march 2012, Suppl. N.29
www.theflorencenewspaper.com
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Brat and Angelina as Florentines
Italian Government Officials’ Incomes Released
What Do you need to know about nightlife in Florence OR COL P MA E D INSI
Red again ?
City considers restoring pavement to its original color pre 1795 Carly Cummins Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzi reopened the long-debated issue as to whether or not the gray “lastricato” pavement of historic Piazza della Signoria should be changed back to its original red brick tile. Renzi, along with the municipal administration, considered the idea at a recent city council meeting, saying that a special committee would be created to focus on the plans for the change. If the plans are agreed upon, construction would not begin until 2015. Piazza della Signoria was red brick tile until its replacement with the gray “lastricato” in 1795. During the 21st century, car travel began to quickly degrade the paved floor.
Piero Bargellini, who was mayor of Florence in 1966, first introduced the idea to change the pavement back to brick, but an agreement between proponents of the idea was never reached to begin construction. The estimated cost in 1985 to change the floor was 3 billion lire, approximately 1.7 million euro. The L-shaped piazza has grown seven thousand square meters and remains a popular spot for tourists and Florentines. The piazza is also home to some of Florence’s most famous attractions including a replica statue of Michelangelo’s David and the Palazzo Vecchio townhall.
Florentine’s Perception of Americans Embracing the culture is the key to a positive experience Studying abroad is becoming increasingly popular among American students. Though many are choosing to study in less traditional places, countries within Europe remain the leading destinations – Italy being the second largest with over 27,000
students last year. But along with American students, comes their American habits that don’t always mesh well with foreign culture, giving them a questionable reputation in Italian society. According to the Association of American College and University Programs
in Italy, the 150 foreign study programs are spread out among 30 locations. Florence alone hosts 43 of them, with over 4,000 American students living in the city each semester. It isn’t hard to spot an American on the street, and it’s just as easy to find a club,
Carly Cummins pub or restaurant that seems to cater to what American students are used to having. But these comfort places ultimately lead to a neglect of cultural interaction.
continued on page 3
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“A Guide to the City” is the supplement to www.theflorencenewspaper.com. The newspaper is distributed throughout the city of Florence in all key reference points for the English speaking community including hotels and hostels, universities and language schools, libraries, restaurants and cafes. Contact us at
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CONTENTS FLORENCE NEWS 2-4 NATIONAL NEWS 5 LIVING IN THE CITY 6 CITY GUIDE 7-10
Florence News
To Obama, With Love City of Florence to send Obama painting depicting Renaissance and Humanism Erich Schrader In order to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the disappearance of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the city of Florence will donate to President Obama a painting by Paul Frosecchi. The painting, titled “A Song of Love,” is a large representation of Florence during the height of the Renaissance as well as a depiction of Humanism in context. The work was recently presented
Brad and Angelina as Florentines? Superstar couple to buy home in Florence Erich Schrader
STYLE & ENTERTAINMENT 11 FLORENCE HISTORY 12 Food & Wine 13 TRAVEL 14 SPORT 15
STAFF Editor in Chief (Direttore Responsabile)
Lorenzo Picchi direttore@theflorencenewspaper.com Editor Erich Schrader Manager
Claudia Niemann Writers Erich Schrader Claudia Niemann Carly Cummins Laura Kildow Elizabeth Murray Dan Anderson
by the Eugenio Giani, the president of city council, just a few days before the celebrations that took place late last month on the day Vespucci died in All Saints Square. Florence joined more than 20 other Tuscan towns in presenting their banner, along with the Municipality of Florence. When asked about the painting, Giani said that the donation is a Florentine tribute both to the Americas and to the Flor-
Word on the street is that Hollywood mega-couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are close to finalizing the purchase of a home here in Florence with an estimated cost of around twenty million euro. The alleged purchase is speculated to center around historic homes and villas in the city’s hills, outside the city center. As is to be expected, gossip and rumors abound with the possibility of two of the world’s biggest movie stars investing in a Florentine home, both within the city and in the mainstream media. As of yet, no official statement has been made by the couple regarding their alleged investment. The couple has six children, three adopted and three biological
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Dealers arrested after offering hashish to undercover carabinieri DAn Anderson Two Tunisians were recently arrested in Santo Spirito for attempting to sell hashish to two undercover carabinieri. After the policemen were offered 50 euro worth of the drug by one of the dealers, they then proceeded to apprehend the one Tunisian as the other tried to make his escape. Both were eventually arrested and will be charged with distribution.
Florence Honors its Muse City to dedicate street to Oriana Fallaci
Contributors
Andy Shepherd Bryan Banducci Jenny Whalen
entine navigator after which the latter are named. Frosecchi’s Renaissance representation of one of the world’s most culturally and intellectually significant periods takes the viewer back more than 500 years into the heart of humanism and the Renaissance by assembling a mosaic of Florentine culture and historical importance.
