19 Responses to “Italian Festival today and tomorrow”

1. posted by pjpink at September 30, 2007 10:39 am [#]:
   

   I encourage folks to go! My hubby and I had a wonderful time yesterday. Make sure to participate in the wine tasting. The Kobrand selection was phenomenal. Once again Italian Kitchen West is offering their homemade Italian sausage sandwiches. And Cavanna Pasta has lasagna. Yum Yum.

2. posted by Sarcasm at September 30, 2007 7:50 pm [#]:
   

   I’m sure this was a wonderful event. But to stay consistent with all the other festival can I be the first to say “Music was too loud”, “People were dancing”, “Why is it called the Italian Festival?”, “People were drinking wine”, “I could smell food from the back porch!” Am I missing anything?

   :-)

3. posted by ikonoclast at October 1, 2007 2:05 pm [#]:
   

   Went, spent $4.00 as a “donation”, saw a lot of sub-par “Italian-American” food and went to the Hill Cafe for a fine, moderate cost lunch.

   Second year running we’ve gone and felpt underwhelmed

4. posted by Concerned Citizen at October 1, 2007 3:43 pm [#]:
   

   To address sarcasm, if it wasn’t for the loud music, dancing, food and drinking would it really be a festival? I myself had some great sausuages and some good wine. If you don’t like living in the city, maybe relocation is in order.

5. posted by Sarcasm at October 1, 2007 5:17 pm [#]:
   

   Concerned Citizens,

   As my name suggest, I was being sarcastic! I get tired of hearing the same complaints about festivals in the neighborhood so I decided to beat the festival haters to the punch! Glad you enjoyed your sausages!

   :-)

6. posted by Celeste at October 1, 2007 5:39 pm [#]:
   

   To ikonoclast – that’s why I didn’t go this year. I like music and food and wine and enjoy spending a day out with friends, and I served on the serving line at High on the Hog for years, so I’m no grump about festivals.

   But when I went to the Italian festival last year and spent five bucks for a bowl of mussels in marinara sauce that contained all of FOUR mussels (I can buy a whole bag for less than that when Kroger features them), I felt underwhelmed.

   Plus, none of the organizers (to my knowledge) lives up here, it appears to me that they just wanted to use the neighborhood, create parking inconvenience for immediate neighbors, make money and leave. The Irish Festival benefits St. Pat’s church and is supported by neighbors; ditto High on the Hog (which isn’t even happening this year). Both of those festivals have or had neighborhood support, and if they made money they donated to the neighborhood.

   I figure I’ll save my money and energy for the National Folk Festival this year – it’s coming up soon!

7. posted by tiny at October 2, 2007 3:48 pm [#]:
   

   I heard the festival organizers declined to donate any money to the CHA this year (is this correct?) If so, I am sure this is the last year for this festival.

8. posted by stephen at October 3, 2007 3:50 pm [#]:
   

   I went with my wife and some friends. Yes, it may not have been the greatest festival that I’ve ever gone to, but I feel it made for a pleasant afternoon. I think this was only it’s third year. My guess is that like the wine they were serving, it will get better with age. I would much rather have a mediocre festival in the neighborhood than no festival.

9. posted by Nick M. at May 27, 2008 8:50 am [#]:
   

   Some clarifications:
   1) A portion of profits go to three organizations who sponsor the event, and a portion is held back to finance the following year’s event. The three organizations support Alzheimers, Cooley’s Anemia, The Special Olympics and scholarships at VCU. To say that the festival is only using the neighborhood to make money is ludicrous. This year, St. Patrick Church has already been given a donation. Cut the festival a break. It’s only their third year.

10. posted by tiny at May 27, 2008 9:44 am [#]:
    

    I guess this Italian Festival is going to be a annual thing: http://www.richmonditalianfestival.com/

    Anyway, the festival does not advertise that it is a benefit for charitable organizations in any way. The bottom line is: Is the admission fee deductable as a charitable expense? If not, then this is a for-profit festival.

    Not that this matters, really; there is nothing wrong with being a profit venture. But I was wondering where Nick M. got his information and if he could provides links?

11. posted by Celeste at May 27, 2008 7:38 pm [#]:
    

    Nick, if I wanted to contribute to those organizations, I would do so through another means, such as United Way or direct gifts. To be held a prisoner in my home for two complete days, unable to move my car for fear of not being able to park within a mile of my home, is NOT a good way to encourage charitable giving. I actually lived within a block of the festival for two years, and not only was I upset but so were all (and I do mean all) my neighbors on that block of Marshall Street.

    High on the Hog had to get written permission from all neighbors affected by street closings – why does the Italian Festival not have to do so?

    Tiny – seeing your comment from last fall, I don’t believe they gave to the Church Hill Association. I’ve looked at the CHA budget as published in the newsletter and do I not see a donation from the Italian Festival. Whether they declined or just were not asked to give, I don’t know. At the present I am not an active member of CHA, although in the past I was very active.

    St. Patricks Church, Nick, can easily afford to donate to your festival because they have finally gotten in the black due to many successful Irish Festivals. However, I don’t know that you should mention their donation, because by comparison Stokes McCune with St. Pat’s / Irish Festival is VERY user friendly, and very open to suggestions regarding any neighborhood complaints. Noone seems to know who to speak to regarding complaints about the Italian Festival. I repeat what I said before, they appear to me to come in, make money and leave. Donating to Alzheimers, Cooley’s Anemia, The Special Olympics and scholarships at VCU is all well and fine, but why take over a neighborhood to do so? Why not go to the convention center and have your event there? There’s ample parking and plenty of space there…oops, you might have to pay to rent the space which might cut into the proceeds. Seriously though, the Indian festival does just that, I’ve been to it at the convention center, and it was loads of fun.

