Here are a few details about the trip to Tuscany for September 23-Sept 30, 2010.
The tour is called “Eat, Pray, Love, Crush Grapes and Teach Music in Tuscany Sept. 2010
We are delighted that our students are joining us and also friends of our students! We welcome you to join us on this trip! There is limited space however so take time to look everything over soon so that you can make a decision soon. We already have 6 people reserved and more to confirm in the next few days. This will be a very unique experience, a tour operator would not be able to bring this type of “visit the locals” to you and so we are proud to be able to show a bit of “insiders” Italy and affordably at that!
Take a look at all the pictures and some details at www.nashvillegoestotoscana.wordpress.com My name is Patti and I know the folks who will be hosting us. I lived in Italy for the better part of my adult life and know that this place that we will stay at is a little bit of Heaven on earth. I have also attached a few lodging details that may be helpful. More about the estate and the conference center owned by the Brethren Church in Italy can be seen at www.poggioubertini.it
Airline
Airline tickets are at your own expense. We are not planning to depart together nor are we returning together. We will MEET UP at the lodging which is a very old large estate or in italian it would be called a villa by the name of Poggio Ubertini. There are two parts to this estate, one which is the old main building or “palazzo” and then there is the area called “Il Granaio” or the Grainery where newer apartments have been built and that is where we will stay.
Not a Hotel
Please note this is a retreat and conference center, not a hotel, nor is it an “Agriturismo”. That is why we chose to stay at this lovely property since we know the property managers and also because our friends, The Ammirabile family live across the street. They have invited us (ten at a time) to come over and help them with the grape harvest and to learn about grapes and winemaking.
Our Lodging
See the “prices of apartments in Poggio Ubertini” page for details on the prices. We are there in summer, thus those prices would apply. Prices are in Euro, and payment is with cash upon arrival. Most of us are staying 6 or 7 nights but you can stay longer is you wish. You would need to reserve ahead but can stay for as long as you wish!
Stay as long as you wish!
You do not have to stay the whole time! You can hang out with us for a few night then move on if you wish! We plan to rendezvous at “Il Granaio” around 6:00 PM on September 23, 2010 and stay either 6 or 7 nights. We have booked mid week travel to save on airline costs and also so that we will be there over a weekend to hold our “Musicians Master Classes”.
Meals
Each apartment has its own kitchen with all the necessary tools to cook. You can cook for your own group or we will have meal options available with the Ammirabile family across the street. Pricing is still being discussed for this. You can opt in or opt out, according to your budget.
Deposit and Learn Italian!
Italian language lessons will be included in this trip at a cost of $100 for 15 hours of classes on site at “Il Graniao”. That will be asked of you up front as a non refundable deposit. Your check can be made out to “Italian For Fun!’ and mailed to me. I will issue a receipt to you once confirmed.
Cucina Italiana
Cooking classes may be available; we are still confirming that part of our experience. More to come on this.
Teach Music
Professional musicians from Nashville are invited to join us for a “Musician’s Master Class” itinerary which will be offered to Italian musicians from across Italy and the local musicians. This will be a work/vacation for these fine professionals that would pay their way to come with us to hang out in Tuscany. All classes will be in English and paid for from student to musician at the time of class. Reservations will be made in advance for these classes.
Gigs for Our Musicians
I have contacts around Italy that may be able to book some extra gigs for you if you would like. I will make every effort to get you in touch with some concert organizers and ask that you would follow up with them and make arrangements to book their venue. I will need a few good promo photos for each artist plus a brief bio, along with a description of your top 5 lessons that you can offer. I will set a meeting with each of our musician participants to take care of details with you. All referrals and contacts that I can offer you are yours to pursue freely. I will not expect any referral fee nor commission. I take great joy in seeing your music and talents arrive in Italy.
An informational meeting is being planned soon. Please email Patti for details at pattifranklinnelson@gmail.com
April 2010 www.italianforfun.com
Learn Italian with us! We offer four levels of classes at locations all over!
Call 615-306-1615 or email italianforfun@gmail.com for more info!
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Saturday
Intermediate Italian with Viviana
Step Three for the student who wants to learn to speak Italian well. Sentence structure, grammar rules and practice, practice, practice!
April 10th @ 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM for ten weeks-$150
Held at Caesar’s Bistro (formerly Caesar’s Ristorante Italiano), 72 White Bridge Rd. Nashville
www.caesarsbistro.biz (website coming soon)
Saturday
Beginners” Italian For Travelers” with Patrizia Prepare to travel to Italy! Learn all the basic phrases, geography and insider travel tips.
April 10th @ 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM for ten weeks-$150
Held at Coco’s Italian Market, 411 51st Ave N, www.italianmarket.biz
Monday
Beginners Italian “Intensive” in Cool Springs with Viviana Italian culture, geography and conversational Italian language
April 5th @ 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM for ten weeks-$150
Held at Nucci’s Italian Ice, Cool Springs www.nuccistn.com
Tuesday
Beginners” Italian For Travelers” with Patrizia Prepare to travel to Italy! Learn all the basic phrases, geography and insider travel tips.