Claudia Niemann In commemoration of one its most famous inhabitants, the city of Florence will soon come out with a new street name on its map: “Via Orianna Fallaci.” After two weeks of debate about possible candidates receiving this honor, the City Council of Florence has now approved a motion to engage Mayor Matteo Renzi to dedicate a street or piazza to a writer and journalist of worldwide renown. The centerleft majority had repeatedly postponed the debate to find its unity, which demonstrates that even posthumously, Fallaci remains controversial. The majority of votes came from the center-right opposition, finally passing the motion. Most commonly known as a war correspondent, Oriana Fallaci covered Vietnam, the Indo-Pakistani War, the Middle East and South American riots. In recent years, she became an increasingly prominent and controversial critic of radical Islam. Born in Florence in 1929, Fallaci’s journalistic career started early. At the age
of 16, she wrote her first articles for several Italian newspapers, including “Il mattino dell’Italia centrale” and “L’Epoca.” In the 1960s, she moved abroad to write for the “New York Times” and “Life.” Fallaci’s provocative and unique style of reporting became her trademark. Noteworthy are conversations with substantial political leaders such as Willy Brandt, Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger and Muammar al-Gaddafi. In 1979, she was the first woman to interview the Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, where she managed to unveil herself from the chador, calling it a “foolish rag from the Middle Ages.” Having written numerous books in recent years, Fallaci utilized her inquiry and experience as a journalist. Evocative works like “A Man” (1979) and “Letter to a Child Never Born” (1975) which was published at the height of the debate about abortion, became bestsellers. In 2001, Fallaci entered the political arena again, arousing both support and
controversy. In her provocative article for the “Corriere della Sera,” she criticized the Islamic world for conducting a war against civilization, and called for Europe to defend its values more consistently. In this respect, Fallaci’s encounter with Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 created further sensation. Obtaining a private audience, the avowing atheist openly criticized the Vatican’s restraint on the question of Islamism. Islam, terrorism and the Western world’s respective reaction became the central themes in her final years of life. Due to works such as “The Rage and the Pride” (2001) and “The Force of Reason” (2004), Fallaci established herself a reputation as being a highly provocative but daring contemporary writer. She died in Florence in 2006 after a long battle with lung cancer. Deservedly, the City of Florence now pays homage to a rare example of journalism.
Florence News
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Florentine’s Perception of Americans Embracing the culture is the key to a positive experience Carly Cummins
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “There’s a McDonald’s, a Subway, a Ben and Jerry’s, a Hard Rock Cafe and plenty of American bars in Florence, and yes, if you don’t frequent these places in your 3 day to 3 month stay in Italy, they will all still be waiting for you when you get home,” said Studentsville Florence blogger Whitney Schaefer. “It really is a shame to see tourists in line at these places when there is potentially the best meal or time of their lives just around the corner.” Schaefer is an American who has been living in Florence since 2009 and recently compiled a list of reasons why she thinks students have a bad reputation here. Along the lines of neglecting to immerse themselves in the culture, Schaefer said that students don’t try to learn the language, even though the smallest effort is widely appreciated. One aspect of Italian cultural that Americans have no inhibition about exploring is wine drinking. According to an Italian police officer, alcohol abuse is the main cause of problems related to American students abroad. With no legal drinking age in Italy, those students who would be denied alcohol in the states now have freedom to abuse that Italian tradition and privilege. “Alcohol and spirits in Italy are divided into strict categories of what you drink before, during and after a meal, and are drunk slowly, to be enjoyed,” said Schaefner. “Do Italians still get drunk? Of course. But, you probably won’t see them lining up shots or shotgunning beers. Almost
all the people I’ve seen vomiting on, passed out in, or staggering barefoot down Florence streets are American.” Not all Americans study abroad fall into the bad reputation category. Michele Bigozzi, a 22 year-old Italian foreign languages student recognizes that the picture many Italians have of Americans is based on the limited interactions they have with those abroad. “Do you want to know what I think of Americans or what I think of Americans living in Florence?” said Bigozzi. “If I think of the difference between southern and northern Italians alone, I can only imagine what a difference there may be between Americans coming from all over the United States.” Not all Italians think of the individuality of Americans when forming their opinions, so the actions of those who do study abroad have a great effect on the reputation of Americans as a whole.
Florence is one of NYT’s Favorite Destination New York Times chooses Florence as a mustsee destination for 2012
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For the New York Times, this years’ travel calendar is already set. Deservedly chosen for the American paper’s world travel review, Florence is in the 16th position among the 45 most popular places to go. According to the author of the review, Ingrid K. Williams, the Tuscan capital owes its good record in large part to its mayor, Matteo Renzi. Ever since his election to office in 2009, he has made constant efforts to raise the liveliness of the city that is today proudly celebrating its rich history. By emphasizing the fondly restored ancient landmarks, the energized art scene and the harmonious blend of traditional and modern cuisine, the New York Times underlines the city’s unique cultural attraction.
“A Renaissance city gets a contemporary kick,” adds Williams. Florence has been surpassed only by places like London (this year boating the Olympics and the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth), and Helsinki (which is highly praised for its design and aesthetics). Frontrunner is Panama, not primarily for the wellknown Canal, but rather for the country’s considerable development in recent years. Significantly though, Florence did not only prevail over paradisiacal Islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Indian Ocean, but even against “Outer Space.” But who would prefer number 20 on the list – even if it is the “final frontier” - when one can choose beautiful Florence?
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Florence News
When Cultures Meet
Florence in the eyes of American art students Claudia Niemann
COME/beCOME, the third part of a Group Exhibition of Artists from the SACI Post-Baccalaureate Program, is now taking place in the SACI Gallery at the Jules Maidoff Palazzo in Florence.
I’m showing symbols of the end result--we become and then we die.
Katina Bitsicas and Shannon Kallsen, whose photographs were part of the exhibition, provide further insights into the perspective of young American artists in Florence.
KB: The photography series, which is titled Teatro di Recordi, is taken in La Pergola theater. The amount of history and people who have performed in that theater far surpasses any American theater, so the feeling of memory really was evident within the photographs.
