L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano PAGE  16 THURS DAY,   AUGUS T  1,   2013 Festa Coloniale Italiana – SFIAC Combines Celebration of Ferragosto and Club's 95th Anniversary Back in the year 2008, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC) was preparing a celebration for their 90th Anniversary. Gianrico Pierucci, SFPD Police Inspector and author of the book, The Heart of North Beach, was serving on the board of directors of the SFIAC. The club's president, Steve Landi, appointed Pierucci to be the 90 th Anniversary Celebration Committee Chair. In the past, the SFIAC had celebrated its anniversaries with various weekend activities, topped off with a black tie dinner dance. That year, President Landi was hoping to incorporate something different into the festivities. The SFIAC had begun experiencing a period of risorgimento (resurgence); revisions were being made, and new ideas were budding and flowering. Being a native Italian, Pierucci began wracking his brain for authentic, cultural festivities to incorporate into the yearly calendar, so that Italian-Americans could experience true traditional Italian practices. He immediately thought of La Festa di Ferragosto—the festival that represents Italy's annual vacation period—the largest festival of the year, filled with life, excitement and experiences: a celebration The SFIAC's Festa Coloniale Italiana on Washington Square Park in San Francisco's Little Italy neighborhood of North Beach. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli with music, dancing, great food, beautiful families and wholesome friendships. La Festa di Ferragosto was originally put into effect by the Emperor Augustus—who ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 14 AD—as a feast for the gods, giving thanks for a bounti- Aug. 1, Thurs. - Italian films at UC Berkeley: Non ci resta che piangere, (Nothing Left To Do But Cry) 1984, Massimo Troisi, Roberto Benigni, 159 Mulford Hall, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, www.iisaucberkeley.org/summerseries Aug 2, Fri. - Ageless: Works by Elena Civoli Brittain & Nola Pardi Proll. August 2, 2013 — November 24, 2013 . Museo ItaloAmericano (Fort Mason Center, Building C, San Francisco, CA 94123). For information call (415) 673-2200 Aug. 3 & 4, Sat. & Sun.-28th Annual Italian Family Festa, Sacramento's Super Italian Festival, Sponsored by the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento. At the Croatian Center (3730 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento 95821). Sat.: 11a-10p; Sun: 11a-7p. Admission $12. Free Admission for Children Under 15. Free Parking. For information (916) ITALY-00 or visit www.festaitalianasacramento.com Aug. 8, Thurs. - Italian films at UC Berkeley. Tre Uomini e una Gamba (Three Men and a Leg), 1997, Aldo Giovanni e Giacomo e Massimo Venier. 159 Mulford Hall, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, www.iisaucberkeley.org/summerseries. Aug. 10, Sat.-Piemontesi Nel Mondo of Northern CaliforniaSummer Family Dinner Dance. 6pm Social, 7pm Dinner. At Fratellanza Club (1140 66th St., Oakland, CA), Club Room (back bar). Dinner with fine wine, music and dancing. Reservations required by Aug. 5. Cost: $20 for members of Fratellanza or PNM, $25 for Guests. Hosts: Claudia Albano, Fred Granzella & Arleen Vola Maginniss. For information: Arleen (510) 483-7965, Claudia (510) 526-8830 or bogianeninnoca@yahoo.com Aug 17, Sat. - Festa Coloniale Italiana 2013, The historic San Francisco Italian Athletic Club proudly presents: !Festa Coloniale Italiana! Celebrating their 95th Anniversary. for information visit www.sfiac.org ful harvest. The ancient Romans looked forward to this annual period as a time of rest and relaxation after the intense workload endured throughout the harvesting months. Later, for Catholics, it developed into their observance of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. Now, Ferragosto is viewed as a Vino (wine), Del Pane (bread), and so on, in anticipation of the actual Festa di Ferragosto. While discussing this traditional Italian holiday, the board members of the SFIAC decided that Pierucci's idea was one that would bring a new experience to the Italian-Americans in San Francisco, while also reaching out and allowing others not affiliated with the SFIAC to share in and learn about Italian culture. The naming of the festa became an issue. The SFIAC didn't want a cliché name. After a bit of research, they had discovered that in the time period between the Gold Rush and the Great Earthquake, San Francisco Italians in the North Beach/Telegraph Hill neighborhood referred to themselves collectively as La Colonia Italiana. Pierucci pitched the idea of using the words Ferragosto or Colonia. The board believed that Ferragosto would not be understood by most, but agreed upon using the term Colonia. After some discussion, current President Alberto Cipollina— then a member of the board— came up with the name Festa Coloniale Italiana. The board voted unanimously to keep it. It was further decided that the festival would take place on the 1600 block of Stockton Street, between assumed the presidency of the SFIAC the following year, the board of directors decided to make the Festa Coloniale Italiana an annual event. In 2010, Pierucci's last year as president of the SFIAC, club member Tom Torriglia sat in as the cochair of the festa. The following years, he managed the festa as chairman, until his move to Italy last year. In his absence, SFIAC Past Vice-President and current member Brian board Serafini–Blewer has assumed the position as chairman. In celebration of the SFIAC's 95th Anniversary, the Club will present its fifth annual Festa Coloniale Italiana in front of their historic building at 1630 Stockton Street, between Union and Filbert Streets. The Italianthemed block party will be held on Saturday, August 17th, 2013, from 11:00am – 6:00pm. Thanks to the generosity of its gracious sponsors—including Bank of America and Italian Community Services—the SFIAC will be presenting a full day of Italian food, wine, music, art, dance, and other entertainment. The club's landmark building will be open to the general public (as will the bar), and will feature Italian exhibits on the Second floor in the Gino Cimoli Gymnasium. The exhibits are being made pos- Everybody's favorite Italian band, Bella Ciao will return again for this year's Festa Coloniale Italiana. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli traditional feast day in Italy, celebrated annually on the 15 th of August. Factories close down, and those who had previously moved to larger cities for employment opportunities, retreat to the small towns from which they, or their families, had previously come. Many who live abroad return to their native land to celebrate and spend time with family and friends during this annual holiday. Although Ferragosto itself falls on the 15th of August, there are various festivities put on in specific areas and towns in Italy throughout the weeks leading up to Ferragosto . These festivals include La Festa Della Salsiccia (sausage), Della Birra (beer), Del Union and Filbert Streets, adjacent to Washington Square, home of the SFIAC. When Gianrico Pierucci L'Italo-Americano's Nickolas Marinelli poses with Festa Coloniale Italiana co-creator and SFIAC Past President Gianrico Pierucci at the 2012 festa sible by the generosity of the Museo Italo Americano and the Jacuzzi family, and are being presented as part of the 2013 Year of Italian Culture. Admission and entertainment are free. The vino, meatball sandwiches, and cannoli may cost you a few bucks, but the proceeds benefit the SFIAC Foundation, which helps promote Italian language and culture in the community. The general public—and especially the Italian-American community of San Francisco—are encouraged to come and enjoy a full day of fun in the heart of North Beach. Additional information is available on the SFIAC's website: www.SFIAC.org.

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