The Italian Cultural Foundation

Adult Coking Class
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-04 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Casa Belvedere, 79 Howard Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 10301, United States
Adult and children’s cooking classes are held on Mondays and select Tuesdays.
Children classes meet from 4 to 5 pm. Adult classes meet from 7 to 9 pm.
All cooking classes are held in Cucina Colavita, a custom teaching kitchen.
Classes are led by Kim Leo, chef and owner of Kim’s Kitchen & Catering by Kim Cooks, and a licensed food handler.
Each person participates in hands-on cooking!
Everyone will taste the recipe created by Chef Kim.
Then, after cooking your own dish, you take it home with you!
Class sizes are limited. If your desired class is sold out,
add your name to the wait list as more classes may become available.
Call the Foundation office at 718-273-7660.
Culinary Program Cancellation Policy:
There are no refunds for cancellations or no-shows.
Credits for future programs will be issued only if you cancel 48 hours prior to your registered program.
To cancel your registration, call the Foundation office at 718-273-7660.
Please note that Casa Belvedere’s cooking class prices have increased due to the rising cost of food supplies
Register Here!

Sunset Yoga
2025-09-08 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-25 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-11 18:30 - 19:30
FITNESS AT CASA BELVEDERE
Sunset Yoga with Toni Freda
Held outdoors on the patio

Monday at 6:30 pm
$20.00 members/$25.00 nonmembers
Age 14 and up

Children's Cooking Class
2025-09-08 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-11 16:00 - 17:00

Pilates
2025-09-06 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-08-23 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-08-09 09:30 - 10:30
FITNESS AT CASA BELVEDERE

If paying cash at the door per class: $20 members / $25 nonmembers
Saturdays 9:30-10:30am

Pilates works to tone, stretch and elongate the muscles through focused alignment, coordinated breathing, and stability. Pilates is a low-impact class for all levels.

Mat class: Personal mat recommended. No equipment required.
Prior registration is strongly encouraged. Although drop-ins are welcome to pay at the door, the class may be canceled if we do not have enough registered participants.
Register Here!

The Jarring of Tomatoes: Two families come together to share their family tradition
2025-09-06 08:00 - 13:00
The Jarring of Tomatoes: Two families come together to share their family tradition
A live demonstration at Casa Belvedere
Saturday, Sept. 6. Visit anytime from 8 am to 1 pm
Special thanks to the D’Amato and Romeo families.
Discover the flavors and traditions of Italy at Casa Belvedere’s Tomato Sauce Jarring Demonstration. Watch as ripe, summer tomatoes are transformed into a delicious sauce reminiscent of Nonna’s kitchen, and see techniques for jarring and preserving it for future enjoyment.

Guests will experience the sights and scents of this beloved Italian ritual and leave with ideas to inspire their own cooking at home.

The Italian Cultural Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to the Romeo and D’Amato families, as well as A&J Produce and DeCecco Pasta, for sharing their cherished family traditions and fresh produce with the community!

Register Here!

Casa’s Coffee Club for Seniors: The Joy of Italian Opera
2025-09-05 10:00 - 11:30
Casa’s Coffee Club for Seniors: The Joy of Italian Opera
Friday, September 5, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 AM in The Galleria
Free for members, $10 donation non-members

This opera appreciation lecture, led by Lou Barrella, will elicit an appreciation for both seasoned opera lovers as well as beginners, and intends to excite the appetites of all those who especially love wonderful vocal and orchestral music by sharing insights into the minds and souls of the composers whose works still affect us today. Join us for an experience of intellectual stimulation and musical pleasure.

Register Here!

La Dolce Lettura Book Club -These Broken Streets by Roland Merullo
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:30
La Dolce Lettura Book Club –These Broken Streets by Roland Merullo

Monday, September 3, 2025
7 to 8:30 PM
The Galleria
$0 Members, $10 Non-Members

Join us this September for a La Dolce Lettura Book Club group selected read, These Broken Streets by Roland Merullo. Set in Naples 1934, a courageous group of ordinary citizens – including a rebellious archivist, a Fascist secretary in quiet defiance, and a cunning black marketeer – begin to resist in secret. Inspired by a true uprising, this powerful novel about love, loyalty, and the extraordinary bravery of those who dare to fight back.