Can you specify what the concept of COME/ beCOME means to you? Katina Bitsicas: COME/beCOME is a bringing together of both old and new generations of artists as well as both Italian and American artists. Being able to bring all of these people together through this series of shows gives the public a really good view of what is going on in the contemporary art scene through a variety of different artist’s eyes. Shannon Kallsen: The COME/beCOME concept to me is a question. How do we progress or evolve through the space and time of life toward an unknown? How do we “become?” How did you as an artist individually apply this concept to your work? KB: I chose to incorporate La Pergola theater, full of Italian history, into my photography, but reflect on it through the eyes of the past as an American ballet dancer. SK: In my work, I’m depicting this idea by using a camera and printing process that are well known for yielding blurred and fuzzy images. My attempt is to show how we perceive memories and romantic notions of the future in a way that is entirely different than we experience the present moment. Memories are important in that they inform our idea of who we are and without them we are untethered and have no references to help formulate what we might become in the future. COME/beCOME might be about a slow motion metamorphosis. In my photos
What influence do the Florentine setting and the Italian culture have on your work?
SK: Italy has greatly influenced my work. I grew up in Seattle, Washington. It’s a young city, established in the 19th century. When I walk through the streets of Florence, I have an overwhelming feeling of being a witness for a very short time to something old and eternal. (I know, that sounds melodramatic.) Are there any other projects that you are currently working on? KB: Currently, I am working on a video project that consists of different chapters of dire events that have occurred in my life. With the creation of each chapter, there is an element of mental release of that event from my life. Each chapter will appear visually different from one another, but will be conceptually as well as aesthetically linked to one another, since they are all part of the book of my personal life. SK: I’m looking forward to the next exhibit in the COME/beCOME series because our post-bac group will have a chance to directly collaborate with the Italian students. We had the opportunity to meet with them and discuss their work last semester. I was struck by the fact that we all approach our work by asking the same questions about life, the world and our human experience. There are definitely cultural differences, but our core, our spirit or creative center, however it is labeled, is so similar. Do you think that the American perspective
on contemporary art significantly differs from the European? KB: I feel that European contemporary art tends to refer to tradition and historical precedence as well as the overall sense of a feeling or concept that surrounds the piece of art, whereas American contemporary art is more precise on concept and is all about the new, with fewer connections to the distant past. The exhibition, sponsored by Associazione Artisti Contemporanei Firenze e Metropoli, presents the works of former art students Katina Bitsicas, Shannon Kallsen, Shannon Mc Donnell and Vinicius Sanchez,
as well as teaching assistants Anna Rose and Jon Verney. The showcase is curated by Amy Gross and Emily Billings. COME/beCOME is inspired by the double reading of the word “come” in English and Italian, which is semantically different, but has an identical graphic form. beCOME, the last show in the cycle, runs from March 17 through April 8, 2012 and presents works collaborated by young Italian artists and graduates of SACI.
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National News
Gas Prices Climb
Nobel winner Renato Dulbecco dies
Europe struggles as petrol prices continue to go up
Virologist won prize for physiology or medicine in 1975 Laura Kildow
Gas prices averaging 1.7 euro per liter for unleaded fuel creates new problems and panic for Italians. After tax hikes, government austerity reforms, and massive trucker strikes, Italy continues to endure the blow of fuel costs alongside Norway (1.96 euro), Turkey (1.89 euro) and Netherlands (1.78 euro) per liter. This stands in stark contrast with the United States, averaging just 0.721 euro per liter as of February 16, 2012. Italy has been experiencing peaks as high as 1.86 euro for gas and 1.76 for diesel. LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) advancing 2-3 cents. Italian strikes start in Sicily, where 50% of the fuel is refined, and continues to recover from
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the “Movimento dei Forconi,” or the “Pitchfork Movement.” Farmers and small business owners go on strike with leader Martino Morsello as the cost of transporting goods is higher than the price of the product. Since 2009, the International Energy Agency, says decreases in demands for gas can be seen in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway; while Developing countries in Latin America, the Middle East and China continue to see an increase in the demand. Speculations suggest that as this growth in demand continues to surge in Asia, the situation will only get worse as Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards take a decade or more to take shape.
Renato Dulbecco, the Italian-born American Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 1975, died on February 19th at the age of 97. Dulbecco, a virologist, shared the prize in 1975 with Americans Howard M. Temin and David Baltimore for their work on reverse transcriptase, which relates to the interaction between tumor viruses and the genetic material of the cell. The three pioneered the laboratory growing of viruses in the 1950s, lending scientific insight into cell
From ANSA.it growth. The research helped pave the way for studying tumor cells in order to better combat cancer. Dulbecco was also awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University together with Theodore Puck and Harry Eagle in 1973, as well as the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology from the National Academy of Sciences in 1974.
