Frankie "Sinatra" Bartbato nominated as King of Ceremonies for TIOBE 2022

frank barbato

Cornerstone of all Crooners to be honored as King of Ceremonies at TIOBE 2022

Pier 6 LIMONCELLO NAPLES

Italia helping with the war in Ukraine...

Mondo Italiano magazine

PUBLISHER Luxury Chamber Media Group

EDITOR Jay Parnassa Shapiro FASHION EDITOR Juliana Labonte TRAVEL EDITOR Christina Ricci-Campagnone CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Edmondo Catania Frank LoRe Jr.

Claude Luciani Venus Baratta John P. Contini Kyle Cavaliere

AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA EXPANDS PRESENCE IN NORTH AMERICA

Automobili Pininfarina has expanded its US presence with the appointment of two new retail partners in key locations.

Newport Beach Automotive Group in Orange County and Lake Forest Sportscars in Chicago will be responsible for the sale of the award-winning new Battista pure-electric hyper GT, which enters production in Italy from spring 2022.

- Handcrafting of Automobili Pininfarina's pure-electric hyper-GT set to begin in Italy early in 2022, with first deliveries to customers in the US and worldwide planned this year Automobili Pininfarina has now secured nine retail partners in North America, with the latest appointments made following a highly successful previous year in the US for the brand. In summer 2021, the ultra-exclusive Battista Anniversario made its physical world premiere appearance during the famous Monterey Car Week. All five examples of the pinnacle model in the Battista portfolio were sold during the event, underscoring a successful programme of events for the world's first pureelectric luxury car company.

North America is one of the most important markets in Automobili Pininfarina's retailer network strategy. The nine worldclass retail partners in the US and Canada complement the company's 16 other retail partners worldwide, with ten based in Europe and a further six across the Middle East and Asia Pacific. All Automobili Pininfarina retail partners have extensive track records in managing the sales and service of the most exclusive and luxurious vehicles in the world, with Automobili Pininfarina's dedicated brand representatives at each site providing exceptional personal service and attention to detail for the Italian marque's discerning clientele.

Per Svantesson, Chief Executive Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: "I am delighted to announce the expansion of our retail partner network in North America, with the appointment of two new partners in strategically important locations.

California is home to many of our existing and future clients, with many already pioneering the adoption of pure-electric, zero emission cars of all kinds. Battista now sets a new benchmark for the desirability and performance offered by an electric car. With our new partner location in Chicago, we have established an important brand presence between the US east and west coasts. We are excited for clients to experience our brand across our network as we prepare to begin deliveries of the incredible Battista hyper-GT this year."

UNICO Highland Beach Chapter Donates $10,000 to a worthwhile cause: "LOVE SERVING AUTISM"

Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix from Love Serving Autism, Giullia Merklein the President of UNICO Highland Beach, and Alex is from the charity!

UNICO Highland Beach Chapter has donated $10,000.00 to a wonderful cause “LOVE SERVING AUTISM” Love Serving Autism’s mission is to expand life skills, especially functional communication, through multidisciplinary specialized therapeutic tennis instruction to increase community inclusion and independence of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Challenges. The goal is for the participants to apply their newly learned skills throughout the community, including school, workplace, social/recreational gatherings, and home settings. We provide education and training to coaches and tennis professionals for an adaptive tennis specialization in the industry.

Delegation of Italian American Leaders Forge Strategic Partnership with Italy's Ambassador to the U.S. Meeting caps yearlong effort to create a spirit of national unity among Italian Americans and establish a new era of diplomatic collaboration with Italy's government.

A delegation of Italian American leaders met Friday with Mariangela Zappia, Italy's first female ambassador to the U.S., to cement a partnership that's designed to strengthen cultural relations, foster new trade, and bolster advocacy on issues of mutual concern.

The much-anticipated meeting in Washington, D.C. was organized by Zappia and Hon. Basil M. Russo, who leads The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO).

"This landmark meeting is the culmination of a yearlong effort, which has united a once-fragmented Italian American community around common goals that include the preservation of our history, heritage, institutions and businesses," Judge Russo said. "Hon. Mariangela Zappia has represented Italy at NATO and the UN, and now she stands with Italian America to promote our initiatives and policies — and COPOMIAO, in turn, is here to do the same for Italy."

