A true extravaganza! The Children's Italian Book Fair was an incredible success, highlighting the fact Italians love beautiful works of art, as many of the books were just that - bellissimi.
Elisabetta Ponti of Marin Italians organized the entire affair, working and sourcing diligently with some of the newest Italian publishers of children's literature. Nearly 200 Italians from all around the Bay Area came to Book Passage in Corte Madera to participate in this unprecedented event - a confirmation that local Italian parents are striving to enrich and embrace their children's linguistic education.
The event was also attended by local schools. Rosella Pusateri of Girotondo Update Italian School helped with organizing the material at the store and Sara Chamberlain of Parliamo Italiano! read Italian books to children. The Italian story time was a great success. Kids had fun listening to "Al supermercato degli animali " by Topipittori, the most sold book at the fair.
Do you know that you can take a ride on an authentic gondola in Oakland? Gondola Servizio offers gondola tours on Lake Merritt seven days a week on a reservation basis. Full details about our operations and pricing are listed here .
Lake Merritt's location is picturesque, with panoramic views of Oakland’s exciting urban cityscape and the beautiful Oakland hills. You will enjoy viewing the flocks of migratory waterfowl. For evening rides your experience will be illuminated with the necklace of lights that encircles the lake.
April Quinn and Angelino Sandri, proprietors of Gondola Servizio, began sharing the romantic experience of the Venetian gondola by providing authentic gondola rides, complete with Italian melodies, skilled gondoliers, and lovely scenery at the Lake Merritt location in Oakland, California. In 2004 they were blessed with their daughter, Beatrice, and in 2005 they added a second location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Please call toll free for advanced reservations — 866 SERVIZIO or (866) 737-8494
Gondola Servizio
568 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
Ottava Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo 20-26 ottobre 2008
L'italiano in piazza
Now in its eighth year, Italian Language Week aims to promote the Italian language and is celebrated by 90 Italian Cultural Institutes worldwide. This year’s theme is Italian language and the Piazza.
All events comprised in the 8th Annual Italian Language Week are organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Accademia della Crusca, Istituto Italiano di Cultura of San Francisco, and the Consulate General of Italy of San Francisco, with the support of the Presidency of the Italian Republic and in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institutes of Chicago and Los Angeles, COM.IT.ES, San Francisco, and Rizzoli.
if you want to read more (in Italian) about this topic.
Parliamo Italiano! is offering an Italian Movie Night for kids on October 25, 2008 from 5 to 9pm. They will show the movie Madacascar and have activities available for the rest of the night.
Activities are developmentally appropriate for your child age and they will include:
- board and educational games
- arts and crafts
- puppets
- story telling
A balanced organic dinner we’ll be served.
Cost: $30 per child. If you have two kids is $50
RSVP at
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by October 20th with the number and age of children attending.
As a special event during the 8th Annual Italian Language Week, writer Beppe Severgnini will give a world premiere presentation of his latest book Italians - Il giro del mondo in 80 pizze. The book is about Severgnini’s on-line forum Italians, which is now celebrating its tenth year, and will be published in Italian by Rizzoli in November.
San Francisco was chosen for the world premiere because, alongside London, it is where the largest number of Italian forum members live, study and work.
October 21, 2008 at 6:30pm
Golden Gate Room, Fort Mason, San Francisco
Come join us for this month's social mixer.
Meet and network with local Italian expats and culture lovers at Ristorante Frantoio in Mill Valley. www.frantoio.com
Sunday, October 26, 2008
6:00 — 10:00pm
6 pm - meet in bar area for drinks to mingle and get to know each other
7:30 pm - (approx) we will move to the large dining room area for dinner
Marin Italians is a group of Italians in the San Francisco Bay Area who
meet regularly to promote Italian language, culture, businesses and
activities. Events are focused on Marin County and North Bay.
Our Members meet on a regular basis for outings, conversation practice,
social events, playdates and announce interesting
educational opportunities.
Do you know that you can take a ride on an authentic gondola in Oakland?
Parliamo Italiano! is offering an Italian Movie Night for kids on 
As a special event during the 8th Annual Italian Language Week, writer Beppe Severgnini will give a world premiere presentation of his latest book Italians - Il giro del mondo in 80 pizze. The book is about Severgnini’s on-line forum Italians, which is now celebrating its tenth year, and will be published in Italian by Rizzoli in November.
Come join us for this month's social mixer.
