Italian singer, songwriter and amazing performer, Giada Valenti is set to perform a Christmas concert on December 11, 2011 in the the beautiful Alumni Theatre at Caldwell College.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Italian Singer, Giada Valenti Performing Christmas Show
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The American Dream...My Mother Graduates College
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Best Italian Film - 'Cinema Paradiso' - A Look Back
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
International Star and Italian Singer Patrizio Buanne Releases New Album 'Patrizio'
Patrizio says, "I'm not just an Italian guy singing Italian songs. It's important to give people the kind of music I am known for, but I also wanted to open myself up artistically and give them something else or rather something "more of me" that's why we called the album PATRIZIO.
In this new album Patrizio takes a different avenue on his style of singing and really digs deep into soulful standards. Famous standards, like 'Fly me to the Moon, and 'Crazy' are spectacularly sung by Buanne. His sound and delivery really infuse an inspiring and emotional sound into these songs.
I've seen Patrizio perform in person, and can tell you his stand out element as a performer and singer is his ability to convey passion and sincere emotion. Come on, the guy is Italian. (what do you expect) If his past success is any indication of the success of this new album, then he'll be on the American Music Awards before you know it. Patrizio Buanne is crossing over big time, with each feature we've been lucky enough to publish on him, his success and popularity are consistently growing. His fan base is completely committed to Buanne and will support him to make his cross over a success in the USA. We wish him the best on the release of this new album. I personally have a few favorites on this album especially, 'You're My Everything' - beautiful.
http://www.patrizio.tv/
Friday, October 28, 2011
Photo Of The Day: Italian American Girl in Venice
Monday, October 24, 2011
Italian American Girl Featured On Bertolli Meal Soups 'Today' Cooking School
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Recently, I was invited by the Bertolli team to be part of their new 'Today' Cooking School series on MSNBC.
In this new cooking series, we met the Bertolli team, where we were given an opportunity to shoot this cooking segment along with other influential bloggers such as Jen Luby from Second City Soiree and Paula Jones from Bellalimento. There is nothing better than being able to be yourself and be part of a great project. Not only was I lucky enough to participate, but my sister, Maria was also a master in the kitchen in this segment.
The soups really were delicious and as an Italian American, who grew up with my mom's cooking, the soup was pretty authentic. So, I hope you love the series, watch it once or a million times, I love it! I'm so excited! Thank you to the Bertolli Team!
Watch other cooking school segments here:http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34318224#44951128
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Il Volo - 'O Sole Mio - Teen Italian Opera Singers?
Wow, is all I can say-- these guys are seriously making a huge impact on the American music industry and audience. Teens who can sing opera and kind of look boy bandish? Oh yes, and they're right out of Italy; doesn't get any better.
To hear more check out their channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/IlVoloVEVO Tweet
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Calling All Italian Americans: Columbus Day Parade in New York City - 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Happy Birthday - Italian American Girl Site Turns 3 !
Rick Steves: Florence, Italy: Michelangelo's David
Monday, September 5, 2011
Raising Second Generation Italian American Children in the USA
A guest post this week from Italian American Girl's sister, Maria.....
As a first generation Italian American raising my children I feel so honored to share so many special traditions and cultural knowledge with them. Growing up in a first generation household I learned the importance of art, history, cooking, traveling and most importantly- family. As I became a mother myself it never was a question of passing on all the beautiful and intense things I learned growing up.
I spoke Italian with both my children from birth instilling the gift of a second language and the flexibility to learn more than one language by the age of two. My children travel yearly to spend their summer on the breathtaking southern Italian beaches of the Mediterranean, indulging in the local cuisine, life style and building life-long relationships with all my relatives. The beauty is that it is all very normal to them to see a diverse lifestyle than here in the states and become educated on the vast culture Italians have shared with the world.
Cooking is an integral part of my children being raised Italian American, we follow traditions year round and indigenous recipes and tastes are always on our menu, not to mention the luxury of home-made, healthy foods, which are delicious! The kitchen is our meeting place and all family meetings are conducted around the table, not to mention my children appreciate wonderful baked goods we make regularly to pair up with our “coffee,’ which is a staple in our home.
My children are exposed to organic gardening by my father daily and appreciate the love and dedication it takes to nurture a delicious fruit or vegetable, they share the experience of loving the earth and nature with their Nonno and Nonna.