"The Embassy, and Italian institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, greatly appreciate all that you do, each day, to promote our language, culture, and traditions — in short, our heritage — in this exceptional country," noted the Ambassador in welcoming Judge Russo and the COPOMIAO delegation. "The entire Italian diplomatic network in the U.S. is proud to work with you, side-byside, to continue enhancing and promoting our beautiful Italy…Italian identity is strong and apparent in all aspects of daily life in this wonderful country: from food to art, culture to music, architecture to politics."

ABOUT COPOMIAO Formed in 1975 and based in New York City, The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) is comprised of 50 of the most influential cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups in the nation. For more information, visit www.copomiao.org.

Gavi dei Gavi La Scolca Life Style Generation

La Scolca strives for a continuous search for "similarity" and sharing of values, interests and passions on which to build an authentic and lasting bond with partners of excellence to compete together on an international level. From the characteristics of the wine, to the new methods of online purchase and customer loyalty, to the tailor-made wine tasting experiences in the cellar and in international events.

A contemporary lifestyle concept, interpreted by Gavi dei Gavi "black label", wine ambassador of the company for 102 years, which aims at involving and making as absolute protagonist a community of eclectic lovers open to different experiences. From those who love polo and participate in international competitions such as the Berenberg German Polo Masters Sylt, to those who sail the seas with the prestigious Ferretti Group motorboats or those who simply dream of their own "private Island" or choose other roads to travel, perhaps with a Bentley Continental GT Speed.

A new partnership with Coravin, thanks to which you can also taste the most prestigious and demanding labels of the Maison La Scolca of Gavi, for a modern idea of experiential luxury in response to the new sustainability needs of a constantly evolving society that has undergone epochal and irreversible changes, as well as a reassuring and transgenerational response.

Colors, sounds, flavors, music and atmospheres - but above all a "state of mind" - that transport those who choose the La Scolca Brand into a new lifestyle dimension, no longer and not just conceived as possession but as "bien vivre", that is being aware of how to enjoy life and never lose the ability to get excited. In short, passion, audacity, contempraneity.

A journey around the world that touches the most glamorous capitals: Sylt, Milan, Cannes, Genoa, Montecarlo, Ft Lauderdale, Miami and all the most popular destinations for globe-trotters. Here today is La Scolca, with new events and new challenges.

BALSAMIC VINEGAR OF MODENA

1000 YEARS OF HERITAGE The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena has a history as rich as its flavors, as was officially acknowledged in 2009 from the European Union through its recognition as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This is a history that began over a millennium ago.

To this day, Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Aceto Balsamico di Modena) is produced exclusively in the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, from grape must that is cooked or concentrated and combined with wine vinegar.

The practice of cooking grape musts can be traced back to the ancient Romans. The so-called sapum was used both as a medicinal product and in the kitchen as a sweetener and condiment. As far back as the 11th century, the production of this very particular vinegar was linked with Modena: over time it would become synonymous with the culture and history of a territory known for its unique pedoclimatic characteristics, as well as human knowledge and talent.

The PGI certification guarantees that the original, certified Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is made from grape must from seven specific Italian vines: Lambrusco, Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Albana, Ancellotta, Fortana, and Montuni. The product is matured for a minimum of 60 days, counted from the moment in which the grape must, wine vinegar, and 10-year-aged wine vinegar are mixed, following the recipes carefully kept and handed down by the producers, sent to processing and transferred into wooden casks and barrels. The product that rests in barrels for at least three years is labelled as "aged".

The project "Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the Original", focused on the US market and financed by the European Union, promotes the added value of the product, in terms of authenticity, safety, traceability, and labelling guaranteed by the European trademark protection and wants to enhance the competitiveness of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena in the United States.

Italian Food Producer, Bona Furtuna, Announces New Ancient Grain Pasta

Award-winning food producer, Bona Furtuna, is excited to announce the expansion to their organic ancient grain pasta category with four new cuts: Casarecce, Rigatoni, Paccheri and Linguine.

"What I love about this particular product release is we are not only introducing cuts that are well-known to our customers but also bringing two new variations that may be a bit more unique to the general consumer," states Margaux Maertens, Marketing Manager at Bona Furtuna. "Like our other pastas, the new offerings are all bronze-cut, a process traditional to Italian pastamaking, producing a coarser, more porous surface for sauces to cling to."

