino - Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Connie Francis - “America’s Sweetheart of Song” and International Best-Selling Artist

“The Italian Walk of Fame will recognize and honor these six individuals of Italian origin who have demonstrated an exceptional level of accomplishment within their respective fields“, said Co-Founder Marisa Beaco Lang. “In our inaugural year, a portion of the proceeds raised from the awards gala will benefit the Abruzzo earthquake relief effort“, she added.

Details and tickets for the Gala Awards dinner following the unveiling at ItalianWalkOfFame.com.

The couples who decide to get married in Venice — more than 500 non Italian couples per year see this dream coming true — will be able to get their wedding ceremony broadcasted live on the internet.
The cost for this service is from Euro 120 to 144.

The price for a complete wedding in the most romantic city of the world, for non Italian couples, is from Euro 500 to 3,500, much depending on the day — festive or not — and on the required services (hotel booking, Gondola or motoscafi, Laguna tour, wedding video on DVD, honey moon in Italy etc….)
More info on planning a wedding in Venice at http://weddingvenice.it/index_en.htm .

The city of Turin, offers the webcam service for free.
Also, Turin offers a videoconferencing service — as a paid service, for those who cannot attend the ceremony.

With this service, Turin aims to give the chance to families and friends to broadcast themselves — and spouses to feel their presence — on megascreens placed in the rooms where the wedding is being celebrated.
Among the venues to celebrate weddings the city of Turin offers, two of the major historic buildings of the city: the Mole Anonelliana and Palazzo Reale. (source)

The town of Vandergrift, PA, in Westmoreland County, approximately 40 miles east of Pittsburgh, will held its annual Italian festival, “Festa Italiana di Vandergrift“, on August 15 and 16.

Festa Italiana features an Italian Film Festival — 2nd edition — scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Casino Theatre of Vandergrift.

The programme of 2009 edition Italian Film Festival includes: “Il Postino” — “The Postman” – (1994, Director: Michael Radford, Cast: Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Massimo Troisi); “Umberto D.” (1952, Director: Vittorio De Sica); “Malèna” (2000, Director: Giuseppe Tornatore, Cast: Monica Bellucci).

When: August 15 -16, 2009 (annual)
Where: Vandergrift, PA

Find out details and program of “Festa Italiana di Vandergrift” at FestaItaliana.us.