Court Rules House Arrest for Concordia Captain Elizabeth Murray
Italian Government Officials’ Incomes Released Information released in an effort to boost transparency Elizabeth Murray The Italian government’s website has never been so popular. In an effort dubbed “Operation Transparency,” tax returns of Premier Mario Monti’s ministers were posted online on February 21st. The website crashed shortly after the finances were posted when it attracted a record number of visitors to the government home page. This action happened during a crackdown on tax evasion in an effort by Italian ministers to boost transparency. Not only were tax returns showing salaries of the ministers posted, but other assets were shown as well. This is the first time an entire Italian cabinet has released all of its financial interests voluntarily. An article on the BBC website published on February 22nd said it was revealed that Prime Minister Monti owns 16 houses, Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi owns a Harley Davidson model 2005 and Piero Giarda, in charge of relations with parliament, has 10 properties, most of which are mountain shelters and pastures in the Alps. “We would like this to become a compulsory thing to do for everyone in politics,” Vincenzo Smaldore of the pro-transparency campaigning group Open Polis told BBC News in its February 22nd article. The government led by Prime Minister Mario Monti took power in November after a scandal and financial crisis ruined Silvio Berlusconi’s more conservative government. Berlusconi was constantly criticized
for encouraging tax evasion, but Monti has promised no leniency under his own leadership. According to an article published by ANSA (L’Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata), a video message broadcast on February 20th in Florence to Italy’s Federation of Metalworking Industries showed Industry Minister Corrado Passera saying that it is “important to reduce tax evasion.” His reasoning was that by doing this, everyone would pay less in taxes. Data posted on the government’s website shows that Justice Minister Paola Severino was the top earner in the Italian government for 2010, and her current salary is more than 195 thousand euro. She had around seven million euro in taxable income declared last year, of which she paid more than four million in taxes. Passera is the wealthiest of Monti’s ministers, coming from the private sector with a 3.5-million-euro salary. Passera also has liquid assets of 8.8 million euro from the sales of bank stock and private property from his former position as head of Italy’s second biggest bank Intesa SanPaolo. His salary will drop to 220,000 euro while he holds a position as a minister. In order to view the different assets and salaries of each minister, visit the Italian government’s website (www.governo.it) and click on the individual biographies of each minister. On the right-hand side of the page under the minister’s picture and quick facts, links to their tax statements and other financial paperwork are available for viewing.
Francesco Schettino, the former captain of the Costa Concordia, was sentenced to remain under house arrest by a review court in Florence on February 7th after Schettino ran the cruise ship aground, causing it to capsize off the coast of the island of Giglio, resulting in the deaths of 32 passengers. Schettino was arrested following the catastrophe on January 13th and is being accused of multiple manslaughter, as well as abandoning the cruise liner and its 4,200 passengers after it ran aground on the island before everyone could evacuate. Authorities called off the search for bodies on the ship after recovering the remains of 17 people the week before the decision was made to keep Schettino on house arrest. There are still at least 15 who remain unaccounted for. After his arrest, Schettino admitted to prosecutors that he sailed too close to the island, and he was released from prison on January 17th to be put under house arrest.
According to a recent report by Reuters, in confirming that Schettino must remain under house arrest, “the Florence court rejected the pleas of both the prosecutors, who argued that he should return to prison, and Schettino’s lawyer, who had requested that he be completely set free.” The wreckage of the cruise liner is currently still on its side less than 100 meters from the Giglio shoreline. The head of Italy’s civil protection authority also said this month that they predicted that the liner would not be removed for another 7-10 months at least. A report from L’Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) cited officials as saying those figures were “optimistic.” Meanwhile, salvage crews have been working to pump the 2,300 tons of fuel from the ship in an effort to avoid an environmental disaster. According to an article on the USA Today Travel website, this process has been delayed by rough seas and bad weather.
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Living In The City
When In Florence
A few words from company co-owner Andy Shepherd When In Florence started as an idea a friend of ours had a few years ago and, like pretty much all ideas these days, manifested itself as a Facebook group. It seems an automatic gesture in modern society for all ideas, movements or companies to begin in this way before they either find a direction and expand beyond a minimal internet presence (see Craigs List), or retain their status as a page or group without really taking it any further. Granted, this is usually because most groups or pages are made for a bit of fun (see ‘Petition to make Bromance a relationship status on Facebook’), or as a means of reassurance to the creator that out of 845 million people, somebody else shares in their strange little foibles (see ‘I eat Poo’). We decided (for better or for worse, only time will tell) to opt for the former route and to try and fill what we considered to be a big hole in the city – a one-stop student services company designed to make life a little more simple for Florence’s huge international
student population. The group was adopted by a friend and I and in 2011 we started developing the idea of expanding on our nightlife background, and using the feedback we gained from our friends who studied here previously to develop a range of services tailored to a student’s needs. The cultural, social and economic priorities of Italians don’t always match those of a first time visitor from another country, and as such we want to do our best to close the gap between these two different lifestyles. Clearly, one of the reasons people come and study in Florence is to immerse themselves in Italian culture, so learning the way things are done here is an important part of this. But as most people are only here for around three months, guidance and ease of access are essential if they want to get the most out of the experience as a whole. Equally, we’re realistic about what you guys want from your experience here (other than a quality learning experience, of course!); travel, fun events, a cell-phone that
Guess What… Italians are Loud at Night, Too A local’s perspective on the after-hours scene in Florence Andy Shepherdw
When I first moved to Florence a couple of years ago to take up my former job as a tour guide, I recall the ongoing and heated debate in the local media about the noise created by American study abroad students after hours. Everybody from teachers to locals were complaining about the state of the streets at night and the bellowing shrieks of the drunken international student population. As an English person from a place with something of a reputation for late night carnage, I was initially surprised at some of the lengths that people proposed as a means of tackling the problem, with several angry contributors actually suggesting that Florence stop accepting study abroad students. After two years of living on possibly the busiest street for late night revelers, I’ve come to realize the main flaw in the gripes that led to the previous (and ongoing) ill feeling: the Italians are at least as culpable as the Americans. I think the whole issue came about as a result of what English people refer to as a ‘Daily Mail mentality.’ For those of you who don’t know, the Daily Mail is a popular conservative tabloid newspaper masquerading as serious news, when in reality all it serves to do is to stoke the flames of popular public outrage by pandering to its socially detached readership. The mentality being that people need somebody to blame and
would rather accept an easy explanation provided to them than actually forming an opinion of their own. In this case the Americans were being blamed because, let’s face it; it’s easy and popular because it fits the stereotype. But when we consider the generally accepted principle in the context of the reality, we have to ask why this principle chooses to ignore a large part of the truth. Yes, lots of American students are loud and drunk after hours, but they would probably admit that. Would the Italians be so quick to admit that their children are stumbling around, hammered drunk, singing at 4am? If anything, all this does is underline the huge generational gap that is growing in Italian society. The older Italians blame the Americans because it’s the only explanation they can compute: they never went out and got drunk every night, so surely their children don’t either. The simple point is that EVERYBODY is to blame (myself included, on occasion); pointing fingers at an entire group of people without considering the culpability of one’s own culture is something that should have been left in the 1950s. Contrary to popular belief in North Korea, Andy Shepherd was the first man on the moon and invented the electric toaster. Kim Jong-Il simply stole the idea from him after a heated debate over a 10 piece McDonalds chicken nugget dinner some time in 1989.