Casarecce and Paccheri are native to Sicily, bringing one-of-a-kind textures to both traditional and more modern Italian-styled dishes. Casarecce, loosely rolled lengthwise and twisted, resembles ancient scrolls and is originally used for elevating pesto dishes. The large and wide tubes of Paccheri are often stuffed with ricotta or sausage and paired with a red sauce. Continued Maertens, "We are beyond excited to tease the near-future release of three extremely rare pasta shapes handmade in the heartland of Sardinia, and exclusive to the Bona Furtuna brand.

We're working with a boutique producer in Sardinia to hand-make each individual shape, involving the local community to share in this unique, traditional experience. As a result of each pasta's rarity, once officially launched, there will be a very limited amount of these offerings. So stay on the lookout come October - just in time for National Pasta Month."

About Bona Furtuna Co-founded in 2013, by Agatha and Steve Luczo, Bona Furtuna is a harmonious 350-hectare organic farm nestled on La Furtuna Estate mere kilometers outside Corleone, Sicily. Biodiversity, sustainable farming and preservation of heritage foods is the root of the Bona Furtuna brand. The farm is overseen by Chief Scientist, Pasquale "Mimmo" Marino who blends the Sicilian ecosystem and advanced technology to produce premium, industry-leading products. Today, Bona Furtuna offers heirloom olive oil, ancient grain pasta, seasonings, balsamic vinegar, sauces and seasonal products. A winner of numerous prestigious awards, including one from the Speciality Food Association and several industry-leading gold medals in the olive oil category, Bona Furtuna is excited to both create and share flavor that is truly representative of the land. Beyond the products, philanthropy is the brand's mission.

Bona Furtuna's pasta cuts are available online at www.bonafurtuna.com. Select pastas are found at your local retailer.

Google Fi rende facile viaggiare in Italia e rimanere in contatto Google diventa operatore mobile anche in Italia: come telefonare Google ha creato un'offerta per smartphone che permette di navigare in tutto il mondo a prezzi contenuti.

Quando meno, se rapportato con le tariffe USA 19 Novembre 2019 C’è anche l’Italia tra i 200 Paesi dove è possibile usare Google Fi, ex Project Fi. Nato nel 2015, Fi è il tentativo di Google di diventare quello che in Italia definiremmo un operatore virtuale di telefonia mobile.

Un progetto molto particolare e molto “americano“, quello di Google, che all’italiano medio sembrerà incomprensibile. E, soprattutto, sembreranno incomprensibilmente alte le tariffe. Ma Google ha in mente un cliente ben preciso, che viaggia parecchio e che è disposto a spendere pur di non avere sorprese. Tanto è vero che l’ultima novità di Google Fi è l’installazione di totem per la rivendita del Fi SIM presso gli aeroporti JFK di New York e Newark nel New Jersey. Due aeroporti cardine per il traffico internazionale da e per gli USA. Google Fi: come funziona La cosa da premettere subito è che la SIM Google Fi va attivata negli USA, poi funziona in quasi tutto il mondo (Italia compresa). Dal punto di vista tecnologico Google Fi è un progetto interessante: le comunicazioni avvengono tramite continui salti di rete tra diversi operatori mobile statunitensi (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint e T-Mobile) e le reti Wi-Fi pubbliche (Google assicura di connettersi solo a quelle sicure). In pratica lo smartphone sceglie continuamente quale rete è la più veloce e si connette a quella. Una volta attivata la scheda, essa funziona in tutti i 200 Paesi senza che l’utente debba effettuare alcuna configurazione aggiuntiva.

Google Fi: quanto costa Il prezzo è il punto debole, enorme per il mercato europeo ed italiano, di Google Fi. Si parte dalle SIM vendute in aeroporto, che con 10 dollari offrono chiamate illimitate negli USA, tariffe agevolate all’estero (in Italia, ad esempio, 20 centesimi al minuto), tethering hotspot, supporto tecnico 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7 e possibilità di rescindere il contratto quando si vuole. Con questa cifra si ottiene 1 (uno, solo uno) GB di traffico dati. Ogni GB aggiuntivo si paga altri 10 dollari. La tariffa più cara è quella da 70 dollari al mese, che offre dati illimitati in USA e all’estero (fino a 22 GB al mese, dopo la velocità rallenta, ma i video “potrebbero" essere visualizzati a 480p), messaggi illimitati e chiamate gratuite dagli USA a 50 Paesi (tra i quali l’Italia, le tariffe per gli altri Paesi partono da 1 centesimo al minuto), stesso servizio tecnico 24/7 e stessa contrattualistica e, in più, una membership a Google One con 100 GB di spazio in cloud. Tutti questi prezzi sono tasse escluse, che in America contano per un 10-20% da aggiungere alla tariffa scelta.

