Coming Soon…
Written by admin on 25 February, 2009 – 3:02 pm -
Armani Hotel Milano – coming 2010
See if it’s worth the wait at the official site. There’s already an Armani Bar below (just out of shot). Bet they make nice cappuccino, I’m just too afraid of the price to try one!
Posted in Travel | 4 Comments »
Word of the Week
Written by admin on 25 February, 2009 – 1:30 pm -Sorry for the late post this week but I have been out of action for a few days.
Whilst reading I came across this week’s chosen word. It is a word not used very often these days (I have never heard it) but it might be of interest to some.
compare
godfather (to a child), witness (at a wedding), accomplice
Note: If I understood correctly it was only with the release of The Godfather that the term Padrino became popular (due to a mistranslation). Before the film Compare was commonly used.
Posted in Language | 6 Comments »
Festival della Canzone Italiana
Written by admin on 17 February, 2009 – 4:50 pm -Tonight begins the Festival di Sanremo (Sanremo Music Festival) – Italy’s equivalent of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Simone Cristicchi – Ti regalerò una rosa (Winner 2007, Categoria Artisti)
This annual contest, which lasts until Saturday, is held at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. It is split into two categories – Categoria Artisti (or i Big) for established artists, Categoria Nuove Proposte or (i Giovani) for newcomers. Each artist performs their song several times throughout the week, and special guests make appearances. In the past many famous names have participated including Zucchero, Andrea Bocelli, Vasco Rossi, Laura Pausini, Elisa and Eros Ramazzoti.
Continue reading …
Posted in Entertainment | 1 Comment »
Word of the Week
Written by admin on 15 February, 2009 – 6:36 pm -
Another expression this week.
a ufo (variants include: uffo, uffa, aufo, a buffo, a ufa, auffa)
free, without paying
- vivere a ufo – to live off others
- un pranzo a ufo – a free lunch
This originates from the Latin expression ad usum fabricae (abbreviated AUF) meaning destined to be used in the factory. When the Catholic Church was constructing the Duomo in Milan it was necessary to transport marble blocks along the river from Lake Maggiore. To avoid paying the river toll the blocks were labelled AUF.
How many of you have heard this expression before?
Posted in Language | 2 Comments »
How Do You Like Your Coffee?
Written by admin on 10 February, 2009 – 11:50 am -
Cappuccino con panna (Bar Roma, Alba, Piedmont)
Posted in Food & Drink | 9 Comments »
Word of the Week
Written by admin on 8 February, 2009 – 8:56 pm -
This week instead of a word I have chosen a useful phrase.
in bocca al lupo
good luck (lit. in the wolf’s mouth) or being more idiomatic break a leg
Apparently the correct reply to this is crepi (il lupo) which literally means die (the wolf). Otherwise you won’t have luck. Is that true? It might help explain a lot!!
Do you have any useful idioms to share with us?
Posted in Language | 4 Comments »
Italianissimo
Written by admin on 3 February, 2009 – 10:13 am -
Want to know why queues are non existent in Italy? Who is La Donna Italiana and why the obsession with La Bella Figura? What number do Italians considered to be unlucky? Discover superlatives and diminutives Italian style. Plus Italian fashion, cuisine, cinema, hand gestures, patron saints and much more…
Posted in Culture | 9 Comments »
Word of the Week
Written by admin on 1 February, 2009 – 3:41 pm -
I have lived in Italy for over 3 years now but last week was the first time I heard this word used in conversation.
pan di Spagna m.
sponge cake
Unfortunately this type of cake is not very common here. How I crave it! I wonder which dishes Italians living abroad miss most?
Posted in Language | 2 Comments »
