Win Two Tickets to Sons of Italy Gala

Refer two friends as subscribers to CiaoDC.com by Sunday, May 9 and be eligible to win two tickets to the Sons of Italy's 22nd Annual National Education Leadership Awards Gala (NELA) featuring Master of Ceremonies award-winning actor, Joe Mantegna and 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service honoree, Bill Clinton on May 26 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. Winner will be selected here on CiaoDC.com's blog on Monday, May 10. Go ahead and enter for Mom too! Email marketing@ciaodc.com to enter to win!

CiaoDC! May Interview: Go behind the scenes of the Godfather, Criminal Minds and The Simpsons with actor Joe Mantegna in an exclusive CiaoDC.com interview here.

"Coppola did not glorify this world, if anything he horrified it...You don't embrace Michael Corleone, you embrace Al Pacino."

- Joe Mantegna

CiaoDC's Mother's Day Dining & Lounging Guide here.

Jovanotti at the 9:30 Club tonight!

Italy's number one recording artist, Jovanotti will perform at the 9:30 Club tonight at 7:00 p.m. promoting his latest cd release, OYeah. This Tuscan singer-songwriter/rapper will rock you to the hills of Toscana,Italy and back! Don't miss this rare performance. And if you go, send us a comment about it. Tickets here.

Tips on Italian Wines with DC Wine Guru

Join the live chat on Italian wines and the perfect spring cocktail with Charlie Adler, founder of TasteDC and author of I Drink on the Job. Join the CiaoDC.com facebook discussion now! Still thirsty for more tips from Charlie? Meet him at the CiaoDC.com reception tomorrow at Luigis from 6-8. More info here. Salute!

Wine and Music This Week!

Several events happening this week that didn't make it into our E-news for the month.

Wednesday, April 21st: 2 wine events
6-8pm: The Best of Piedmont and Tuscany
Cork Wine Bar - Giuseppe Vajra of GD Vajra and Roberto Stucchi-Prinetti will be there to talk about their winemaking and instruct a tasting on newly released vintages of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Barolo, Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Reserva.
Cost: FREE!
RSVP: info@corkdc.com

7-10pm: Cantina Del Pino Wine Dinner
Liberty Tavern (Clarendon) - Executive Chef, Liam LaCivita, and Northside Social's General Manager and Wine Director, Alison Christ, are hosting a special, 5-course wine dinner Wednesday night with Renato Vacca of Cantina Del Pino. Cantina Del Pino is located in Barbaresco, Italy and Mr. Vacca is flying in from Italy especially for this dinner.
Cost: $80/person
RSVP: Call Liberty at 703-465-9360 and make sure you mention your reservation is for the wine dinner. This event is limited to 20 seats!

Friday, April 23rd
6:30pm: Italian Cultural Institute Violin and Piano Concert featuring Francis Duroy and Alessandro Magnasco
Embassy of Italy - the talented duo will perform a selection of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Sarasate, and Schumann.
More information and RSVP

Sunday, April 25th
3:00pm: Meet Italian Winemaker from Dal Maso Winery in the Veneto!
Cork Wine Bar - Reserve a spot to taste the Dal Maso portfolio of wines. Beautiful crisp whites and reds from indigenous varietals, plus fresh Sauvignon Blanc and bold Cabernet. Nicola Dal Maso will discuss the entire portfolio and taste 6 of their diverse and terroir driven wines.
Cost: $40
RSVP: info@corkdc.com

Lecture & Tasting Reception Wednesday!

Join CiaoDC.com and the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW)for a lecture and tasting reception on Food, Family, Culture: An Italian American Woman's Culinary Journey on Wednesday, April 21 from 6-8 at Luigis. It's FREE! Plus, win exciting prizes simply for coming: Door Prize #1:$100 gift certificate to Luigis; Door Prize #2: Private Cooking Class with Chef Carmine Marzano and Deborah Marzano; Door Prize #3: Signed copy of Cooking with Carmine DVD! Winners will be selected on Wednesday at Luigis. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! Event info and RSVP here.

Ci vediamo a Luigis!

Free Events, Giveaways and Everything Italian!

Faction of Fools' House with Two Doors promises a laugh-out-loud, feel-good production by a well choreographed and talented cast of Commedia dell'Arte characters live at the first annual WATTAGE, Capital Fringe Festival's new spring performance series, through Sunday, May 9.

Appropriately staged in the old AV Italian Restaurant on New York Ave, 'House' invites audiences to take a light hearted stroll through Naples where a beautiful runaway and a mysterious foreigner chance to meet by night in the streets of Naples, transforming a cloak-and-dagger intrigue into a Renaissance bedroom farce complete with masks, swordplay, mistaken identity, and laughs for the whole family. The love-strucken Spainard, Luzio (Lover Boy) played by Graham Pilato, is hysterically loveable guiding the audience with Pulcinella (Denise Perrino) through 'this strange town' of Naples. Costume Designer, Lynly Saunders and Mask Designer, Antonio Fava (founder and director of the International School of the Comic Actor in Reggio-Emilia, Italy) beautifully match the players to their 17th Century garb. All of the 'Fools', masked and unmasked, men and women (or was that a man?) are a delight to watch.


The Faction of Fools Theatre Company, Inc -- DC's only theatre company devoted specifically to Commedia dell'Arte -- and its Founder, Matt Wilson should be applauded for their vision and enthusiasm to showcase such classic theatre right here in our Nation's Capital.

Faction of Fools' The House with Two Doors runs for 18 performances from April 15 thru May 9 at The Shop @Fort Fringe, 607 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001. Suitable for Ages 8 and up. Tickets are $20 and are available at 866-811-4111 or here. Be CiaoDC.com's guest for a FREE performance on Saturday, April 17, 5 pm compliments of Faction of Fools Theatre Company. Limited Space Available. Spend this Saturday evening in bella Napoli with our local Commedia Dell'Arte 'Fools. RSVP to monica@capitalfringe.org for your FREE ticket!

More giveaways when you RSVP for Food, Family, Culture: An Italian American Women's Culinary Journey. Hosted by CiaoDC.com and NOIAW
Prize #1. $100 Gift Certificate to Luigis
Prize #2: Private Cooking Class with Chef Carmine Marzano and Deborah Marzano
Prize #3: Cooking with Carmine DVD signed by Chef Carmine

More about the event here. Space is limited, so hurry and RSVP!

Spring Fever at Luigis Giveaway

RSVP for Family Food Culture: An Italian American Women's Culinary Journey on Wednesday, April 21 from 6-8 at Luigis, and be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Famous Luigis!

This special reception will feature a speaking engagement and Q&A session by Luigis Owner, Restaurateur Deborah Marzano; chef demonstration by Chef Carmine Marzano; tasting reception; networking; door prizes and more!

Hosted by the National Organization of Italian American Women of the Greater Washington, DC Region (NOIAW) and CiaoDC.com. FREE. Limited Space Available. RSVP by April 18 to noiaw@noiaw.org. Luigis, 1192 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Spring Fever at Luigis Giveaway will be awarded to one lucky winner on April 21 at Luigis. Must be present to win!

Ci Vediamo a Luigis!

READ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RESTAURATEUR, DEBORAH MARZANO HERE.