But for us the most important part is family, we support each other through thick and thin, we eat together, we cry together, we laugh and love together. We never think twice to help each other out if one of us needs a hand, my children are taught to share and give love unconditionally, which comes naturally because we lead by example showering them with love and support.
I am so proud to share all these wonderful things with my children and know that it will have a positive impact on how they interact in the world as adults.
-Maria
**Photo- Copyright 2011 Italian American Girl - you must ask permission to use any and all photos on ItalianAmericanGirl.com - Grazie
TweetSaturday, September 3, 2011
Popular Italian Rock Star - Zucchero Set To Debut North American Tour
Zucchero's autumn/winter tour on behalf of Chocabeck includes a handful of dates in select cities across North America including Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, New York and Boston to name a few (for a complete list see below). Asked to describe Zucchero, his longstanding collaborator Bono said: "My friend Zucchero has had Italy singing and dancing for years. . . His boyish smile makes him the most charming man in Italy, that smile that just runs all over his face. But the voice is the sound of aged oak, like an old, oak-aged whisky. . ."
I think it's pretty exciting to have one of Italy's famous Italian popular rock artists here in the states.. I say rock, but what makes Zucchero so unique is the way he can rock out and infuse a blues vibe. One of the greats.
Catch one of Zucchero's concert here in the USA and Canada:
ZUCCHERO FALL 2011 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR:
Saturday, 10/15 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
Sunday, 10/16 Montreal, PQ St. Denis Theatre
Tuesday, 10/18 Ottawa, ON Centre Point Theatre
Thursday, 10/20 Edwardsville, IL Southern Illinois University
Saturday, 10/22 Chicago, IL Park West
Sunday, 10/23 Cleveland, OH Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Tuesday, 10/24 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Thursday, 10/27 Cranston, RI RI PAC
Friday, 10/28 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite
Saturday, 10/29 Boston, MA Berklee Performance Center
For more information and tickets:
http://www.zucchero.it/eng
http://www.deccarecords.com
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Photo of the Day: Reggio Calabria, Italy
Monday, August 22, 2011
Podcast Interview On 'Tandem With The Random' Show With Italian American Girl -
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Il Divo - Hallelujah (Alelujah)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
What You Don't Understand About The Italian American Family..
Sunday, July 24, 2011
CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO- Performing North American Tour 9/15-10/6/2011
Leading Italian Musical Group
CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO
bring the power of Taranta to North America for the first time
11 city debut concert tour of the US and Canada announced for September 15 – October 6, 2011
Hailing from the Puglia region, the seven piece band and dancer are the leading exponents in a new wave of young performers re-inventing Southern Italy’s Pizzica Taranta musical and dance traditions for today’s global audience. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino’s North American tour brings the concert experience of The Notte Della Taranta festival to US and Canadian populations for the first time.
Here is list of concert dates:
Thu, 09/15/11 New York, NY New York Gypsy Festival
Fri, 09/16/11 Madison, WI Madison World Music Festival
Sun, 09/18/11 Chicago, IL Chicago World Music Festival
Mon, 09/19/11 Chicago, IL Chicago World Music Festival
Wed, 09/21/11 Cedar Rapids, IA Landfall 2011
Thu, 09/22/11 St. Louis, MO Washington University
Fri, 09/23/11 Bloomington, IN Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
Sat, 09/24/11 Bloomington, IN Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
Sun, 09/25/11 Boston, MA Club Passim (Cambridge)
Wed, 09/28/11 Toronto, ON Small World Music Festival
Fri, 09/30/11 Montreal, PQ Maison de la Culture Frontenac
Sat, 10/01/11 Montreal, PQ Maison de la Culture Ahunstic
Sun, 10/02/11 Montreal, PQ Maison de la Culture Rivieres des Prairies (Cégep Marie-Victorin Salle Désilets)
Wed, 10/05/11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
Thu, 10/06/11 Washington, DC National Geographic
Italian American Girl: Making Giambotta- Vegetable Stew
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Traveling to Europe? Clark Howard's "Living Large In Lean Times" - Get Insider Secrets: Traveling On A Budget
- Check message boards before you bid on Priceline or Hotwire
- Find cheap vacation rentals by owners
- Use social media to resolve hotel issues
- Use hard discounter airlines to travel around Europe
- Ditch the frequent-flyer miles credit card
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Italian American Garden - A Video Tour
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Like it or Not- "Jersey Shore" Cast Is In Italy Filming Another Season
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Italian American Girl: My Ballroom Dancing Journey
This year I embarked on many changes and one of the major changes and goals I wanted to accomplish was to learn how to ballroom dance. I've always wanted to learn to dance professionally and it just seemed this was the moment it was going to happen.
