MOVIE: Golden Door

There's a touch of fantasy in Golden Door, but the overall story of a Sicilian peasant family immigrating to America captivates. The ship's journey and its arrival in America makes me want to visit the Ellis Island Museum. I'm placing Sicily on my "to do" list too, what rough and rugged countryside---these Italians had to be tough to live on such land. I even watched the "making of the movie" showing director Emanuele Crialese's vision for the movie and how it was filmed in Argentina (largely comprised of Sicilian immigrant "extras"). Martin Scorsese also does an introduction about his Sicilian roots. And, did I mention it's a love story? Italian language with sub-titles.

BOOK: A Sea of Troubles

I recently picked up Donna Leon's latest mystery (since About Face) in the Albuquerque airport, thinking, "How had I missed reading this one?" It appears that A Sea of Troubles was first released in the UK in 2001, but now is out in paperback from Penguin Group (USA). The setting is on the island of Pellestrina, south of the Lido, making me wish I'd made a day trip to Chioggia on my last trip to Venice. Commissario Brunetti is charming and clever as always. Oh how I'd love to sit down to a fine meal with him!

Italian Accordion

Hoping to surprise my husband with a good "used" accordion for his birthday, I naturally searched for instruments made in Italy. This black and white Titano (Titan) model was a big hit today. So, now I'm thinking a 2010 trip to Castelfidardo (in the Marche region) is in our future---the birthplace of the accordion. It's time to re-read Annie Proulx's Accordion Crimes too.

The first time I convinced David to go with me to Italy was by bribe (he hates to travel). I had bribed him by asking, "Would you like go to Italy to see where your Tommasini bicycle was made?" And, it worked; we visited the Tommasini factory in Grossetto that trip. Any accordion players out there? (David doesn't play a lick: encouragement and lessons needed!)

Our Pedernales River View

Enjoyed a day of simple pleasures with my mother today. Painted this (16 x 20 canvas) from a photo of our VILLA TEXAS river place south of Fredericksburg. My first attempt in acrylics---pretty different from watercolor or oils. Can't wait to build my art studio with this view! Anxious to plant a few olive trees to replace some of our lost lavender plants!

Viva Italia Speaking Event

I just returned from speaking to Viva Italia, a group of Italy lovers in the Austin area. We gathered at Asti Trattoria for a delightful lunch---the "polenta bowl with mushrooms and eggplant" for me! Then, I got to tell my "story"---how I was smitten with Italy fever while in graduate architecture school, long ago. How I fell in love with Italy amid Roman ruins and Palladian villas and the rolling hills of Tuscany, plus the food, the people, the lifestyle.

COOKBOOK: 50 Great Appetizers

Love a book title that says it all! Pamela Sheldon Johns' numerous cookbooks always delight and inspire, but this one is well-versed the way I like to eat---in small bites, a sampling of this and that---makes me happy every time. Her Food Artisans site will carry you to her family's villa property in Tuscany near Montepulciano, Agriturismo Poggio Etrusco. Find lodging, food and wine workshops, and olive oil.

Olympian Swimmer Garrett Weber-Gale in Italy

A friend of a friend of mine is gold medal olympian swimmer, Garrett Weber-Gale, and what's not to love about seeing Garrett swim, cook and eat like the self-described "athletic foodie" that he is---while in Italy.

BOOK: August Heat

Good mysteries keep me reading even when I'm sleepy at bedtime and this month is perfect for Andrea Camilleri's AUGUST HEAT. Inspector Salvo Mantalbano is funny and shocking as always. Anyone else a "Salvo" fan with a favorite title in the series?

BOOK: Sacred Hearts

Currently on my iPOD---via www.audible.com---is Sarah Dunant's new book, SACRED HEARTS. Her website (www.sarahdunant.com) has podcasts and more. Anyone read this already? What do you think?

Maiya's: Taste of Italy in Marfa,TX

Taste Italy in Marfa, TX with local tomatoes for Caprese salad, Pecos canteloupe with proscuitto, and arrugula salad with Texas ruby grapefruit. Local and Italian at its best in Texas!

La Cucina Italiana

If you're only going to subscribe to one "foodie" magazine then make it La Cucina Italiana. The July issue is filled with fare from the sea and the cover flaunts another summer favorite, zucchini blossoms. Anyone else love zucchini blossoms the way I do?

