Florens 2012: culture and economics in Florence

From the 3rd to the 11th of November, here in Florence, there's a special event called Florens2012: cultural aperitifs, conferences, exhibition, meeting and much more with a focus on the relationship between economy and culture. 

Don't miss to admire: 

• the installation of the olive trees at the Duomo and the huge marble cross by Mimmo Paladino in Santa Croce square (everyday) 
• the premiere of the National Geographic movie 'Wings of Seduction' (Friday NOV 9 at 9pm at Cinema Odeon )
• reflections on the culture of conservation in the era of global civilization
•  Alberto Asor Rosa – The defense of territory and landscape, the unrenouncible condition of a new phase of human civilization

 Free entrance to the events. Booking required. Here is the website: http://www.fondazioneflorens.it/

Pitti Fashion Fair in Florence, from the 19th to the 22nd of June

Here we are... Pitti Man Fashion Fair is back in town! From 19th to the 22nd of June, Florence will host Pitti Immagine Uomo #82. 

1,065 fashion brands in Florence, at the Fortezza da Basso, plus another 75 women’s collections at Pitti W at the Dogana. And then there are the buyers: the last summer edition of Pitti Uomo welcomed more than 32,000 visitors, 20,000 of whom were buyers from the world’s most important retailers, large and small.

Here is a partial list of the main previews and special projects scheduled for this edition of Pitti Uomo: 

• WP "Lavori in Corso" will be celebrating its 30th anniversary and will present the first collection created for Baracuta, the iconic brand they recently acquired; 
• the important world première showing 7 For All Mankind men’s collection; 
• Ben Sherman presents EC1, the international launch of the new Ben Sherman men’s collection in one of the Fortezza’s most special areas, the Cannoniera; 
• the historic name in denim G-Star, has selected an important venue within the Fortezza to stage an exhibition-event RAW Denim Dome. The contemporary denim brand will present a new, unusual and totally creative look at denim – RAW denim; 
• the European preview of Deus Ex Machina, the biker and surfer cult label;
• Edun, the eco-fashion label created by Ali Hewson – who is married to Bono Vox – is returning to Pitti Uomo; 
• the European première of Scott James, American brand that will present its sophisticated total look in a special space at the Costruzioni Lorenesi; 
• Dekker has booked the Sala della Volta for the exclusive launch of the new collection. 
• the important return of Siviglia, that will participate at Pitti Uomo with the trousers and accessory project of Siviglia White, the cutting edge line of the brand that is the result of a two years of research and experimentation on luxury Vintage; 
• the presentation of the first men’s footwear line of Giuseppe Homme, signed by Giuseppe Zanotti; 
• the world-première debut for Hancock, the collection designed by Timothy Everest; 
• Pirelli PZero is returning to Pitti Uomo with a major presence at the Fortezza; 
• Cesare Paciotti will be presenting the Premium footwear collection for men. 
• the celebration of the first 5 years of Orlebar Brown with the launch of a special capsule in collaboration with Getty Images.

Notte bianca (white night) in Florence

Tonight there will be a special event in Florence: the "White Night" ("Notte Bianca"): from 6 pm to 6 am everything will be open in Florence. Museums, shops, churches and there will be many live concerts in the main squares. Over 150.000 people are waited in the center of Florence to celebrate this long evening. This year it will be a kid friendly edition with puppets, shows and games for children, until midnight. Don't miss to visit Palazzo Vecchio (free entrance to the museum and to the tower from 2 am until 5 am) and the free cappuccino for breakfast at Salone dei Cinquecento.

Lee Rainie in Italy

On April 24th, the meeting News in a Networked World with Lee Rainie will be held under the initiative promoted by the RFK Center and the Consulate General of the United States of America. Lee Rainie, who is going to be host at the International Journalism Festival, is the Director of the Pew Research Center's Internet &; American Life Project, a non-profit, non–partisan "fact tank" that studies the social impact of the internet. The Project has issued more than 300 reports based on its surveys that examine people's online activities and the internet's role in their lives. The meeting, featuring the US Consulate General in Florence Sarah Morrison and the RFK Center Director Federico Moro, will be held in English from 5pm at La Nazione Auditorium (via Giovine Italia, 17). 