doesn’t have a green screen and lively nightlife being just a few things. Florence was once the benchmark for cultural achievement worldwide, but would the Medici family have spent their Friday nights at Babylon nightclub if it was open in the 15th Century? Probably. Florentine academ-
ics may disagree, but even the figureheads of renaissance Italy needed to enjoy themselves... When In Florence is located at Via Giuseppe Verdi 46/r.A few words from company coowner Andy Shepherd
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D2
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Fl
CITY GUIDE NIGHT LIFE
PUBS
SPORTS & COCTAIL BAR
THE JOSHUA TREE PUB
NAIMA Via dell’Anguillara 54 happy hour from 6pm
via della scala 37/r open at 4p.m , pint 3 euro happy hour
B2
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www.thejoshuatreepub.com
THE FIDDLER’S ELBOW \IRISH PUB\ piazza santa maria novella 7r open 12pm until 1 am
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piazza nazario sauro 2, 055 6288040 live music, dj set, theme parties
KYKUIA
Via de’ Benci, 43/R zona s.croce the oldest english pub open every night from 5pm- 2am
MICROBREWERY & PUB
C2
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C4
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B2
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MOSTO DOLCE
VIA NAZIONALE 114/r 055 6288040 HAPPY HOUR 3.30-7.30 PM
NFL SPORTS & LIVE MUSIC RED GARTER
via dei benci 33/r, 055 2344904 sports, dj set, live music,
www.redgarterflorence.com
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SEI DIVINO borgo ognissanti 42/R open 3pm until late cocktail bar, live music, dj set FLET AMERICAN BAR
piazza de’nerli dj set, cocktail bar, tables outside, hamburgers
KITSCH AMERICAN BAR
viale gramsci 1/r modern ambient,open for lunch too cocktail bar, dj set
KITSCH DEUX
via san gallo 22/r open 5pm-3am open for lunch too live music, dj set, tables outside
via dei renai 13 brunch,light lunch, aperitivo,dj set www.zoebar.it
MOYO
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via dei benci 23 brunch,light lunch, aperitivo,dj set, www.moyo.it
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COLLE BERETO
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C5
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Via De’ Pucci 5/A cocktail 5 euro shot 2.50 euro 10 shots 19 euro pitcher 10 euro open 10:30pm-2:00am
piazza strozzi 5/r brunch,light lunch, aperitivo www.colleberetocafe.it
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CLUBS SPACE CLUB
via palazuollo 37/ 055 293082 open every night
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www.spaceclubfirence.com
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BLOB CLUB
via vinegia 21/r 055 211209 open every night membership only
C3
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www.blobclub.com
COCTAIL BAR SHOT CAFE
AMERICAN BARS ZOE
APERITIVO
the first irish pub in florence
ONE EYED JACK
C3
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B3
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MONTECARLA CLUB
via de’bardi 2r 055 234 0259 Every night happy night dj set, cocktails
D3
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Style & Entertainment
Milan Fashion Week
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Italian fashion never lacking in Florentine influence When it comes to fashion, Florentines pay careful attention to making “la bella figura.” Dressing well seems to be in their blood, and it’s no surprise that some if Italy’s most well known designers where Florence natives. Though Italy’s fashion week has its home in Milan, the runways weren’t lacking in presence of Florence culture, art and society. Milan fashion week ran from February 22nd – 28th. Seven days of Italy’s best known and up-and-coming designers showed what they predict to be the trends for women’s Fall 2012, ready to wear. Two Florentine design houses had similarities within their collections: sophisticated yet bold Italian style in the form of dark colors, furs and animal prints mixed with historical influence. Gucci presented their collection on the first day of fashion week with a total of 49 looks. Pieces inspired by 19th century menswear – think Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice – were balanced with romantic feminine pieces in rich, dark colors and royal jacquard prints. Long, military style coats were paired with heavy maxi skirts; riding trousers tucked into knee-high boots were topped with sheer, ruffled button-down blouses. The show closed with a few statementmaking lavish gowns, some mixed with tulle and slick coq feathers. Nicole Phelps of style.com wrote about designer Frida Giannini’s vision for the collection: “Romantic was the word she used backstage, ‘but not cute-romantic; it has a confidence,’” she said. Salvatore Ferragamo took their turn on the runway four days after Gucci with similar styles for fall. Designer of Ferragamo, Massimiliano Giornetti, also drew inspiration from military dress, beginning the show with overtly masculine pieces and ending with flowy-feminine dresses in colorful prints. Ferragamo experimented with the mixture of fabrics such as leather, lace, and velvet, and used a wider color palette than Gucci. “… a song came over the loudspeakers that summed up designer Massimiliano Giornet-
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Carly Cummins
Photo by Megan Looney ti’s new direction for Fall. Kate Bush’s ‘Army Dreamers’ said everything there was to know about a fine collection that married the rigor of military clothing with the romance of chiffon and lace,” wrote Nicole Phelps of style.com Italian women dress and walk with confidence, but still show their flair for femininity through dress. This is the exact mood captured by Ferragamo and Gucci, and the very essence of Italian fashion that could be observed just by people watching on the ancient streets of Florence.
