Issue #3 "Italy Fever E-Notes" by Darlene Marwitz 01.22.01

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ITALYFEVER.COM: The Italy Lover's Pre- and Post-Travel Online Companion
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IN THIS ISSUE:

- - - LIVING LA DOLCE VITA
- - - FOOD AND DRINK
- - - HOME AND GARDEN
- - - BOOKS AND MOVIES
- - - MUSIC AND OPERA
- - - TRAVEL AND TIDBITS

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LIVING LA DOLCE VITA: "Evening Passeggiata with a Four-Legged Friend"

A few weeks ago I worried upon overhearing my husband on the telephone. "Be careful what you ask for," David chimed, "you could get it and then not know what to do with it." I assumed he was talking about Hanna, our new yellow Labrador puppy, about how she was a storm in our otherwise temperate lives. Was David regretting my gift of a puppy? The dog he'd wanted for years? Had I done the wrong thing?

But then I heard his next comments and was reassured-that everything was fine. "Yeah, last night when I was trying to read in bed," David said, "Hanna was on one side of me in her crate on the floor, rattling heavy snorts with her feet up in the air because she sleeps on her back. And Darlene was on the other side of me in bed, snoring like a freight train. I had to shake Hanna's crate to wake her up and then elbow Darlene in the ribs-to stop all the noise so I could read." I think it was the way David TOLD the story that made me feel good, reassured me. He'd spoken with pride-like he'd experienced a loving family moment and survived it!

The best thing that's happened this month, however, is that Hanna is now able to go for walks in the neighborhood. We're still confined to sidewalks and streets (avoiding dog parks, etc.) until Hanna receives all her shots, but still, it's REAL walking! Evening passeggiata is what I had dreamed of with Hanna, my steady excuse to partake of this wonderful Italian ritual-at home.

The evening stroll in Italy is a beautiful form of socialization, equivalent to the loveliest handwritten note one might receive in the mail. Couples stroll, arm in arm, up and down city streets to chat about local news, show off fashions, and eat gelato (another reason to love Italy).

Sadly in the United States, in contrast, evening walks appear to be restricted to individuals with a weight-loss mission or to people who own dogs. No one else is walking. Few people stroll for the simple pleasure of walking, to simply walk and visit with neighbors, to simply say "hello." In America we're all afraid of each other, translated as: don't get involved, don't say too much, pretend not to see. We're caught up in the trivia of our own daily lives, surviving we say, while community gets pushed into the background-out of sight.

My solution mixes the best of two worlds: combining dog ownership with Italy's passeggiata. Already, Hanna helps me place one foot before the other-allowing me to explore new paths, discover new friendships within blocks of my house. Cordial greetings such as "good evening" and "isn't it a pretty night" introduce me to neighbors I've never met before.

To walk with grace and style, however, is truly an art, an art form that in Italy is practiced in style. Walking Italian-style means I must soon work on my fashion skills, shed my pulled-on sweats, socked-on hats, and baggy overcoats. No Italian woman would be caught on the streets of Lucca, Siena, or Vicenza-looking like me!

Still, for now, sweat pants and all, I mostly look forward to the scattered evenings that are becoming passeggiata "family" events, the nighttime strolls that include me, my spouse, AND our four-legged friend, Hanna girl-our not-so-little-anymore Hanna Vicenza Marwitz.

P.S. I'm overwhelmed that many of you have asked for on-line pictures of our puppy. But since my iMac is gasping for memory, close to death's door, photo files are out of the question-at least for now. Thanks for asking!

FOOD AND DRINK:

Cookbook: Last month I touted Anne Bianchi's Italian Food Festivals: Recipes and Traditions from Italy's Regional Country Food Fairs (1999). The perfect follow up is a new cookbook by Pamela Sheldon Johns titled Italian Food Artisans: Traditions and Recipes (2000). From condiments to dolci, Johns explores time-honored traditions for making some of Italy's most celebrated food products-olive oil, balsamic vinegar, bread, cheese, meat, pasta, chocolate, and wine, to name a few. Each of the recipes and "stories" is taken from the knowledge and experiences of food artisans throughout Italy, real people continuing sacred culinary traditions. Learn more about Johns and her cookbooks at http://www.foodartisans.com.

