The don’t miss list – Feb 16 to March 14

The don’t miss list – Feb 16 to March 14

Our events listing keeps you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment; this is a selection of the best of them.   CARNIVAL/Viareggio + more Until March 3, various locations in Tuscany   Carnival is everybody's excuse to party before

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 1:00 AM

Our events listing keeps you
up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly
entertainment; this is a selection of the best of them.

 

CARNIVAL/Viareggio + more

Until March 3,
various locations in Tuscany

 

Carnival is
everybody’s excuse to party before the Lenten season. In Tuscany, the most
famous celebration is in Viareggio. There, satirical floats will be on display
on the Sundays of February 19 and 26, and Saturday, March 3. There is also a
free parade on Fat Tuesday, February 21. For more information and to book
tickets, see the feature in this issue, call 058/4580755 or see www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com.
Almost all towns in Italy offer some kind of carnival celebration on weekends
and on Tuesday, February 21 (some are ‘children’s carnivals’ with activities
for kids); see feature in this issue for TF’s shortlist and check the events
listings for parades in Greve, San Casciano, Sesto Fiorentino and more. For
adults in Florence, there are usually special costume nights at most bars and
clubs on Fat Tuesday; check individual venues for information.

 

SPORT/World Roller Skating Grand Prix

February 25 to 26, Nelson Mandela
Forum, viale Pasquale Paoli 3, Florence

 

Florence is once again hosting one of
the most important world artistic roller skating events. Champions will compete
with complicated choreography and interpretive skills. This year’s competition
will be based on the musical show ‘Queen Tribute.’ Ticket prices range from
18.40 to 69 euro; for tickets and information, see www.mandelaforum.it.

 

DANCE/ Danza in Fiera

To February 26, Fortezza da Basso,
Florence

 

The largest Italian trade show
focused on dance is back after the huge turnout last year: more than 250,000
people attended. Four days of performances and exhibitions, from ballet to
hip-hop and tango to belly dancing, for anyone who enjoys moving to a groove,
whether expert or simply passionate. For professional dancers, there are
auditions, casting calls and competitions. Everyone can enjoy the conferences,
free lessons, and awesome shows of physical and rhythmic skill. This year a
wellness area offers courses and information on yoga, pilates and other
movement disciplines. Call 055/4564711 or go to www.danzainfiera.it.

 

CONCEPTUAL/ Lawrence Weiner

February 20 to April 20, BASE, via
San Niccolò 18r, Florence

 

This is the first exhibit in in
Florence for Lawrence Weiner (born in the Bronx in 1942), a central figure in
the development of conceptual art in the 1960s. Since the 1970s, he has been
working mostly on installations of ‘statements,’ texts that seek to remove the
hand of the artist. At BASE, the artist will be creating new, large-scale
installations for the exhibit, entitled Ever So Much. The space is visible from
the street-facing window at all times, so it’s like an art gallery that’s open
all night long! For details, see www.BaseItaly.org.

 

ART/EX3

February 18 to April 8, EX3, viale
Giannoti 81, Florence

 

A double opening is planned for the
EX3 contemporary art center on February 18. The winner of the EX3 contemporary
Tuscany prize for artists under 40, Jacopo Miliani, is the artist behind the
solo exhibit Do you believe in Mirages, an installation in the museum’s central
hall with elements of performance art. A group show Voglio soltanto essere
amato (‘I only want to be loved’) is also opening in the other spaces of the
gallery: 38 artists, 31 writers, 23 curators and 15 intellectuals have
participated in the group project called MAP (for ‘Multimedia Art Platform’),
which seeks to reflect on the state of contemporary culture. For more, see www.ex3.it.

 

CRAFTS/Knit Café

February 22, 7
to 10pm, Palazzo Giovane, Vicolo SM Maggiore 1, Florence

 

If you’ve always thought it would be
nice to know how to knit, now’s your chance! BettaKnit and the Europe Direct
office at Palazzo Giovane have teamed up for this event that mixes rank
beginners with seasoned experts for a painless approach to knitting. See
article in this issue and box on this page for more information. Sign up at http://bkgiovane.eventbrite.com.

 

VISIT/Luoghi Insoliti

February 19, March 18, April 15,
various locations in Florence

 

In collaboration with the Fondo
Ambiente Italiano (FAI), the Tuscan region is opening up three properties for
special visits on three days. This edition of Luoghi Insoliti (‘Unusual
Places’) is on February 19, March 18 and April 15 from 10am to noon. Visit three
‘hidden gems’ for free: Palazzo Guadagni Strozzi Sacrati in piazza Duomo, Casa
Rodolfo Siviero, or the museum of medicine located in the former San Giovanni
di Dio hospital. Reservations are required; information (in Italian) is
available at www.regione.toscana.it/luoghinsoliti.

 

OUT OF TOWN/Bruno Pedrosa

Until March 18, Lu.C.C.A.
Contemporary Art Museum, via della Fratta 36, Lucca

 

The large abstract works by
contemporary artist Bruno Pedrosa from Bazil are perhaps so appealing because
they leave a lot to the imagination. Their colourful forms are intended to
explore the theme of presentiment (the title of the show is Presagi), which the
viewer transforms into his or her own vision of the near future. The exhibit is
held in collaboration with important Brasilian museums and foundations. For
more information, see www.luccamuseum.com.

 

Madonna in concert

 

After many
rumours, June 16, 2012, was confirmed as the date of Madonna’s concert at
Franchi stadium, the first in 25 years! Tickets went on sale on February 13; if
you are hoping to go, reserve yours now at www.ticketone.it!

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