The Italian Voice

Ciao amici, as promised I am here today to report about yesterday evening when I spent a couple of hours with my mother at the nice Notte Bianca in Bologna.

As we live in province, we left at 7 pm, driving the car until the periphery to take a bus to the city. We got off 5 minutes far from the street of the event; the close streets were crowded and the weather a bit hotter than in the past days, but it was pleasant to walk with no hurry under the typical porches and looking around at the monuments, churches and palaces.

The event was located just downtown, in via S. Isaia, which was completely closed to traffic for the occasion.

I add here the mosaic which I prepared with my most relevant shots and here below I am going to tell you what we experienced at the Notte Bianca in Bologna.

We immediately met the ice cream man and a nice fruit stand, then we found a wonderful show at the open air with ballett dancers which attracted a lot of visitors.
I also took a video about a ballett performed in honour of the upcoming Olympic Games 2008 of Beijing of the , today I was not able to reduce its size as I was a bit busy, but be sure that I will show it to you as soon as possible, I liked it a lot, so stay tuned to watch it when it is ready!!

Going on along the street called via S. Isaia, we saw an exhibition of firemen who prepared a sort of wall climbing for children; in fact, one of the kids was too sweet, climbing the wall, all dressed with the typical helmet and jacket, helped by two men.

Not far from them, there was a special small area dedicated to a tango school literally at the open air, where couples could learn to dance that faschinating dance with a soft light.

All along the street, visitors could appreciate the music offered by disk jockeys at several consoles under the porches and fabulous jazz bands in front of the historical coffee bars while tasting a fresh aperitif and looking at the children while playing with air-balloons, as well as hunting for nice bargains into the shops which already started to sell with the summer sales.

Just before leaving, I wanted to offer to my mother the heavenly ice cream by the famous Gelateria Gianni, which is situated just behind the corner between the central streets called via Indipendenza and via U. Bassi (see this map); it was just the right conclusion for that nice evening!!

We are living in years of big pollution and huge changements in the climate everywhere in the world.
Everybody seem to be concerned, but nobody kwow what to do exactly.

My opinion is that we have to start from our own little world, we need to do something just in our own routine.
An Abkhazian popular proverb, which is widespread worldwide in similar forms, tells that “even a sea consists of small drops“.
I totally agree, do not you?

So today I want to present you a great event which will occun on Saturday June 28th, 2008 in the Abruzzo region: the first edition of the Notte Verde!

Map of Abruzzo

That special evening will offer more than 300 events in 20 locations along the 170 kilometers of the abruzzese seacost which will be totally dedicated to the ecology and the entertainment.

The shops will be open until late night, the restaurants will present themed menus and appetizers with traditional local and biological specialties, paying attention to the use of materials of sustainable consumption.
The organization will plan activities to teach the citizens to live in a more eco-friendly way, in whole respect of our Earth, also thanks to the involvement of artists and big names of the Italian performing arts.

All the info are available at the website at the url http://www.lanotteverde.it but, as the website unfortunately is in Italian, I decided to translate just for you the calendar of the events of this fantastic green night in the different locations of the region, enjoy!

Saturday June 28th, 2008

MARTINSICURO – EUROPA SEAFRONT:
09-10 pm: “Blue Sound” Music Band;
10-10:45 pm: Fashion show;
11-11:45 pm: Cabaret show with Tony Russi;
11:45 pm-00:15 am: Dance lessons;
00:15-01 am: “Blue Sound” Music Band;
01-02:30 am: Latin animation group with Baby Caribe Dance Dj;

On the seafront: Spinning lessons with Dj;
Special Guest: Tessa Gelisio, tv presenter of “Pianeta Mare” show on ReteQuattro and President of the “For Planet” Association for the Environmental Conservation;
During the Notte Verde: Free distribution of high quality milk by the AgriService farmings, to bring on the table of citizens and tourists this raw freshly drawn food; in addition, samples of traditional local specialties offered by AgriService for Drainage and Environmental Activity.

TORTORETO LIDO – VIA CARDUCCI ROTUNDA:
Special Guest: Tessa Gelisio, tv presenter of “Pianeta Mare” on ReteQuattro and President of the “For Planet” Association for the Environmental Conservation.

ROSETO DEGLI ABRUZZI – CELOMMI SEAFRONT, FOUNTAINS AREA:
9:30 pm: “The Blues Brothers” Cover Band;
Playing area for children with animation and clowns;
Special Guests: Marta Rossi with Francesco Capodacqua from the “Amici” show by Maria De Filippi and Nadia Castaldi from the Italian “Big Brother 8″;
During the Notte Verde: Free distribution of high quality milk by the AgriService farmings, to bring on the table of citizens and tourists this raw freshly drawn food; in addition, samples of traditional local specialties offered by AgriService for Drainage and Environmental Activity.

