Vintage selection at Leopolda Station in Florence

Like every year at the Leopolda station there is the Vintage fair. I like a lot vintage clothing that’s why I never miss these opportunity to browse, even if this year the fair is smaller. I went to visit the genius guys from Officina Vintage. They are enthusiastic about that; they decided to open their third shop in town!

In the middle of their stand, a series of old and famous sunglasses like the Persol, wore by Steve McQueen and Mastroianni; they have a very impressive collection of old Burberry, as well.
The nicest area of the fair is in a hidden corner of this amazing building. Revised clothing’s, mixed pieces and colors, chairs made with various kind of materials and a nice bookstore with fashion magazines.
I also realized that while I was walking through the different stands, there was the Angel’s bar, the one in via del Proconsolo where you can drink something. And if fact I did, it was aperitif time, by the way!
Nice music, not so loud, amazing setting and a very interesting atmosphere.
The organization has improved a lot from last year: the hours are longer, until 10pm and a bar where you can taste something and spend a different afternoon by yourself or with a friend.
Entrance costs just 5 euros.

Aperitivo at Bio Bistrot

Tonight at the bio-bistrot there is famous Bio aperitif without additives and very wealthy. Vegetarian buffet with spelt, kamut, crepes made with beer, sauces, ragout, and vegetable strudel and so on.

Everything is accompanied by organic beers and cocktail without alcohol.
http://www.biobistrot.it

Vintage Selection fair in Florence

Vintage fair is coming back in Florence from wednesday, January the 28th.

As last year I will go to see (and maybe to buy) all the vintage clothes, shoes, bags, accessories. It's very funny to see all that old stuff gathered together! But if you are lucky you can find an original Gucci bag from the 50s!!
You can visit also Oliviero Toscani's exhibition "Workwear" in the same building: Stazione Leopolda (Viale Fratelli Rosselli).

Vintage Selection
from January, the 28th to February, the 1st.
Opening hours: from 10 am to 10 pm.
Read my post about Vintage Selection 2008

Trattoria I Ricchi

This is another review from the gourmet, Sabino.

He decided to follow some friends and to go back to restaurant I Ricchi in Cercina, only few miles from Florence on the beautiful Florentine hills. Please note that this restaurant has nothing to do with the “I RICCHI”, in Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence (ndr).

This restaurant is a very typical trattoria with an overlooking view on the Arno valley and the Santa Croce church. We started with an antipasto following the tradition, cut meats (ham and salami), Tuscan crostini and coccoli with stracchino cream cheese. The coccoli are something that you cannot miss if you come to Florence: only few restaurants got them. In short: it is a special pastry, like the one we use to do the bread and the pizza, fried in hot olive oil. Impossible to dislike!

A first dish with ravioli with butter and sage and then a typical fried dish: rabbit, chicken but above all fried brain, outstanding!, some side dishes and of course, the dessert, a very good cheese cake!
Wine: Solaia del 2000 and Romitorio di santedame 2000.
Appetizers and first dishes do not cost more than € 7, 00, the fried dish between 9-11 Euros and other second dishes about € 15, 00, such as the T-bone steak!

I RICCHI. Via Docciola, 14 - Sesto Fiorentino - Cercina - 055 402045

I've been here once during the summer: the terrace is fantastic for having a relaxing, open air dinner!

BEAT , Aperitif in Pontedera

If you are in the Pisa area, you cannot miss an aperitif in the centre of Pontedera, a half medium sized town only 20 min from the more famous Pisa. Pontedera is known for the Piaggio industry (the metical Vespa motor scooter) and because it the birth place of Andrea Bocelli.

Saturday night I was in Pontedera just in time for an aperitif. The place, beat is managed by a DJ of Tenax, the famous Florentine alternative disco. You cannot miss this place. It is located in the main street of Pontedera and even if there are other similar places, from this BEAT you can hear serious disco music coming out the BEAT. Flou blue lights, nice people.

The buffet was we thought an aperitif is: few sauces, finger foods, vegetables, crudités, salt pies and fruit. In fact at 8,30pm everybody disappears and go out for dinner.

It is not as in Florence when the aperitif is a substitute of the dinner. The staff here is very nice and polite. Cocktail for € 7, 00 but they also have a selection of wine. I had a Pinot Gris from Friuli but I forgot to write down the name!

Theatre for kids in Florence

Pimpa, a funny white dog with red polka-dots was born form the pencil of Francesco Tullio Altan. La Pimpa was born in 1975 and it was loved by a lot of Italian children.

Pimpa’s house is a house 2 meters for 2 and it is foam rubber covered by fabric. It can turn in itself, transforming into double scenery.
The show is for children between 3 and 7 and it is at the Cantiere Florida in Via Pisana on Sunday, Januray 25th at 4pm.
The entertainers will involve the children with the stories they are going to tell as well as for the puppets. The voices are the same of the one who dubbed the cartoon. Entrance € 7, 00 from 2pm to 5pm at 055 7135357 or email at cantiere.florida@elsinor.net
Bus: 6,26,27,80.

