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Italy's critically acclaimed award-winning avant singer-songwriter Vicinio Capossela will be playing the Mod Club (722 College Street in Little Italy) on Tuesday March 9 at 8 PM. If you like Paolo Conte, Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen, you'll like Capossela. Tix are $25 in advance (Ticketmaster), or $30 at the door.

That's right, the visionary CEO who grew up in Toronto and later rescued FIAT will be in town on Friday February 12, 2010, and you can have lunch with him at the Liberty Grand, Exhibition Place, in support of the Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Fund (Marchionne was born in Chieti, Abruzzo). For tickets or info call 416.383.6093. Ciao for now!

Ciao cari, the Cinematheque (Dundas and McCaul just west of University, east of Spadina, attached to the AGO) is screening Senso by Luchino Visconti on Sunday January 24 at 4:30 PM. See you there!

Ciao cari, there are two Italian flicks in the upcoming Eh!U Euro Film Fest in Toronto, Tutta la vita davanti on Saturday November 21 at 6 at the Royal (Little Italy) and Notturno bus on Monday November 30 at 8:30, also at the Royal. For the deets go to the Eh!U website. Ciao for now!

Take an ounce of pop, a drop of jazz, a spoonful of samba, a pinch of blues, and a dash of African music, and sprinkle it with Neapolitan song and what do you get? The one and only Pino Daniele. And on Sunday October 4 at 8 PM he takes the stage at Casino Rama. Be there or be quadro. Get your tickets here.

Yep, it's all part of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Vino della Vita fundraising event.

Sample from more than 100 exceptional Italian wines, served to you by the vintners themselves.

Enjoy the opportunity to order these exclusive wines from the vineyards directly to your private cellar.

Savour authentic Italian cuisine as you circle the elegant Roy Thomson Hall rotunda.

At Roy Thomson Hall on Monday November 2 from 6:30 to 9:30. $125 per person, all proceeds benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery.

For tickets email vinodellavita2009@hsf.on.ca, call 416-489-7111 ext. 839  or visit www.heartandstroke.ca/vinodellavita. A presto!

Sounds like some good Italian movies at this year's Toronto Film Fest. Here are the highlights...

Baarìa, by Giuseppe Tornatore (who made Cinema Paradiso)

La doppia ora (The Double Hour)

La prima linea (The Front Line)

Giulia non esce la sera (Giulia Doesn't Date at Night)

Io sono l'amore (I Am Love)

Lo sceicco bianco (The White Sheik), by Fellini

Videocracy (a film about Italy by an Italian director based in Sweden)

Buona visione!

Nasal-voiced Italian songwriting genius Toto Cutugno plays Casino Rama on Sunday September 13 at 8 PM. Here's where to get your tickets. Hitch a ride there on a Taipei Tours casino bus for like $3 round trip, departures from all over Toronto. Just google Taipei Tours for the deets.

I think Italians hate Cutugno because he actually sounds Italian (and therefore provincial to their ears). There's something in his music that you don't hear in Anglo-American top 40, unlike say Laura Pausini. Or it could be his cliche lyrics. Me, I love the guy. He has so many perfect hits it's hard to pick just one so here's an unplugged medley. Bonus: he lip-syncs his masterpiece at the end. I would also kill for his hair.

The Danforth may have Toronto's biggest street festival, but Little Italy is the only T.O. hood that holds not one but two annual roadway hoedowns. That's right, count 'em, two. Take that Danforth!

And the second one is coming up - The Little Italy Fiera and Song Festival. You know the deal, College will be closed from Bathurst to Shaw from I think around 11 or noon till midnight on Sat Sept 5 and Sun Sept 6 (but don't quote me on the exact start time, I only know it's for sure on the 5th and 6th and ends at midnight each day). Food, music, eye candy, with the highlight being Il Sabatum Quartet, a quartet with seven members that reinterprets and updates southern Italian folk music. Well worth the price - it's free!

That's right, on Friday October 23 at 8 PM. Tickets will set you back $55 to $150 but should be worth it if you're into anglo-american top 40 with Italian lyrics. She has a lot of fans though so maybe it's just me. I always think she looks a lot like tutorino staff member Sabrina.

Il Divo will be playing at the Cumberland (near Bloor and Avenue Road right here in Toronto) starting July 10, an Italian film about Giulio Andreotti and his shadowy ties to Cosa Nostra. Andreotti was Italy's Prime Minister from 1972-1973, 1976-1979 and 1989-1992. The film won the Prix du Jury at Cannes in 2008.

It's back, the Taste of Little Italy street festival on College between Bathurst and Shaw.

Friday June 19, 6 PM to 2 AM

Saturday June 20, 12 PM to 2 AM

Sunday June 21, 12 PM to 10 PM

Lots of Italian food, music and fun, all for free, a Toronto tradition. See you there!

Ciao cari, lots of great Italian films being screened at the Cinematheque this summer (Dundas and McCaul). First, Ladri di biciclette on...

July 10, 2009 7:00 PM
July 11, 2009 7:00 PM
July 16, 2009 7:00 PM
July 18, 2009 4:30 PM

And from July 10 to August 21 it's Signore and Signore: Leading Ladies of the Italian Cinema, an eighteen-film survey of epochal performances by Italian actresses. Click here for the 411. C4N!

Tiziano Ferro, a commercial, mainstream, top 40 Italian pop singer who's big all over Europe and Latin America, will take the stage at Toronto's Massey Hall on Saturday September 19 at 8 PM. Tickets will set you back $65 to $95.

Ciao cari! Head to the Rama on Sunday May 10 at 8 PM for a concert by tenor Piero Mazzocchetti. Go to the Rama website for more details and to order tickets. A great Mother's Day gift!

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard this but Roberto Benigni (yes that Roberto Benigni, the Academy-Award winning actor, director and comedian best known in North America for La vita è bella), will be performing Tutto Dante (a comedic, poetic and passionate journey through Dante's epic work that has inspired millions) at Casino Rama on Sunday June 7 at 8 PM. To order tickets, visit the Casino Rama website. Da non perdere!

It's time for Round 2 of Massimo's Italian Supper Club. This month's featured region is Emilia-Romagna. For all the details, download the invite. Ciao for now!

Ciao cari! Here's an Italian event in Toronto you don't want to miss - personal chef Massimo Bruno of Massimo in Your Kitchen is launching his new series of regionally themed monthly Italian dinners called The Italian Supper Club. The location is a loft on St. Clair and the first one takes place on Thursday March 26 at 7 PM. Price: $95 per person, cash, including a $10 donation to Second Harvest. Space is limited (20 people max) so download the invite for more info and to RSVP ASAP. Buon appetito!

Two events to tell you about in this post. The first is a concert at Casino Rama on Sunday April 5 at 8 PM - Orietta Berti and Drupi. Ticket prices: $46 - $57.50. See ticketmaster.ca or the Casino Rama website for details.

The second event is a singles cooking and wine night hosted by gourmet chef Gianni Ceschia at his private studio on Saturday March 28 from 4:30 to 8:30. $69.99 covers the lesson and a four-course gourmet Italian meal including dessert and wine. A great way to get cooking in more ways than one. For details see the Meet Market website. Ciao for now!

A not-to-be-missed rare screening of a nearly forgotten 1962 Italian masterpiece, Mafioso by the always overlooked Alberto Lattuada starring Alberto Sordi. Sunday January 25 at 1 PM at the Cinematheque (in the AGO, Dundas and McCaul). Be there or be quadrato.