What's on in Florence in May: FABBRICA EUROPA 2012

For 2012, the international Festival of contemporary stage arts Fabbrica Europa plans a particularly varied and complex programme with exhibitions, workshop and shows. The main theme is the concept of “the mobility of art”, indicating “movement”, “transit”, “journey”, both across nations and across cultures, but also across “time” and “generations” (focusing particularly on the relationship between the Masters and the young). Musicians, videomakers and dancers are coming from all the parts of Europe for 10 days of contemporary art.

From its catalyzing historical centre, the Stazione Leopolda in Florence, Italy, where a number of the most interesting European contemporary works will be hosted, it will stretch out across the city of Florence in a capillary invasion of squares, streets, Renaissance corners etc., to bring alive a real “creative, hyper-textual and interactive map” of the contemporary scenario in order to involve and spread cultural action not only to the wide public of the Festival, but also to the still wider “man-in-the-street” population, not habitually in touch with the languages of art. 

Florence, Stazione Leopolda and other places

Opening May 3rd 2012 - until the 13th of May

XIX edition

Taste fair in Florence: food bloggers, chefs, foodies...

"Taste. In viaggio con le diversità del gusto" will be back at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence from 10 to 12 March, 2012: 3 days of tasting, excellence, shopping, events and lifestyle experiences dedicated to taste, plus the Fuoriditaste events around town.

This is the seventh edition of this national food fair: the place where the world’s best members of the haute gastronomie community gather, along with the ever-growing number of foodies, the people who seek out quality foods and new taste trends. The 2011 edition of TASTE welcomed 12,000 visitors (a 20% increase over the previous year), and enjoyed fantastic media coverage.

“Beekeepers, master brewers, fisherman, experts in cooking equipment, sommeliers, food bloggers and many more are the ‘taste protagonists’, the people at the fulcrum of this year’s edition of TASTE,” says Agostino Poletto, deputy general manager of Pitti Immagine. "It is true,” he goes on to conclude, “that chefs are still the key figures in the more media-driven world of wines-and-foods, but new figures are coming forward – like the foodies who are enthusiastic about niche products and are creating new and unexpected interpretations for the industry.”

This edition of TASTE will feature about 250 firms selected among niche producers of excellence from nearly all the regions in Italy. They will present their products and latest creations in Florence. Over the years, TASTE has become an enjoyable and enthusing experience for members of the food and food service industries and the general public. It is a multi-sensory journey of discovery aimed at finding and defining the many ways we express and experiment tastes today.

• Taste Tour an itinerary that will allow you to sample the products presented by the 250 exhibitors to become acquainted with – and learn more about – Italy’s gastronomic riches; there will be lots of things, old and new, to discover, from the concentrated white truffle cream to ground dried capers, from salami to wine, from aged cow cheese to mild pecorino, from handmade pasta from Italy’s major pasta factories to figs preserved in balsamic vinegar, to saffron liqueur, to chocolates filled with Limoncello cream to red eggplant jam to….!
• Taste Tools is the area dedicated to designer food and kitchen items, tools for chefs and for those who love to cook – from kitchenwear to professional kitchenware. 
•  Taste Shop is the “department store” for exclusive foods – with over 1,500 items in the catalogue and sales exceeding 21,000 pieces last season. This is where to buy what you see and taste around the fair; 
• Taste Ring, is the cultural-gastronomic arena orchestrated by Gastronaut Davide Paolini who was recently elected “Person of the Year” in the poll conducted by the online daily Italia a Tavola. In this area devoted to debates and ideas, the leading players on the food stage challenge each other on the most interesting topics related to contemporary eating, from foods to flavors, interpreting what is happening today and anticipating the trends of tomorrow. 

The many events around the city, under the FuoriDiTaste banner were also a huge success with the public and the press. Here is a taste of some of the special projects at TASTE 2012:

• King of Catering: the competition among the best catering and banqueting firms of 2011, is organized by Bisol, who have been making wine in the Valdobbiadene area since 1542, and is sponsored by Mondadori. The theme for finalists in this second edition, and a very important topic for all catering companies is the “Wedding Reception”. The competition will be held on Friday, 9 March at the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence; a prestigious panel will judge, the first and main courses, the dessert, the entire menu and the service.

• The Casaviva Vintage Table: the magazine Casaviva will be participating in this edition of TASTE. Is vintage a real trend? Martina Liverani, the editorial staff foodie, will be at TASTE in the Casaviva stand to talk about recipes, tables, curiosities and anecdotes – and strictly nostalgia colored.