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Last month I also mentioned Chef Mario Batali's new television program called "Mario Eats Italy," so now I must tell you-it's a riot; I love it. The first episode I saw was called Fast Times at Parmesan High showing Batali zipping around the Emilia-Romagna region on a moped in search of Parmigiano-Reggiano secrets! Check the Food Network for details, http://www.foodtv.com.

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The Magazine of La Cucina Italiana and The Italian Culinary Institute continue to amaze me with their offerings, their energy! Most recently, they've announced a new project, Italian Cooking & Living, consisting of a new magazine (premiering in early April), Web site (http://www.italiancookingandliving.com), and television show (coming soon). They've also published a first-in-a-series cookbook called Signature Pasta: America's 26 Top Chefs Share Their Best Pasta Recipes (2000). Enter their January on-line sweepstakes at http://www.italiancookingandliving.com/contest to win a set of Barazonni cookware from Venice!

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Another On-line Contest: Enter the "Culinary Institute of Tuscany Sweepstakes" for a chance to win one of four trips for two to Italy (or other gifts), a Food Network contest presented by Olive Garden and sponsored by Colavita ExtraVirgin Olive Oil. See http://www.foodtv.com for details. Ends January 28, 2001 at 6:00 PM, ET, so hurry!

HOME AND GARDEN:

Tip: A kitchen window or back porch is the perfect place to display empty wine bottles. I save (or ask friends to save for me) assorted selections representing the various regions in Italy, especially bottles with beautiful labels or ones of unique shape or color. A friend recently gave me a blue one, my first. Each bottle for me is a connection to Italy, be it Montepulciano, Radda, or Bari-a "piece" of Italy on my windowsill at home!

Tip: Create a special place in your home for writing note cards and letters using an Italian pen on Italian stationery. Whenever I travel at home or abroad, I purchase all manner of Italian stationery and/or Italy-inspired greeting and thank-you cards, and then store them in a decorative box-ready to go. I never have to "shop" for a card when I need one.

Moreover, I collect antique inkstands for my Italian writing instruments. One of my favorite pens is a delicate glass stylus, handmade of pink and cobalt Murano glass-a special gift from a friend traveling in Venice. Search http://www.pens.it to view selections from various Italian pen manufacturers, inexpensive to outrageous in price.

Stationery and boxed notes are available from The Vatican Library Collection via http://www.1451.com and selected specialty stores. My favorite card set is called "Antique Music" (Blank Notes #08756). Also try http://www.cavallini.com for the San Francisco based stationery producer, Cavallini & Company. Their products are printed in Italy, many with architectural themes.

BOOKS AND MOVIES:

Fiction: I love first-time authors, especially Italy-inspired lovers of art and architecture. Kate Schneider's All We Know of Love (2000) is a novel that seduces those of us who long to live and paint in Italy. Following heartbreak, a young woman, Jo, departs her home in the Pacific Northwest to fulfill her artistic desire to paint the heartbeat of Florence, its people and incredible buildings. It's a "woman-follows-passion-complicated-by-love" story, reminiscent of Robert Hellenga's The Sixteen Pleasures (1994), another engaging novel with a Florentine art-based focus (water damaged books and art from the Arno River flood of 1966).

Fiction: Because of my interest in the movie, Gladiator (see below), it's perfect timing to tell you about Steven Saylor's string of Ancient Roman novels. A number of them sit on my shelf already, though none have been cracked until now. Thus far, I'm a few chapters into Roman Blood (1991), the first of the "Roma Sub Rosa" series, a good place to start. Saylor is a scholar of Ancient Rome and lives in Austin part-time, but I'm also interested in this author because he grew up in a small Texas town (Goldthwaite) close to mine (Evant)-in Central Texas; I look forward to meeting him some day. His latest book is Last Seen in Massilia (2001). I expect to get hooked!

Non-fiction: See below regarding Gladiator.