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Florence History
Built to Perfection
The Statue of David inspired by Michelangelo’s sexual preferences ? Claudia Niemann
According to historian Elena Laz zarini of Pisa University, Michelangelo Buonarroti’s work was highly inspired by his visits to gay saunas and brothels in Rome 500 years ago. In her book “Nudity, Art and Deco rum: Aesthetic Oscillations in 15th Century Writings,” Lazzarini claims that there is certain proof of Michelangelo’s preference of the male body, at least with regard to “The Last Judgment” on the wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museum in Rome. The beautiful fresco in Saint Peter’s Basilica shows several semi naked male figures rising to heaven or descending into hell on the Day of Judgment. Among those favorable souls determined to go to heaven, there is a lot of kissing and hugging, which is, according to the historian, certainly of a homosexual nature. Although accused of immorality and obscenity by senior cardinals as the genitals of several figures could be seen, this relatively outspoken involvement with the male human body was not unusual during Renaissance. Prevalent was a considerably dif ferent understanding of sexuality which was similar to the perception of ancient Romans 2000 years ago. In Michelangelo’s time, Rome was rife with gay brothels and saunas, where contemporaries went for beauty treatments and homoerotic experiences. Presumably, Michelangelo had contracted his passion for the male form in such “Etablissements,” modeling the figures in his works according to the bodies of men he monitored in there. This assumption can equally be ap plied to another world-famous artwork – his portrayal of David. The huge statue of a standing male nude may be Michelangelo’s most famous sculpture, and it certainly is one of the highlights of Renaissance art. It represents the Biblical hero David as he is preparing to attack the giant Goliath. For more than 500 years now, this Renaissance-Clydesdale,
made out of one block of marble, stands for the genius and partialities of his creator. Having received an advance of 400 ducat, 27-year old Michelangelo set to work on his masterpiece in 1501. Three years later, he presented his mystic hero to the public. Originally, the work was commissioned as one of a series of statues of prophets to be positioned along the Florence Cathedral. But due to great resonance, the statue was placed directly in front of the entrance of the Palazzo della Signoria, the seat of civic government. There, it replaced Donatello’s Judith. Shown nearly three times life size and weighing several tons, the statue was considered infeasible by the time of its origin. Earlier attempts by sculptors such as Agostino di Duccio and Antonio Rossellino to design a heroic image of David were condemned to failure. Michelangelo not only learned from their technical mistakes, but he also radically reformed the traditional representation of the subject. Michelangelo’s work is striking for its realistic representation of the human body and for the idealism that he projected specifically onto the male form. He portrays a mature man, nude and full of strength, who was to substitute any previous illustration of David as a sapling. Indeed, Michelangelo’s choice of nudity of the subject was unusual. The biblical text left little room for this interpretation. Portraying David in this manner, Michelangelo was able to express his own ideal of the male shape. The figures’ pose and its colossal size suggest a classical statue of Hercules, linking it with sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome: his eyes focused, muscles tight, his face tense and ready for combat. After 360 years of exposure to the open sky, the masterpiece has been moved to the Galleria dell’ Accademia. Harbored there today, one may admire the ideal perspective on the male body, set in stone by one of the greatest artists of all time.
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Food & Wine
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Cheap, delicious and good for you, too? Eating healthy and vegetarian in Florence Bryan Banducci
A typical Italian diet is quite different from that of an American’s. Little-tono breakfast (aside from coffee, of course), fruits and vegetables, beans, lean meats and small portions form the basis of how Italians eat day to day. This, combined with the daily passeggiata – a stroll through the town – keep most Italians fairly active and fit. Fresh fruits and vegetables are inexpensive and abundant, so healthily cooking at home is simple and cost-effective. But when you go out to eat, sometimes it can be hard to find a menu that is any different from other restaurants offering typical Tuscan pasta dishes with various meat sauces, which can get rather expensive. That’s why finding a good vegetarian spot is always a good bet in a new city. Vegetarian restaurants have something for everybody. The food is actually good for you! I had heard a lot about Il Vegetariano, one of Florence’s dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants, so I decided to stop by for dinner around 8pm on a Sunday with a couple of friends. It’s a small and unassuming spot just off of Via San Gallo on Via delle Ruote. The setup is a bit confusing upon first
walking in, but luckily I had done some research in advance and knew how the place functioned. There is a large front room with tables, and a hallway leading down towards the main room and the kitchen, with a large handwritten menu of the daily specials (varying day by day, which is fantastic). The strange part about the restaurant is that it is self-service. This would definitely throw anyone off on their first visit if they were not prepared for it. First, you “reserve” a table by putting your jacket or sweater on it, then get it in line to write your group’s order down on a pad of paper in front of the register. The menu is very diverse, with a lot of vegan and gluten free options. My friends went with the cous cous alla tunisina (6.50€) and the riso integrale con pesto di cavolo nero (6€), both from the primi part of the menu. I chose to go with piatto indiano, an ethnic dish of Indian dahl with lentils, curried vegetables and basmati rice (9€), which was on the secondi menu. After making our choices we handed our pad over to the man behind the register, who promptly added up our total to 32€, with the addition of a liter of the house wine
