Italy Under the Stars

October 5, 2013 (Saturday) at 6:30 pm

At Marketplace Restaurant

651 South Fourth Street

$125 per person – Click here to reserve your tickets

Co-chairs Mary Ann Thoren and Marilynn Hettich

 Plan to attend our annual fundraiser at the exciting new Fourth Street venue. Marketplace Restaurant provides a wonderful party atmosphere and the talented and innovative fusion Chef Dallas McGarity. The $125 tickets for Italy Under the Stars include fine wines and an authentic Italian feast plus the ever popular silent auction with such tempting treasures as fine wines, restaurant packages and many vacation choices.

Proceeds support annual programming and the annual Scholarship/Grant Initiative.

Help make ICI fundraiser special

Volunteers needed for Italy Under the Stars auction committee

Note from co-chairs Mary Ann Thoren and Marilynn Hettich:

We need your energy and creativity in acquiring donations of wines, restaurant certificates and vacation opportunities for the silent auction. We could also use other wine-food-travel themed items such as Italian cookbooks and food baskets. We will be glad to arrange a pickup or drop-off. And remember, all proceeds of the auction benefit annual programming and the ICI Grant/Scholarship initiative.

Contact Marilynn Hettich at mer893@bellsouth.net or 893-9586 for more information.

Tip for learning more about Italian culture…

If you dream of a vacation with a morning of cooking or a week learning cooking and living as a Tuscan, Gina Stipo and her Ecco La Cucina cooking school can help you gain that experience and you will come away with new skills and beautiful memories.

ICI members were first introduced to this personable celebrity cook when Gina traveled to Louisville to cook an authentic Tuscan Palio feast for the 2009 Sienna under the Stars fund raiser.

You can experience Gina’s Ecco La Cucina Italian cooking school that offers hands-on cooking classes near Siena inTuscany. You will be able to choose from a single day Tuscan cooking class, multiple days cooking classes or a weeklong culinary vacation tour – each will provide you with insights to this beautiful, rich culture.

Her classes are small, intimate hands-on cooking lessons designed to let you hone your skills and learn new recipes and techniques. True to the Italian way of eating, the meals prepared will focus on fresh seasonal produce and quality local ingredients. Experiencing Tuscany through its food and wines allows you to truly understand the rhythm of Italian life.

Click here to read more.

ICI’s “Italy in Film” Series Kicks off with “Habemus papam” (We Have a Pope!)

In celebration of the election of a new pope, the Italian Cultural Institute of Louisville kicks off its “Italy in Film” series with the award-winning comedy-drama “Habemus papam” (2011) which gives an “inside look” of the election of a pope with an interesting ending.

This popular annual film series, this year in Italian with English subtitles, portrays contemporary Italian life on four consecutive Wednesday evenings in March and April at the Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville, with convenient fee required parking at the Speed Parking Garage.

 Each presentation includes a 6:30 p.m. reception of dolci and Heine Brothers Coffee followed at 7 p.m. by a brief presentation of the films and then the screenings. The film series is free and open to the public.

March 20 - Habemus papam (We Have a Pope), directed and acted by Nanni Moretti (2011) with co-stars Michael Piccoli and Jerzy Stuhr for an “inside look” of the election of a pope, with an interesting ending.

March 27 – “La strada” (1954) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign movie. Federico Fellini draws on his early circus background for this 1954 classic about a girl’s life with a traveling showman named Zampanò. Stars Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart and Giulietta Masina.

 April 3 – “Io, loro e Lara” (I, They and Lara.) (2009)Top winner of many Italian film awards for 2009. Carlo Verdone directs and acts in this wacky comedy about a disillusioned Italian missionary who has a life-changing experience with a young chanteuse when returning to Rome after a spiritual crisis during his African mission. Also stars Anna Bonaiuto, Angela Finocchiaro, Marco Giallini and Laura Chiatti.

April 10 – “Baciami ancora” (Kiss Me Again.) (2010) Gabriele Muccino directs and acts in this romantic comedy that traces with quick scene changes the breathless anxiety of four 30 something male friends facing the challenges of adulthood and impending fatherhood. It also stars Stefano Accorsi, Claudio Santamaria, Pierfrancesco Favino, Vittoria Puccini and Giorgio Pasotti. This is a sequel to the popular “Last Kiss” which originally introduced this foursome in their 20s.

ICI’s “Italy in Film” Series (PAST EVENT)

Join us for another wonderful “Italy in Film” series focusing on the social and individual portrayals in contemporary Italian films with English subtitles. You will see four different views of Italian life on consecutive Wednesday evenings in March and April at the Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville, with convenient parking at the Speed (fee) Parking Garage.

                   March 20 –  “Una gionata particolare” (a Special Day)

                   March 27 –  “La Strada” (The Road)

                   April 3      –  “Io, loro e Lara” (Me, Them and Lara)

                   April 10    –  “Baciami ancora” (Kiss Me Again)

Each presentation includes a 6:30 p.m. reception of dolci and Heine Brothers Coffee followed at 7 p.m. by commentary and the screening of the feature film. The film series is free and open to the public.

March 20 – “Una giornata particolare” (A Special Day)

A very traditional, naïve housewife (Sophia Loren) and a neighbor (Marcello Mastroianni ) are the only ones in the tenement not going to the celebration in Rome in 1938 for the first meeting between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. John Vernon plays the husband with strong fascist views.

Ettore Scola directed this film that won many 1978 international acting and best film awards plus it was nominated for Oscars in Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor categories.

Many thanks to Heine Brothers Coffee for their continuous support of the “Italy in Film” series!

“The Other Italy” Lecture Series and Wine Tasting

“Sicily” February 24,

“Umbria,” March 3

 4:00 PM

Hilary’s in Horrigan Hall, Bellarmine University

$15 members, $20 guests per date

Reserve your spot by calling 502.938.8830 or by clicking here for February 24 or here for March 3.

With the publication of Frances Mayes’ best-seller Under the Tuscan Sun, America’s love affair with Tuscany began.  The influx of American tourists was such that Italian journalists were led to write about the “Disneyfication” of Tuscany, as other beautiful and interesting regions of Italy were virtually overlooked in the rush to re-live the experiences so vividly described in Mayes’ book.

But there is another Italy, and in its upcoming lecture series, “The Other Italy”  ICI looks to pique the curiosity of travelers, and encourage a look at some lesser-known  Italian sites.  Speakers will discuss cultural, historical and geographic characteristics of each region, and will offer travel and shopping tips as well.  John Johnson, owner of the Wine Rack on Frankfort Avenue, will follow up with a discussion and tasting  of  4 regional wines, along with paired cheeses selected by Will Eaves of Lots Pasta.   Each session will end with a question and answer period, and event organizers hope small travel discussion groups may emerge from these lectures.

The series will kick off   on February 24, with a lecture by veteran travelers Martha and Peter Hasselbacher.   Martha is a retired attorney, whose near-photographic memory promises to result in an informative and engaging talk, enhanced  by the professional quality images taken by her husband Peter, a retired physician with a passion for photography.

John has selected the following Sicilian wines for  February 24^th :

Centonze Grillo

Centonze Nero d’Avola

Consumano Nero d’Avola

Terre Nere Etna Rosso

Reserve soon, as attendance at each event is limited to 50.