April 6th @ 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM for ten weeks-$150
Held at Caesar’s Bistro (formerly Caesar’s Ristorante Italiano), 72 White Bridge Rd. Nashville
www.caesarsbistro.biz (website coming soon)
Wednesday
Beginners TWO “Italian” with Patrizia and Emanuela Continue to prepare to travel to Italy! Practice basic phrases, geography and insider travel tips.
April 7th @ 6:30 P M to 8:30 PM for ten weeks-$150
Held at Corrieri’s Formaggeria, 12th Avenue S www.cfcheese.com
Thursday
“Parliamo Italiano” with Viviana Practice speaking Italian, all levels
April 1st @ 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM for 10 weeks-$100
Held at Nucci’s Italian Ice, Cool Springs www.nuccistn.com
Levels
Beginners-This prepares you to travel to Italy, understand the basics of the language. We also share insider information about “All Things Italian” in Tennessee, wine tastings to attend, cooking classes to attend and other special events.
Beginners Two-Start Speaking-this is a second level course where subject by subject you will practice making sentences, speaking Italian with classmates, and learning as you go.
Beginners Intensive-Viviana has a high energy Beginners class that she has designed for her classes. This is a third type of Beginners class for you.
Intermediate-Viviana teaches an Intermediate class for those who want to work on language skills. This class covers grammar rules, sentence structure and practice speaking.
Parliamo Italiano-these classes are a weekly gathering of those who need to practice. These classes are very beginner and “I understand but need to practice speaking” friendly!
ALL CLASSES are subject to change-and schedules depend on a minimum number of students per class. We try to accommodate students in every way, to double up classes, to visit another class when they miss “their” class, and our sincere desire is to “partner” with you as our student to get you ready to travel to Italy and explore your ancestry, meet new friends and to practice speaking this beautiful language! Ask your teacher which book you will use.
For more information please email italianforfun@gmail.com and one of our teachers will get back to you.
Dear Potential ToscanaTraveler,
The plans and program are slowly coming together for the trip to Toscana from Nashville for Sept 2010. Here is what is sure so far…..
The dates for stay in Tuscany would be 6 nights at the end of September, 2010 exact dates TBA
Work in a Vineyard in Tuscany and with Italian Language/Cooking Classes
I am inviting students of “Italian For Fun!” to join us. Some friends of “Italian For Fun!” also may be able to join us. Spend a week in the Tuscan Hills, and pick grapes during the Vendemmia.
Nashville Musicians Master Classes in Tuscany
I am also inviting teaching musicians and music executives to join us for Master Classes for Italian Musicians. Students in Italy will have a choice of teachers and classes that you would like to offer and they will reserve and pre-pay your time and expertise.
Below please see the pictures of the property that we will stay at. This Estate/Villa property has had the Ammirabile family as caretakers and custodians for over 30 years. I am personally aquainted with them. They are kind, sharing people who happen to own land around the villa and live across the street. They have offered to let us work in their vineyard (ten at a time) for a day each during the annual Vendemmia or Grape Harvest.
The arrangements are:
Make your own way to Florence, Italy and then 30 minutes outside Florence to Poggio Ubertini. We can arrange transportation and some will be renting cars together.
We will have a choice of lodging, some may want a solo apartment, some may want to share to save money.
I do not anticipate that this will cost you more than 100 Euro a day for meals and lodging. Keep in mind that the lodging is not a four star resort but very clean and nice. Transportation is on your own, rental car would be recommended, or group could go in on a 9 passenger van if we have a willing driver.
Italian Language classes will be taught for three hours every morning! $100 USD for the whole week.
Cooking classes also offered! Cost TBA
Group trips organized to Florence, to neighboring Vineyards and Pisa. Cost TBA
Meals available together or in your own kitchenette in your apartment.
Evening jam sessions in the courtyard with some of Italy’s finest young musician talents and all-stars of Nashville! You never know who might show up!
There will be an upcoming planning session and informational meeting so stay tuned, I will announce two different options for this meeting soon.
Space is limited, so let us know your interest ASAP. More pictures and info is heading my way soon, exact pricing, etc. but for the meantime take a look at www.poggioubertini.it for the conference center site. The apartments are on the same property.
Viva l”Italia!
Patti Nelson, Organizer
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Promoting All Things Italian in Tennessee!
Italian For Fun!
Patti Franklin Nelson, Director
Recent letter from Catia Ammirabile-Deacon, the daughter of the Ammirabile family who now, with her husband lives on the property.
Hello Patti!
It’s good to hear from you.
This tour you are organizing sounds very interesting.
The vendemmia times for us usually is from about 20 -25 of september to the 5-10 october, anytime during these weeks would work for us, the best one is the very last week of sept / the first of oct, although it really depends from the kind of summer we got before and also from the grapes quantity we have, but unless we have too little and too mature (which would make us start earlier), that’s our usual vendemmia time.
