In Partnership with 'Cinema Made In Italy' Presents New Film - INSIDE THE MIND OF LEONARDO IN 3D

Submarine Deluxe and History Films Present…
INSIDE THE MIND OF LEONARDO IN 3D
Directed by Julian Jones

"With over 6,000 pages of handwritten notes and drawings, Leonardo da Vinci’s private journals are the most comprehensive documents that chronicle the work of the world’s most renowned inventor, philosopher, painter and genius. Inside the Mind of Leonardo uses this precious collection of writings and drawings to recount Da Vinci’s story in his own words, and combines them with stunning visual effects and 3D technology to re-create the mindscape and ideas of mankind’s greatest polymath.

In a powerfully haunting performance, award-winning actor Peter Capaldi portrays Leonardo and dramatically narrates passages and monologues taken directly from the artist’s journals. Capaldi captures the passion of Leonardo’s ambition, his opinion of the world and his views on art and life. From the epic to the ordinary, Inside the Mind of Leonardo explores how Leonardo experienced the world around him. Following a biographical narrative, the feature captures the artist’s thwarted ambitions, hurt, anger –and sexual desire — as documented within his diaries, but also the everyday-ness of normal life: his shopping lists, health tips and even bawdy jokes."

To find a screening near you - http://insidethemindofleonardo.com/screenings/



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Italian American Christmas, Food, Family and Love

Merry Christmas to all my Italian American Girl readers, hope you all had an amazing holiday and I'm looking forward to a prosperous and healthy New Year.  This year for Christmas, as we always do my mother and sister baked and cooked some our favorite dishes. I posted a lot of our cookies and traditional cookies on my Facebook page here -- Italian American Girl  My sister is becoming quite the baker with her cookies, which resemble those of my mother's.  My mother fried her traditional zeppole, which obviously are a staple every year.  With each passing year, I get more and more sentimental about the traditions and maintaining the recipes and 'ways' that my mother always did.  Thank God, my sister is the skilled one when it comes to cooking and baking, but for me it's about the company, serving the food and always the right coffee.   This year, we had all of our get togethers, accompanied by Lavazza coffee.  Usually, we have espresso, since they've come out with their new drip coffees, I'm able to offer cafe Americano to my friends as well, who are not so versed in espresso.  There is nothing like the aroma and consistency of this coffee.   If you want to venture into a new coffee for the New Year, I highly recommend.  You can shop Lavazza here http://www.shoplavazza.com  

**This post was sponsored by Lavazza** 

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Going Back to Italy

It's been a long time since I've been back to Italy or my parents home town in  Italy.  The reasons for not going back seem to get more complicated and I seem to get busier with either life or work.  Going to Italy used to very important to me to at least visit once a year.  My parents haven't been back in a while either just for reasons of life, getting older and handling their financial business and issues here.  As I've posted in the past, my parents are in a place now where the time has come where they have to either have sell off or condense their lives.  My parents have always managed to live a modest life, work hard and own their own homes, but are faced with many challenges here in America as seniors.  As the daughter of senior parents it's not easy taking care of all those things, my parents are complex people, who don't like you in their business, but I guess we're past that now, my siblings and I try very hard to be care givers, but as many of you with strong headed people --especially Calabrese parents--- that task is not easy.  It's a very strange day when you realize your once strong parents are getting old, are old and now need your help.  I'm sure throughout your life you get upset with you parents for different reasons and then the day comes when you realize your roles are reversed.  So, getting mad anymore is gone and now we as children have to do our best to take care of our parents, even if we still don't agree with them.. ( I laugh as I write this, because they are so damn stubborn!)

I travel often for either work or pleasure, but it seems lately more domestically, my goal is to get back to Italy soon and do my normal visit and stay in our home town in Italy.  There is nothing like Italy and it's my second home, but America is my first and our lives are here.  I'm sure many children of immigrants struggle with this sort of identity crisis.  I love my Italian family as well and sometimes I get upset when I hear they think Americans live like KINGS, and in essence I feel we work very hard with every reward earned.  Today was a day of reflection and an inside scoop to the journey of getting back to Italy.  I will be in Italy in the next few months, stay tuned.

-Margaret Tweet

Lavazza Passionista, Making Your Best Coffee Recipe!

Post by Italian American Girl.

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Happy Columbus Day - A Memorable Day For My Father Who First Came To America Over 56 years ago..

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LIGABUE Italy's Record-Shattering Rockstar Announces American Debut - October Dates!

