Pasta and Wine Tasting Highlights at The Italian Place!

The Italian Place hosted another Taste of Italy event on Sunday, September 15, 3-5 offering Southern Italian Wines and Pasta in Box sampling with RED, WHITE and GREEN sauces!  Patrons enjoyed house-made sauces of marinara, alfredo and pesto with sparkling, crisp white and robust red wines.  It was a beautiful afternoon at The Italian Place and looking forward to next months complimentary tasting!  I stocked up on dolci gelati and pizzelles for dessert while I was there!  CiaoDC in collaboration with the Italian Place have created these boutique style monthly tasting events to offer a "taste of Italy" to everyone!  Stay tuned for more tasting events coming soon!

"La Dolci Vita" Desserts, Wine and Coffee Tasting at The Italian Place

Live "La Dolci Vita," this summer with  dessert, wine and coffee tasting at The Italian Place, Sunday, August 18, 3-5pm. FREE. 621 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA  22314. 

A Taste of Naples at The Italian Place!

Savor the Taste of Naples at The Italian Place this Sunday, July 14, 3-5.  

Enjoy a guided wine tasting through Southern Italy; Italian delicacies from the Italian Place and seasonal flavors of gelato and sorbetto!  This complimentary tasting is open to the public and is located in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria at The Italian Place on 621 Wythe Place, Alexandria, VA.  

Plus, CiaoDC followers receive 10% off in-store and online purchases - use code CIAODC!


CiaoDC chats with The Italian Place owner, Adriana Pinachio-Sifakis on what's being served! Listen here! 

Giada Chats with CiaoDC from Venice with Love!

CiaoDC chats here with Singer/Songwriter Giada Valenti from her hometown Venice, Italy on true love;  her musical journal; her boutique tours of Venice; food; and her beloved fans!

"My Nonna Maria always told me, if you are blessed enough to have a singing career always remember the fans that made you who you are."

- Giada Valenti, Singer Songwriter, Venice, Italy

TRAVEL TO VENICE WITH GIADA!
Learn more about her boutique personalized tours to Venice.  Discover Giada's Venice with live performances; cooking classes; wine tastings and her favorite restaurants and shops!  Tour information here.

TOUR DATES: 

Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert

Sat, Aug 24 @ 10:00AM

The Franchi Estate, 91 Sergio Franchi Drive, Stonington, CT 06378

Giada Valenti - Celebrating Italian & Hispanic Culture

Thu, Oct 3 @ 8:00PM

The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89106

Giada Valenti is celebrating Italian and Hispanic heritage and culture month. The singer will take her audience on a romantic journey with songs written by Italian, Italian-American and Hispanic songwriters, or made famous by Italian, Italian-American and Hispanic artists. A natural storyteller, Giada shares anecdotes and personal tales from her past, creating a genuine connection with her audience.

Giada Valenti - Celebrating Italian & Hispanic Culture

Fri, Oct 11 @ 8:00PM

Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Giada Valenti is celebrating Italian and Hispanic heritage and culture month. The singer will take her audience on a romantic journey with songs written by Italian, Italian-American and Hispanic songwriters, or made famous by Italian, Italian-American and Hispanic artists. A natural storyteller, Giada shares anecdotes and personal tales from her past, creating a genuine connection with her audience.

Catch The Finale of Unexpected Italy With Superb Swiss-Italian Pianist Francesco Piemontesi

Unexpected Italy Finale!
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda continues the Kennedy Center's spring celebration of his home country! In his NSO debut, superb Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi lends his depth, intensity, and sincerity to Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Rachmaninoff's well-loved homage to extraordinary Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini. The program also features Respighi's charming "Ancient Airs and Dances" and Casella's Symphony No. 2—one of Noseda's favorite symphonies of all time. Presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Institute of Culture.  Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Saturday, June 1, 2019.  Concert Hall. Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20566.   More information and tickets here. Use code: CIAODC for 15% off!

National Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, Conductor
Francesco Piemontesi, Piano
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances – Suite No. 2
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Casella: Symphony No. 2
To watch live stream.  The concert will begin at 7 pm EST and will feature the following program.

