L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013 Dear Readers, An October assortment of Italian connections: American Indian Activists and their supporters, unhappy because they could not take the morning Ferry to Alcatraz, as they have done since the 1980's for prayers, songs, dancing and speeches due to the Federal government shutdown (Alcatraz island is part of the National Park Service), decided their next destination should be North Beach, San Francisco's Italian neighborhood where Columbus Day, now Heritage Day, festivities were in progress. The annual American Indian Ceremony on Alcatraz island takes place annually on the Columbus Day weekend (after the 1992 protests our local politicians preferred the more Italian white-out title of Heritage Day parade). Thus emboldened, Indian activists thwarted by the federal government shutdown who had gathered at Pier 33, from where they usually depart, marched to Washington Square Park in North Beach, heart of the city's Italian heritage and Columbus Day festivities, then headed for Coit Tower to protest by the Christopher Columbus statue. Antonio Gonzalez of Aim West, an Indian group that organizes the annual pilgrimages on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving, and others leading the protest called for an end to Columbus Day celebrations and Indian-themed sports mascots, particularly the Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Braves. The mascots are racist caricatures, they said. *** Barilla Pasta company President, Guido Barilla, told the press earlier this month that he would never market his product to the GLBT community, and observed that gays "can always eat another brand of pasta" if they don't agree with his views on the traditional family. GLBT reaction was swift and San Francisco Baytimes columnist A. Rostow wrote in part, "I am sad to say that our latest GLBT boycott will require me to actually give up one of my favorite brands. Thus far, my loyal adherence to our community's official corporate snubs has been relatively painless. Romanian wine? Off the shopping list. Coors beer? I could never really tell the difference between Coors and the others. What else? I had never been to a Chick Fil-A in my life and so continue to avoid the franchise. Never like Domino's to begin with. As for Exxon, I must confess that I have made a few exceptions when forced to choose between political correctness and stranding my car in the middle of, let's say, western Kansas. Now, however, I can no longer bring myself to buy Barilla pasta. After an outraged reaction from around the world, Barilla tried to backtrack, but it's just too late. I always go out of my way to buy Barilla, but not anymore. Indeed, further research tells me that other pasta companies have started to take advantage of Barilla's faux pas-ta, including Garofalo ("we don't care with whom you cook pasta, the important thing is that you cook it al dente!"). Bertolli has a great new print ad with two women sharing a strand of spaghetti that has formed a heart in the middle, and Buitoni has one with various types of pasta arranged like gay symbols. Other companies on a HuffPo list of gay friendly makers includeDeCecco, Ronzoni, Aldiva, Delallo, al dente, Affreschi, Cipriani and Chef Boyardee. So much for Barilla. I will simply suggest that homophobic CEO's keep their opinions to themselves in the future." *** Columbia University in New York is doing a white-out of the wishes of the Paterno Family who donated Casa Italiana in 1927, a 6-story palazzo, now worth $15 million, and endowed it with another $4-12 million (exact figure unknown because Columbia refuses to reveal it). The wishes of La Casa's originally mission, as desired by the donors was to diffuse Italian culture and elevate the education and spirit of Italian Americans. Unfortunately, because our National Italian American organizationals that should have been watching the store, not only at Columbia but at other educational institutions endowed by ItaloAmericans, the Italian language department was moved out years ago and according to John Mancini, Executive Director of the Italic Institute of America (tel. 516-488-7400 or www.italic.org) the original mission of Casa Italiana has not only been whited out but wiped out and "the current mission is that of a cloistered research center for European and Columbia hacks. Neither the staff nor the Board has an Italian American presence. The blatant change of the cultural mission at Casa Italiana will continue to be challenged by the Italic Institute and the Paterno Family. *** Castello di Amorosa, a castle and winery located in www.italoamericano.com California's