Calendar

Thursday, February 4th • 7:00 pm
Trivia Night – A Carnevale Evening in Venice, with Carla Gambescia

Venice, the most enchanting and improbable of cities, has given us many “gifts” such as Mardi Gras, the delicious Bellini cocktail, delectable carpaccio served in fine restaurants – and so much more!

In an engaging question-and-answer virtual session led by award-winning author and cultural expert Carla Gambescia, we will discover little-known backstories of the canal city often called La Serenissima; its opulent, often decadent, and captivating history; and the inventiveness of its residents.

All participants will be entered to win a copy of Carla’s book “La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z,” a Silver Prize winner of Best Travel Book of the Year. The book is an eclectic compendium of all things Italian and a joyful celebration of why we love Italy and, of course, Venice!

Laboratorio Virtuale di Scrittura – Virtual Writing Workshop
“Writing the Italian in Your Memories”
 A creative way to get through these cold months!

As Italians and Italian-Americans (IA), when we look back on our pasts, whether a year or decades ago, our stories are often intertwined with our culture—all of its richness, expectations, challenges and humor. During these workshops, led by author and instructor Maria Giura, we’ll focus on how three aspects – food, music, and language – form the background (or foreground) of our memories.

We’ll read short, vibrant excerpts written by IA authors and explore how they tell their stories. Participants will then be given prompts to generate their own writing. By the end of each workshop, participants will have produced an original piece of writing. No experience necessary, just a notebook, pen, and a sense of curiosity and fun!

Register for one, two, or all three 90-minute workshops. Pour your coffee and join Maria on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:30 am. The fee for each workshop is $27 ($81 for all three), or $30 for non-members ($90 for all three.) There is a member discount for family members.

About the Instructor:

Maria Giura is the author of Celibate: A Memoir (Apprentice House) and What My Father Taught Me (Bordighera Press). Her writing has appeared in Prime Number, Presence, (Voices in) Italian Americana, Lips, Tiferet, and Paterson Literary Review. She has won awards from the Academy of American Poets, the Independent Press, and the Center for Women Writers, and was a judge for the Lauria/ Frasca Poetry Award. She has taught at St. John’s University, Montclair State, and Binghamton University where she earned her PhD in English. https://www.mariagiura.com/

Thursday, February 11th • 7:00 pm
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Dante’s Inferno
The Passion of Love, as seen in Dante’s V Canto of the Inferno

Maria Bonavita, in collaboration with actress Giusy Lo Schiavo joining us live from Rome, Italy, invites you to descend to Dante’s second circle of the Inferno to experience the intense passion of love between Paolo and Francesca, who allowed themselves to be swept away by carnal love.

Thursday, February 18th • 7:00 pm
Tutti all’ Opera! -Learn about La Traviata
The passion and inspiration of a classic story
Presented by Ashley Galvani Bell and Anton Armendariz Diaz

This presentation will open the door to the incredible storytelling that can be shared through powerful music and staging. Operatic music has touched people’s emotions since its inception; learning about its history will provide a deep appreciation of this important and unique art form. You will learn about La Traviata, part of Giuseppe Verdi’s The Popular Trilogy along with Rigoletto and Il Trovatore. It represents an important advance in opera composition.

Literally meaning “The One Who Went Astray,” La Traviata tells the story of courtesan Violetta and is based on the popular novella “The Lady of the Camelias,” written by Alexandre Dumas Jr., son of the famed author of The Three Musketeers. It features some of the most beautiful tunes in opera – Libiamo and Sempre Libera, to name a few. It has also permeated modern culture, appearing in many TV commercials and even serving as the inspiration for film classics such as Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge.

Laboratorio Virtuale di Scrittura – Virtual Writing Workshop
“Writing the Italian in Your Memories”
 A creative way to get through these cold months!

As Italians and Italian-Americans (IA), when we look back on our pasts, whether a year or decades ago, our stories are often intertwined with our culture—all of its richness, expectations, challenges and humor. During these workshops, led by author and instructor Maria Giura, we’ll focus on how three aspects – food, music, and language – form the background (or foreground) of our memories.

We’ll read short, vibrant excerpts written by IA authors and explore how they tell their stories. Participants will then be given prompts to generate their own writing. By the end of each workshop, participants will have produced an original piece of writing. No experience necessary, just a notebook, pen, and a sense of curiosity and fun!

Register for one, two, or all three 90-minute workshops. Pour your coffee and join Maria on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:30 am. The fee for each workshop is $27 ($81 for all three), or $30 for non-members ($90 for all three.) There is a member discount for family members.

About the Instructor:

Maria Giura is the author of Celibate: A Memoir (Apprentice House) and What My Father Taught Me (Bordighera Press). Her writing has appeared in Prime Number, Presence, (Voices in) Italian Americana, Lips, Tiferet, and Paterson Literary Review. She has won awards from the Academy of American Poets, the Independent Press, and the Center for Women Writers, and was a judge for the Lauria/ Frasca Poetry Award. She has taught at St. John’s University, Montclair State, and Binghamton University where she earned her PhD in English. https://www.mariagiura.com/