CiaoDC Chats With The Visionary Behind The Italian Place!

CiaoDC Chats with the visionary and owner of The Italian Place, Adriana Penachio-Sifakis on the recipes behind the Italian storefront; her vision to bring the flavors of Boston's North End to DC and the celebrities that frequent her store.  Plus, learn about upcoming special events, future locations, gifts and the perfect bites for Father's Day!  Listen to interview here.  

The Italian Place, Bringing a Taste of Italy to Old Town, 6 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA  22314. www.theitalianplaceofoldtown.com

"Growing up...my Grandma (Nonni) would spoil me and cook for me everyday and teach me how to make pizza and Italian subs...a lot of these recipes (at The Italian Place) come from my grandma"...The two most popular subs are the "Eva" Italian Sub and the "Nonni" Meatball Sub named after my grandma...If you grew up Italian or in the North East, you'll find yourself at home at The Italian Place."  

-Adriana, Owner, The Italian Place 

CiaoDC Offers Promotional Tickets to "Unexpected Italy" at The Kennedy Center this May!

Unexpected Italy A Celebration of Italian culture at the Kennedy Center Enjoy 15% off the following concerts with promo code CIAODC Washington National Opera Performances Tosca May 12, 14, 20 & 22 Washington National Opera Puccini:  Tosca Speranza Scappucci, conductor WNO presents one of the most famous of all Italian operas, Giacomo Puccini's  Tosca . This story of love and politics set in 19th-century Rome will feature Keri Alkema and Latonia Moore in the title role of Tosca, Riccardo Massi and Robert Watson as Cavaradossi, and Alan Held as the villain Scarpia.     Colors (Family Theatre) May 18 & 19 Ages 5+ National Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Enter a world where colors become a place of relationships and emotions. Italy’s Compagnia TPO and Teatro Metastasio explore children’s perceptive, emotional, and creative relationships to colors with a physical dance piece. Dancers maneuver a set brought to life with fabric, projections, and sensors for exciting movements and sounds. Performers will interact with audience members—and some may even have the chance to get up on the stage and join in the colorful landscape! 5+. The show will follow with an optional 25 minute interactive experience in which audience members can come on stage and dance with the responsive projections. Rossini & Liszt May 16 & 17 Maestro Noseda and the NSO will be joined by a quartet of celebrated singers in Gioachino Rossini's dramatic  Stabat Mater . This program also features Franz Liszt's  Dante Symphony , based on Dante Alighieri's journey through Hell and Purgatory, as depicted in  The Divine Comedy .  Mario Biondi May 21 Born in Catania, Italy, singer and composer Biondi has presented memorable collaborations with Chaka Kahn and Michael Bolton. His most-recent album, Brasil , was released in 2018.  Simona Molinari May 26   Born in Naples, Italian singer/songwriter Simona Molinari started singing as a child, showing an early fondness for jazz and graduating from the Conservatory of L'Aquila. Her hits include  In Search of You  and  Egocentrica.   Doctor 3 May 28   An Italian jazz trio formed by Danilo Rea on piano, Enzo Pietropaoli on double bass, and Fabrizio Sferra on drums, Doctor 3 has recorded several hits since 1997. National Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini May 30 & June 1 This program showcases Respighi's  Ancient Airs and Dances – Suite No.2 , Casella's Symphony No. 2 , and Rachmaninoff's best-known work,  Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini , featuring pianist Francesco Piemontesi.

CIAODC - The Best Source for Everything Italian in the DMV! https://ciaodc.blogspot.com/

Taste of Italy in Old Town, Sunday, May 19, 3-5 at The Italian Place!  Savor the flavors of bell'Italia in historic Old Town, Alexandria this Spring! Enjoy an Italian tasting tour at The Italian Place for a guided wine tasting, Italian delicacies and learn to speak Italian! $15 includes wine tasting, antipasti and 45 minute Italian lesson. Limited space available. Register here. 621 WYTHE STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314