Napa Valley (4045 North St. Helena Hwy, Calistoga, CA 94515, tel. 707-967-6272), is a 30-year labor of love by owner Dario Sattui (great-grandson of Vittorio Sattui, founder of a San Francisco winery in 1885) that I visited last week. Frankly, the thought of touring a Castello, with 107 rooms on a geriatric "ginocchio" did not appeal, but fortunately 95of the rooms are devoted to winemaking and the winery business. If you take the self-guided tour you can move at your own speed, sit down to watch the informative video hosted by Dario Sattui, enjoy the views and see what you want to Castello di Amorosa is an architectural masterpiece. Authentically-built, 13th century medieval Tuscan-style castle and winery. Medieval designs and construction methods were employed to create the Castello; 30 years in the making- 15 years of actual construction with 107 distinctive rooms with 95 devoted to winemaking see to your heart's content. The Castello is open daily, from 9:30am to 6pm, March through October, and until 5pm November through February. The Castello and the surrounding grounds are beautiful and when you exit the gift shop and tasting room you may see lambs, roosters, goats, ducks and other fauna leisurely walking around the lush green lawns. The authentic 12th century Tuscan castle-winery, where you may taste world-class Napa Valley wines made by a fourth generation winemaking family in a tradition of over 125 years is definitely a must stop. *** Canzone and Kisses From Naples are coming your way, thanks to Simona De Rosa, a singer songwriter born in Naples, but currently living in New York City. Simona made her debut at the age of fifteen winning the Best Performance Award at the Festival "Una Voce in Campania". Her musical career began in 2007, as lead singer of the Big Band Agro and Big Band Orkestra. Simona won the Best Performance Award "ManducaMasuottolo" as singer and actress, collaborating with the acting company "Officina delle Arti" in 2006. Simona has sung all around Italy with the band Sonacammanese, a popular folk project born in Napoli. She became the lead singer of the Symphonic Orchestra Udmutria directed by M. Leonardo Quadrini in 2007 and later in the year sang at the Festival "Notte Bianca a San Marzano Sul Sarno" together with the soprano Katia Ricciarelli. A busy Simona 23 was singer and actress in the show "Notti d'estate" together with Nico Fidenco, Checco dei Giganti and Giucas Casella. She was one of the main characters in the Musical "The Show Must Go On", and also appeared in the documentary film "Ce Stev Na Vota" directed by Amedeo Veneruso and collaborated with the Italian rap singer EmmeT in the song "O Jiurno De Memoria" in 2008. In July 2009, she won the "Janis Joplin Award" and one year later won First Prize for the "Big Band Jazz Competition for Singers" directed by Franco Piana at La Casa del Jazz in Rome. In 2011 she visited New York, and collaborated with Benito Gonzalez, Criss Nolte, and Sam Knight. The four musicians recorded at Tony Bennett's Studio in New Jersey and a few weeks later, she was invited to sing at The Carmen Mathis Show in Manhattan. The same year she won the "Dennis Irwin Scholarship" from "Laurino Jazz 2011" as Best Jazz Singer. In 2012 she recorded her first album INSIDE QUARTET. The quartet released the album, at the Capri Jazz Festival, Milestone Jazz Club, Agora Jazz Festival, Alatri International Jazz Festival, Filettino Jazz Festival and in several Jazz clubs in Italy. Returning to Naples, Simona recorded her second CD album "Kisses From Naples". In this album, Simona gives nearly a dozen Neapolitan classics such as Torna a Surriento, Reginella, O' surdat nnammurat, Lazzarella, e Tu vuo` fa` l'americano, a heavy infusion of Jazz and it sounds good! Since January of this year, Simona has been living in New York City. Her Neapolitan based Jazz music has been presented in a variety of venues: Italian American Museum, Hofstra University, Simona De Rosa Something Jazz Club, City World Radio, Italian American Women Center, Warren Italian Festival in Ohio, Cellini Lodge Annual Scholarship Awards Night, Blooming Italian Festival in Pittsburgh, San Gennaro Feast in Little Italy NY, Hoboken Italian Festival in New Jersey, Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. Simona recently performed on the New York Columbus Day "Red Carpet" and her outstanding performance was televised. She holds a degree in Geology Science from Federico II University in Naples. Italo American organizations and clubs may contact Simona c/o E. Rossi at (212) 226-9254, or visit her website www.simonaderosa.com.

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