Viareggio Carnival 2009

Viareggio Carnival is 135 years old and is doubtless the most famous carnivalesque event in Italy, and one of the most important of Europe, recalling hundreds of thousand visitors from all over the world.

Huge paper maché floats and puppets will parade along the famous "viali a mare"( boulevard running beside the beach), down the sea promenades, offering a wide programme of entertainment and fun for children and adults. At least 800.000 people are awaited in Viareggio, on the Tuscan Coast.
You will admire huge floats and masquerades composed of paper maché elements (about 3 meters high). The parade will also include folkloristic bands and performers from all over the world. The biggest floats will carry about 200 people in costume, who will dance and throw confetti and candies.
The paper maché puppets satirise public and political figures, put on scene social issues, as well as the fairy-tales’ heroes.

Here are the days in February:
On Sundays (at 3.00 pm): 8, 15, 22
Mardi Gras: 24th at 2.45 pm
March, the 1st at 5.00 pm

Tickets for the Viareggio Carnival: 15 euro
Kids (under 10 years old): free entrance.

Viareggio is a city on the Tuscan Coast, not far from Lucca. It takes about 1 hour from Florence by train.
Foto di Bettola via Flickr

Danza in fiera, trade and show dance event in Florence

At Fortezza da Basso from 10th to 21st of February there will be "Danza in Fiera" the annual dance convention event.

Many booths of national and international Exhibitors, numerous Companies are taking part to the 2009 edition as usual. 7 stages, thousand of dancers, guest stars, and for the youngest an entire pavilion animated by Disney Channel to dance on the notes of Camp Rock, High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana. The most important dance competition in Italy is coming back: Expression 2009 is hosted on two big stages. For all the passionate is coming Musical Day 3, the big national competition dedicated to the musical world but also contest of hip hop, Latin American dances and much more

TICKETS
1 day 15 euro
4 days 25 euro
Free entrance: Children under 8 years, Disable people
Reduced ticket: Children 8/10 yearsi 10 euro
Opening hours: on thursday from 3.00 pm to 10.00 pm; on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.
see also the Youtube channel

Restaurant Valentines day in Florence

Looking for a a tuscan valentine? If you are searching for Tuscany valentines day restaurants here is your choice for valentine's day:

Serata speciale di S. Valentino 14th of February 2009

Pickled salmon, Burrata cheese and green apple mayonnaise
Black chickpeas soup and sea bass fillet with rosemary
Hand made tortelli stuffed with black cabbage, red mullet ragout

then, by choice
to make at the moment of reservation

Pigeon, red chicory and “Castagnaccio” - traditional Tuscan chestnuts pie with raisins and pine nuts
or
Stone-bass fillet in a crust of celeriac, celeriac purée, “Taggiasche” olives and “Pantelleria” capers sauce

As a dessert:
Dark chocolate cake with mousse of pears, crispy nuts wafer and raspberry sauce
Coffee and petits fours

90,00 euro per person
Wine not included

Ristorante Alle Murate
Via del Proconsolo 16/r
Tel. 055240618
silvia@allemurate.it
see some pictures here

Pitti fashion fair in Florence

Pitti Immagine, MAN 2009-2010

This is, nevertheless to say, the most important event in town. It happens twice a year and it brings into Florence, 17 million and 600,000 Euros! Despite the crisis the fair shows that the men fashion is not in crisis at all and in fact there were many made in Italy fashion houses, such as Laura Biagiotti, Furla Man, and a Japanese debut, Comme des garcons.
To synthesize the trends for next winter I should say the following:

Classic: Prince of Wales, cachemire, tartan, British, a very elegant man, fine and very chic, a modern dandy.
But at the same time, a technologic man, sporty-chic and a man, who loves colors, wearing down jackets, sneakers and boxer with very shining colors.
In short: a man has to wear something that is very comfortable in and even a polo sweater can be considered elegant if it is done with precious fabrics.

Not only fashion and glamour but also social activities:

Work, fashion, seduction: work wear. The Oliviero Toscani photo shows that put together work wear with haute couture clothing, playing with contaminations and social remarks.
Charity: the new brand whatever it takes which attended also the Florence Magazine party produces T-shirt with the Pink Panther and Tweety designed by some VIPs, such as David Bowie, George Clooney, and Gwen Stefani. They are sold for charity and they support poor country or such as Mason's which sells T-shirt to support the rebuilt of the Buddhist Monastery of Pomaia.

Last thing, Marvelous Italy: all the external arrangement took inspiration from the local little Italian village's festival.

Half marathon Florence Italy april 2009

Florence half marathon (Vivicittà Firenze Marathon april 2009): the running will be on April, the 19th. As every year it will start (and it will end) at Santa Croce square, after a panoramic faboulous path through the city of Florence.

When: Sunday, 19th of April 2009

What time: from 9.30 am. The whole circuit is supposed to be run in 2 hours and a half, after that time there won't be any guarantee to find roads without cars.