• The genie in the pot: tasty recipes at TASTE 7! Pitti Immagine decided to involve a dozen talented food bloggers to celebrate the contemporary foodie spirit of TASTE 7 and highlight a spreading phenomenon. They will be busy preparing tasty dishes made with ingredients provided by some of the exhibitors. And then, the recipes will be published on dedicated page on the Pitti Immagine website, buon appetito!

… and flavors spread around Florence with FuoriDiTaste

FuoriDiTaste is the calendar of “outside the fair” events that brings Florence into the heart of TASTE and features the city’s restaurants, gourmet shops, boutiques, art galleries, theaters and museums. FuoriDiTaste will light up the city and its places of excellence with theme tasting sessions and dinners, entertainment and new ways of presenting quality foods. The last edition of FuoriDiTaste met with huge public and critical acclaim. The roughly 100 events held in just as many venues transformed Florence in a festival of quality foods and excellent cooking.

TASTE. IN VIAGGIO CON LE DIVERSITÀ’ DEL GUSTO

10-12 March 2012

Florence, Stazione Leopolda - V.le Fratelli Rosselli, 5

Hours:

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon (members of the trade only)

12:00 noon – 7:30 p.m. also open to the public

Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Admission:
€ 15 day ticket for the general public
€ 8 for registered members of the trade (one ticket is valid for all 3 days)

Exhibition at Corsini Gardens: Artigianato e Palazzo

From Friday MAY 11th to Sunday MAY 13rh 2012 in Florence at Giardino Corsini, Via della Scala 115 there will be ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO.

The gardens of Palazzo Corsini are especially open to the public for this occasion. The Exhibition presents over 80 master craftsmen from Italy and from all over the world Practical demonstrations of techniques by hand in the crafting of: iron, glass, wood, textiles, precious stones and metals.

Special guest of this XVIIIth Edition: Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella di Firenze. The world-famous Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy will celebrate its 400th anniversary at ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO in the Corsini Gardens.

Giorgiana Corsini and Neri Torrigiani have invited Eugenio Alphandery to hold the celebration of the historic Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella here, at Artigianato e Palazzo, a fitting

venue for the 400 year-old activity founded nearby in 1221 by the Dominican Friars of Santa Maria Novella.

The Friars cultivated medicinal herbs and the Pharmacy was opened to the public in 1612. Since then it has become world known and now has 55 single-brand shops in the world, over 15 of which are in Japan and Korea. The products of the Pharmacy are inimitable: their centuries-old history an emblem of continuing innovation and research. The products of the Pharmacy combine artisanal techniques dating back to the Middle Ages with high quality materials and advanced technology.

This historical brand will be the main protagonist of the “Principe Exhibition” which is held every year at the Limonaia Piccola. Previous special guests have been brands of great success whose common denominator is to have their beginnings as small handcrafters and artisans: Gucci, Vacheron Costantin, Il Bisonte, Bulgari, Ente Tabacchi Italiano, Roberto Capucci, Loretta Caponi..

Friday 11th through Sunday 13th May there will be a number of celebrations dedicated to the 400 years

of the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella: a preview with Eugenio Alphandery, director and co-owner of the Officina, as guest of honour. Eugenio is the heart and soul of innovation at the Officina and is responsible for the expansion abroad of this most Florentine of brands.

Another special guest of the 2012 edition of Artigianato e Palazzo will be the Consorzio “Il cappello di

Firenze”, founded in May 1986 by the Association of Florentine Industrialists to safeguard and widespead the traditional art of straw hats of Florence. On exhibit, under the XVth century Loggia of Buontalenti of the Palazzo Corsini, will be some unique pieces made especially for this event following the tradition of those straw hats which, since the nineteenth century, have been crafted by Florentine hatmakers in many materials: straw, felt, raffia, precious threads, silk, satin and lace. On show will also be a grandiose collective installation.

During the three days of Artigianato e Palazzo the many artisans and craftsmen present will do practical demonstrations of how they achieve their high quality products. You will be able to understand, hands-on, the difference between quality products made by hand and others produced serially.

The gardens of the Corsini Palace, this Florentine “secret garden” created in the XVIth century by Gherardo Silvani, will once again host the techniques and ancient secrets of artisans and craftsmen. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the wealth of ancient trades and gestures, symbols of a new form of elegance, whose value is both in the image and in the quality of their products.

Over 80 artisan shops will be set up in the midst of the greenery and flowers of the Corsini Garden and inside the splendid Limonaie (the lemon-houses). Visitors will assist in the work of craftsmen where innovation and love and respect for the past merge to create special products.