Register Now!

08/26 • Cinema Sotto le Stelle •Nonnas (2025)
2025-08-26 19:30 - 22:00
Cinema Sotto Le Stelle : Nonnas (2025)
Tuesday, August 26 from 7:30 to 10 PM
Free for members, $10 donation for non-members

Experience this heartfelt and humorous film about Staten Island’s iconic Enoteca Maria restaurant that celebrates the power of tradition, food, and the remarkable women who pass it all down. Nonnas has touched hearts across the Italian American community — and now, it comes to Casa Belvedere’s big screen as part of our Cinema Sotto Le Stelle series.
Release this year, Nonnas is an American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky, written by Liz Maccie, and starring Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro with Linda Cardellini and Susan Sarandon. The film is based on the life of Joe Scaravella, owner of Enoteca Maria, who risks everything to honor his recently deceased, beloved mother by opening an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers as chefs.

Register here!

Looking for Your Italian Roots
2025-08-26 13:00 - 15:00
Looking for Your Italian Roots
Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 1 to 3 pm
$35 members, $55 non-members

Members of the Italian Genealogy Group of Long Island – Professors Mike Genovese, Mario Toglia and Dr. Marilyn Verna – will help you explore online and offline resources to help you gain access to both American and Italian records.
Participants are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets to this hands-on workshop. Please bring any documents and vital information for you and your family, to help with our investigative work. The trio can also help translate your Italian documents.

Register Here!

Sit & Stretch
2025-08-22 10:00 - 11:30
Casa’s Coffee Club for Seniors
Sit & Stretch
Friday, August 22 from 10 to 11:30 am
The Galleria
Free for members, $10 donation non-members

“Revitalize Your Body and Mind with Sit & Stretch Senior Class!”

Join us for a gentle yet invigorating Sit & Stretch session tailored to enhance flexibility, improve mobility, and promote overall well-being. Led by experienced instructor Audrey Urcia, this class offers a perfect blend of seated exercises and gentle stretches, ensuring accessibility for all fitness levels. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to fitness, our welcoming environment encourages you to move at your own pace, to help you feel empowered!

After the class, treat yourself to coffee, tea, and biscotti. Weather permitting, you’ll be able enjoy these refreshments on our scenic balcony overlooking the Verrazzano Narrows, surrounded by nature’s tranquility and the company of fellow participants.

Don’t miss this opportunity to prioritize self-care and connect with fellow seniors in a supportive and uplifting atmosphere. Your path to a healthier, happier you awaits!

Register Here!

Musica Sotto le Stelle: Vanessa Racci – The Jazzy Italian
2025-08-19 18:30 - 21:30
Musica Sotto le Stelle
Vanessa Racci – The Jazzy Italian

Tuesday, August 19 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Doors open 6 pm
$125 members, $135 non-members.
Four-course dinner includes wine and soft drinks.

Step into a timeless summer evening at Casa Belvedere for a very special installment of our Musica Sotto Le Stelle concert series, featuring the dynamic and soulful Vanessa Racci.

A celebrated Italian American jazz-pop vocalist, Vanessa brings fresh energy to the classics, fusing the golden age of Italian song with the rich sounds of American jazz. Her performances are a love letter to heritage and melody, as she reinterprets traditional Italian favorites and American standards with vintage flair and contemporary style.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of classic Italian music or new to the genre, Vanessa’s captivating voice and heartfelt storytelling promise a night of nostalgia, joy, and cultural pride. Set against the backdrop of our historic mansion and overlooking the New York Harbor, this is sure to be a memorable evening of music under the stars.

Bring your friends, bring your famiglia, and join us for a night that celebrates the beauty of song, spirit, and summer.

If it rains, the dinner and show will be presented indoors.

Register here!

Children's Art Class
2025-08-18 14:30 - 15:45
Art with Lauren at Casa
For children ages 5 to 12
$45 members, $65 non-members

Monday 8/18 • 2:30 to 3:45 pm
Mosaic Magic-Drawing & Coloring Geometric Art
Kids will draw fun shapes and patterns to make their own mosaic-style art, then color it in with bright markers, pencils, or watercolor to create a super colorful design full of cool lines and color!

