Love, Italian Style

If you're looking for a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day, click on the title of this post to see CiaoDC's recommended Italian restaurants and their special Valentine's Day menus. It's the least we can do to help you all find amore.

Scapino. Not Your Nonna's Naples!

This is not your Nonna's Naples, Italy! Scapino, now playing at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA), promises a few hours of trickery, choreographed "Wierd Al" Yankovic-esque Italian melodies and fine acting from a few local Italian American thespians Ron Bianci, Paul Laudiero and Joe Randazzo. Rick Hayes, Director of LTA's 2008 production of Eduardo de Filippo's Saturday Sunday Monday, brings its second Italian-themed production with an about face of spaghetti silliness, misers, gypsies, chase scenes, mistaken identities and more! Occasional Italian arias and family vendettas will bring a glimpse of nostalgia to the Italian-American theatre-goer. But to ensure a real Italian experience, grab a bite of pre-theatre fare at Landini Brothers (King and Lee)or Geranios (King and Columbus) in charming Old Town, Alexandria. For a quick post-theatre fix, order the cappuccino at Mishas (Patrick & King). Enjoy at your own risk and buon appetito!

2010 NEW YEAR GIFT WINNERS

Congratulations to three lucky winners of the CiaoDC.com and Giada Valenti 2010 New Year Give Away! The Winners and their 'oh so Italian' New Year's Resolutions are Margie Luckhardt; Sandra Licata Blood; and Andrea Colella. They promise to spend 2010 celebrating all things Italian...

Margie resolves to see a concert with Giada Valenti and Patrizio Buanne -- two of her favorite singers.

Sandra resolves to go to the Italian Festival in Tampa, Florida in March 2010 and listen to lots of Italian CD's.

Andrea resolves to making her Grandmother Martello's Rice Pie for Easter for family and friends.

Grazie e Buon'Anno! Stay tuned for next month's giveaway.

Valentine's Day Raffle for Trip to Italy at Cafe' Milano

In case anyone's already moved on from Restaurant Week and started thinking about Valentine's Day reservations, click on the title of this blog post to see Cafe' Milano's special Valentine's Day menu.

They're offering a $65/person 4-course fixed price menu. And if you dine there on February 12th, 13th or 14th, you'll be entered in a raffle for two round trip tickets to Italy. What's not to love?

Happy New Year Gift from CiaoDC.com and GIada Valenti!

Happy New Year from CiaoDC.com and singer-songwriter, Giada Valenti! To ensure a year of prosperity --while celebrating all things Italian, CiaoDC.com and Giada would like to give subscribers a gift: A signed copy of Giada Valenti's latest cd release, And I Love You. Simply enter anything Italian you plan to do in 2010, and be the first of 5 to win! Winners will be selected on January 15th listed in ciaodc.com's blog. Enter to win here. Plus, read behind the music of Giada Valenti with a ciaodc.com exclusive interview here.