For 18 years this philosophy has guided the spirit of ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO. Our aim has been to set up shows and initiatives in the intention of preserving the age-old traditions of artisans and craftsmen, an ever-important resource for the city of Florence and for Made in Italy in the world.

Giorgiana Corsini e Neri Torrigiani have been organizing and promoting Artigianato e Palazzo for 18 years. The exhibition gathers in the Corsini Garden many master craftsmen who re-create, in this special setting, a corner of their “bottega”, their shop. The visitor hence can understand how artisan products are made, by hand, and how the precious manufactured goods are then put on the market. “Someone one said that teaching handicraft is more difficult than learning it, because most of the art is not to be explained but to be stolen rather: with one’s eyes.”

ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO

Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May 2012

Opening times 10 am to 8.30 pm

Entrance € 8. Reduced tickets € 6. Childeren under 12, free.

Catalogue free

Tickets are on sale at reduced pre-sale prices on: www.boxol.it

For informationTel. +39 055 2654589

www.artigianatoepalazzo.it

info@artigianatoepalazzo.it

Facebook: artigianatoepalazzo

Twitter: @MostraAeP

YouTube: artigianatoepalazzo

Flickr: artigianatoepalazzo

Vintage fashion fair in Florence: from 25-29 January

The 19th edition of Vintage Selection, one of the most authoritative and prestigious fairs in Italy and Europe dedicated to vintage fashion, accessories and culture as well as quality remakes, will be held from 25- 29 January 2012 at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence.

Vintage Selection is not just for enthusiasts, collectors and ordinary visitors looking for something original, but also fashion designers and creatives from the style bureaus of the top international fashion companies who come to Florence for Pitti Immagine Filati, the Pitti Immagine fair which is held at the Fortezza at the same time. The synergy with this public of true connoisseurs – which Pitti Immagine has always cultivated through information and promotional campaigns – is one of the strengths and distinctive features of Vintage Selection and represents a further boost to the quality, innovation and stylistic research of its proposals. 

The main theme of this 19th edition will be Very Vintage: an investigation into the widespread vintage culture that each one of us interprets in a different way, that will be used to create a catalogue of original looks, individual styles and retro-fashion quirks to demonstrate how much vintage fashion has become part of our everyday life. The research started in September with Very Vintage Hunting: a photo shoot – which was also used for the fair’s advertising campaign – involving young photographers and ordinary people immortalized in special locations around Florence.

This Sunday before the fair opens, Very Vintage Night Fever will be held at the Rex, a famous Florentine night-club: everybody will be asked to interpret their idea of Vintage in a creative and amusing way. This will be used to create a gallery of images to be projected inside the Stazione Leopolda during the event. 

Another important new feature for this edition is the I.Love.Archive(1) exhibition, the first stage of a Stazione Leopolda/Pitti Immagine project that, after taking a look inside the precious Pitti Immagine archives, will be displaying an exclusive selection of slides gathered in the space of just one day, depicting events, catwalk shows, private viewings and exhibitions that take us back to the dawn of the Pitti People.

Vintage Selection will be presenting 60 exhibitors to a public of members of the trade and enthusiasts which, at the last winter edition, reached 13,000.

Plus:

Every day, during Happy Hour, from 5.00 – 8.00 p.m. it will be possible to ask the living Juke box to play some old tracks on vinyl, with a funky-soul-Jazz-80s-Italian soundtracks- rock’n’roll – burlesque feel.

The bar/restaurant in the lounge area will be managed by Convivium, one of Florence’s top catering companies.

THE EVENTS AT THIS EDITION:

Every day, from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 January 2012

_ From 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.:

VINTAGE SELECTION

The big vintage fair where you can find everything you want in terms of vintage & remake clothing and accessories – as well as things you weren’t even looking for: serendipity!

I LOVE ARCHIVE:PITTI IMMAGINE/REVERSE PITTI PEOPLE

1DAYX1DIA: an exclusive selection of slides gathered within the space of just one day from the vast Pitti Immagine archives that show the integral role played by the Pitti People in defining contemporary lifestyles.

POLAROID INSTANT CAMERA TEMPORARY MUSEUM & SHOP by BALEVIN

Polaroid? Capture the moment in a click!

The temporary museum & shop of the most famous camera in the world, from the 40s to the present day. A true international design icon, this technological prodigy continues to live in the present: it never goes

out of fashion, in fact it is a real trendsetter!

