L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano W a l k i n t o S e a t t l e ' s C a s a Italiana o n a n y w e e k e n d a n d y o u ' l l l i k e l y find the Italian Cultural Cen- ter abuzz with Italians, Ital- ian-Americans, and those who simply love Italian cul- ture. From the large first-floor hall come excited cries of "Scopa!" A beginner Italian- language lesson is just wrap- ping up, visitors are checking out the made-in-Italy items for sale in the shop, and the lunch crowd is jockeying for tables at Casa Caffé. Every- where there are welcoming voices — in Italian and Eng- l i s h — a s p a t r o n s c h o o s e from an ever-changing slate o f a c t i v i t i e s a n d e v e n t s , meetings and get-togethers. This warm and friendly vibe is exactly what Seattle's Ital- i a n c o m m u n i t y h o p e d t o achieve years ago when the dream of a permanent Ital- ian cultural center first sur- faced. Although the road has b e e n l o n g a n d f u n d i n g remains a challenge, as its fourth anniversary nears, it's clear that Casa Italiana has far exceeded expectations. Since the facility opened on May 29, 2021, the Italian c o m m u n i t y h a s r a l l i e d behind the cultural center, filling its calendar with pre- sentations, exhibits, book launches, language classes, and events. One of the most p o p u l a r a c t i v i t i e s i s t h e Scopa lessons, which take place once a month. S c o p a ( w h i c h m e a n s " s w e e p " a s i n t h e w i n n e r s w e e p i n g , o r t a k i n g , t h e c a r d s ) i s o n e o f I t a l y ' s n a t i o n a l c a r d g a m e s . I t ' s lively, fun, and entertaining. I t a l i a n i n s t r u c t o r s a r e o n hand to explain the game, answer questions, or provide clarification. The idea for S c o p a l e s s o n s o r i g i n a t e d w i t h v o l u n t e e r P a o l o Croatto who helps run the class. Croatto, who is from t h e F r i u l i - V e n e z i a G i u l i a r e g i o n , a p p r o a c h e d C a s a e v e n t o r g a n i z e r J e n Provenzano to ask why so few people in Seattle play c a r d s – a p o p u l a r I t a l i a n pastime. "Paolo mentioned it would be easy to teach oth- ers and he volunteered to h e l p , " s a i d P r o v e n z a n o , "so we started hosting free c a r d - p l a y i n g e v e n t s . T h e feedback we've gotten from patrons is incredible." The event's popularity was evi- dent on a cold afternoon in J a n u a r y w h e n t w o d o z e n enthusiastic card players of all ages showed up, arrang- ing themselves in groups of twos and fours. Cards were shuffled and dealt, and the two hours passed by quick- ly. Another popular recur- ring event at the cultural center is the Italian Sto- r i e s s e r i e s . S p e a k e r s explore a topic of their own choosing: it could be opera or local family history, how t o b a k e b r e a d o r h o w t o dance the pizzica, a tradi- t i o n a l f o l k d a n c e f r o m Puglia. "Casa Italiana is such a special place," said Proven- z a n o . " P e o p l e d o n ' t j u s t come once. They visit and t h e n c o n t i n u e t o v i s i t , e n j o y i n g m u s i c p e r f o r - mances, cultural lectures, language classes, food and coffee, and the many other c u l t u r a l e v e n t s t h a t a r e hosted there." The dream of an Italian cultural center did not hap- p e n o v e r n i g h t . I t t o o k m o n t h s o f p l a n n i n g a n d hard work, led by the Casa Italiana board and many volunteers, and the generos- ity of donors. The journey b e g a n s e r e n d i p i t o u s l y i n spring 2020 at the start of t h e p a n d e m i c . A s m a l l salon-and-spa business in Burien, a city about 10 min- utes south of Seattle, could not stay afloat after the stay- at-home order was imposed, and their building went on t h e m a r k e t . T h e l o c a t i o n w a s c o n v e n i e n t , a n d t h e structure had potential. By September, the Italian com- munity had raised the down payment and purchased the 7 , 0 0 0 - s q u a r e - f o o t b u i l d - i n g . T h e n t h e r e a l w o r k began. Work parties were scheduled and volunteers showed up to pull weeds, clean out the basement, and remove trash from the park- ing lot. A call went out for t r a d e s p e o p l e w h o w o u l d donate their time for electri- cal, plumbing, painting, or construction services. Four years later, the work continues as Casa Italiana e x p a n d s i t s s e r v i c e s a n d community presence. Two new event halls were creat- ed. The larger one, located upstairs, opened in Novem- b e r , a l t h o u g h s o m e enhancements such as an audio-visual system and an e l e v a t o r a r e y e t t o b e installed. The center is also home to a library (Biblioteca Ital- iana), staffed by volunteers from Il Punto, Casa Italiana a n d o t h e r c o m m u n i t y groups. The space houses m o r e t h a n 3 , 5 0 0 i t e m s , including Italian-language novels, language textbooks, travel and cooking books, comic books, dictionaries, and children's books. Videos and CDs are available, as well. And if you can't read Italian? No problem. There is also a selection of books f e a t u r i n g I t a l i a n a u t h o r s w h o s e w o r k s h a v e b e e n published in English. R i g h t i n s i d e t h e f r o n t entrance sits Casa Caffé, a great gathering spot for a l i g h t m e a l , p a s t r i e s o r espresso drinks. People are friendly and it's not unusual to share tables and strike up a conversation with total strangers. The center also hosts the office of the Hon- orary Consul of Italy, a post currently filled by Elisabet- ta Valentini. The realization of an Ital- ian cultural center honors t h e t h o u s a n d s o f I t a l i a n immigrants who left their mark on the Pacific North- west. Their hard work and determination contributed n o t o n l y t o t h e e c o n o m i c development of the region but also shaped the cultural landscape for generations to come. "By creating a space dedi- cated to the celebration of Italian culture, we help cur- rent and future generations better appreciate our culture as something beyond 'pizza, pasta, and the Pope,'" said M a r t i n N i g r e l l e , presi- d e n t o f C a s a I t a l i a n a ' s board of directors. "Casa Italiana is a chance for the community at large, not just those of Italian descent, to experience the many contri- butions and influences in our society today that have their roots in Italian cul- ture." Casa Italiana is located a t 1 3 0 2 8 1 s t A v e n u e S , Burien, Washington. RITA CIPALLA Casa Italiana gets ready to celebrate 4th anniversary About 25 enthusiastic card players showed up to play Scopa in January, as volunteer Paolo Croatto (standing, back- ground) shares tips and answers questions about this popular national card game (Photo: Casa italiana). Bottom left, the Casa Italian gift shop (Photo: Rita Cipalla) SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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