Views of Venice by Caneletto and His Rivals on display at the National Gallery

From Sunday, February 20 until May 30, 2011, the National Gallery of art will exhibit Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals, in the Gallery's East Building.

Giovanni Antonio Canal was born in the Republic of Venice in 1697 and earned the sobriquet Caneletto after his father Bernard Canal, also a painter, for whom he served as an apprentice. Canaletto was inspired by the daily life of Venice and its Venetians. He became famous for his scenic paintings known as vedute. The exhibit at the National Gallery showcases more than 20 masterpieces by Caneletto as well as over 30 created by rivals Guardi, Belloto, and Marieschi. These Venetian artists were influenced by the rich nautical panorama, and the art market that was created in-part by the upper-class men completing their education while on a Grand Tour of Europe..

The exhibition has been organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the National Gallery, London and is made possible by the Bracco Foundation, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and the Sally Engelhard Pingree and The Charles Engelhard Foundation. It is also supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

The Canaletto exhibition in part of a larger Spring celebration of Italian culture in Washington, DC, La Dolce DC, which we will share more information about in future blog posts from all of here at CiaoDC.com. In addition to this landmark exhibition and other Italian masterpieces on display in the permanent collection, the National Gallery is featuring other events to celebrate the influence of Italian culture in DC and the world over, including lectures, film programs, concerts, Gallery Talks, and Garden Café Italia.

Cineforum Italiano: Draquila - L'Italia che trema

Italophiles and political junkies will be enthralled by bold satirist Sabina Guzzanti's new documentary which examines the aftermath of an April 2009 earthquake that devastated the historic city of L'Aquila, the capital of Italy's wildly beautiful region of Abruzzo.

The earthquake killed more than 300 people, destroyed artworks of global importance and left the majority of the city's residents homeless. In this impassioned documentary, Guzzanti alleges that the disaster was used by the government for political gain, approaching her theme in a systematic way, cleverly and humerously building her case and making good use of her background as a satirist and comedian to keep the audience engaged.

DRAQUILA was officially selected to screen at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival as a Special Screening and Sandro Bondi, Italy's Culture Minister, boycotted Cannes on the grounds that Draquila was a "propaganda" film which insulted Italians and damaged Italy's image abroad. The film received a sustained standing ovation from the audience at Cannes. The film also did very well with Italian audiences last year in Italy.

The Washington, DC Italian Language Meetup Group will screen the film on Sunday, March 13th at 4:00pm at the Letelier Theater in Georgetown. Tickets purchased in advance are $8.00 with an RSVP here: http://www.meetup.com/italiano/events/16569476/ Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $10.00 (cash only).

Meet and Greet Networking and Member Recruitment with the National Organization of Italian American Women

Earlier in the month, Ciaodc.com announced this event via our monthly calendar. The DC Region NOIAW event is next Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 6:30-8:30pm at the NIAF building located at 1860 19TH ST NW, Washington, DC.

I am on the DC Region Council of NOIAW and wanted to provide some more details and a subtle reminder for our Meet and Greet. NOIAW is a national organization founded in 1980 in New York City to create a national network to support the educational and professional aspirations of its members. Over 30 years later, we are still the only national membership organization for American women of Italian ancestry. We provide mentoring, scholarships, a cultural exchange program, as well as networking opportunities throughout the year. The Greater Washington, DC chapter of NOIAW launched in the winter of 2008 to bring these advantages closer to the members residing in the DC area.

NOIAW DC invites you to take this opportunity to network with other professionals interested in learning more about their heritage and to discover the benefits of belonging to our organization. Come to our Meet and Greet Reception for an evening of new friends and fun. Light refreshments will be served.

Of course, all are welcome to join us at the event, it is open to people of all backgrounds, including men. We ask that if you are interested in attending that you please RSVP by February 21, 2011

For more information on NOIAW, visit our website www.noiaw.org
Like NOIAW DC on facebook

Festa di Carnevale - DC Style

There are several stories about the origins of the Venetian Carnevale, but many agree that it is a celebration in which Christians gorged themselves on indulgent foods in order to rid their cupboards of fare containing sugar and animal fats. This was done in preparation for the Christian Lenten Season when there was, and continues to be, different fasting practices as a sacrifice to God. Of course, we are able to recognize these traditions in other similar celebrations across the globe, including the very famous Mardi Gras and Brazilian Carnaval.

Like many other Christian celebrations, the festival is also thought to have pre-Christian roots. Customs from the ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Baccanalia may have been incorporated. As any other celebration that has been passed down through the ages and traveled across continents, you will likely evidence new transformations of these practices as people adapt them to their modern lives.

