Summer is a season Italians look forward to—beautiful weather, attractive tans, relaxation, time off from work and school. Cities tend to empty out, spilling over to the beaches that seem to come alive overnight. Read More
Reflection: From Print to Electronic Formats
UNDERSTANDING THE E-BOOK
“It’s just words on a page.”
I’m not an e-book reader. When I started out in the process of converting my print book to an electronic format, I had a little trouble wrapping my brain around the so-called fluidity of the page and this is what I was told. Read More
Calabrian Eateries: Chinese Food in Italy
AN EVENING OF CHINESE CULTURE
Karen Haid, Ristorante Cinese, Reggio Calabria
I had been looking for an excuse to go to the Chinese restaurant in downtown Reggio for some time. I had passed it on numerous occasions – a cozy establishment with wood paneling and white tablecloths that seemed to be frequented by younger adults. So one evening after a very enjoyable presentation on Chinese culture at the Anglo-Italian Club, I decided to seize the moment and continue the theme for dinner. Read More
Contemporary Interpretations of the Riace Bronzes
The Bronzes of Riace are famous in Italy, more so in Calabria. The tourist board uses their images at every chance they get, and it’s understandable as the statues are truly magnificent. A number of artists have also been inspired by their splendor to create works of their own. Read More
Reflection On The Riace Bronzes
Sometimes I think that this famous pair of bronze statues must be tired, on their feet all day in that fixed warrior position. The Riace Bronzes are like models in an art studio, except no one’s drawing. Read More
The ‘Ndrangheta
CALABRIA AND CRIMINALITY
When I set out to write Calabria: The Other Italy, my goal was to give a contemporary picture of the region, which like any place, included the good and the not so good. I documented my experiences as well as current and past events that had affected and shaped the people and their environment. Read More
My Calabrian Tea Party
BOOK SIGNINGS: THE UNKNOWN
Book signings of an unfamiliar writer can be rather awkward affairs. Patrons of the bookstore, library or other organization hosting the event may wander by to support a local initiative or they may just pass the author’s table by chance. However, without a line out the door, potential readers often find themselves at a loss.Read More
Curiosities: The Easter Hand
THE COSMOS
We’ve all read our horoscopes whether or not we actually believe in them. Could there really be something to the positioning of the stars, the alignment of the planets, the lunar cycle? Nowadays we have so many facts at our fingertips, but are we any closer to understanding where the individual fits in with the tides or the cosmos?Read More
The “Tavola Calda” – Part 2, Calabrian Eateries: “Il Gastronauta”
VARIOUS TAVOLE CALDE or SLOW FOOD FAST
Like my father with the trattoria, my experience with the tavola calda began in Rome, where I spent several months at different times studying Italian. Looking for a nutritious, economical lunch, I ventured into a number of such eateries.Read More
The “Tavola Calda” – Part 1
BEFORE THE TAVOLA CALDA
My father likes to reminisce about the wonderful meals he ate while living in Rome in the 1950s. Perhaps surprisingly, one of his favorite lunches consisted of a big plate of cooked spinach on which he drizzled olive oil and squeezed a lemon. He would lap it up with several slices of a hearty, crusty bread and wash it down with a glass of white wine. It was a dish he really enjoyed and he liked the fact that in Italy spinaci al limone could be ordered, eaten, and most importantly, savored as a meal in itself. Read More