VINTAGE POSTPOSTCARDS

A Stazione Leopolda project showcasing the postcards used for the Vintage Selection n.19 advertising campaign.

_ From 3.00 to 8.00 p.m.:

TAG-AUTOMATIC

Visitors can have their photograph taken wearing the vintage clothing and accessories displayed inside an automatic photo booth and post their picture on their favorite social network.

_ From 5.00 to 8.00 p.m.:

THE LIVING JUKE BOX

DJ Pise will let you listen again to original vinyls of old funky-soul-jazz-rock&roll-burlesque tracks and Italian soundtracks.

_ From 6.00 to 8.00 p.m.:

V2H: VERY HAPPY HOUR

In the Bar Vintage, between a purchase and an exhibition, you are invited to taste the food and wine delicacies of Convivium.

From Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 January 2012, 4.00-5.00 p.m.

DANCING THE BOOGIE WOOGIE

A group of four young people united by friendship and a common passion: 1940s music and dance steps (boogie woogie & swing).

The Group, which is part of the Scandicci Dance Academy, will perform and give boogie woogie lessons, using dance as a form of expression of art and entertainment.

Saturday 28 January and Sunday 29 January 2012, 4.00 -5.00 p.m.

TUBALLO SWING

A project set up in 2010 by Ghiaccioli & Branzini (a DJ and a producer from Turin) and Antonio McVillan, the Italian Boogie Woogie champion and a dance teacher since 2009, that aims bring this type of dance into a dimension that is free from the theories of dance step technique and more open to the city. After a performance by some professional dancers, it will be possible to take part in a swing lesson with music that ranges from classic Boogie to Electro-swing.

VINTAGE SELECTION is produced by STAZIONE LEOPOLDA srl.

VINTAGE SELECTION
Stazione Leopolda
Viale F.lli Rosselli, 5 - Florence
25 – 29 January 2012
Open to the public from: 10 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Admission fee: 5.00 Euros
Reduced rate entrance coupon available from www.stazione-leopolda.com
Website: www.vintageselection.it Facebook.com/vintageselection
Tel. +39/055/212622

Pitti Immagine 81: the Japan Week and DAKS party, the fair and the people. That's what I liked.

Here are some pictures of Pitti Immagine Uomo, the most famous man fashion fair that takes place in Florence, Italy in January and June.

The 81th edition has just finished. How has it gone? Despite the international crisis the message in the picture is clear: Can't stop FASHION!

More than 7000 visitors: less buyers from Italy, but more from US, China and Japan, who held the Japan Fashion Week in Italy and a gorgeous party on Thursday evening.

People dancing and eating delicious Michelin rated chef hand-made Ramen all night long!

Very different from the calm and formal party by DAKS, one of the brands that better represent the English style. DAKS is one of the UK's quintessential British luxury labels, specialising in fine tailoring and accessories for men and women.

What I liked of this Pitti UOMO edition?

The striped and glittered Jimmy Choo shoes for man, the hi-tech leather I-Pad bags from Piquadro, the 80th anniversary Limited Edition Serafini all italian sneakers, the unconventional Calendar by trasgressive italian fotographer Oliviero Toscani who shot 12 penis, the huge stand by Cruciani, that exported its famous cachemire bracelets all around the world.

And obviously the Pitti People! Elegant, weird, trendy, stilish people coming from everywhere, 

Thanks to talentous Martina who let me use some of her beautiful pictures: take a tour on her blog, it's worthsome!

Pitti Uomo 81: man fashion fair in Florence, Italy

From 10th to 13rd of January in Florence there will be Pitti Uomo Fashion fair.

With 1072 brands presented at the Fortezza da Basso, plus the 70 women’s collections in the limelight at Pitti W at the Dogana, Pitti Uomo fashion fair confirms its role as an important benchmark on the international scene with a selection that ranges from contemporary classic to the most cutting-edge aesthetics.

News of this edition: the special “VERSUS TOKYO” project that will bring a selection of the most interesting fashion labels from the Japanese creative scene to Florence for Pitti Uomo 81

Pitti Uomo is the world’s most important platform for men’s clothing and accessory collections and for launching new projects in men’s fashion. This edition of Pitti Uomo will cover a broader spectrum than ever, with lifestyle items (home design and creative crafts just to name two) complementing the fair’s fashion offering and responding to consumer spending trends. After creating innovative exhibition areas such as the PopUp Stores that pick up and answer signals on trends and capture new customers, we bring you the latest project: EXTRA-ORDINAIRES* at the Main Pavilion. EXTRA-ORDINAIRES* - that you will find in strategically located points throughout the pavilion, will showcase pieces that the Pitti Immagine scouts picked because they are novel, unique and attractive – a subjective and rather unconventional selection that is sure to fascinate.