Register Here!

Qi-Yoga Flow
2025-08-14 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-08-07 08:30 - 09:30
FITNESS AT CASA BELVEDERE

If paying cash at the door per class: $20 members / $25 nonmembers
Are you searching for help with sleep and relaxation? Casa Belvedere invites you to try Qi-Yoga Flow, a hybrid class that combines the ancient healing practice of Qi Gong with Yoga. Qi gong is over 8,000 years old. This class is a moving meditation that combines gentle movements, breathing techniques, visualization, and intention to promote vitality, longevity and wellness.

Qi Gong (pronounced “chee-gong”) has been used to promote and restore health for thousands of years. It has been referred to as “the world’s oldest healthcare system.”
This class is for all levels. It’s great for anyone wanting help with sleep and relaxation while still bringing strengthening poses to their practice. Personal mat recommended. Wear comfortable clothing.
Come and move some energy with us!

Mat class: Personal mat recommended. No equipment required.

Register Here!

Prior registration is strongly encouraged. Although drop-ins are welcome to pay at the door, the class may be canceled if we do not have enough registered participants.

Cinema Sotto Le Stelle : Double Feature! Palermo: Amore films (2025)
2025-08-12 20:00 - 22:00
Cinema Sotto Le Stelle : Double Feature! Palermo: Amore films (2025)
Tuesday, August 12 from 8 to 10 PM
Presented in Italian with English subtitles
Free for members, $10 donation for non-members

Join us for an evening of thought-provoking cinema under the stars with a special screening of Palermo: Amore e Fontane and Palermo: Amore e Cannoli, Both films celebrate the love stories and culture of Palermo, the capital of Sicily. The films showcase literature, poetry, stories, historic sites and monuments, and the cuisine from the famed and ancient Ballarò Market to the definitive Sicilian desserts: the cannoli.

Synopses of each film:
Palermo: Amore e Fontane (27 min.) Sicilian writer Alessandra and Neapolitan artist Francesco meet, fall in love and explore Palermo. The film showcases classic literature from Homer to Boccaccio to Giovanni Verga; music inspired by opera to contemporary jazz; historic monuments that include churches, piazzas, fountains and religious icons like Palermo’s patron saint Santa Rosalia; poetry; and foods from the famed and ancient Ballarò Market with its explosion of colors of eggplants and lemons, images of seafood, cheeses, sizzling meats and traditional street food like arancini and panelle, and tantalizing cannoli desserts. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1044892777

Palermo: Amore e Cannoli (27 min.) Italian-American filmmaker Gianna and Palermo pastry chef Damiano fall in love in Sicily, but neither will reveal their heart to the other. As they strike up their relationship over cannoli, the classic Sicilian pastries, they share their past; explore the history of the cannoli; and enjoy the culture, music, poetry and storytelling traditions of Palermo. The film showcases this ancient city’s iconic and lively piazzas, dancing fountains, parks with ancient trees, and magnificent theaters – all rich with Sicilian life, food, and a great diversity of people and love. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1100090509

About the filmmakers: Marylou & Jerome Bongiorno are Emmy-nominated, award-winning husband and wife filmmakers whose families are from the Veneto (Marylou) and Sicilia (Jerome). They have been filming in Italy and are returning to Casa Belvedere with their latest Italian love stories. For more info: www.BongiornoProductions.com

Register Here!

Children's Art Class
2025-08-11 14:30 - 15:45
Art with Lauren at Casa
For children ages 5 to 12
$45 members, $65 non-members

Monday 8/11-Renaissance and Modern Art Mashup Painting and Collage
Kids will cut out prints of famous paintings, glue them to canvas, and paint their own colorful, funky spin around them—mixing old-school Italian art with bold modern style!

Register Here!

Yoga, Meditation and Mocktails
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:30
Health & Wellness • Meditation, Yoga & Mocktails
Saturday, August 9 • 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Back by popular demand! Experience a guided meditation and series of breath-work to cultivate inner peace, flow through Pilates/yoga movement, deep relaxation during a hands-on savasana (restorative pose) with lavender essential oil, and conclude with a hydrating and healthy refreshing mocktail.

Register Here!