How long: km 21,097
How to register: pre-registration is required. For more info write to: vivicittà@mediauisp.it
There will be also the non-competitive running (12 km) and the one for the kids.
Price for participating: 5 euro.
Every 5 km there will a resting point for drinking and other needs.

Pitti parties Florence

Pitti Man Fashion Fair has arrived in Florence to brighten our dark January nights...

On tuesday I have been to Firenze Magazine Pitti party. It was great!
Live music, visual art and dancefloor dalliance in a spectacular location: the Palagio di Parte Guelfa (the settling of Florence Historical Soccer Game), close to the Arno River. A lot of glamourous people dancing and drinking all night long.
The bar served italian designer Roberto Cavalli's vodka on a leopard-style spotted carpet while fabulous disco music was performed by the resident dj.
I shooted a short video, as soon as I will post it on Youtube, I will put a link here.

Scottish dinner in Florence

If you like Scottish whiskey you cannot miss a night in honor of the most popular pot of Scotland, Robert Burn. Burn’s night takes place in a renovated place (renovated location and management). Even the Royal mail has dedicated a stamp (you can by for € 5,00 euro and reserved by January 15th).

Scottish dinner to honor its Scotland’s patron is on Tuesday, January 27th at 8pm at the restaurant of the DLF Via Paisiello 131 Florence.

The Menu includes:
Crostini with liver pâté and crostini with salmon accompanied by the first tasting of whiskey, and AUCHENTOSHAN aged 12 years (a new kind that replaces the one aged 10)
Tattie & Leek soup as a first dish, then an intermezzo with Glen Garioch aged 15 years, then HAGGIS with smashed potatoes and green beans and as a dessert a chocolate cake accompanied by a BOWMORE MARINER aged 15 years, coffee and another whiskey, probably another Bowmore
The cost is €25, 00 Euros including water and wine. This is an event open to everybody: friends and siblings.
For info and reservation: Michele Chiarini smc.firenze@libero.it

Pitti Immagine Fashion Fair in Florence

Are you ready? few days left to the great fashion event coming to Florence: Pitti Immagine Uomo (Menswear) n.75.

It's party time! The January edition of this important fashion event will transform Florence into a cosmopolitan and vibrant city.

See Pitti Uomo fashion Fair 2009: the program

See Pitti Fashion Fair 2008
See the review I wrote about Pitti Fashion Fair n. 74

See the summer edition Pitti Fair post : the "cloud" at Pitti Immagine

Viareggio carnival

Viareggio Carnival is 135 years old and is doubtless the most famous carnivalesque event in Italy, and one of the most important of Europe, recalling hundreds of thousand visitors from all over the world. It takes plase in Viareggio, a nice city on the tuscan coast, not far from Lucca.

The huge floats, parading on February 8th, 15th, 22nd, 24th and on March 1st will include huge 1st category floats (20 meters high, 14 meters wide) weighing about 40 tons each, smaller 2nd category floats and masquerades and smaller floats.
Every masquerade will be composed of paper maché elements (about 3 meters high). The parade will also include folkloristic bands and performers from all over the world. The biggest floats will carry about 200 people in costume, who will dance and throw confetti and candies. Other people will be inside the floats to manoeuvre the weights, the counter-weights and levers that will make the puppets move.

Thanks for the picture to CIMG0115

Live jazz festival in Florence

Pinocchio live jazz 2009

Pinocchio live jazz opens next Saturday, January 10th 2009 with the come back Riccardo Tesi (in the picture), one of the most appreciable accordion player; the repertoire is a mix between Brazilians like Guinga and Luiz lima with Tuscan music tradition and Mediterranean folk. The Pinocchio Live jazz goes on until March with the following dates:
In January:
Saturday, January 17th, Paul McCandless and his saxophones, already part of the Oregon who signed the modern jazz. This time he is accompanied by Antonio Calogero, guitar player and by two percussionists.
Saturday, January 24th, Stefano Cocco cantini quartet
Saturday, January 31st The New York Crew quintet with the famous Nasheet Waits e Mike Moreno and the fantastic Italian Saxophonist, Gaetano Partipilo
Then in February:
Saturday, February 7th the duo Enrico Pieranunzi/Rosario Giuliani
Saturday February 14th The Magnolias quartet
Saturday February 21st in This Time Trio with the virtuous sax of Daniele Scannapieco, the brilliant organ of Luca Mannutza and Roberto Gatto
Saturday, February 28th The trio, Mauro Negri, clarinet man, Aldo Zunino and Alfred Kramer
And in March:
Saturday March 7th Jazz with a fusion of flamenco, the quintet Alkord with the guitar player Alberto Capelli
Saturday March 14 There will be two artists from NYC like the singer Rachelle Garniez and the guitar man Matt Munisteri
Saturday March 21st a happy come back to Florence by the outsider piano man Stefano de Bonis
Saturday March 28th Big closing party with a fantastic quartet by the Tuscan saxophonist Daniele Malvisi

PINOCCHIO Live JAZZ XV edition 2009
Associazione Vie Nuove v.le Donato Giannotti, 13 50126 - Firenze www.pinocchiojazz.it info: 055 683388 / 680362