CiaoDC Chat with Host of "Dream of Italy" on PBS!

CiaoDC recently chatted with Kathy McCabe, the Executive Producer and Host of PBS' Dream of Italy travel series and Editor and Publisher of Dream of Italy magazine.  Tune into our latest interview as Kathy discusses her Italian heritage, visits to the country, and her work on Dream of Italy.  Listen here to listen to the full CiaoDC Chat or visit dreamofitaly.com to learn more!

Bella Italia Market - Vendor List

The much-anticipated Bella Italia Market at Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center is happening this weekend, December 1st and 2nd. The market will serve as a great venue for Christmas shopping, with Italian goods, food, and more!  See a list of some of the market's vendors below:

Dolci Gelati, cheese & ice cream

Appian Market, handcrafted accessories, shoes

Barboursville Vineyards, wine

Franca Bartoli, fashion designer

Batistini Farms, olive oil & more

Beretta USA Corp., sport fashions & leather accessories

Calligaris, home decor

Giancarlo Chiancone, art

Daminano Durante, art and portraits

Ferrante Fotography, photo art

Illy Coffee, espresso & more

The Italian Store, specialty foods & more

LA MOTO of Washington, D.C., Vespa motorcycles

Patricia & Franca, Italian treasures

Paolo Nascimbeni/Life in Italy, Deruta ceramics, wall art

Melitta Paterni, cashmere accessories

Davide Prete, sculpture & jewelry

Angela Puglisi, art

Giovanni Raspini, silver jewelry

Regina Grace Designs, novelty items

Regnum Siciliae Imports, Sicilian ceramics, bags, more

Amina Rubinacci USA Inc., upscale fashions

Santa Maria Novella USA, beauty products

Serafino Fine Italian Leather, leather accessories

Monica A. Tierney, books 

"Stars for Darfur" Event to Help Genocide Victims

Italians in DC is teaming up with Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) to raise  money for Sudanese genocide survivors in honor of International Human Rights Day.   All proceeds will benefit humanitarian crisis relief. "Stars for Darfur" will feature Italian and Sudanese musicians and an auction for handmade crafts made by women in Darfur.  The event will be held at Tenley Bar & Grill in D.C. and will begin at 5pm on December 8th.  Tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door. For more information, contact program@darfurwomenaction.

CiaoDC Chats with Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich on her new Memoir and PBS Special!

CiaoDC Publisher and Host, Alyssa Ciccone chats with Emmy-Award winning Chef/Author Lidia Giuliana Mattichio Bastianich.  Lidia discusses her struggle as an immigrant, her journey of building an Italian food empire, the importance of the family, the sacredness of the dinner table, and, finally, rediscovering America through food!  For full podcast, listen here.

PBS Special: Lidia Celebrates America , A Heartland Holiday Feast will debut on December 18th on PBS. For more information click here.  Her new memoir, My American Dream, A Life of Love, Family and Food is in bookstores now!  See more information here.

"Being Italian is all about family....and the dinner table is a very special place."
-Lidia Bastianich 

"Che Vuoi Che Sia" Film Viewing at Casa Italiana

Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center is hosting a viewing of the Italian film Che Vuoi Che Sia (What's the Big Deal).

The comedy, directed by Edoardo Leo, follows a young Milanese couple, Anna and Claudio, struggling with the decision to start a family.  The pair decides to wait until they are more financially sound and, in the meantime, Claudio launches an online fundraising page to raise money to launch a web business.  One drunk night, Anna and Claudio post on the page, suggesting that visitors pay in exchange for a clip of their sex tape.   

See the movie on Sunday, December 9th at 3pm at Casa Italiana! 

Holiday Podcast: Dream of Italy PBS Host and Publisher, Kathy McCabe Chats with CiaoDC!

TV Host and Publisher of Dream of Italy, Kathy McCabe chats with CiaoDC on her amazing journey to Italy, her beloved Italian mom and travel partner and her special moment with Film Producer, Francis Ford Coppola in Basilicata.  You'll want to curl up to a warm cappuccino and homemade biscotti for this one!  Listen here for our holiday podcast.

"Bella Italia Market" at Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center!

Visit the Bella Italia Market just in time for holiday shopping! On December 1st and 2nd, Casa Italiana in D.C. will be hosting a market featuring Italian products, gifts, and services.  Admission is free.  See times below:

December 1st: 10-6

(Designer Fashion Show at 4pm)

December 2nd: 10-5

For more information, visit casaitalianacenter.org.

Books Need Love, Too! Author Meet and Greet and CiaoDC Chat!

CiaoDC chats with author, Monica Tierney on her love of books; how being Italian inspired her as an author and educator; and on her latest picture book, Books Need Love Too!  Listen here for the full CiaoDC podcast.  


Meet and Greet Monica, enjoy book signing and learn about the Reggio Emilia Approach to learning at the Bell'Italia market at Casa Italian Sociocultural Center in Washington, DC on December 1-2. 

"Fall in Tuscany" 4-Course Dinner at San Lorenzo Restaurant

San Lorenzo Restaurant, located in the heart of D.C.'s trendy Shaw Neighborhood, is paying homage to Fall in Tuscany with a decadent four-course dinner on Sunday, November 18th.  The event will include Tuscan appetizers, a first and second course featuring choices of pasta, meat, and fish, and sweet desserts to finish.  Visit their website at sanlorenzodc.com to see the menu in full. 

Reserve now at http://bit.ly/SLreserve or call (202) 588-8954 to book seats at the bar.

La Notte della Taranta at the Italian Embassy

The Italian Embassy's Italian Cultural Institute is hosting a night dedicated to pizzica on Thursday, November 15th at 6:00pm! 

Pizzica is the name of a traditional dance from the Salento region that originated from an Italian legend.  The story warned against venomous tarantula bites, claiming that the only way to shake spider poison out of your body was to dance.  Thus, pizzica (Italian for "bite"), came to life.  

The Embassy's event will honor the Third Week of Italian Cuisine in the World by inviting the Italian foundation La Notte della Taranta to perform. The show will also feature a tasting of wine and food from Puglia.   

Click here for more information and to RSVP. 

Published by Maria Regina, Contributing Editor

Faction of Fools Theatre Company Presents Henry V

Faction of Fools Theatre Company, D.C.'s commedia dell'arte troupe, is kicking off their 10th anniversary season with William Shakespeare's Henry V.  Performances are running now until November 11th at Gallaudet University's Elstad Auditorium.

Paul Reisman directs this fresh, humorous take on a timeless Shakespearean tragedy.  Visit factionoffools.org for details and tickets.

Casa Italiana Hosts Italian Cooking Class with Amy Riolo

Casa Italiana Language School in D.C. is offering cooking classes with Italian American chef Amy Riolo.  These participatory classes introduce students to good food and good wine while covering various Italian dishes, both classic and modern.  

Each class focuses on three recipes.  Students will take part in the entire cooking process, including dining on their creations at the end! Classes are on Thursdays from 6:00-9:00pm, $80 per person, per lesson. Upcoming classes are November 29th and December 13th.

Learn more about the event and register here!

NOIAW Hosts "Creating a Cookbook" with Amy Riolo

The National Organization of Italian American Women presents a cookbook-creation class led by chef, author, and television personality Amy Riolo.  This class will teach students how to write cookbooks for various purposes, from preserving family recipes to publishing a bestseller.  Amy Riolo will also discuss building a platform as a writer, submitting proposals, finding your niche, marketing and promoting, and more! 

The event will be held on Tuesday, December 4th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in Washington, DC. Tickets are $10 for NOIAW members and $15 for non-members.  RSVP here for more details  and for class location.