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Love is in the air! The first chapter of the new year has come to a close as we find our footing with routines and rituals new and old. With the holidays well behind us now and the warmer months feeling equally far ahead, it’s important that we maintain all of the reasons to celebrate that we can muster up. The month will kick off with Pitti’s Immagine’s gastronomic gala Taste. This annual affair is a foodie’s de- light seeing 500 contemporary food producers presenting their specialties. The theme for 2023 is pasta with a spotlight on alcoholic bitters, promising for warm tummies and cheeks to help get us through the chilly weather.
When the food fun is done, sweat it off on a run with the Run for Love charity event at the Ospedale Pe- diatrico Meyer. The four day fun-run will raise funds to provide activities to keep the little one’s occupied during their stay at the children’s hospital. If you prefer a lower impact way to move, explore the local wellness scene with yoga and pilates classes sprinkled throughout the city (page 19).
Feeling blue? For our February cover, we had the pleasure of collaborating with IED Firenze student Martina Morrone. Tourism has gone back to booming since the height of the pandemic, bringing with it a housing crisis. In an effort to save the city from drowning in its own success as a holiday dream desti- nation, there will be no more new hotels opening in the city center.
For the brave ones willing to grin and bear the cold, we summon our neighborhood walking guide Jennifer Deckert to show us the way. Stepping outside of the hustle and bustle of the city center, we now have the chance to take a breath of that fresh Tuscan air and get our steps in along the way (page 8).
On the theme of finding our footing, we interview content creator and jet setter Samone Rich. Rich’s Florentine story is unique and alike so many others who have found a home away from home in the Re- naissance city while maintaining a strong sense of self in such a traditional culture. Turn to page 21 to read up on her outlook.
To some of us, February reminds of a bow and arrowed cupid descending upon us to spread the love (and boxes of chocolate). To Italians, however, February means Carnevale. The historically fantastical affair usually gets its mention in Venice, but the coastal town of Viareggio promises an equally exciting program of events for its 150th edition (see pages 28-29).
If you’ve gone full Zoom meeting for breakfast and you’re looking to upgrade your WFH routine, Sophia Cerullo provides some insight on the coworking hot spots in the city (page 20). To skip the small talk and head straight for the bartender, check out Amelia Hood’s tried and true list of nightlife in Florence (page 24) or spend the night in with a cozy fish and chips recipe by Chef Karl Whittaker (page 26).