Non-fiction: One of the perks of being an Italophile is never having to tell someone what you want for your birthday because anything about Italy is perfect-especially if it's a book! Fortunately for me, my husband is particularly clever at digging for old titles I don't already own. This month he surprised me with a fragile yet heavy three-volume set, a slightly smelly "mountain" of information on Italian painters and craftsmen, A New History of Painting in Italy: From the Second to the Sixteenth Century (London, 1864). While such titles may not readily be available at local bookstores, these kinds of special resources ARE available at local libraries, especially university facilities. The University of Texas at Austin library system is outstanding; I've lugged dozens of Italy books home in the last few years and perused dozens more on site (rare and fragile works).

Never ignore libraries in your Italophile searches! One of the reasons I've admired First Lady Laura Bush is that she believes in the power of reading, understands the importance of public libraries. As First Lady of Texas, Mrs. Bush established in 1996 the first annual Texas Book Festival (in Austin) to benefit public libraries in Texas. The festival and its bounty of author events is now an ongoing favorite with book lovers across the country. See http://www.austin360.com/texasbookfestival for more information.

Movie: If it's not an Italy-related movie, then I probably haven't seen it. So, yes, you can laugh at me for not knowing who Russell Crowe WAS, until recently renting
Gladiator (2000, DreamWorks and Universal Studios). I had never seen Crowe in a previous movie, not one! His name was only slightly familiar to me because I'd heard it mentioned in connection with the Austin music scene because of his band, 30 Feet of Grunt.

Now, I can't wait to rent the "legend of Maximus" again, a second time to focus on the story, settings, and costumes because first time around I was smitten by Crowe's overwhelming performance. Next time, I'll also be better prepared to look for specific "details," production technicalities and trivia revealed to me through a companion book called, Gladiator: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic (2000). The pictorial moviebook is loaded with hundreds of photos, production drawings, storyboards, costume sketches, architectural renderings, and digital-effect revelations.

Within a few days of watching Gladiator, I also re-rented Spartacus (1960) for a simple comparison at some level, but was disappointed. I normally love the oldest movies best, but not this time. But then again, in all fairness, I've never been a Kirk Douglas fan.

There's also a number of on-line sources that offer historical information on early Roman history. Tim Ryan's Web site, http://www.deadromans.com is a good place to start.

MUSIC AND OPERA:

Last month I mentioned the centenary mark since the death of Giuseppe Verdi, so here's a new Web site to satisfy Verdi lovers, http://www.giuseppeverdi.org. It's filled with historical data and listings of celebration events throughout the world.

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The internationally-inspired rhythms and lyrics of Paolo Conte fit my mood this week, The Best of Paolo Conte (1998). This particular CD is set on my player to repeat for hours, background music while I work, an Italian session for nearby Hanna girl! Conte's voice and lyrics are husky, energizing, seductive-New Orleans jazz with an Italian interpretation. Selection # 9, "Happy Feet," is a longtime favorite, though oddly, it was first introduced to me by one of Austin's former swing bands, 8 & 1/2 Souvenirs, in their CD titled Happy Feet (1995) where they perform Conte's music and lyrics. NOTE: Paolo Conte's hometown, Asti, is a small city in northwestern Italy (Piedmont region) known for its sparkling spumante, located between the cities of Torino and Alessandria.

TRAVEL AND TIDBITS:

Tip: Don't hesitate to buy multiple guidebooks for a particular trip. No single publication is perfect for YOU. It's money well spent because you'll be better prepared for your journey. Tear out desired sections from each source to study and pack. Then toss printed material as it's used along the way. The wonderful thing about guidebooks is that they're frequently updated, intended to be "used" in my opinion. NOTE: I sometimes clip memorable descriptions from guidebook pages to paste in my travel notebook or journal; pack a small Swiss Army knife (w/tiny scissors) and an archival glue stick.

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For travelers with Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance coverage, you can search http://www.BCBS.com to locate international hospital listings that meet BCBS standards, facilities with English-speaking personnel and 24-hour emergency rooms.

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Parting Words: Following one's passion IS possible, even at home, one tiny "Italianized" step every day.

Ciao,
Darlene Marwitz

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Questions, comments, suggestions, or corrections?
Please send e-mail to darlene@italyfever.com. I welcome ideas for making this a better newsletter for Italy lovers seeking la dolce vita all year long!
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ITALY FEVER E-NOTES
Copyright 2000-2001, Darlene Marwitz. All rights reserved worldwide.
http://www.italyfever.com
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