SIP/Florence Cocktail Week
May 1-7
Various bars in Florence
Mad Souls & Spirits | Ph. Michelle Davis
Cin cin! Celebrate masterful “mixology” during the second edition of Florence Cocktail Week, a series of events and drink specials put on by 16 different bars (a mix of historic cafes, buzzworthy new arrivals and hotel venues). The week will include workshops with top international bartenders (Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five, Tokyo, and Marian Beke of The Gibson, London), and The Florentine will have a namesake cocktail presented at participating venue Locale. View our article on the highlights here and check out the full program on the website.
SKATE/Florence Ice Gala: Plushenko & Friends
April 29, 9pm
Nelson Mandela Forum, piazza Enrico Berlinguer 5, Florence
Florence has long hosted the International Skate Awards, drawing athletes from around the world, but never before have so many top-level figure skaters come to the city. The Mandela Forum floors turn icy later this month when four-time Olympic medalist Evgeni Plushenko (Russia), 2016 World bronze medalist Bruno Massot (France) and Olympic bronze medalist and Grand Prix Final champion Aliona Savchenko (Ukraine/Germany) arrive in town to delight audiences. Numerous other stars from the world skate stage will be present; tickets start at around 26 euro. Booking information here.
FRESH/In Defense of Food
April 27, 9pm
Odeon Cinema, piazza Strozzi, Florence
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Bestselling author Michael Pollan’s years of research and numerous books basically boil down to this. The 2015 documentary In Defense of Food, based on his 2008 book of the same name, zeroes in on the question, “what should I eat to be healthy?”, exploring how modern diets and obsessive focus on nutrition have actually made many of us less healthy. The screening is part of the Tutti Nello Stesso Piatto tour; view more information on the Odeon website or on the Facebook event.
SPRING/Flower and Plant Showcase
April 25-May 1
Giardino dell’Orticultura, via Bolognese 17, Florence
Deck out your terrace or spruce up your kitchen windowsill with help from this favorite Florentine festival, a flower and plant expo put on by the nonprofit organization Società Toscana di Orticultura. Dozens of exhibitors line the lush Giardino dell’Orticultura, offering up prime finds to take home to ring in your personal primavera. Entry is free; sensory overload and satisfaction guaranteed. For more information, call 05520066237.
EAT/Festival della Cucina Popolare Toscana
April 29-30, noon-10.30pm both days
Eataly, via Martelli 22, Florence
Traditional Tuscan food is in the spotlight this weekend at Eataly, where the Festival della Cucina Popolare Toscana will take place. The event will follow the usual format of Eataly festivals – buy a token (or two or three) and dig in, depending on your “token budget.” One token costs 5 euro and allows you to try Tuscan classics including pici all’aglione and lampredotto. For the full program, see Eataly’s website.