At that time the apartments in Poggio are free and if also Poggio will be free you’ll have the place to youself.
Here I send you some pictures of the apts, they’re not professional photos as I took them, but as it’s taking too long for the official website to be ready, I thought you might like to take a quick look.
Please let me know in what way I can help you.
Saluti dall’Italia,
Caty Ammirabile
Our students at Nucci’s Gelateria in Cool Springs for the Thursday night conversation class. From left to right: Richard Shiari, David Carbone, Frank Como, Duane Holland, Viviana Luison (one of our teachers) and Dan Mancuso. Thank you to Bo Richardson for taking the picture! More pictures to come….
Cooking classes with Paulette, More Parliamo Italiano! classes around town for practice and another beginners class now forming for late February! We also have a great trip to Tuscany to work in a vineyard and stay in a 500 year old villa! Viva l’Italia! Email us for more info or to sign up! italianforfun@gmail.com
Due to the remnant of bad Tennessee weather we will cancel classes for Monday and Tuesday this week (Feb 1-2) Hopefully we should be over the worst by Feb 3rd, and back to mild winter weather in TN! Make up session for Monday class happens this next Saturday, Feb 6th, talk with Viviana for details! Primavera, vieni presto!
Due to snow all classes will be cancelled for this weekend in Nashville, TN. Stay warm, cook Italian food, enjoy a great wine with dinner and listen to some great Italian music! That is a good plan!
Several of us went to see the preview of “When In Rome” last night. This is a Touchstone Picture (Disney Films) and was delightful! It is a romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell with great scenes of Roma and lots of laughs! Tell your sweetheart that this is a great date movie!
For a little over 2 years 100% Italiano has been distributing Italian Wines across Middle Tennessee. 100% Italiano is specialized indigenous, rare grapes, boutique wines, wines of high quality, wines for collectors but also wines for every table and every meal. They have it all!
The company, founded by Italian natives Andrea Danti and his wife Maria De Pasquale has been slowly building a community of fans and Italian wine lovers in town.
They are currently planning wine dinners and other wine events for the first quarter of 2010. Below is a list of this events:
A Series of Tastings at Caffe Coco’s Italian Market.
The event include 3 wines and 3 dishes served Family Style. A table for Italian speakers will also be set for those of you interested in some practice. Dates include: Thursday Jan 21st 2010, Thursday Fab 18th, 2010, Thursday Mar 18th 2010. Each event starts at 6.30 but please try to make it a few minutes in advance to get your seat! For more information or reservation, contact Jessica at jessballen@yahoo.com or call 615.783.0114. Cost is $20 per tasting. Hurry! The January tasting is almost sold out!
Italian Wines 101 at Fido’s.
We know how intimidating a label of Italian wine can be. A bunch of acronyms difficult to interpret and all those names so hard to pronounce! If you want to learn everything about Italian wines from how to read the label to how to understand about vintages in Italy and more, please join one of these classes!
Tuesday March 16th, 23rd and 30. For reservation please write to events@bongojava.com or 100percentitaliano_2@comcast.net
Wine tasting at Fido
If you prefer not to hear us talking too long about how fantastic our wines are, than just come and taste them! What better occasion than the wine tasting in the newly inaugurated business room at Fido’s! The event is Thursday January 28th. For reservation please contact us at events@bongojava.com or 100percentitaliano_2@comcast.net
Wine tasting at Rumor’s East
If you could not make it in January for any of these events, well there is always February. Join us for a wonderful selection of Italian wines and incredible hors d’ oeuvres by renowned check Hernan Borda. When? February 11th, 2010. For more info contact us at 100percentitaliano_2@comcast.net
Wine dinner at Fido
After the success of the September Wine Dinner at Fido’s, chef John Stephenson will show us his talent for this spring dinner celebration. Join us on Friday April 23rd 2010. For more info or reservation, contact us at 100percentitaliano_2@comcast.net.
This is not it! Surely more to come…
Che cosa cucinare? What’s cooking?? I’ll tell you! Or better yet, come cook with me! The new series of Italian cooking classes starts Wednesday, January 20th. We’ll be steaming up the kitchen with luscious Italian soups. From Tuscany the rustic Pappa al Pomodoro, a unique mix of crusty bread, tomatoes, and broth brought together to warm the cold days. Or the classic Straciatella—Roman style egg drop soup! Plus the ultimately satisfying Risi e Bisi from Venice, and a creamy asparagus soup from the Veneto, too.
Four more classes will give you the confidence to cook anything Italian at home! Quick pasta sauces (each takes under an hour), Seafood favorites including calamari and scampi, wonderful specialty stuffed pastas from Liguria and Lombardia, and hearty meat dishes like osso buco and steak pizzaiola.
Can’t wait to cook with you! Click on “Eat Italian” above for all the details!
Buon Appetito!
Paulette Licitra