and a glass of fresh squeezed apple juice. After paying we got back in line in front of the large salad bar and waited for our food to come out. Because the restaurant is self-service, there are no waiters – which is how they keep the prices so low. All of the day’s ingredients are prepared in advance and kept hot on the stove, so our food came out in just about five minutes. A loaf of fresh whole wheat bread was given to us as well as we sat back down at our table. We had been eying everyone else’s food that was coming out before us, and we could not wait to tuck into our respective meals. The verdict? Absolutely outstanding. The simple, fresh, wholesome ingredients made for excellent dishes all around. I couldn’t believe I had some of the best curry of my life from an Italian vegetarian restaurant. The house wine was top notch as well. Arguably the best part of eating at Il Vegetariano is dessert. While we were waiting for our food we could not take our eyes off of the plethora of vegan cakes and tarts. It would have been blasphemous to have not tried something. We went back to the front and ordered a ricotta cheesecake and a crosata di cioccolata e frutti di bosco. Priced at 4€ each, the servings with definitely sharable and the perfect complement to our amazing meal. Even if you are not vegetarian, give Il Vegetariano a try, if not for the obvious benefits of healthy, wholesome food but for the mellow, relaxed atmosphere you can only find in a smaller locals-only restaurant. are three different variations of the Negroni cocktail. The first was invented in Milan and is called the Negroni Sbagliato, which literally means the “wrong Negroni” where Spumante Brut (dry sparkling white wine) is substituted for gin. The Negroski is a version with vodka instead of gin and lastly the Sparkling Negroni has the same main three parts—gin, Campari and Vermouth— plus Champagne or Prosecco and sometimes an orange twist. Spritz cocktail is another popular choice for aperitivo including 1 oz Aperol, 2 oz Prosecco and seltzer. For those who prefer a more bitter flavor, Campari can be used instead of the sweeter and lighter
choice of Aperol. Venturing away from the standard American drinks that are ubiquitously available can be a rewarding and delicious change. Aside from Negroni, Spritz and Americano there are an assortment of other Italian cocktails offered wherever drinks or aperitivo are available. When visiting or living in Italy being immersed in its culture goes beyond learning the language and seeing the sights, but also adopting the lifestyle, which includes experiencing the aperitivo and Italian cocktails.
Recipe:
by Enoteca Il Cantinone
Ravioli al pesto Fiorentino
Ingredients for 6 Persons
600 g of Ravioli 1 clove of garlic 300 g of black cornflour 50 g of parmesan cheese 50 g of pine nuts 50 g of nuts 100 ml of olive oil a little bit of salt and pepper Preparation Wash the black cornflour. Put all the ingredients into a blender and while it mixes add oil until it becomes a homogeneous cream. Cook the Ravioli in a pot with water, put plenty of salt in it. When “al dente”, drain them and mix with the pesto-sauce. Serve with some parmesan cheese and enjoy hot.
Cheff Michele Gori
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Travel
Paris in 48 Hours
One American’s weekend as a Parisian Jenny Whalen
The Eiffel Tower, the Arc d’Triomphe, The Louvre, baguettes, croissants and the impeccably skinny and stylish French residents... the allure of Paris is simply magnetic. As a European student for the semester, visiting the extravagant city of Paris is a must, no excuses. However, Paris is a big city and seeing everything on your list in just a weekend is quite a feat, so take a deep breath and jump feet-first into Parisian life. Paris in 48 hours or less – can you do it? Flying from Florence to Paris on RyanAir is easy and cheap, but take note of the fact that the flight leaves from Pisa and lands in the Paris Beauvais airport. A train to Pisa isn’t a big deal – it costs approximately six euro and there is a direct train that will take you straight to the Pisa Airport stop. At the other end, the Paris Beauvais airport is about an hour from the center of downtown Paris. A shuttle service offers buses for every RyanAir flight for a round trip price of 30 euro, so factor that into your budget as you jet-set away from Italy. Once your feet hit the sidewalks of Paris, you’re ready to whip out your checklist. There are a few must-sees and hundreds of other options, but read on for a few things you simply must do before you leave the city of lights. First, head to the Arc d’Triomphe. The Arc is surrounded by aggressive Parisian drivers, so make sure to take the tunnel which leads you under the road and back up to the Arc in-
stead of attempting to dodge traffic. Next, walk to the Eiffel Tower. This walk follows a path through the residential areas of Paris, and it’s a good way to get a sense for the non-tourist side of the city. Once at the Eiffel Tower, take the compulsory “hi mom” pictures under the tower and avoid the men trying to sell tower figurines. If it’s a nice day, feel free to climb the tower (or take an elevator), but for the best view, wait until after dark to make the climb. The view at the top of the tower is unparalleled, plus there’s a student discount on the climb. Another must-see, the Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums and could occupy you for days. Ask for a student discount here too – they let Italian students (or Americans with an Italian student visa) visit the museum for free. After going on a museum and monument trek, head to Laduree for some macaroons. French macaroons (which, unlike American macaroons, are not made of coconut) are heaven in cookie form. The shop located at 21 Rue Bonaparte is a five minute walk from the Louvre, meaning it is a perfect after artwork snack. If you aren’t in the mood for something sweet, the baguettes, croissants, quiche and French onion soup are also delectable, and you can’t leave Paris without trying a crepe! The list of must-sees in Paris goes on and on. If you’re a film fan, visit the Red Light District for a look at
the Moulin Rouge. If you’re a culinary connoisseur, take a cooking class. For museum lovers and non-museum lovers alike, the Musee d’Orsay offers a unique experience, as it is housed in a former rail station. Versaille and the Notre Dame can’t be missed, and the Madrais shopping district (mere blocks from the Notre Dame) is full of boutiques and cafes. The Latin District boasts fun bars and pubs, while the area around the Eiffel tower offers upscale restaurants. For a beautiful view, take a boat ride down the river at sunset, or take a ride on the carousel on your way to the Louvre. If you’re into food experimentation, try some escargot. If you want more museums and monuments, stop by the Sacre Coeur Basillica. Wherever you’re headed, learn to use to metro. It’s clean and fairly easy to navigate, plus you can buy a weekend pass for only 15 euro and your swollen feet will thank you. Paris could occupy anyone for days, but visiting for a weekend requires prioritization and speed. Make a list, bring a map and wear your walking shoes. See everything you can, but also take time to sit and watch the French culture. A semester in Italy is a great way to be immersed in a culture that is distinctly non-American, but a trip to Paris will demonstrate a whole different side of European life.