Figures of Pitti Uomo 81
1072 brands/collections
410 from abroad (38,6% of the total)

Exhibition area: 59.000 square meters

Buyer / visitors
- 23,100 buyers at the last last winter edition (7,700 came from abroad)
- 30,000 visitators in total

New Year’s Eve at Il Salviatino luxury hotel in Florence

‘L’Epoca Garbata’ on stage on New Year’s Eve at Il Salviatino.

Exclusive atmosphere and theater for a night reminiscent of times gone by.

Concurrent with Italian Christmas – the package conceived on the wake of tradition and refinement and available from December 8th through January 8th to let guests relish a truly traditional Italian Christmas – the ancient Villa nestled in the foothills of Fiesole hosts an extraordinary performance that pays tribute to the period when elegance reigned supreme in Italy.

The Roaring Twenties, ladies wrapped in long evening gowns dancing a wild swing and, for the first time, showing off their sensual legs in a stylish – and sometimes cheeky – way. The noir ambience of the Thirties, when cigarettes were taken out of shiny silver cases and smoked in the dim light.

The cheerful gaze of people dreaming of a brighter future in the Fifties, and wearing the first colorful clothing and prints. That is the essence of “L’Epoca Garbata” (Gracious Years), a performance that underlines the special aspects embodied in the first decades of the 20th century.

Every single detail of the set will give life to an unusual stage where the luxury and special refinement that distinguishes Il Salviatino is woven with theater and music: an homage to the past and, above all, a reinterpretation of the esthetics in vogue of days gone by.

Two theater companies are involved in the project: one is keen on movement, on the search for detail and the study of mimicry; the other has a special talent for conquering space. The performers, sometimes acrobats, sometimes an imperceptible presence in the Villa, will move around a sort of stage-maze.

Il Salviatino becomes a stage and its interiors become the elements of a set. Windows, doors and staircases become frames for animated paintings, and corridors are the location for living installations.

The evening moves the rhythm of jazz, in counterpoint with Sound designers who will accompany guests throughout the performance, caught between real space and the past up to the magnificently spellbinding Italian garden. 

31st DECEMBER 2011 - NEW YEAR’S EVE at IL SALVIATINO LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

Welcome cocktail in the Library

Little Canapés Oysters with Tonic Water and Oyster Grass 

Thinly sliced Anchovies with Tomato and Onion Gelatin 

Sesame-Flavored Smoked Salmon Balls

Crispy Baby Calamari

Dinner served at the Le Serre Restaurant

Scallops with Jerusalem Artichoke, Asparagus and Red Prawn Cream 

Red Mullet and Hazelnuts with Parsley and Candied Lemon, Anchovy Crumble 

Scampi Bites in Saffron and Herring Egg Broth 

‘Verrigni’ Spaghetti with Green Broccoli, Colonnata Bacon and Lobster 

Black Cod with Steamed Vegetables and Polenta with Cheese 

Artisan Cotechino with Lentils and Potato Purée 

Christmas Cake Pudding with Exotic Fruits and Berries, English Vanilla Sauce

Holiday Pastries

Accompanying champagnes: 

Bruno Paillard Brut 

Bruno Paillard Rosé 

Bruno Paillard Millesimé ‘96

€ 250

with three Champagne tastings included 

Special price for an extra bottle of champagne for toasting: € 80

Il Salviatino

Via del Salviatino 21
Firenze 50137
ITALY
Tel. +39 055 9041111
Fax +39 055 9041247
info@salviatino.com

http://www.salviatino.com/

Rare plant exhibition and market in Tuscany

This weekend there will be "Botanica": the first exhibition and market of rare plants and collector’s plants. It combines artistic and scientific topics with the knowledge and the safeguard of the natural environment, particularly of the ancient and forgotten varieties of plants.

The monumental Park of Medicean Villa Caruso, close to Florence, will house on this occasion a great selection of flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and fruit-bearing plants together with the association of the typical products of the florentine hills. Typical products and floriculture belong since ever to our heritage and therefore the development of our land as a resource is one of the main topic of the Public Administration of Lastra a Signa who stakes on the local peculiarities to achieve a sustainable development, according to the regional policies on agriculture. 

