BUON NATALE: Unexpected Stories Behind Beloved Holiday Traditions.
with Carla Gambescia
Discover the surprising backstories behind some of our most cherished holiday traditions from Saint Nicholas (Babbo Natale) and the nativity to candy canes and Christmas lights. We’ll explore how both the pagan and Christian magically merged into the holiday that we celebrate today as well as a few less familiar uniquely Italian customs such as the Epiphany and wearing red underwear!
Intrigued?!? Andiamo! Join us, and let’s celebrate Natale and Capodanno together. Award-winning author, lecturer and photographer, Carla Gambescia, will be our guide to the holiday festivities!
About the Speaker:
Carla Gambescia is the author of La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z, Silver Prize winner of "Best Travel Book of the Year" awarded by the North American Travel Journalists Association. A regular lecturer on topics of Italian cultural interest, Carla has written about and toured every region of Italy on foot or by bicycle and curates the photoblog Postcards from the Boot.
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03/28/2023 7:00 PM - 03/28/2023 9:00 PM
Join us for an exclusive wine tasting event at Casa Belvedere
Tuesday, March 28 at t 7 pm
REGISTER TODAY!Experience the passion of an engaging and entertaining sommelier, direct from San Gimignano, Tuscany, who will share their passion for wine education and extensive knowledge. During this special evening, you will sample premier Tuscan wines from Tenuta Torciano, a luxury winery in Tuscany specializing in producing fine wines for over three centuries.
Learn how wine is made in Tuscany; the eight most important wine grapes; and how the soil, climate, and history make Tuscan wines among the best in the world. Learn how to evaluate wine by sight, swirl, sniff and taste. Unlike other wine tastings, the Wine School of Tenuta Torciano takes something seemingly elementary and turns it into a brilliant and captivating experience.
Delicious Italian cheeses, salami, and Italian bread will accompany the variety of wines presented at this limited attendance event. You will also sample Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Truffle Olive Oil, and an Aged Reserved Balsamic Vinegar.
Tenuta Torciano is the product of the passion and hard work of a Tuscan family for over 15 generations. Today, Pierluigi Giachi, together with his wife Luciana Cilemmi and son Emanuele Bartolomeo Giachi, carries on an ancient family tradition. Pierluigi Giachi does not like to call himself a winemaker, but rather he considers himself to be a countryman of Tuscany.
The wines presented in this wine tasting are not sold in stores. Serve these fine wines with your meals, or give them as gifts!
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04/03/2023 7:00 PM - 04/03/2023 8:30 PM
Learn to Crochet at Casa Belvedere! An eight-week program for adults and teens
Mondays, Feb. 13 to April 3, 2023, 7 to 8:30 pm
$210 members, $240 non-membersLearn how to crochet and discover a relaxing hobby you will enjoy for life! Crochet is portable – you can always have a project with you on the go. If you can hold a pencil, you can crochet. You will learn how to comfortably hold a crochet hook and the yarn, you will learn the basic crochet stitches; the chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet and as you progress we may get into the shell stitch as well. Specific materials needed for each lesson are listed below, with links to Michael’s online at the bottom of the page. Students should bring the required materials to each class.
Lesson 1: CHAIN STITCH: Using the small hook (B or C) and cotton thread, students will learn the chain stitch, then string beads to create a necklace or bracelet. Materials needed: Size B or C crochet hook (metal recommended), 1 Ball of Aunt Lynda’s Classic Cotton Thread (lighter colors recommended - not black.)
Lesson 2: SLIP STITCH: Using cotton thread and a piece of fabric, make a coaster using the slip stitch and chain stitch. You will also learn the picot stitch. Materials needed: Size B or C crochet hook (metal recommended), scissors, 1 ball of Aunt Lynda’s Classic Cotton Thread (lighter colors recommended – not black), Teacher will supply a square of sturdy fabric or felt.
Lesson 3: Single Crochet swatch using yarn. Materials needed: Size H or I Crochet hook, scissors, 1 skein worsted weight yarn, (i.e. Red Heart Super Saver, Caron One Pound, Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Vanna's Choice).
Lesson 4: Double Crochet swatch using yarn. Materials: Size H or I Crochet hook, scissors, 1 skein worsted weight yarn, (i.e. Red Heart Super Saver, Caron One Pound, Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Vanna's Choice).
Lessons 5, 6, 7 & 8: Student Driven. Students (with help from the teacher) will decide what type of project they would like to work on. Projects could be a scarf, snood, granny squares, bag or basket or other ideas students may have. Materials needed: Appropriate sized hook, scissors, yarn needle, worsted weight yarn and project ideas/pattern.
