Friday, January 30, 2009

BBQ Like No Other

Here I am getting Utah Jazz small forward Andre Kirilenko's autograph at the Utah Jazz season ticket holder BBQ, of which I went with my Dad, and a couple of Pier's ski buddy's. Notice I am the only one in line getting a t-shirt signed because the ski bums were only concerned with meeting the cheerleaders. Koufos and Fesenko had a dance off. I picked up a few moves, See it here:




It was a BBQ like like no other and one to be remembered for sure. The Sundance trip is now over, next post will be back to Italy!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Who Likes to Rock the Party?

I like to rock the party! And so we did, the 2009 film festival ended with a bang last night at the Awards ceremony and party. Its a chance for all the volunteers to let their hair down and embarrass themselves with their best dance moves in front of all their co workers because tomorrow the city becomes as deserted as Tombstone. Click here for link that lists all of the Sundance winners. As usual the audience chose completely different winners than the jurors did.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Wrapping Up My 13th Year at the Fest

So here we are, it's almost the last day of the 25th Sundance Film Festival and what ride! Working in merchandising this year has been a delightful discovery. I truly believe that I had the best job this year. Everybody from press to stars to tourists to students come threw merchandising for their souvenirs to take home. I helped Tracy Chapman pick out a hoodie. I sold writer Nick Hornby a film catalog. I gave directions to Johnny Lee Miller. I met filmmakers from Italy, Ecuador, Japan, and England. It's like living in an Independent Film version of Alice in Wonderland. But the festival does come to an end and going back to reality is the hardest part. 100 Hour Club dinner at the Filmmaker's Lodge.

Josh Brolin being interviewed for the Sundance channel.

Kenneth Cole talking to us about this year's jackets.
More to come...

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

That's Me On The Radio!

Back to Utah one day and I got be on the Radio. Today I was the BFOP, (best friend of the program), on Radio From Hell on X96, my favorite radio program in SLC. You can listen to the podcast from the January 12th on their website to hear me getting to talk about volunteering at Sundance and why I moved to Italy. It was a blast! http://x96.com/rfh/
The Radio From Hell crew, Kerry, Bill, and Richie T.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Sundance 2009

I'm off to Sundance everyone! Stay tuned....

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The Snow Never Stops In Torino!

Like the title says. It just can't stop snowing here. It is impossible to get anything done in but makes for some great pictures.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Happy La Befana Everybody!

And you thought the holidays were over. Here in Italy they don't end until January 6.

La Befana is Italy's good Christmas witch! She comes down the chimney of the little bambinos and leaves them treats

The legend goes that the three wise men stopped at Strega Befana's house on their way to Bethlehem and she showed them such gracious hospitality they told her where they were going, and asked her to come along. She declined at first."She said 'I'll catch up with you' and she never has caught up," Scudelletti-Alabbas says. "She is still looking and she is stopping at every home to see if the baby Jesus is going to be at that home."According to some versions of the story, on her original journey La Befana had gathered up some toys that belonged to deceased child and she was trying to take the toys to Bethlehem. Since she never got there, she was never able to catch up to the three wise men, she leaves toys for children in every home she visits. Word has it that La Befana likes a spot of brandy and wouldn't turn down a glass left out for her. It's a change from milk and cookies but it hits the spot for a witch, huh!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Door Series, Page 5

Continuing my great doors series here is one in the center of Torino. What's so special about this door you say? Surely I have shown more ornate and detailed wood carvings in the series than this one. Ahh yes! But this door is the most special one of all because it is the door to our new apartment in Piazza Castello! There are some fixing up that needs to be done and so I will be cataloging the progress of restoring a 200 year old Italian apartment right here. Stay tuned for all the before and after action!
Please leave comments, ideas, and opinions at will...

Friday, January 2, 2009

It's Truffle Time!

Yes, those numbers are the prices in Euros and no those are not pieces of dirt they are highly coveted culinary delights.

Piedmont is famous for it's fine white truffles. They are hiding in grounds of the surrounding woodlands of the hills and mountains. Truffles are mushrooms that grow underground like hidden treasures. Looking for truffles is almost always carried out with specially trained pig and most truffle hunters keep their "hunting grounds" a secret, as the price of one is comparable to gold. They are always under lock and key at the grocery store and you point to the ugliest and most pungent one, pay a fortune, and take it home and lightly ground some over eggs.