L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 8 Celebrating Ferragosto Italian Style O n S aturday, A ugus t 15 th , L'Italo-Americano's publisher Robert Barbera and his wife Josephine hosted a delightful summer evening celebration of Ferragosto at their villa in San Marino, a high-profile residential area nearby the H untington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. After a few words of the host, director Simone Schiavinato took stock of the publication's current situation, expressing his gratitude to everyone attending to the event and s upporting L'Italo-Americano. Then Jim Giallo illustrated the historical genes is of Fer r agos to as a festivity, which coincides with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Ketty Citterio, the sparkling "mis tres s " of ceremonies , brought a breath of fresh air by calling on stage an apparently unaw are pers on from the audience and making him (mis)pronounce the Italian word: "brus chetta." The Italian American "victim" was actually guitarist Drew DeAscentis, who would later close the evening w ith s inger A ynee O s born. When the buffet dinner started, catered by Claro's Deli, singer Annalisa Giordano entertained the audience w ith evergreen classics like Renato Carosone's "Tu vuò fà l'americano." The evening als o featured a few comedy sketches, starring Ketty Citterio and Christine Andronico Trageser, accompanied by the above-mentioned duo. The annual Casola Prize was awarded by the Patrons of Italian Culture to Pepperdine University Senior Ms. Jennie Olivia, who will be attending UCLA to begin her M as ter's D egree in September 2015, and last year's awardee was also invited on stage to share his experience. Lastly, four great prizes and a door prize were drawn in the traditional raffle: an Italian language cours e in M arche region, offered by Edulingua; a one-week stay at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, donated by the Barbera family; and a 9-days luxury vacation experience in Verona, Bologna and Sorrento, provided by Pietro's Italy. L'Italo-Americano wishes to thank all the guests, donors, and generous sponsors who made this event possible: Pasquini Es pres s o Coffee, V entura Limoncello, S an A ntonio Winery, Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, and Dolcenero Gelato. VALERIO VIALE Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Josephine Barbera Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Scambray Prof. Federico Pacchioni Romina Incandela, Hilary Stern, Teresa D'Agostaro, and Elisabetta Engler Drew DeAscentis, Christine Andronico Trageser, Ketty Citterio, and Aynee Osborn Director Simone Schiavinato with Publisher Robert Barbera Singer Annalisa Giordano

• Cover