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