Entrance fee: 3 euros.

Massimo Sestini Photography Exhibition in the brand new Audi showroom in Florence

Tomorrow afternoon there will be the opening of the photography exhibition by italian reporter Massimo Sestini, that will take place in the new Audi showroom in Florence, owned by Volkswagen Group Firenze. The artist will present to the press his masterpieces and best pictures.

Winetown: Florence the location of a special wine festival in courtyards and cloisters of historical buildings

At the end of September, 2011, there will be a great event in Florence: Winetown, a wine festival with a lot of events. What's going on in Florence for the Winetown wine festival? here are some tips:

• Shows and concerts that enliven the tastings of fine wines inside important Historical Buildings that will be open to the public only for this special occasion. 
•  There will be cooking shows, a discussion and reflection on the design of the bottle and new technology on the second floor of the "San Lorenzo" Central Market. 
• The treasure hunt through the streets of the historical center 
• The game Vinopoli for children to play. 

Two intense days, complete with an unusual itinerary and an unconventional way of bringing wine and people together.

Opening hours:

Saturday 24 September 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Sunday 25 September 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The tastings will be conducted during the opening hours of the event upon purchasing the WineCard.

WHAT IS WINE TOWN

Wine town is a new concept and way of communicating the territory: to enhance the wine making tradition in a different context than usual, the idea to open the great private buildings of the nobility of Florence, which will then be rediscovered by the general public. Wine Town 2011, with the support of Toscana Promozione, the City of Florence and the Wine Town Committee, is a permanent annual event. WINE TOWN will take place in Florence on Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th. The city of wine, the city that for its past was left with skills which were stratified by centuries of daily practice in the fields of tradition and therefore demands more than anything else, the right to be represented by one of its many strong themes. In short, the capital of the Chianti region, the lands of Tuscany, the Sangiovese, the great and historic families in the vineyards where they have always been and where most of them have withstood the difficult years of depopulation and, finally, many fond producers who, in recent decades have reshaped, reevaluated and requalified agricultural land, restoring the fabric of rural construction in Tuscany. 10 themes or ten points of view to talk about wine, architecture, art, archeology, marketing, communication, innovation and children’s play.

Ten is also the number of the provinces represented by different food products and the most important chefs in the ten Territories.

24th of September – 25th of September 2011

Sponsors: City of Florence (Comune di Firenze), Toscana Promozione and the Wine Town Committee

In cooperation with the Italian Sommelier Association (A.I.S Associazione Italiana Sommelier and the Italian Historic Houses Association ( A.D.S.I. Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane).

Information: Wine Town Firenze Committee

Tel. +39 055 2050400/462 Fax. +39 055 2050500

info@winetown.it www.winetown.it

What's on in Florence in July

Here the are 2 events in english!

A Stubborn Woman - When Stefano Massini first learned about the death of Anna Politkovskaya he created more than a play.  He created an opportunity for those of us who work on it and those who see it to think about the world in which we live.  To consider the question of 'who is our enemy?'

Staged reading - English/Italian with subtitles

Le Murate  via dell'Agnolo Florence

9.30 pm, 15 July

The Nina Variations - When asked to write an adaptation of 'The Seagull' Steven Dietz said: "I was mesmerized by the magnitude of this single fateful encounter."  For those who wonder what 'could have happened' at any moment of our lives, Dietz offers several possibilties for two of Chekov's greatest characters.

Staged reading - English/Italian with subtitles

Le Murate  via dell'agnolo Florence

9.30 pm, 16 July

Pic nic organized by Sonnino's Castle in Tuscany

Sunday 26th June From 11 am to sunset in the meadows of Castello Sonnino (Via Volterrana Nord 6/A, Montespertoli) there will be a lovely Pic-nic in the shadow of the Moro. Great outdoor party organized by Castello Sonnino of Montespertoli in collaboration with Slow Food, Tuscany and Slow Food Empolese Valdelsa.

At the start the second edition of the playful pic-nic of Sonnino. The meadows around the castle will be set up with recovering materials, connected to country tradition, as the old olive crates turned into tables and benches all around the trees. You will have lunch and a snack with quality products “Km zero”, served with the Castle’s wine and oil.