Venice Biennale and Palazzo Grazzi

The Venice Biennale is underway, but instead of being drawn to the eclectic and bazaar entries that define the Biennale's "art in the park" setting, I'm instead longing to see the recently installed "Frog in Hand" sculpture by American artist, Charles Ray. The 8-foot sculpture is the new beacon for Palazzo Grazzi, Venice's newest art venue created by Christie's owner, Francois Pinault. Contemporary art lovers have a new reason to re-visit the Grand Canal.

MOVIE: Shadows in the Sun

In search of a quick "trip" to Italy this weekend, I rented SHADOWS IN THE SUN (2006) to enable the escape. My movie visit was simple and uncomplicated with stunning Tuscan countryside settings, including Rocca d'Orcia. It was a simple, no-surprises movie (except for the scenery!) with good music and blatant mushy romance, but I loved it.

Lucca and the Garfagnana

One of the lesser known  areas of Tuscany is its northern edge near Lucca and the Garfagnana where my friend, Heather Jarman, epitomizes the best there is in local experiences via Gastronomic Adventures, Sapori + Saperi. Who's out there that loves Lucca? Heather is also buddies with a good friend of mine, Harold Partain and Epicopia. Those two together top the chart with local and hands-on food experiences---"Pork and Porcini" anyone?

Helping L'Aquila Earthquake Survivors

The lingering impact of the L'Aquila earthquake remains on my mind. If you're interested in helping the people of L'Aquila and in the surrounding small hill villages where many elderly live, then here's a good resource to learn ways to help affected L'Aquila's earthquake victims. www.lifeinabruzzo.com/donate-help-laquila-earthquake-victims/

The SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT also established a dedicated appeal so that farmers in these villages receive needed food in the mountain areas surrounding L'Aquila. Their form is in Italian, so for non-Italian speakers you can donate via Global Giving with a form in English; funds go directly to Slow Food Movement.

Harold in Italy at Priello

My dear friend, Harold Partain, is on his way to Italy as I write this. After a few days in Rome, he's headed to Priello near Anghiari, a hilltop Tuscan farmstay that he will share with a few adventure-goers destined for great times; I know, I've been there! One morning at Priello, Harold and I scrambled eggs and shaved a truffle on top to start the day! Brent, one of the owners of this unusual agritourismo, makes cheese at his nearby goat farm, so that's surely on the "to do" list too. Harold is a delight to travel with and he's a champion at finding charming, off-the-beaten-track destinations filled with local food and wines via local artisans.

BOOK: La Bella Lingua

Travel memoirs are my favorites reads, so Dianne Hale's LA BELLA LINGUA (www.becomingitalian.com) is personal enough to fit the bill with flying colors (of the Italian flag of course). I can't help but admire a woman that has dedicated so much time, so many years, learning the most beautiful language in the world. Miserably so, my own attempts learning Italian have failed; I simply "get by". This book inspires me to embraced a renewed challenge with this declaration: Some day I will speak Italian beyond noun to noun and verb to verb! Some day I will conquer real sentences!

BOOK: Very Valentine

Adriana Trigiani has done it again with a story that inspires, gives room to dream, then takes you to Italy. VERY VALENTINE follows the love-laced career of a young shoe designer and her energetic endeavors in carrying on the artisan traditions of her Italian-American shoemaking family in Greenwich Village. Valentine's eventual eye-opening visit to Capri charms and seduces in a way that is armchair travel at its best. "Please keep your promise, Adriana, on making VERY VALENTINE the first installment of another of your "trilogies"!"

Amaracord: Marcella (Hazan) Remembers

Speaking of Hazan. Reading Marcella Hazan's autobiography, AMARCORD: MARCELLA REMEMBERS, is delightful for anyone who loves "chef-memoirs," my self-appointed genre for such books. Marcella's son, Giuliano (talented per his own cookbooks and cooking classes), kindly wrote a blurb for my ITALY FEVER book jacket, making the book doubly fun for me to read the Hazan family story.

What's Cooking at Villa Giona

Each year, my friend Giuliano Hazan, offers cooking classes at Villa Giona, a fabulous villa near Verona. Oh how I miss my own days at villa (with an attic room to die for!), sketching and taking photos and cooking too. I've also attended classes when Giuliano traveled to Texas from his base in Florida. Cooking with Giuliano is great fun, and his cookbooks are easy to use, including the more recent, HOW TO COOK ITALIAN.