rita cipalla

Communicating effectively with clients, suppliers or colleagues in Italy is indispensable for anyone interested in relationship building or financial success. But knowing another language is more than just grasping the grammar and mastering the vocabulary. It also means understanding the …

Every spring, thousands of tourists descend on the picturesque city of Siracusa in the southeast corner of Sicily, drawn to an experience unlike any other: Seeing Greek theater come alive in the same dramatic, open-air setting enjoyed by the ancient …

In 1975, just a dozen years after its founding, Seattle Opera created an international sensation when it staged the complete production of Richard Wagner’s “Ring” in the six-day cycle prescribed by the composer. This landmark accomplishment stood the opera world …

California may have a lock on the production of almonds—the state produces more than 80 percent of the world’s supply—but if you have never tasted an almond grown in Sicily, you have never truly tasted an almond. Sicily combines the …

Maria Coassin is passionate about gelato. Not just its creamy texture, distinctive flavorings or even the specialty ingredients she imports from around the world: Madagascar vanilla, Sicilian pistachios, couverture chocolate from Tanzania.     Coassin loves the science of it. …

The camera loved Nicoletta Machiavelli, a sultry, dark-haired Italian beauty best known for her roles in the spaghetti westerns of the 1960s. She co-starred with such screen favorites as Marcello Mastroianni, Burt Reynolds, David McCallum and Dan Duryea. How did …

From Seattle’s finest dining establishments to the local McDonald’s, from grocery stores to the Space Needle Restaurant, Gai’s Northwest Bakeries was a popular supplier of breads and rolls for the better half of the 20th century. The bakery was started …

A semester abroad changed the very course of Michelle Bufano’s life. Bufano, executive director of Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, was a science major at Marquette University, on track to become a speech pathologist. When a study abroad opportunity …

As a writer, Tom Perrotta may not be a household name but chances are you’re familiar with some of the films based on his books. Perrotta’s novel Election, the story of an intense campaign for high school class president,  became …

A new Italian film, “The Truth About Love Is… (La verità, vi spiego, sull’amore),” was warmly received by audiences during its North America premiere at the 43rd annual Seattle International Film Festival. This smart, snappy and thoroughly modern take on …