How To Be Italian All Year – Find the Lifestyle!

Being Italian isn’t just a nationality, it’s a lifestyle.

October, Italian Heritage Month, is coming to a close.  But, there is no need to slow down your celebratory activities because there are plenty of ways to keep the momentum going. See the list below.

Brunch with the artist does not happen every day.  Enjoy this unique opportunity to meet and brunch with Domenico Monteforte as we celebrate the conclusion of his month-long residency at the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.  On Sunday, November 2nd, food expert Viola Buitoni will design and curate a glorious Tuscan menu to accompany Domenico’s paintings for an exclusive experience recreating a full immersion in the art and food of Tuscany.  Call (415) 788-7142 for more details and how to register.

Enjoy the work of Primo Angeli, a master of advertising art, at the Museo Italo Americano from December 5, 2014 to April 19, 2015.  The Museo’s exhibit will include the San Francisco design legend’s posters, logo design and packaging art that began in the early 1960s.  Museo Italo Americano is located at Fort Mason, Two Marina Blvd., San Francisco.  Go to http://museoitaloamericano.org/category/exhibits-collections/upcoming-ex… for more information on this exhibit.

Nine million people visit the Louvre every year to view the Mona Lisa.  Considered to be the most famous painting in the world, and despite its international fame, the life of Mona Lisa remains somewhat a mystery.  Delve into that mystery with Simon and Schuster’s new book, Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered, by award-winning author Dianne Hales.  Ms. Hales will present her book at the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9.  Resister for this event at http://www.iicsanfrancisco.esteri.it.  The Institute is located at 814 Montgomery Street in San Francisco.

The Festa del Libro (Italian Children’s Book Fair) will be held at Spazio Italiano on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9.  It will showcase more than 500 books for children (0-10 years of age).  Spazio Italiano is located at 1853 Powell Street in San Francisco.  Visit www.lafestadellibro.com for more information.

NICE is happening again this year November 19th through the 23rd at San Francisco’s historic Vogue Theatre.  Located at 3290 Sacramento Street in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights neighborhood, the Vogue Theatre is one of San Francisco’s oldest operating cinemas, second only to the Mission District’s Roxie Cinema.  Built in 1912, it is one of the few single screen neighborhood theaters remaining in the city.

NICE’s five day festival will offer 15 of Italy’s newest films to the Bay Area.  Opening night will be a particularly special evening with Edoardo Ponti and will feature two of his short films: The Nightshift Belongs to the Stars and Human Voice featuring his iconic mother Sophia Loren. All of life’s journey’s will be represented including drama in The Medicine Seller, a beautiful animated feature, The Art of Happiness, political twists and turns in Viva la Liberta (Long Live Freedom), self-discovery in Up to the World, and the art of the supernatural in Controra-House of Shadows.  The website address for New Italian Cinema events is www.sffs.org/exhibition/fall-season-2014/new-italian-cinema.

Europe meets the Bay Area in a policy and business dialogue in San Francisco on Thursday, November 6th.  The conference will take place at the Fort Mason, Conference Center, Building A, at Two Marina Blvd.

Cities and regions around the globe are taking the lead in adopting new technologies to reduce energy intensity and carbon footprint. This is especially true of Europe and of California, particularly the Bay Area, which are leading the way in sustainable urban planning, smart grids and green cities. The conversation will include policy makers and business leaders discussing how the Bay Area and Europe can address this challenge cooperatively.

This landmark event will begin with Mauro Battocchi, Consul General of Italy and EU Local Chair, followed by panel discussions on “Emerging Best Practices in Green City Planning in the Bay Area” and “Smart Business Solutions to Green City Challenges”.  Participants include Francesco Profumo, former Education Minister of Italy, and Elisabetta Ghisini, BAIA.

The event is promoted by the Consulate General of Italy, Italian Cultural Institute, Bay Area Council Economic Institute and the Business Association Italy America (BAIA).

For registration information and detailed descriptions on speakers, panel discussions and sponsors, go to www. sfyic.org/green-cities.

Clearly, there are always ongoing events for every interest level and every age to immerse themselves in Italian culture.  Keep the lifestyle going!  Keep the momentum going by participating in not just La Dolce Vita but also in La Vita Meravigliosa.