New York, NY — Renowned Italian singer, songwriter, film director and author Luciano Ligabue caps a record breaking quarter-century career with his first-ever concert appearances on the American continent.  Taking off from Manhattan's Terminal 5 on October 19th, the iconic performer makes stops in Los Angeles (October 22nd at the Whisky a Go Go) and San Francisco (October 24 at the DNA Lounge), before touching down at Miami's Grand Central on October 26th.  This US run of dates is a continuation of Ligabue's  "Mondovisione Tour – Mondo 2014"  in support of the acclaimed artist's 10th studio album "Mondovisione," released in November 2013 and certified Italy's top selling album of that year within four weeks of release.

The Emilia-Romagna born Luciano Ligabue spent his young adult life working jobs in the region's agricultural factories, while simultaneously moonlighting as a radio DJ and cutting his teeth as a bandleader on the local rock club circuit.   Ligabue released his first record at the relatively late age of 30 with an eponymously titled album in 1990.  Arguably the most successful debut in the history of the Italian music business, Ligabue's life experiences proved central to the formation of the artist's narrative as a songwriter and in his ability to intimately communicate as a storyteller on a national level.  "Ligabue" the album went platinum connecting him as a solo artist with millions of fans in a way not previously seen in Italy, playing some 250 dates up and down the Italian peninsula over the next 3 years, including a pair of opening slots for U2 on their "Zoo TV Tour" at stadium's in Naples and Turin.  By 1997 Ligabue had confirmed himself as a stadium headliner in his own right with the first of 11 appearances at Milan's temple of football and music San Siro.  In 2005 Liga, as he is commonly known, set the still unbroken European record for tickets sold in a single concert in the form of a "hometown" gig at Campovolo in Reggio Emilia.  The US trade publication Pollstar registered a staggering 165,264 fans in attendance at the event.   As a musician Ligabue has released 10 studio albums, 4 live albums, 2 greatest hits albums, 1 soundtrack album, all certified multi-platinum in Italy.

Luciano Ligabue's debut in the world of film proved equally auspicious with 1998's "Radiofreccia" which screened at the Venice Film Festival and was the subsequent winner of multiple trophies at both Italy's Nastri d'Argento and Davide di Donatello awards for Ligabue's screenplay and direction.  Considered at once a cult classic, commercial success and critical favorite in Italy, "Radiofreccia" was added to the permanent film archive of New York City's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2006.  Also a published author, Luciano Ligabue has penned 4 works including novels and poetry.  His 1997 literary debut "Fuori e Dentro il Borgo" was yet another award-winner; the collection of short stories picked up the prestigious Elsa Morante prize.

Ligabue has taken part in many of Italy's seminal events of the past generation including 1996's Pavarotti and Friends concert in Modena (the legendary tenor also an Emilia Romagna native), 2005's Live 8 concert in Rome (Italy's part in 10 simultaneous benefit concerts held in as many countries and organized by Bob Geldof), 2012's Italia Loves Emilia benefit concert for relief in the earthquake-struck region, and 2014's Sanremo Festival where Ligabue appeared as a special guest.

The US leg of Ligabue's Mondovisione Tour – Mondo 2014 is presented by Riservarossa and F&P Group.

Sunday, October 19, 2014                New York, NY
Terminal 5
610 W 56th St
New York, NY 10019
Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 8:00 pm
$50.00 Advance / $55.00 Day Of Show
(212) 582-6600
http://www.terminal5nyc.com/event/672015

Wednesday, October 22, 2014             Los Angeles, CA
Whisky a Go Go 
8901 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 8:30pm
$50.00 Advance / $55.00 Day Of Show
(310) 652-4202
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ligabue-tickets-12093286345

Friday October 24, 2014                 San Francisco, CA
DNA Lounge 
375 Eleventh St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Doors: 7:00pm / Show: 8:30pm
$50.00 Advance / $55.00 Day Of Show
(415) 626-1409
http://www.dnalounge.com/calendar/2014/10-24.html

Sunday, October 26, 2014                Miami, FL
Grand Central
697 N Miami Ave,
Miami, FL 33136
Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 9:00pm
$50.00 Advance / $55.00 Day Of Show
(305) 377-2277
http://grandcentralmiami.ticketfly.com/event/625215-ligabue-miami/

Ligabue Online
http://facebook.com/ligabue

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Upcoming Fall Italian American Events - Columbus Day Parade, Educational, Art & Fundraising Galas

PARADE -- This year's Columbus Day Parade will take place in New York City in October, visit the Columbus Citizens Foundation web page for further details and dates. http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/
The parade is broadcast on the major New York networks such as NBC.


**Photo Credit - http://www.columbuscitizensfd.or

EVENTS --For upcoming events all around New York City, featuring musical events, educational lectures, be sure to visit the i-Italy Digital Project site for the latest updates and features.


GALA -- In October in Washington D.C., The National Italian American Foundation features their Gala, which aims to raise awareness and funds to all programs and education for the Italian American community.  This year's gala will take place on October 25, 2014.

Visit the site here for tickets and further details - http://www.niaf.org/

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