CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT THE MUSEO

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - Lecture: Contadini ed Imprenditori, Peasants and Entrepreneur

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. - Lecture: Enrico Fermi: Navigator to the Nuclear Age

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - Documentary: Crimebuster: A Son's Search for His Father

Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. - Discover Italy Sundays: Val D'Aosta, Piemonte & Liguri

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. - Discover Italy Sundays: Val D'Aosta, Piemonte & Liguri

Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. - Lecture: The Joys of Rediscovering our Family Roots in Sicily

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. - Lecture: When Dante Met Virgil: A Reading of Inferno Canto 1

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. - Book Presentation: When the Water Came Up to Montgomery Street: San Francisco During the Gold Rush

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. - Lecture: The Life and Work of Andrew Sbarboro

Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. - Lecture: Salviati Mosaics at Stanford Memorial Church

Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. - Lecture: The Tastes and Sounds of Romance, Italian Style

Announcing the Museo Tour 2010:

The Treasures and Pleasures of Lake Como, Piemonte, Val d'Aosta and Liguria

Enjoy the elegance and museums of Turino, Alba's white truffles, and Val d'Aosta's divine cheeses.

Discover the beauty of Genova and taste the famous Ligurian cuisine.

Departure date: October 2, 2010
Length: 12 nights - 13 days
Price: $ 3,950.00 per person


ITINERARY TO FOLLOW

Countess Alessandra of Umbria presents: "The Traveling Chef Culinary Expedition"

Trip date: May 8 - 14, 2010
Price: $ 3,290.00 per person double room, airfare not included.
Join a world-class American chef, Leah Puidokas (former executive chef of Alice Water's Chez Panisse), as she explores the finest food and wines of Italy with an Italian Countess and her travel-writing, truffle-hunting husband.

For more information, please contact Montgomery & Gardino Expeditions, LLC at 866 322-8958

Concerto Italiano: We Give Thanks!

Museo members and friends topped off their Thanksgiving celebrations with a brilliant concert conducted by Maestro Nicola Luisotti, the San Francisco Opera's recently appointed musical director. The program was specially designed to honor the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Museo as S.F. Opera orchestra members and Merola graduates; Daveda Karanas and Leah Crocetto, performed Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Lively overtures by Rossini and Verdi followed the intermission, and the program finale, Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, elicited "bravo" from all! Luisotti's animation and appreciation of the music was rewarded with smiling faces both on stage and in the audience.

A gala reception in the elegant Veteran's Building Green Room followed the concert. Party-goers were grateful for the opportunity to welcome Viareggio native, Nicola Luisotti, to the San Francisco Italian-American community and were delighted by his youthful charm and exuberance. Everyone enjoyed the sparkling holiday décor and delicious food and beverages. Bernard and Barbro Osher graciously sponsored the reception in addition to their generous efforts to organize this evening as a tribute to the Museo. Among the evening's honored guests were David Gockley, San Francisco Opera General Director, and Consul General and Mrs. Fabrizio Marcelli.

The list of those to thank for making this special evening possible is long, but to Nicola Luisotti and the musicians and singers who donated their services for this benefit, we wish to say, "Bravi e Grazie". A heartfelt "Grazie Mille" goes to Bernard and Barbro Osher, Will Weinstein, BNY Mellon, Daniela Faggioli and Lorenzo Scarpone. The support of Museo members and guests is, as always, what makes any event a success, "Grazie a tutti voi."

Celebration!

On its 30th Anniversary, the Museo ItaloAmericano celebrates the achievement of Italians who immigrated to California. It began with the current exhibit, "Cuneo: A Family of Early California Artists", a retrospective exhibit of the Cuneo family who immigrated to California in the 1850s.
It continues on October 15, 2009 with the documentary exhibit From Italy to California - In Cerca di Una Nuova Vita, Italian Immigration: 1850 - Today, which will document the three main waves of Italian immigration:

1850 to 1924 - Mass immigration of impoverished Italians leaving their poor country

1924 to 1970 - Immigration severely restricted by the U.S. anti immigration act of 1924. Mainly middle class immigrants with ties to the U.S. who left a country destroyed by fascism and World War II

1970 to Today - An ongoing immigration of selected scientists and entrepreneurs. This section of the exhibit will be presented in interactive mode. Plan to join the celebration and tell your friends!

Auxiliary News

Wonderful aromas wafted through the kitchens of busy Museo Auxiliary members as hundreds of cookies and savories were baking for the December 9th Festa dei Dolci. This final fundraiser of the year is always a popular and festive event when treasured Italian family recipes are consulted and the resulting delicacies are consumed guilt-free as all profits go to the Museo!

Under the leadership of Maria DeMartini, the auxiliary had a very successful year. The 2009 Antipasti Buffet brought the Museo over $16,000 and proceeds from the "Dolci" also look promising. But it's not all about work and fundraising! This year Auxiliary members enjoyed a very special tea at the Italian General Consulate as honored guests of Mrs. Fabrizio Marcelli, the wife of the San Francisco Consul General.

The Museo Auxiliary meets six times a year to socialize and plan events that will benefit the Museo. Anyone who is a member of the Museo ItaloAmericano is welcome to join this lively and industrious group. For more information, please contact the Museo.

Evviva!

Members of Evviva will be invited to a special evening in connection with the exhibit From Italy to California In Cerca di Una Nuova Vita, Italian Immigration: 1870 - Today

C.I.A.O. - Children's Italian Art Outreach program

This Fall, our art teacher, Coreen Abbott will go to middle schools and help the students in grades 6 through 8 build their own TRAJAN COLUMN.

In November, students will be invited to the Museo for a production of COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE. This program is always a crowd pleaser and will be sure to delight children and adults of all ages!

Leonardo at the Museo!

Beginning in September, the Leonardo da Vinci Society will hold its monthly programs at the Museo. The programs consist of presentations and a "social hour". Museo members who are not members of the Leonardo da Vinci Society may attend the programs by purchasing a ticket. The first presentation entitled "The Golden Age of Paper Making in Fabriano, Italy, 1300-1600" will be presented by Sylvia Rodgers Albro, Senior Paper Conservator at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., and will be on Monday, September 14, 2009.