End-of-Year 2017 Newsletter
Salve (Hello), amici! Here's an update on some highlights of Fall 2017, and some planned events we can all look forward to as fall turns to winter.
Upcoming Events
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!
La Befana Returns!
On January 6, 2018 at 6:30 pm, Fredericksburg-Este Association will host our third annual La Befana feast. We will gather again this year to celebrate the official end of the Christmas season, and "sweep away" the old year along with legendary Italian figure, La Befana.
This year's Epiphany celebration and delicious dinner will be hosted by our wonderful community partner, Orofino (1006 Caroline St). Tickets will be $50 per person ($40 for Founding and Sustaining Members). Please save the date and watch for an email from us soon, containing further details and a link to purchase your tickets.
Fredericksburg Italian Language and Culture Meetup
This Fall, Fred-Este began sponsoring a new group which will meet regularly to learn and practice Italian skills and share cultural knowledge. Join us this month (December 16, 10:30 am) at the downtown Marriott to learn about Italian Christmas traditions! Please follow this link to join the Meetup and find out more. We'd love to see you there!
A Look Back - Fall 2017 Events
Second Annual Pizza Palooza
Saturday, Sept. 16- Our second big pizza party, held in Market Square, brought about 800 people to hear great music by The Bruce Middle Trio, sample pizza slices from Castiglia, Primavera, Vocelli, and Paisano. Best Cheese Pizza and Best Specialty Pizza honors went to Castiglia, and Paisano won People’s Choice Award. Judges were Bob Whittingham, Joy Crump, Brad Ellis and David Frazer. Our volunteers did a great job with set-up! Best wonderful thanks to the Fredericksburg Area Museum for partnering with us and enlisting their members as volunteers. And a shout out to Parks & Rec for their excellent work with tables and chairs and such. Many, many thanks to our $250 sponsors: Premier Eyecare, Fredericksburg Financial Planning Services, The Title Professionals, Lewis Insurance Associates, Caldwell Banker Elite, Dr. Lloyd F. Mass, Jr, and Dr. Lloyd F. Moss, III. Special thanks go to Bob Antozzi, Rene Rodriguez, and Chip Willis, the talented trio who head this wonderful event.
From Este, With Love
Sunday, Sept. 24-In the works for over a year, the Este Photography Show opened at Orofino Restaurant with a bountiful offering of Italian food samplers, paired with Italian wines from the Veneto. Twenty photographic works from the Este region were displayed on the walls of the restaurant, and Danilo and Alona Orofino once more proved to be valued friends of our organization. The Arts and Cultural Committee, headed by Lisa Durham, worked to make it happen. Este photographers were Stefano Baldini, Claudio Gaggiofatto, Lorenzo Ghirado, and Gianni Rizzo. The event was well attended, and sets the stage for more cultural exchanges.
In addition to this show, Orofino commissioned two murals for the restaurant from our talented and very active member, Cathy Herndon. The first mural is of an Italian map, showing its distinct regions from which Danilo and staff craft monthly specials. The second mural, of the Italian countryside, has a special treat: Cathy has painted Danilo and Alona on a Vespa, headed to their al fresco table and chairs. We are so grateful to Orofino for their continued support, and encourage our members to try their wonderful tastes of Italy.
Este Sister City Conference
In early October, the Este sister city group held an international sister city conference to discuss the impact that the European Union has on professional opportunities within the EU. Kathryn Willis represented our Este group at United in Diversity, and was joined by Fred-Este members Ann and Ron Tebbutt, and Pat and Earl Baughman. Enlightening comments about the EU from all of Este’s sister city groups were shared. In addition, the weekend offered the opportunity for representatives of all Este’s sister city groups to become acquainted. As an added treat, Maryse and Philippe Rigoulot, from Frejus, France (Fredericksburg’s French sister city) also attended. As always, the hosting by our Este friends was warm and welcoming.
Cultural Lecture Series
Two cultural lectures this fall brought a full house audience to the basement of St. George’s Church. On October 13, Dr. Rusty Neal spoke on the history of Italy before the Romans. His lecture, the Etruscans and Archaic Italy, included notes on language development, conflicts that shaped the region, and artistic and cultural artifacts of the period. On November 10, Dr. Marjorie Och focused on Pompeii, sharing her own photography exploring the ruins, discussing the volcanic eruption that preserved this ancient city, and explaining the evolving research into this fascinating story.
Italian Composers Concert Series
On October 27, Aaron Noë, director of the Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony, led our audience at St. George’s through an array of Italian composers whose music was adapted to the Wind Symphony presentation. La Vita e` un Viaggio, Life is a Journey, was the perfect theme for this annual concert, as the evening’s performance was dedicated to the memory of Bill Carter, an active and enthusiastic member, who died unexpectedly this fall. This free concert series attracts an ever-growing audience. Thank you to Rene Rodriguez for his direction in bringing this popular program to our community.