For2009, Italian Festival is focusing on the magnificent and storied City of Venice and the surrounding Veneto region—an area of unparalled beauty, grandeur, and romance. The Festival will transform the central piazza of the Festival grounds into an authentic recreation of the streets of Venice. Renowned local artist Dana Pyle has contributed his time and talent to craft a stunning recreation of this magical city.
The piazza will be a lively mix of musicians, shops filled with Italian imports, and even a gondola! Savor a panini and a Cipriani peach Bellini as you sit at one of the café tables and absorb the flavor of Venice!
Children and adults alike will delight in Venetian mask making and be encouraged to wear their masks to add to the festive atmosphere. Learn about the history of Carnevale and the richly colored costumes that make it one of Venice’s premier annual events.
Members of the Prince of Piedmont Lodge and the St. Anthony’s Club (Holy Name Society), apprentices from Carpenters Union Local 626, Christina Fabris of CLA Construction, Company as well as friends and parishioners have donated their construction skills and labor to build the façade as well as the shops to transform the area between the church and the school into a Venetian street scene.
While visiting the streets of Venice, stop by our panini shop and purchase an authentic grilled taste of Italy. These small Italian sandwiches will be made fresh daily with the finest of ingredients by “guest chefs” from some of Wilmington’s best restaurants, including:
As part of the 10 year celebration the establishment was completely renovated and reopened as Toscana Kitchen + Bar. A lounge was added as a relaxing environment for Wilmington adults to unwind while waiting for their meal. It also provides an alternative to the more chaotic and louder night spots in Trolley Square. www.toscanakitchen.com
Awesome food, great atmosphere and a perfect night spot for friends to meet and party. Enjoy intimate dining early in the evening. Later in the night, be ready to put on your dancing shoes. The music kicks up and the disco lights come on, inspiring guests to dance right at their tables. www.cafescalessas.com
Ameritage’s goal is to offer a fun, friendly and enriching place to come visit that does not require booking flights, packing luggage or leaving the country. Guests will be “touring” a new location every 2 months to give you the time you require to enjoy Chef Nick Devine’s authentic and inspired entrées. www.ameritagebistro.com
Top off your culinary delights with a perfectly Italian dessert—a fresh parfait created with that very Italian liqueur, limoncello. Enjoy this refreshing treat as you stroll throughout the streets of Venice.
Giampietro Rampini adds the Italian Festival to his limited engagement U.S. tour. After his classical studies in Gubbio (Umbria region) and Florence, Pietro focused on his work as a craftsman. He collaborated with several ceramic workshops in Gubbio, and then immigrated to Brazil to begin his activity as “artist ceramicist” and obtained great success with the techniques of Etruscan “Bucchero”. Rampini returned to Gubbio in 1962 and opened an art workshop. The main themes of his work were Gubbio and its history, medieval miniatures, classical mythology, nature, and Umbrian saints, such as St. Francis of Assisi. Giampietro joined his father in the 1970s after living among brushes, clay and kilns since his childhood, and worked with him for 20 years. Giampietro’s own children are now following this same path, working in the workshop with Giampietro and Rossana, Giampietro’s wife. In Giampietro’s workshop, he developed the old style reproductions of ceramics with particular focus on the 13th & 14th centuries.
The Bottega d’arte Rampini (Rampini’ Shop) is now well known in Italy and abroad, not so much for the quantity it produces, but for the particularity of its products and working techniques, particularly for custom commissioned works for the special requests of customers. Rampini’s style is very distinctive using the typical Gubbio Renaissance colors, designs and shapes. He developed a personal technique that makes the pattern “raise” over the background of the piece. This third dimension makes all their ceramics very special.
Il Circolo Culturale Bellini Bar is in the true ‘Heart of Little Italy’ at the St Anthony’s Italian Festival. With our inspiration derived from Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy we will create an outside café situated along our recreated streets of Venice @ the St. Anthony’s 2009 Festival.
We will be selling authentic Cipriani™ Bellini cocktails. The Cipriani brand originated at Harry’s in Venice—and is tied to this storied creation from its inception. We will also feature light fare consists of a bread, cheese, prosciutto and fresh fruit plate and Limoncello Parfait for dessert.
Be sure not to miss our limoncello fountain and selection of authentic and fine Italian cordials!
Based on popular demand, the Festival is pleased to welcome back Peppe Cairone and Vincenzo Fiore, classical and jazz guitarists, who will again thrill patrons with their exceptional musical skill and innovative musical expressions. Signori Cairone and Fiore come direct from Wilmington’s Sister City of Olevano sul Tusciano, Italy, and their appearance is made possible by Sister Cities of Wilmington, Wilmington's Italian Sister City.
The Festival sincerely thanks Sister Cities of Wilmington for making is possible for Peppe and Vincenzo to return for 2009!