PINETO:
Special Guests: Marta Rossi with Francesco Capodacqua from the “Amici” show by Maria De Filippi and Nadia Castaldi from the Italian “Big Brother 8″.

SILVI MARINA – PIAZZALE DEI PINI SEAFRONT:
9:30 pm: Speech about the environment by Doctor Marrone;
9:45 pm: Live music with “Over the Hill” Band;
11 pm: Cabaret show with “La Gastrite” Duet;
11:30 pm: Fashion show by “SR” Atelier by Simone Racioppo;
Special Guests: Marta Rossi with Francesco Capodacqua from the “Amici” show by Maria De Filippi and Nadia Castaldi from the Italian “Big Brother 8″.

MONTESILVANO - TEATRO DEL MARE:
Finale of the “New Model of the Year - Eco Miss La Notte Verde 2008″ National Contest;
Special Guests: Raffaella Fico from the Italian “Big Brother 8″ and Antonino Lombardo with Marina Marchione from the “Amici” show 2008 by Maria De Filippi;
Finale of the evening with many other special guests;
During the Notte Verde: Free distribution of high quality milk by the AgriService farmings, to bring on the table of citizens and tourists this raw freshly drawn food; in addition, samples of traditional local specialties offered by AgriService for Drainage and Environmental Activity.

FRANCAVILLA AL MARE – PIAZZA SIRENA:
Selection for the “Miss Grand Prix” National Contest;
Disco with Elio Dj, 70s/80s/90s Dance music;
Magic show;
Special Guests: Raffaella Fico from the Italian “Big Brother 8″ and Antonino Lombardo with Marina Marchione from the “Amici” show 2008 by Maria De Filippi.

ORTONA – PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLICA:
9:30 pm: Live music with “Bertone/1” Band;
10:30 pm: Fabrizio Buccella Conjurer
11:30 pm: Live music with “Liberi di volare” Band (”Nomadi” Cover Band);
00:30 am: Live music with “The Flatheads” Band (”The Fratellis” Cover Band);
Special Guests: Raffaella Fico from the Italian “Big Brother 8″ and Antonino Lombardo with Marina Marchione from the “Amici” show 2008 by Maria De Filippi.

MARINA DI SAN VITO – DI GUALDO SEAFRONT:
Special Guests: Andrea Spadoni and Francesca De Meo from the Italian “Big Brother 7″.

FOSSACESIA – BAYA VERDE SOUTHERN SEAFRONT:
Festival of Strabocchi di Musica (www.strabocchidimusica.com);
Concert by Caparezza;
Live music with “Anema Me” Band in Abruzzese dialect;
Live music with “Après La Classe” Band (Raggae, Pop, Dance, Ska);
Until the sunrise: Orobi Dj Set.

TORINO DI SANGRO:
Special Guests: Andrea Spadoni and Francesca De Meo from the Italian “Big Brother 7″.

CASALBORDINO – SEAFRONT:
Dancing evening;
Special Guests: Andrea Spadoni and Francesca De Meo from the Italian “Big Brother 7″.

VASTO MARINA – SEAFRONT:
Special Guests: Andrea Spadoni and Francesca De Meo from the Italian “Big Brother 7″.

The Notte Verde is organized in Abruzzo because is the “Green Region of Europe“, the events are conceived and produced by Claudio Marastoni Comunication and are under the patronage of: Regione Abruzzo, Province of Pescara, Province of Teramo, Province of Chieti, Municipalities of Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatica, Tortoreto, Giulianova, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Pineto, Silvi, Montesilvano, Pescara, Francavilla al Mare, Ortona, San Vito Chetino, Fossacesia, Torino di Sangro, Casalbordino, Vasto, San Salvo, Confindustria Abruzzo, Confindustria Pescara, Confindustria Teramo, Confindustria Chieti, Confcommercio Abruzzo, Federalberghi Abruzzo and Faita.

If you are in Abruzzo or close to that region in that day, I heartily suggest to attend the Notte Verde and, if you want to arrange a trip to Italy, this will be the perfect occasion to come.
I will probably attend it too, for my personal interest and for writing an article for the Italian webmagazine with which I cooperate, so let me know your plans and we will be even able to meet there, how exciting, I am waiting for your emails!!

In the meanwhile, have a nice weekend and see you soon, ciao my friends!

