Your Thursday forecast: best events in Florence

Your Thursday forecast: best events in Florence

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Thu 29 Jun 2017 9:41 AM

FASHION/Vintage Selection
June 28-30
Fortezza da Basso (Medici pavilion), Florence

Stock up on statement pieces at this megamarket, a public shopping expo of vintage threads and accessories with the profumo of Pitti still wafting through the air. Exhibitors from around Italy will set up shop in the Fortezza da Basso for the 30th edition—theme unannounced at press time—and if it follows past protocol, there’ll be plenty of books, prints and performances to round out the fashionable fun. It’s like raiding the closet of a grandparent with very good taste. Admission is 5 euro; hours are 9am to 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Friday. For program updates, visit the website.

DESIGN/Helidon Xhixha
Until October 29
Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

The “backyard of Florence” looks a bit different these days: director of the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti complex Eike Schmidt has brought contemporary works by Albanian artist Helidon Xhixha to the Boboli Gardens in an exhibition co-curated by Schmidt and art critic Diego Giolitti. Winner of the Public Medal at the 2016 London Design Biennale, Xhixha has created eight of the fifteen works on display specifically for the occasion. His monumental sculptures reflect concepts of chaos versus order, paying tribute to how these ideas have been explored in philosophy, art and the natural world. (More than a few of the sculptures with reflective surfaces have been interpreted as fun house mirror-esque monuments by Boboli visitors, though we can’t say for sure whether that was the artist’s original intention). One of Xhixha’s works is also currently on display in piazza San Firenze. More information here.

 

 

FESTIVAL/Decibel Open Air with the Chemical Brothers
July 1, 2pm
Visarno Arena, Cascine Park, Florence

After last week’s Bach in Black event in the Salone dei Cinquecento, Estate Fiorentina spotlights another type of music marathon in town. 12 hours of non-stop electronic sound will take over the Cascine Park on Saturday at the third Decibel Open Air fest, with main act the Chemical Brothers’ DJ set being the big draw. Other names in the lineup are Englishman and top techno wizard Alan Fitzpatrick, along with veteran Ben Sims, an in-demand DJ with two decades of experience. Young Italian duo Dubskull (Matteo Antonelli and Lorenzo Maisto) will also be in the mix. Tickets start at 30 euro; for more information, see the website.

 

USA/Independence Day Party
July 4, from 6.45pm
“Il Palazzaccio”, via Triozzi 57, Scandicci

Whatever your mood may be about the current state of the stars and stripes, US citizens and friends are invited to celebrate the vibrant Florence community and, in particular, US friendship with Tuscany. The Tuscan American Association is hosting its annual Independence Day Party in collaboration with the Comune di Scandicci and Harding University Florence. This year brings a change in venue: Harding’s campus at “Il Palazzaccio” will host the festivities, and a shuttle will be offered from the tram stop Villa Costanza between 6.45 and 7.15pm, as well as in the reverse direction from 10.15pm forward. A charity dinner to benefit Help the Children Florence will take place, along with concerts by the Vocal Blue Trains choir and Nothing for Breakfast. For more information, see the TAA’s Facebook page, and reserve a place at the dinner by emailing rshackelford@harding.edu.

 

MOVIES/Apriti Cinema!
10pm nightly until July 19 (closed July 4)
Piazzale degli Uffizi, Florence

Ph. via La Compagnia

Downtown Florence’s open-air cinema arena has moved out of the Museo degli Innocenti shadows in piazza Santissima Annunziata and is reviving piazzale degli Uffizi. Every night at 10pm, screenings will take place, spanning rare films, Italian premieres and themed series, all shown in original language with Italian subtitles. An English highlight this week is the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival selection, Shakun Batra’s comedy Kapoor & Sons. The film explores the awkward adventures of a family reunited after its patriarch’s death (June 29, start time is 9.45pm for this longer film). Behind the scenes of Apriti Cinema! are organizers Fondazione Sistema Toscana and Quelli dell’Alfieri, in collaboration with numerous local film festivals (Lo Schermo dell’Arte, Primavera Mediorientale, Festival dei Popoli, Florence Queer Festival, France Odeon, Balkan Florence, Una finestra sul nord, Middle East Now and NICE – New Italian Cinema Events). Full program here.

 

Plus

Dancers, Aterballetto

Florence Dance Festival continues as part of Estate al Bargello: performances this week include Flamenco Tango Neapolis (June 29) and imPerfect Dancers Company (July 4). 

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