The program of activities, both for kids and adults, will be various (impossible to be bored!): pottery and weaving workshop, puppets making with recycling materials, “farm theatre” with Amanted workshop by Dimitri Frosali, folk music with folk group Vincanto and, by big request, Pacciamama will be back to teach us how to make a veg-garden in a crate and you will join Emiliano Terreni extracting honey from the hoenycombs. Castello Sonnino will also open their XIV century Clock Tower that will give us the opportunity to admire the territory from an unique point of view.

The necessary for the pic-nic will be provided by Castello Sonnino

Don’t forget to bring a blanket!

Rates:

Adults 15 € Slow Food members 13 € Including lunch, snack, workshops and shows

Kids (7-12 years) 7 € Slow Food Kids members 5 €

Free entrance for kids under 6 years

With reservation until june 23th
Info and booking: tel 0571 657481 • cell 333 8015739, 335 353439 •
• info@castellosonnino.it; studiomelarancia@gmail.com

Fb: CASTELLO SONNINO MONTESPERTOLI
http://www.facebook.com/mobileprotection#!/profile.php?id=100002172136395

Florence Design Week 2011: second edition

Next week there will be the Florence Design Week: an international contemporary showcase to enhance and preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Florence. From 24 to 29 May 2011 Florence will host the second edition of the Florence Design Week - Design Village 2011, under the High Patronage of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, supported by the London Design Festival and in collaboration with the Municipality of Florence, Province of Florence, Calenzano.

A passion for design and art will lead visitors to discover the five senses, through an emotional journey in which the design will merge with the historic beauty of Florence, the festival will involve squares, art galleries, libraries and historic houses decorating the city with his works to see and admire the work of new generations of designers and companies, taste the food that the design can give and enjoy the smells of a city ​​at the height of his creative spring. Spread in various locations all around the city of Florence, Graphic and Visual Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Music and Food Design will be celebrated during the whole week. Exhibitions, workshops, meetings, design-aperitifs and an innovative night-life will be organized to create a real network between designers and people, between past and future. Taking part at the Florence Design Week is a great possibility to perceive the city designed on a new and contemporary light!

White night: museums open all night long, live music, reading and ballets in the streets

Tonight there will be the "Notte Bianca" that means "White night": it's the second edition of a special event taking place in Florence, Italy on the night between April, the 30th and May, the 1st. Uffizi Gallery will be open for free in the night, as well as other museums will have special opening hours. Every square will host some special performance: dancing, live music, reading, dj-set... 

There will be hundreds of people everywhere!

The center of Florence will be closed to cars and private traffic.

Easter in Florence

What do to at Easter in Florence? As every year, you can enjoy the Burst of the Carriage, a florentine Sunday tradition that is held every year on Easter morning. In front of the Dome, there's this suggestive ceremony: first 2 huge cows bring the cart in front of the main church of the city, then after the holy mess a big fire is launched: fireworks from the inside spread all over...

Danza in fiera in Florence (dance fair)

Danza in Fiera gathers for 4 days all dance businesses, training and artistic sectors, ranging from classical ballet to contem­porary, from modern to tango, from hip hop to Latin dancing, from country to musical and from ethnic dancing to tribal and waltz.

What does Danza in Fiera offer?

• booths of dance apparel, fitness fashion, sport and wellness products but also areas dedicated to dance studios, dance groups and associations
• shows with national and international dance performers
• free classes, masterclasses with famous dancers and masters
• meetings, workshops, talk shows, exhibitions all about dancing
• contests and competitions
• castings and auditions to become a real professional dancer

NATURAL WELLNESS area, EVERY DAY at Spadolini Pavilion - ground floor

6th edition of Danzainfiera its also an unique occasion to get in touch with many companies belonging to natural wellness sectors. In the 100 sqm area "Spadolini Pavilion" ground floor, public will test a lot of wellness products:

- GIERRE GM: Italian exclusive distributor of Prananat, wellness and fitness carpet
- ORGANIC TRIBE: creative design for organic cotton shirts(gots) , 100% Made in Italy.
- IDEA TOSCANA: all pleasure of olive oil in many cosmetics products.
- DLS srl: Italian distributor of NOENE soles
- LIGANCE: creams and specfic products for dancer's training

Opening time:

Thursday 3.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Friday/Saturday 10.00 am – 9.00 pm
Sunday 10.00 am – 8 pm

Tickets:

1 day € 15,00
4 days € 40,00

Free entrance:
- kids under 8 years
- disabled persons