About the instructor: Margaret Rucci is a first-generation Italian who learned to sew, knit, crochet, cook and all that good stuff from her maternal grandmother, her Nonna and her mom. Margaret teaches hand stitching to high school students during the day and loves teaching and sharing her crafty passions by night.
Materials needed for this program: Be sure to bring materials to each class. You can purchase supplies at any craft store or online. Here is a list with live links to Michael’s, or bring what you have from home.
- Scissors: ($3.99 1 per each person)
- Hooks: B or C & H or I ($2.49 -2 needles per person)
- Thread: ($4.99 one roll per person)
- Big Eye Needles: ($2.69 4 needles per pack)
- Beads: ($4.99 one string per person)
- Yarn: ($5.99 one skein per person, or as determined by project Lesson 3)
- Steel Yarn Needles ($.99) OR Plastic Yarn Needles ($.99)
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04/03/2023 7:00 PM - 04/03/2023 8:30 PM
Learn to Crochet at Casa Belvedere! An eight-week program for adults and teens
Mondays, Feb. 13 to April 3, 2023, 7 to 8:30 pm
$210 members, $240 non-membersLearn how to crochet and discover a relaxing hobby you will enjoy for life! Crochet is portable – you can always have a project with you on the go. If you can hold a pencil, you can crochet. You will learn how to comfortably hold a crochet hook and the yarn, you will learn the basic crochet stitches; the chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet and as you progress we may get into the shell stitch as well. Specific materials needed for each lesson are listed below, with links to Michael’s online at the bottom of the page. Students should bring the required materials to each class.
Lesson 1: CHAIN STITCH: Using the small hook (B or C) and cotton thread, students will learn the chain stitch, then string beads to create a necklace or bracelet. Materials needed: Size B or C crochet hook (metal recommended), 1 Ball of Aunt Lynda’s Classic Cotton Thread (lighter colors recommended - not black.)
Lesson 2: SLIP STITCH: Using cotton thread and a piece of fabric, make a coaster using the slip stitch and chain stitch. You will also learn the picot stitch. Materials needed: Size B or C crochet hook (metal recommended), scissors, 1 ball of Aunt Lynda’s Classic Cotton Thread (lighter colors recommended – not black), Teacher will supply a square of sturdy fabric or felt.
Lesson 3: Single Crochet swatch using yarn. Materials needed: Size H or I Crochet hook, scissors, 1 skein worsted weight yarn, (i.e. Red Heart Super Saver, Caron One Pound, Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Vanna's Choice).
Lesson 4: Double Crochet swatch using yarn. Materials: Size H or I Crochet hook, scissors, 1 skein worsted weight yarn, (i.e. Red Heart Super Saver, Caron One Pound, Caron Simply Soft or Lion Brand Vanna's Choice).
Lessons 5, 6, 7 & 8: Student Driven. Students (with help from the teacher) will decide what type of project they would like to work on. Projects could be a scarf, snood, granny squares, bag or basket or other ideas students may have. Materials needed: Appropriate sized hook, scissors, yarn needle, worsted weight yarn and project ideas/pattern.
About the instructor: Margaret Rucci is a first-generation Italian who learned to sew, knit, crochet, cook and all that good stuff from her maternal grandmother, her Nonna and her mom. Margaret teaches hand stitching to high school students during the day and loves teaching and sharing her crafty passions by night.
Materials needed for this program: Be sure to bring materials to each class. You can purchase supplies at any craft store or online. Here is a list with live links to Michael’s, or bring what you have from home.
- Scissors: ($3.99 1 per each person)
- Hooks: B or C & H or I ($2.49 -2 needles per person)
- Thread: ($4.99 one roll per person)
- Big Eye Needles: ($2.69 4 needles per pack)
- Beads: ($4.99 one string per person)
- Yarn: ($5.99 one skein per person, or as determined by project Lesson 3)
- Steel Yarn Needles ($.99) OR Plastic Yarn Needles ($.99)
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04/22/2023 10:00 AM - 04/22/2023 12:00 PM
Writing Your Memories: New Year’s Writing & Revision Workshops with author Maria Giura
No experience necessary, just a notebook, pen and desire to record the past.Saturday Mornings from 10 am to noon:
Jan. 21, 2023 (Generative)
Feb. 25 (Revision)
March 25 (Generative)
April 22 (Revision)Are there memories you want to write or (family) stories you want to record? Or maybe you have a piece of writing you’ve already started, something you wrote recently or years ago, that you’d like to pick up and receive help with/constructive feedback on?
Join us for all or some of these supportive monthly workshops which will leave you with concrete suggestions to get closer to the truth of your own stories. January and March are generative – you will write new material – and February and April are revision – you’ll get feedback on something you’ve already written. For the revision workshops, once you’ve registered, you’ll be asked to email in advance a writing piece that is maximum 700 words.
