On Saturday August 15 I celebrated “Ferragosto” at an Italian street fair in Culver City.
This summer holiday, from the Latin Feriae Augusti, is similar to the 4th of July in the United States and Bastille Day (July 14) in France.
In Italy it usually involves fireworks and a religious procession honoring the Assumption of the “Virgin” Mary to heaven (with her mortal body). The Catholic Church having put their interpretation over this tradition from ancient Rome, as it did with many other pagan gods and festivities in the Americas.
For the entire week stores and businesses are closed and everybody goes on vacation, crowding the Mediterranean beaches all the way down the Italian peninsula (the boot) or the mountain towns in the Alps that cap the Northern border or the Apennines that run the length of Italy from top to bottom.
It was fitting that the first person I encountered along the pedestrian Helms District was Francesco, CEO of his family restaurant Pasta Sisters and organizer of the event.
I complimented him on his choice of teaching a class on how to make tortellini, a specialty of my home town. Read my article “Fresh Pasta, Modena-Style.”
Now you may buy Pasta Sisters’ tortellini, as well as lasagne and other Italian specialties from several Gelson’s in Southern California. I found them at this Santa Monica location, and prepared them “alla panna” for my family. If you wish to enjoy tortellini “in brodo” you must go to Uovo at one of their locations, our favorite being the one in Marina del Rey.
Francesco proudly pointed out the stand of Orto Farms displaying luscious red tomatoes and plump green striped zucchini.
I told him the amusing story that, when I bought zucchini at Ralphs, the pale green variety, not the darker green kind, the checkout person insisted that those were NOT zucchini, but “white squash.”
Zucchini is the diminutive plural of zucca-pumpkin, and it comes in many varieties.
I stopped by the gelato mini-truck of Dolcenero and said hello to the owner, Simone. Read his story in my article “Gelato in LA.”
Out of kindness I did not point out that the three flavor choices he offered -chocolate, strawberry and vanilla (stracciatella)- were Americans’ favorites, but did not do justice to his amazing creations, such as “ricotta e fichi.”
I grabbed in passing some prosciutto and parmigiano on toothpicks from the appetizers spread by Sogno Toscano. I often eat with friends at their restaurant on Montana in their large shaded patio, or at their less comfortable location at the Grove.
I stood in line chatting with three young guys waiting for a cappuccino from Cafe Luxxe. I had stopped by their Culver City location, which replaced the corner Starbucks, but not many people seem to go there anymore, since free Wifi is no longer offered.
When my power was out for hours one morning, I went with my laptop to the friendly bookstore Village Well.
As a film lover I was intrigued by the sign “Italian Cinema.” So I walked inside Scandinavian Designs around the corner on Venice Blvd, where Roman Holiday by William Wyler was playing on a TV screen in front of an empty leather couch. The bright lights made it difficult to see Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck zipping by the Coliseum in a Vespa.
This large furniture store is still in business, while Ikea recently took over H.D. Buttercup, thereby depriving us of the History of Culver City wall. Read my article “Culver City History Tour.”
In a tight corner outside this store, squeezed against the gigantic Apple building extension under construction, the LA Vespa club was offering rides on this classic Italian scooter.
I walked down the narrow alleyway to Washington Blvd and enjoyed the art exhibit “LOS ANGELES. Streets, Structures & Stories,” organized by Band of Vices. The names of the artists were not listed to identify the small square paintings, but I recognized some landmarks, such as
Chinatown
the Hollywood Sign
the Watts Towers,
buildings like the Beverly Hills Hotel,
neighborhoods like Persian Square,
a mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Read my article “LA History at the Autry.”
Dulcis in fundo, I walked into another space where I was offered a sparkly drink, and watched videos that Andrew Curtis filmed all over Italy.