This Saturday, join several of the DC area's most prominent Italian language and culture groups to celebrate Festa Di Carnevale, DC style. Come see how this centuries old observance is being reshaped in one of the most international parts of the United States.

Festa di Carnevale is a costume party that will feature prizes for the best dressed! Entrance to the affair is a suggested donation of 15 dollars which includes light refreshments and a drink ticket. Also, enter for a chance to win two tickets to Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Washington National Opera!

The masquerade will be held at the Friendship Heights Community Center, this Saturday, February 19th from 7PM - 11:30 PM. See the inset flyer for all the details.

We encourage CiaoDC viewers who attend the event to come back and comment on the blog post to let us know your thoughts. Also, as I am not an expert in Medieval history, feel free to share with me and other CiaoDC readers any information that you would like to add about the origins of the Venetian Carnevale. Grazie.

Link to some of the sponsoring organizations below for more information.

Italian Cultural Society of Washington, DC

Italians in DC

Piazza Italia

The Washington, DC Italian Language Meet-up Group

Valentine's Day Restaurant Specials

On Thursday, we gave you a bunch of ideas for Valentine's Day. Here is an update on more DC area restaurants that are featuring special menus for the special day.

A La Lucia - 3 Course dinner for 31.95

Assaggi Mozzarella Bar - Special a la carte menu

Assaggi Osteria - Special A la Carte menu

Bibiana - 4 Course Pre Fix Meal for $85.00

La Tomate - Pre Fixe Meal for $42.00

Ristorante Piccolo - 4 Course Pre Fixe Meal for $60.oo

Teatro Goldini - 3 course Pre Fixe Meal for $55.00

There are also some great Italian Restaurants in the Baltimore are offering specials.

Aida Bistro - 4 course Pre Fixe meal for $59.00

Cafe Troia Restaurant - Special A la carte menu, including heart-shaped seafood ravioli

Luna Blu Restaurant - 4 course Pre Fixe meal for $50.00

One Milan - 5 course Pre Fixe Meal for $75.00

If you are looking for some place that is more low-key to enjoy a dinner with friends, or a not too serious date, stop by Piola, which will feature complimentary strawberries dipped in chocolate and half-price bottles of wine, as they do every Monday.

For those of you who want to avoid any awkward Valentine's Day debacle, check out some of these great events with a date later in the week.

Thursday, February 17th - Italian Inspiration: An Evening with Chef Mike Isabella at Boffi Georgetown, presented by the American Institute of Food and Wine

Also on Thursday, February 17th, Assaggi Osteria will feature An Essential Wine and Food Experience for a Fun Filled Evening Exploring the Art of Food and Wine Pairing.

CiaoDC's 2011 Local Lovers Guide

Get ready for Valentine's Day with CiaoDC's Lover's Guide (local suggestions for amore xoxo). Check out dining options, Italian films, staycation ideas and more here.

Love, Masquerades, and Gondolas. Oh My!

CiaoDC's Italian cupid is on the loose to the best events in town: Catch a Taste of Cafe Italia mid month at the National Gallery of Art prepared by Chef Fabio Trabocchi. He's returning to the Nation's Capital to open Penn Quarter's highly anticipated restaurant Fiola - buon appetito! CiaoDC will be getting a taste of Trabocchi's Cafe Italia on Feb 20 with a live chat possibly scheduled this month.


Foolery and fantasy as always with Faction of Fools and their many celebrations of Commedia Dell'arte Day on February 25. CiaoDC will go behind the scenes live at one of their rehearsals and we're taking you with us! In the mood for some masked fun in the meantime? Check out our conversation with the fools here and get discounted tickets to their Gala Carnevale. As a subscriber, you get a 33% discount - now, that's amore!

Gondola rides and everything depicting Venice will launch on Feb 20 at the National Gallery of Art with the month long exhibit of Canaletto and His Rivals. CiaoDC will have a sneak peak for all on Feb 17th - stay tuned!

Plus, we're feeling love, love, love from our sweetheart tenor, Elio Scaccio in a CiaoDC interview about his valentine, the love letters behind his latest cd-release, Lettere D'Amore and where to eat in Little Italy xoxo. For your listening pleasure soon.

Need ideas for Valentine's Day Weekend - CiaoDC has just the perfect Italian love guide here! You can fantasize being in Italy in the meantime here.

Looking ahead for National Women's Month in March, we're chatting with Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, Anita McBride on Friday, February 11 at 9:30 a.m. on facebook.