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Sport
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Linsane over Ethnic Sensitivity Rising NBA player helps to evolve the most multi-cultural country in the world Dan Anderson Aside from the fact that he has brought an astonishing amount of success to the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin has been able to make a much bigger impact--an impact that affects everyone in the entire country of the United States. After receiving little playing time during his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, being assigned to the Dleague three times, and being waved by the Warriors and by the Houston Rockets the following preseason, Lin was given a shot with the Knicks. The 23-year old 2010 Harvard University graduate, who was initially undrafted out of college, continued to demonstrate his motivation and exceptional work ethic in hopes of earning a lead role in the NBA. On February 6, 2012, Lin achieved his goal, made history, and made headlines all across America for becoming the first American starting player in the league to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Since his abrupt emergence in the NBA, people have gone crazy for this guy in a fashion that many journalists have described as “Linsanity.” However, by simply following his dream and playing his heart out on the court, Lin has greatly contributed to America’s rapidly evolving culture. It started when average citizens began commenting, tweeting, and writing on message boards about how rare it is to see an Asian-American have so much success in the NBA. From there, the press began to struggle to find words to describe Lin in ways that were both intriguing and politically correct, which is by no means an easy task. One ESPN writer was fired for posting an article online with a headline that read, “A Chink in the Armour.” Another, an ESPN anchor, was suspended for using a similar phrase to describe the Knicks’ 89-85 home loss to the Hornets. Though both made formal apologies and admitted that it was an honest mistake, it was too late. Their words had been seen by millions of people, and
every sunday 11:30am- Midnight
Via De’Benci 33/35R zona Santa Croce /map code C3
had been perceived as offensive by almost all of them. In this society we live in today, which is so unforgiving and ethnically diverse, it is almost impossible to say something that will offend absolutely no one. These two ESPN employees, however, should have known better. Assuming the professionals that made these mistakes have been working in the journalism industry for years and have been briefed on the power of resonance they hold, many would agree that they deserve the punishment they were given. On the other hand, some may detest this decision, saying that everyone slips up every now and then, and those ESPN employees should be given a chance to explain themselves. The fact of the matter is that if you live in America, or anywhere in world, you need to be sensitive to others’ ethnicities, especially if it is your job to address a general audience. If you are not, then you will be considered things that you may not be, such as a racist. When speaking about ethnic sensitivity on the ESPN segment, First Take, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith made a very insightful point. “You don’t erase what you’re sensitive to,” said Smith. “But you have to be forgiving from a standpoint of: if someone apologizes genuinely, let’s try to be a bit more forgiving.” In the midst of all of this mayhem, Lin has displayed an amazing amount of maturity and poise. He takes the blame when the Knicks lose. He credits his teammates when they win. He takes all of the jokes, puns, and comments about his race very lightly. In an interview during All-Star weekend, he spoke about his mindset while playing this 2012 season. “The difference between me last year and this year is that last year I cared what everybody said, and this year I don’t really care what anybody says, except for my teammates and my coaches,” he said. Off the court, many have described Lin as a very charming and personable guy,
"Photo courtesy of NBA.com"
who displays an impressive amount of wisdom for his age. After becoming a star in New York, Associated Press called him, “the most surprising story in the NBA.” So, whether this underdog likes it or not, he is making history. One thing we should learn from Lin
Fiorentina's Games in March
dom 4 marzo 15.00 fiorentina-cesena mer 7 marzo 18.30 parma-fiorentina dom 11 marzo 15.00 catania-fiorentina sab 17 marzo 20.45 fiorentina-juventus dom 25 marzo 15.00 genoa-fiorentina
is that there are far more interesting factors that contribute to one’s personality than their race or ethnicity. Just look up “Jeremy Lin how to get into Harvard,” on YouTube and you will see that this young man is far from skin-deep.
U.S.A gains a rare victory over Italy, beating them at their own game Dan Anderson
For the first time ever, the American men’s national soccer team overpowered Italy 1-0 in an international friendly match on February 29th. With an assist by teammate Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey put the only goal of the match past Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in the 55th minute. “It’s a work in progress,” Dempsey said afterwards. “I like to think that we’re closing the gap and hopefully one day we can do something special.” This game was the Americans’ fourth straight win and their third consecutive shutout, improving their record to 5-4-1.