“The stillness reminds us that life is lived in the moment. We spend so much time on what is next that sometimes we miss what is now. ” (K, Hall)
“You’ll never see all the awesome things ahead of you, if you keep looking at all the things behind you. Sometimes you just have to turn around, give a little smile, throw a match and burn that bridge. Live, Learn and don’t look back!” (Unkown)
Join us in Washington, D.C. on October 17, 2015, for what is sure to be another very special night of Italian American pride at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
The NIAF Anniversary Gala is part of a three-day celebration (October 15-18) in the nation’s capital that includes other special receptions, events and Expo Italiana. NIAF’s Anniversary Gala Weekend is the largest event of its kind to gather together prominent Italians and Italian Americans to celebrate our wonderful heritage. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming months!
http://www.niaf.org/events/niaf-40th-anniversary-gala
Celebrate Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday with Joe Piscopo and Friends!
You won’t want to miss NIAF’s musical celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday, starring Joe Piscopo and guest stars, with a special appearance by Il Volo, joining in on an all-Sinatra songfest evening! Dancing! Sing-alongs! Open bar with custom Italian cocktails! Live and silent auctions! Music late into the night! Doors open at 9:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE to Purchase Your Tickets!
Places to Go on the Coast of Italy
Martha Bakerjian – Italy Travel Expert
Italian Riviera: Cinque Terre, Portofino, and the Northwest Coast Although the Cinque Terre and Portofino are the most well-known towns on the Italian Riviera, there are many good places to go on the coast of Liguria, the narrow region between France and Tuscany.
The Amalfi Coast is one Italy’s most scenic stretches of coastline and one of the top places to go in Southern Italy. Picturesque towns are built into the cliffs that rise up from the sea. From the Amalfi Coast you can also visit the island of Capri.
The Gulf of La Spezia, between the Cinque Terre and Tuscany, is called the Gulf of Poets because of its attraction to some of the world’s most celebrated poets including Shelley and Lord Byron. Two of the top towns to visit in this area are Portovenere and Lerici, shown in the photo.
Rimini, on the east coast, is known for its miles of sandy beaches and also for its nightlife. Beach resort towns spread out from Rimini in both directions, too. Rimini was the hometown of film producer Federico Fellini and some of his films were set in town. The historic center holds several places of interest as well.
Viareggio was the first beach resort town in Tuscany and is known for its long stretch of nice beaches. It’s also known for its Liberty style architecture, summer nightlife, and its big carnival parades with huge allegorical floats.
Maratea: Beautiful Wild Coastline
South of the Amalfi Coast, the Maratea Coast of Basilicata is less developed and sees fewer tourists, especially outside summer season. It’s a wilder stretch of coast with mountains and forest stretching to the rocky coastline, and a good place to find off-season hotel bargains.
Bari: Seaside Promenade and Saint Nicolas
Bari, one of the largest cities in Puglia, has an interesting medieval center where you’ll sometimes
see homemade orecchiette pasta drying on racks outside tiny houses. Its most popular sight is the Church of Saint Nicolas, the saint commonly associated with Christmas.
Alghero: Catalan Flavor on the Coast of Sardinia 
Alghero, on the island of Sardinia, is a pretty town whose Catalan heritage is still reflected in its food, architecture, and language. It has a seaside promenade with a small harbor, beaches, and a picturesque historic center with many shops selling coral.
How I Feel About The Boys
~Gina
Marie, thanks for this posting. You do a great job putting things in its proper order.
MARIE cringes when she sees another e-mail from Gina. After I get home from my volunteering and need to relax I roam thru the internet and when I see something I like I send it to Marie. She gets hundreds of suggestions and I appreciate that she posts some of my ramblings.
You’re welcome and I do not cringe.
Gina, You put this travel post so well. I wish I could go there. I still refer to them as “my boys”. I guess I will always feel that way. Joanie G
Me, too, Gina and Joan. Since I have followed them since 2009, they have been “my boys”. And I have felt jealousy over the time they have spent in Italy. But they belong to the world now, so I have to let go of the feeling that they belong to us. But it is very hard to do, sigh.
Gina, I thought you wrote it about me. Yeah Allene, jealousy, the whole bit. They will ALWAYS be my Boys too. The pictures are awesome if you click on them. I want to go to all of those places!
My favorite line of this post – “I would have to pay a fortune for my suitcase full of ‘keep Gina alive’ pills.”
Got my CD DVD things from PBS today. I now own the song “Grande Amore” X 5. DO NOT tell my family this. Also, don’t tell them I have enough love to go around to all 5.
For our tennis fans, especially Lydka, Linda Dawson and Kelly.
From Ann and…
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
Flavia Pennetta is an Italian professional tennis player who most recently (this past Saturday) became a Grand Slam singles champion after winning the 2015 U.S. Open against fellow countrywoman, Roberta Vinci. Born in Brindisi, a city in southern Italy, in 1982, Pennetta’s father introduced her to tennis at the age of 5. She trained for years and even played her future opponent, Vinci, when they were both 9 and 10 years old. At the age of 17, Pennetta won the French Open in doubles with Vinci as her partner. Since she first began competing professionally in 1997, Pennetta has won eleven career WTA singles titles, as well as four Fed Cup team competition titles, and the Australian Open in Doubles – her first Grand Slam title.
Pennetta has defeated a number of Grand Slam singles champions, such as Justine Henin, Mary Pierce, Martina Hingis, Amélie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, Li Na, Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova. Pennetta is also one of only seven players to beat Venus Williams in three consecutive matches. She was also awarded the title of a Knight of Order of Merit of the Republic in 2007 by the President of Italy. Pennetta’s most recent victory in the 2015 U.S. Open is especially significant as it was the first all-Italian women’s final in the history of the United States Open. After her win, Pennetta announced her retirement from tennis.
#ItalianADay #Italian #Tenis #ItaliansInSports #USOpen #GrandSlam
Thank you Marie and Ann. I will add new information. Flavia announced that next June will be wedding in her hometown with her boyfriend tennis player Fabio Fognini and looks forward to the future role of mother. I wish good luck to her and a wonderful life with a happy family ! 🙂
Gina, I loved your post! The photos of the various Italain scenery are fantastic. I hope and pray I get to just ONE of those beautiful locations someday! They do belong to the world now, but will always be our boys in our hearts.
Gina, this is beautiful, and yes we are all suffering from “letting go” pains…alas, that’s what happens when we are fortunate enough to see “our children ” grow up!! And as far as those pills, I have faith…I’m going to live until March 17 so I can feast my eyes (and ears) on OUR BOY S!!! Grazie. …
Marie, Ann and Gina
Thank you so much for posting the info on the tennis. What a surprise that Flavia ended her career at the end of the match, but I’m sure she wants to start a family. I was shocked and will miss her. She was always such a pleasant person, very kind and loved by her opponents. Good luck to her.
These pictures are beautiful. I love the colors on the buildings rising from the water. Gorgeous country!!