DETAILS

Directed by: Matteo Garrone
Produced by: Domenico Procacci
Subject: Roberto Saviano
Written by: Matteo Garrone, Roberto saviano, Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni Di Gregorio, Massimo Gaudioso
Starring: Toni Servillo, Gianfelice Imparato
Music by: Massive Attack
Cinematography: Marco Onorato
Editing by: Marco Spoletini
Scenography: Paolo Bonfini
Costumes: Alessandra Cardini
Makeup: Alessandro Bertolazzi
Production House: Fandango, in cooperation with Rai Cinema and SKY and with the support of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Assets
Release dates: Italy May 16, 2008 - France August 13, 2008 - Germany September 11, 2008
Running time: 135 min.
Country: Italy
Language: Italian
Year: 2008
Series: Dramatic
Prizes: Grand Prix at the Festival de Cannes 2008 and Premio Città di Roma - Arcobaleno Latino
Official website: Gomorra

Roberto Saviano, writer of the book which inspired
the movie called Gomorra, with the homonym title

Watch the official trailer HERE

MY BRIEF REVIEW

Gomorra is the docu-movie, based on the famous homonym bestseller written by the young journalist and writer (under police’s escort service) Roberto Saviano; it is a book-denunciation against the criminality of the camorra, set in Scampia, a quarter of Neaples which is situated in the northern suburb of the city.
The movie shows exactly the operation of the illegal traffics and of the inner equilibriums of the Italian criminal enterprise where anyone is excluded, because the emotional bonds do not mind, everyone is submitted to the hard-and-fast law of the camorra.

The title is a wordplay among the name of the city of perdition, Gomorrah, together with Sodom, which are mentioned into the Bible, and the consonance with the name of the camorra.

The plot of the story is a weave of lives who contribute in different ways to fuel the crimes of the families’ clans.

The main characters are: Franco, seasoned professional of the international toxic garbage disposal; Pasquale, always exploited dressmaker of haute couture; Totò, promising young who does not want to lose his innocence; Don Ciro, consignee of money to the families into the war of clans; Marco and Ciro, two young ones who want to prevail on the boss.

The movie goes at the heart of the matter, the scenography makes it an exploitation one, but very realistic and for this reason it is very appreciated by the public; it offers perpetual suspence, also due to the fact that the cameras are always on the move, it makes you stay literally glued at the seat of the cinema for 2 hours.
The colors of the shots are not too brilliant to give a sense of urban blight of the area and also of the corruption of the life, they highlight the typical high shabby buildings, stairs, corners, tiny streets, sheds, pits and so on.

So my message for you, folks outside Italy, is: stay tuned for the release date in your Country and do remember the name of this Italian movie, because you will esteem it very much, as everyone already did it with the Saviano’s book; as soon as it arrives in your cinemas, you will not forget its subject so easily!

* * * * *

REMINDER FOR MY READERS: Tomorrow I will leave by train to reach my boyfriend at the new flat and I will be back on Saturday late evening, so see you on Sunday with my updates. Have a nice weekend everyone!!

Bologna is my capital of province, I am always happy to write about it.

Today I am glad to suggest you a nice event all’italiana, which means “in the Italian way”, which will take place just here.

For the ones who are in Bologna during this weekend or who are planning a getaway here, it will be funny to attend a particular bolognese evening called “CENA Stuzzicando all’italiana”.

On Saturday May 24^th, 2008 at 8:30 pm the Mokita Cafè will offer an odd dinner based on salty and sweet appetizers with rigorously homemade and well-groomed foods, for an amount of Euro 22 per person (all inclusive, only with reservation).

The menu will be composed of:

- Antipasto and Aperitif
- Mixed Croutons and Fantasy of Appetizers
- Salty and Sweet Fritto Misto all’italiana
- Poker of Desserts
- Water, Wine and Coffee

info and reservation, please call Daniela at +39 31974600 or +39 051 6332471, website (in Italian): http://www.mokitacafe.it/mokita-eventi-bologna.asp - email: info@mokitacafe.it.

I heartily suggest this nice event if you are around Bologna, it is a wonderful occasion to spend your Saturday evening and to discover the ancient dishes of the bolognese area.

You can easily reach the Mokita Cafè, which is not too far from the Fair District in Via Caduti di Via Fani n°15, between Viale della Repubblica and Viale Aldo Moro (from the airport, take the airport shuttle called “Aerobus BLQ ” - from the railway station, take the buses n°10 or 35 or 38 with the tickets bought before going aboard - from Bologna downtown, take the buses n°10 or 28 or 38 with the tickets bought before going aboard - from the highways coming from Milan, Florence and Ancona, exit at the new tollgate called “Bologna Fiera” – from the highway coming from Padua, exit at the ring road n°8 for Ingressi Nord, Michelino, Moro and Parcheggio Michelino or at the ring road n°7 for Ingresso and Parcheggio Costituzione).
They have a comfortable parking just in front of the restaurant bar.

The Mokita Cafè is always open Monday to Thursday 07:00 am to 01:30 am, on Friday from 07:00 am to 03:00 am, on Saturday from 05:00 pm to 03:00 am, during the periods of the fairs it is open on Saturday and Sunday 07:00 am to 03:00 am.