Events & Activities

Music, Art, and Dance

Art Exhibit: Bella Italia: Paintings by Sr. Mary Louise Heffernan and Kathie Belly

Sunday, Nov. 2-Friday, Jan. 2
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Casa Italiana LeChase Lounge

The Casa offers a double helping of Italy's beauty as interpreted by two of Rochester's most accomplished artists. Sr. Mary Louise Heffernan is a Sister of St. Joseph who is well-known throughout Rochester and beyond for her paintings. Here, she shares watercolors based on her memories of a trip to Tuscany, Florence, Venice, and other sites. Kathie Belly has traveled to Italy several times, and finds the landscapes of Tuscany and Northern Italy beautiful and inspiring as an artist.

Art Exhibit: Tuscan Windows: Photography by Donna E. Gustina

Sunday, Sept. 14-Friday, Oct. 31
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Casa Italiana LeChase Lounge

For artist Donna Gustina, the camera lens presents a portal to a world where the interplay of line, light, shadow, color, shape, pattern, and texture invites viewers to more deeply appreciate what has been captured on film. Her collection of photographs of Italy will be displayed in the Casa Italiana LeChase Lounge from Sunday, September 14 through Friday, October 31. Gustina was the 1998, 2000, and 2002 winner of best work in photography at Casa Italiana's Festeggiamo le arti exhibits.

Back to top

The Dominic J. Parrone Bocce Court

Use of the Parrone Bocce Court is limited to Casa Italiana members and the Nazareth community, and reservations must be made. For information or to reserve the court, please call the Casa at 585-389-2468.

Back to top

Film Series

The fall 2008 film series includes a variety of films, shown Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. in the Casa Italiana LaChase Lounge. The series is free of charge and open to the public.

Nuovomondo
(The Golden Door, 2006, 118 min.)
Directed by Emanuele Crialese
Sunday, September 28
In Italian with English subtitles

Non Ti Pago
(I Will Not Pay, 1964, 112 min.)
Written, Directed & starring Eduardo De Filippo
Sunday, October 12
In Neapolitan with Italian subtitles

Il Federale
(The Fascist, 1961, 97 min.)
Directed by Luciano Salce
Sunday, October 26
In Italian with English subtitles

O' Re
(The King of Naples, 1989, 90 min.)
Written & Directed by Luigi Magni
Sunday, November 9
In Italian with NO English subtitles

I Giorni Dell'Abbandono
(Days of Abandonment, 2005, 96 min.)
Directed by Roberto Faenza
Sunday, November 23
In Italian with English subtitles

Il Cuore Altrove
(The Heart Is Elsewhere, 2003, 107 min.)
Directed by Pupi Avati
Sunday, December 7
In Italian with English subtitles

For more information on this film series, see Frank Lanzafame's website: http://home.rochester.rr.com/flanzafame/Films-S08.htm

Back to top

Holidays and Social Events

Open House all'Italiana
Thursday, September 18
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Casa Italiana LeChase Lounge and Courtyard
Free and open to the public

Come and sample authentic Italian food, play a game of bocce in our bocce court, and enjoy an afternoon of beautiful Italian music!

Social Committee Card Party Luncheon
Monday, October 6, 2008
11:00 a.m.
Midvale Country Club
2387 Baird Road
Penfield, NY 14526

Door prizes and raffles. Even if you don't play cards, join us for an exquisite lunch and afternoon of fun. Cost is $25 per person. For reservations or more information, contact chairperson Arline Liberti at (585) 671-5713.

Casa Italiana Thirtieth Anniversary Gala

Saturday, November 1
6:00 p.m.
Rochester Riverside Convention Center

Tickets are $125 per person. Includes dinner and dancing with musical entertainment by Unlimited, with Marco Amadio. For information or to reserve your place, call the Casa at (585) 389-2468.

Christmas Season Mass in Italian

Sunday, December 14
11:00 a.m.
Linehan Chapel in the Golisano Academic Center (formerly the S.S.J. Motherhouse)
Nazareth College
4245 East Avenue
Pittsford, N.Y.

Celebrated by Fr. Michael Costanzo. A reception will follow the Mass. Free and open to the public.

Social Committee Christmas Brunch

Sunday, December 7
11:00 a.m.
Midvale Country Club
2387 Baird Road
Penfield, NY 14526

Adults and children are invited to this joyous occasion. The children will be thrilled by face painting, a visit from Santa Claus, and the story of La Befana. For reservations or more information, contact chairperson Margaret Zanghi at (585) 377-7291.

Back to top

Casa Italiana Reading Room

The Casa's Reading Room is for those who want to learn more about Italian and Italian American life and culture. There's something for every interest including L'Enciclopedia Italiana, a collection of works by 20th century Italian woman writers, important writings in Italian literature from the Middle Ages to the present, works about the great artists of the Italian Renaissance, books on Italian photography, travel, maps and much more. The Reading Room is open to anyone in the community, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Back to top

Conferences, Symposia, Seminars

As an educational resource, The Casa Italiana has been the setting for special programs on topics of Italian history and culture. Past conferences have included a semester-long series of events highlighting the unique character and artistic and literary accomplishments of Italy's Jewish community, a series on the social, economic, political and artistic life of contemporary Italy, and a month of programs on The Glory that is Sicily.

Back to top

Trips

Calabrian and Sicilian Romance

Tentative dates: May 14 through 25, 2009
Informational meeting: Wed., Nov. 19

Join us for a fabulous 12 day/11 night trip to Calabria and Sicily led by Stella Plutino-Calabrese, director of Casa Italiana and a native of Southern Italy. Visit Reggio di Calabria, Pentidattilo, Scilla, Taormina (the jewel of Sicily), Palermo, and the great Mt. Etna.

On Wed., November 19, 2008 please join us for an informational meeting at the Casa Italiana LeChase Lounge at 5:30 p.m. A $250 deposit will be collected if you would like to reserve your spot. Space is limited. For information please call the Casa Italiana at (585) 389-2468.

Back to top

Elderhostel

Watch this space for information on Elderhostel 2009, coming in spring!