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 …

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 …

Three years ago, the tiny community of Oso, Wash., nestled along the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, was obliterated when a devastating landslide buried the area, killing 43 people. The disaster was horrific not just for the victims’ families …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

As a third-generation coffee roaster, Emanuele Bizzarri is immersed in the classic Italian approach to roasting coffee, with an emphasis on blend, craft, detail and passion. His Seattle-based company, Caffè Umbria, operates three cafes in the Pacific Northwest—two in Seattle …

Tucked inside a 17,000 square-foot building, with vaults protected by a high security system of checkpoints and keypads, lie the treasures of a corporation that has changed the very world in which we live. The collection includes four million photo …