Google Fi in Italia: ha senso? Per la stragrande maggioranza degli italiani queste tariffe non hanno alcun senso e sono completamente fuori dal mercato. Per gli americani, che invece pagano telefonate e Internet molto più cari, sì. Inoltre, anche considerando la possibilità di usare Google Fi all’estero, 70 dollari al mese è veramente molto. Almeno se si viaggia prevalentemente in Europa, dove le recenti direttive UE hanno imposto agli operatori nazionali il roaming gratuito e, nella maggior parte dei casi, si hanno almeno 4 GB di dati all’estero. Per gli italiani che viaggiano spesso in Asia, Africa o Stati Uniti, invece, Google Fi potrebbe essere interessante.

Cameratta Companies, Lennar, and Pulte Homes Announce Verdana Village, a new 2,400 home community in Estero, Florida Cameratta Companies, a leading real estate development company, is excited to announce model homes are now under construction in their newest master planned community, Verdana Village, located east of Interstate 75 on Corkscrew Road, in Estero, Florida.

Cameratta Companies, Lennar, and Pulte Homes announce that model homes are now under construction at the new master planned community of Verdana Village in Estero, FL. The community is planned for 2,400 single-family homes and will include a Sports Complex unlike anything seen before in Southwest Florida.

Outdoor amenities will include a resort style pool, oversized heated spa, expansive pool deck, tennis courts, a practice tennis court with ball machine, pickleball courts, racquet sports pro-shop, bocce courts, a playground, and a dog park.

The community is planned for 2,400 single-family homes on a variety of premium homesites with lake and preserve views. The homes are being built by nationally recognized homebuilders Lennar and Pulte Homes, a national brand of PulteGroup, Inc. Homes will be priced from the low $300,000s. All homesites will include approximately 40-foot front yard setbacks from the street, which creates enhanced visual appeal. They will also offer spacious backyards and strolling sidewalks.

"Verdana Village has been carefully curated to inspire a vibrant lifestyle while creating areas for connection, camaraderies and gatherings," said Richard McCormick, president of PulteGroup's Southwest Florida Division. "Our homes have also been carefully curated and thoughtfully designed to best meet a family's needs making life better, happier, and easier. Simply put, we've built in all the ways to get more out of life with features that offer something for everyone."

Verdana Village includes a Sports Complex unlike anything seen before in Southwest Florida. It will showcase air conditioned, indoor courts for pickleball, tennis, and basketball, a fitness center, movement studio, and full-service café. In addition to the Sports Complex, residents will be able to enjoy a delicious meal and drinks at the restaurant, private party room, outdoor pool bar and the signature "The Craft Lounge".

Outdoor amenities will include a resort style pool, oversized heated spa, expansive pool deck, tennis courts, a practice tennis court with ball machine, pickleball courts, racquet sports pro-shop, bocce courts, a playground, and a dog park. The community will be divided into the West Village and the East Village. Additional amenities for the West Village will include a clubhouse with fitness center, gathering room, catering kitchen, pool, spa, pavilion, and horseshoes. The East Village amenities are to be announced in a future phase. The development will include approximately 1,200 acres of natural preserve with 31 lakes and offer natural gas for residents.

Verdana Village is the fourth residential community developed by Cameratta on Corkscrew Road in Estero. The Place at Corkscrew, Corkscrew Shores and The Preserve at Corkscrew have all received tremendous interest from homebuyers.

"The Corkscrew corridor has been a popular area and we're excited to continue our growth in the new and upcoming community Verdana Village," said David Meyers, Southwest Florida Division Manager for Lennar. "Having the ability to work with Cameratta Companies and the 5-Star amenities that they deliver combined with Lennar's Everything's Included® homes will make this the premier community to live in Southwest Florida."

Offering a sought-after location off Corkscrew Road in Estero, south of Fort Myers and north of Naples, Verdana Village is minutes from top-rated schools, Southwest Florida International Airport, world-class shopping, dining, golf, and the beautiful Gulf beaches.