There is always a story behind my story...as you've come to read from my life story in previous posts. So, the idea of dance has always been in my family since I can remember. When my father came to the United States he worked as a dance instructor teaching jive and the tango, these were his two favorites.
Now, he was never trained professionally; it was just something he knew from having such an immense love for dancing. Growing up that's all we ever heard about was how he would go into Manhattan on weekends and dance at the social clubs doing the tango and jive. As kids; my siblings and I always laughed because we would think Papa would never do that, but he always proved us wrong. We would attend family weddings and he would always grab my mother and swoop her into a mean tango. They were pretty hot dancing, some times to the point where people at weddings would clap for them because it was pretty amazing. I remember being little and just thinking wow, my father is awesome and he can dance; literally.
As the years went by, dancing seemed to fade into the background of real life and we just lost the presence of it. So, after so many years....I decided to commit to ballroom dancing. I had no idea how hard it would be. I mean who doesn't watch Dancing with the Stars and just say, "oh yeah, I can do that..." so not the case.
It is probably one of the hardest sports or I would say ...it ranks up there. I give professional dancers such credit for how hard they have to train to become good and then have to teach others how to dance, it's a challenge.
My journey began with me just walking into a local dance studio and asking the front desk receptionist, "how do I start?" From there I met the instructor, his name - Reason - who would become a great inspiration and add an incredible value to learning how to ballroom dance.
I'll be honest; I'm not sure I would have felt the same about learning to dance if I hadn't been paired with Reason. I started my lessons in December right before Christmas, not sure why...but I figured hey, if I'm going to do it doesn't matter when..I was committed.
I started out with a few lessons here and there, but then slowly became addicted to learning, perfecting, and just absorbing the amazing knowledge of my instructor. There were times I would watch the other instructors practice and it was incredible. I think to feel the way I was feeling about dancing you really have to have a love for it. I can truly appreciate and value everything I was taught.
As my lessons went on, I became very connected with Reason. Honestly, you spend a lot of time together and you really begin to know each others patterns, moves, mistakes.. I should say my mistakes... he is a pro. This relationship teaches you a lot, it teaches you about yourself, patience, your drive, and most of all your level of passion.
Reason is younger than me, but I learned a lot from him and it wasn't just about dancing. His drive to be so good and a professional at a young age actually inspires me, his energy is contagious. So, you know when they say you can learn from others, its really true.
I was working toward a goal, which was to learn a lot of the ballroom technique and really perfect one dance in order to perform it at one of our socials. So, I chose to concentrate on the Waltz. I worked on it for weeks and really wanted my family to witness the result of all my hard work. The interesting part to this whole ballroom goal, was that I didn't tell anyone I was doing it, so it was a huge surprise to everyone in my family when I said, "hey, by the way.. I want you to come to my ballroom dance presentation, and oh yeah I've been ballroom dancing for the last 4 months.."
The reaction was amazing, my family couldn't have been more supportive and actually just surprised. The night of the social, my family came and completely cheered me on. I was extremely nervous and I think a little overwhelmed at the same time. I went all out and had the dress, hair and make-up to prove I was going to represent it all the way.
I performed with my amazing instructor, Reason. who I can't thank enough for his patience, professionalism and overall friendship. Our performance was perfect, I couldn't have been happier, a great night!
I'm going to continue my passion for ballroom because it makes me happy. If you have something you love to do, embrace it..! Like many other experiences I've had in my life this is another great one, which I choose to share with you. Let me know what you think.
Tweet
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Italian American Girl at the Garden State Film Festival in New Jersey
Photos are COPYRIGHT OF ITALIANAMERICANGIRL & ITALIANAMERICANGIRL.COM 2011 - You must ask permission for reuse. Tweet