    Nick, I think you have some things to address, looking forward to your reply, thanks.

12. posted by Gray at May 27, 2008 8:28 pm [#]:
    

    Well put Celeste.

    I thought last fall’s Italian Festival was the last one. Haven’t they moved to a new location?

    As it goes for street festivals, either contribute to the neighborhood or get out. I just assumed the Italian Festival donated to the CHA or St. John’s Church. Donating to parks would be a good idea too.

    The Italian Festival will not be missed. The type food they offered can be found in various chains like the Olive Garden on some commercial county strip.

    I personally love the real stuff like at Mamma Zu’s.

13. posted by Celeste at May 27, 2008 8:59 pm [#]:
    

    Thanks, Gray. I, too, thought they’d left, but the link posted by tiny says they plan to be here in October 2008.

    As to contributing – I think St. John’s got a cut of the door (i.e. entrance fee) the first year, or maybe two. But I was told by someone on the vestry that they did not get a cut last year, and maybe not the second year. This coming year will be their forth, not third, year.

    Mama Zu’s – I too love their food, but they were not part of the festival, I don’t think. I didn’t go last year, though.

    I like your idea about contributing to parks – they totally trashed Patrick Henry Park, and I remember David Herring, who lives on Marshall St. nearby, suggesting two or three years ago, that they contribute to reseeding or resodding that park. Nothing happened, though.

    I’m waiting to see a post here from Nick M. who supposedly represents the Italian Festival. There doesn’t seem to be anyone like Stokes McCune talking to neighbors about it, and Nick appears to be a defender but I’m not sure how ‘in charge’ he is. Nick? We’re waiting, thanks!

14. posted by Gray at May 27, 2008 9:53 pm [#]:
    

    Places like Mamma Zu’s usually can’t because they don’t have the street gear necessary, besides they are busy enough. But really, the food was pretty bad at the last festival and that makes it very unItalian.

    We should bring in our Church Hill People News Brawlers to their next festival and make them give us money. Chimborazo would be another good park to give to.

15. posted by UnionHill RVA at May 28, 2008 12:40 am [#]:
    

    Celeste, Gray & Tiny, I’m with you on holding this street festival’s feet to the fire. According to their website, their mission is to “promote the Italian culture to Central Virginia.”

    Since when were Ron Moody and the Centaurs (beach music) Italian folk music? They’re the headliner on Saturday. Since music is art, and everyone is a critic, I can say “eewwh-yuck”. Beach music is lame; there is nothing new, creative or original about it. It is de-saurated soul music; suitable for white suburbanites who know how to shag. Music done-to-death. How can I expect my young neighbor with the boom-boom caddie blasting rap music to be sensitive to my needs for peace and quiet when we allow this warmed-over, poorly performed blue-eyed soul music to blast from 25th and Broad on a Saturday in October?

    NO charities are mentioned on the Italian Festival website. When they’re ready to contribute some $ to the parks and maybe even a local Church Hill charity, then I’ll respect the festival (even if they do decide to keep the beach music.)

    Last year, and the the year before, it sure felt like it was all about the money. It’s certainly legal to be a promoter and hold ‘for profit’ festivals…just don’t hold the local community hostage. Go rent your venue, or get some big church with a parking lot and grounds (e.g. Greek Festival) to host your gig. Don’t view Church Hill as some poor old neighborhood just dieing to host this event in our streets. ESPECIALLY when the low-income kids & adults can’t even walk in to enjoy the music, cause they’re stuck for admission at the door! How insensitive?!! How exclusive!!! And the “suggested donation” is b-s @ the Italian Festival. The gate keepers made it very clear to us that admission was required simply to walk inside and pay for anything we might buy from a concessionaire.

    Take the hint. Respect the ‘hood, and we’ll respect you.

16. posted by neighhbor at May 28, 2008 8:24 am [#]:
    

    The neighborhood has lost the spirit of hospitality.

17. posted by UnionHill RVA at May 28, 2008 8:55 am [#]:
    

    Dear “neighbor”

    We haven’t lost the spirit of hospitality.

    We’ve simply lost patience with those who take advantage of our hospitality.

18. posted by Gray at May 28, 2008 8:56 am [#]:
    

    Hey neighbor, I like the Irish Festival and I welcomed the High on the Hog. But the Italian festival is just using us. If they contributed money to our neighborhood, I could deal with their slop.

19. posted by Bud Tugly at May 28, 2008 9:11 am [#]:
    

    two years ago we went to the Italian festival and endured some uninspiring food that could have come from the frozen food section of The Market, Ukrops or Kroger and was way pricey.

    This past fall we went again, paid the fee walked through and saw even less inspiring/palatable food choices and even worse prices. Left after 15 minutes, walked to the Hill and had a very nice lunch.

    Italian festival? Never again, when compared to the Lebanese, Indian and Philipine festivals the food really, really sucked and the prices were outrageous.

    Although in principle I like the idea of neighborhood festivals, there is very little relationship between CH and the Italian community that I can fathom.

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