Casa’s Coffee Club for Seniors: Beginner Bocce
2025-08-08 10:00 - 11:30
Casa’s Coffee Club for Seniors: Beginner Bocce
Friday, August 8 from 10 to 11:30 am
Free for members, $10 donation for non-members

Join us for a delightful morning of bocce, a sport beloved by Italians and Italian Americans of all ages! Whether you’re a senior who’s a seasoned player or completely new to the game, this instructional event is perfect for all skill levels. Bocce is a leisurely yet engaging game that promotes socialization, friendly competition, and light exercise, all in the beautiful outdoors.

Register Here!

Bilingual Garden Italian at Casa - Ages 2-5
2025-08-06 12:30 - 13:15
Bilingual Garden Italian at Casa – Ages 2-5
Wednesday, August 6
12:30 to 1:15 pm
Galleria
$55 members, $75 non-members

For children ages 2 to 5 with parent or guardian

There’s something truly magical happening at The Bilingual Garden NY. Rooted in love, language, and early childhood development, this unique program was created by speech-language pathologists who believe that children learn best through play, connection, and culture. Their Italian immersion class is more than just a class — it’s an experience.
Led by the incredibly warm and passionate Ms. Gabriella, who was raised by her Italian grandparents, children are transported into a world filled with the sounds, traditions, and joy of Italy. Fluent in Italian since childhood, Ms. Gabriella brings her heritage to life through music, storytelling, pretend play, and hands-on discovery.
Each week feels like stepping into a little piece of Italy — where language blooms, friendships grow, and culture is celebrated with every song and smile. If you’re looking for something truly special for your child, The Bilingual Garden NY at Casa Belvedere is where the magic begins.

Register Here!

Cinema Sotto Le Stelle – Astolfo (Never Too Late for Love)
2025-08-05 20:00 - 22:00
Cinema Sotto Le Stelle – Astolfo (Never Too Late for Love)
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 • 7:30 PM
Italian with English subtitles
Free for members, $10 donation for non-members
Join us for a charming and heartwarming evening under the stars with a screening of Astolfo, the delightful Italian film also known as Never Too Late for Love. Directed by and starring Gianni Di Gregorio, this gentle romantic comedy reminds us that new beginnings can happen at any age.
When retired professor Astolfo is evicted from his Roman apartment, he retreats to a crumbling family estate in the countryside where he rediscovers life’s simple pleasures, unlikely friendships, and, unexpectedly, love. With humor, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia, the film offers a tender meditation on second chances and the joy of embracing the present.
Register Here!

Sunset Qi-Yoga Flow
2025-08-04 19:30 - 20:30
FITNESS AT CASA BELVEDERE

If paying cash at the door per class: $20 members / $25 nonmembers
Are you searching for help with sleep and relaxation? Casa Belvedere invites you to try Qi-Yoga Flow, a hybrid class that combines the ancient healing practice of Qi Gong with Yoga. Qi gong is over 8,000 years old. This class is a moving meditation that combines gentle movements, breathing techniques, visualization, and intention to promote vitality, longevity and wellness.

Qi Gong (pronounced “chee-gong”) has been used to promote and restore health for thousands of years. It has been referred to as “the world’s oldest healthcare system.”
This class is for all levels. It’s great for anyone wanting help with sleep and relaxation while still bringing strengthening poses to their practice. Personal mat recommended. Wear comfortable clothing.
Come and move some energy with us!

Mat class: Personal mat recommended. No equipment required.

Prior registration is strongly encouraged. Although drop-ins are welcome to pay at the door, the class may be canceled if we do not have enough registered participants.

La Dolce Lettura • Book Club at Casa Belvedere
2025-08-04 19:00 - 20:30
La Dolce Lettura Book Club – The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

Monday, August 4, 2025
7 to 8:30 PM
The Galleria
$0 Members, $10 Non-Members

Join us this August for a special La Dolce Lettura Book Club gathering as we dive into The View from Lake Como by beloved author Adriana Trigiani. Set in the picturesque town of Lake Como, this poignant novel explores themes of love, family, tradition, and the choices that shape a woman’s destiny. Through Trigiani’s signature warmth and wit, we’ll journey with protagonist Bella as she grapples with the expectations of her heritage and the pull of her own dreams.

Register Here!
