L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 www.italoamericano.com 19 Community in pictures: Fiat America on the Streets of San Francisco RoBeRTo NATAlINI Last week was epic for Italian cars enthusiasts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following the opening of the Fiat of San Francisco dealership in San Francisco, which took place last Tuesday at the new automobile showroom, vintage and modern Italian cars invaded the Bay Area on Sunday, October 20, for the "Streets of San Francisco" tour organized by Fiat America Car Club, founded in 1969 and based in Mountain View. The drive that recreated a legendary scene in the movie Bullit (1968) followed the same route covered by Steve McQueen on his famous chase scene through the most famous neighborhoods of San Francisco. The event was first held two years ago, and was so well received that Fiat America decided to do it again. The group met early in the morning in Brisbane, south of San Francisco, and under the coordination of club member Jeff Trimble, the drivers crossed the San Bruno Mountains State Park, Colma, Daly City, and approached Lake Merced where a detour was needed to avoid the Nike Women Marathon arrival off the Golden Gate Park. Twenty Fiat models of old and new Fiat Cinquecento—as well as 500 Carlo Abarth, 124 Sport Spider, 131 Brava, Fiat 2000, and X1/9—reached Twin Peaks, where the enthusiasts stopped to regroup and take photos of the best panoramic views of The City. The second part of the tour passed through the hills of the Castro, the flats of the Mission, and then ascended Potrero Hill, where the cars zigzagged the less known Vermont street, by many considered more desirable than tourist favorite Lombard street. The route continued towards downtown San Francisco, climbed steep California Street, and reached the iconic Nob Hill and Russian Hill where, between cable cars and a distant view of Alcatraz, the Italian cars approached the top of Lombard street, the "crookedest street in the world." What a better finish for such a wonderful tour than Little Italy? The Cinquecento parade captured the attention of the locals in North Beach while riding along Columbus Avenue to Broadway. Eventually, the re-created chase ended with a communal lunch hosted by the new Fiat of San Francisco dealership on Van Ness Avenue, thanks to the hospitality of Drew Ginsberg, and in collaboration with Fiat America Club members Edgar de Leon and Kristy Duncan. Fiat America member Edgar de Leon with his Fiat 500 Abarth climbing California street on Nob Hill The Fiat America members and friends who took part at the SF Bullitt Tour 2013 Fiat 124 Sport Spider, close to a vintage and new 500 during the gathering at Twin Peaks Oct. 24, Thurs. - Napoli che canta e incanta: A dinner party in honor of Luigi De Magistris Mayor of the City of Naples and President of Teatro San Carlo. 6:30 cocktail ~ 7:30 dinner, At the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, Featuring the noble cuisine of Maestri Monzú. For information call Amelia Antonucci 917 478 0694, Paolo Pontoniere (415) 310-9214. Oct. 26, Sat. - Cabaret Comico, An evening of comic songs and stories - An evening of comic songs presented by Society Cabaret in partnership with the Centro Teatro Camuno, Studio NPG and the Italian National Festival of Comic Song: Dallo Sciamano allo Showman, Vallecamonica, Italy. Venue: Society Cabaret located at the Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter, San Francisco. More info at www.shomano.it Oct. 30, Wed. - Verdi's Attila and the Italian Risorgimento, Presented by the musicologist Luciano Chessa. Musicologist Luciano Chessa presents a lecture about Verdi's opera Attila and the world of the Italian Risorgimento, the tumultuous period of Italian unification when Verdi's music stirred up nationalistic fervor. RSVP: (415) 673-2200 or sfmuseo@sbcglobal.net Nov. 3, Sun. - Isabella Rossellini: Green Porno, Romance in the animal world. Iconic actress and model Isabella Rossellini brings her provocative, critically-acclaimed short film series Green Porno to the stage. More info at www.jccsf.org/arts-ideas/performances/theater/isabella-rossellini/ Nov. 3, Sun.-Piemontesi Nel Mondo of Northern California Artisanal Fall Dinner at Compass Star, Martinez (915 Main St., Martinez, CA). 2 pm. Chef Rachael Zavala has been inspired by PNM to create a dinner menu, based on modern and traditional piemontese delights. Cost: $55 pp. Seating is limited. For information (510) 223-0786 or Agranz626@aol.com 1967 Fiat Cinquecento with original license plate of L'Aquila The Fiat cars parade takes the iconic Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world The last neighborhood invaded was North Beach, with its unmistakable Transamerica Pyramid

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