The Betrothed
Michael F. Moore, translator and interpreter, will present his new translation of “The Betrothed,” the masterpiece of Italian literature, the first new English version in 50 years. He will talk about how the author, Alessandro Manzoni, invented modern Italian and…
Cheese Culture From Ancient Rome to Now
Join Carla Graifer, a certified cheese specialist, who will share how fermented milk became the sophisticated enterprise of cheese making in ancient Rome and led to the classics we enjoy today. Discover how Romans preserved and prepared their foods without…
Polenta Festa
A beloved tradition returns to Dorothea’s House. Join the community and bring your favorite polenta dish to share, whether accompanied by sausages, mushrooms, or whatever suits your fancy. Oven space is limited, so please bring your dishes piping hot.
Dining and Lovemaking in Pompeii
The destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 CE allows us to reconstruct daily life in an Early Imperial Roman town, especially residents’ attitudes toward food and sex. Brian Rose, professor of archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania and deputy director…
Maria Montessori’s Pacifism
Due to a change in the speaker's schedule, the program originally planned for March 5 at 5 pm ("Maria Montessori's Pacifism") has been rescheduled to March 12 at 6 pm. Sorry for any inconvenience. Italian educator and physician Maria Montessori…
Italian History Reimagined
Join filmmakers Mary Lou and Jerome Bongiorno for a screening and discussion of “Hearing Voices,” a movie they created where Italian Inventor Antonio Meucci and Patriot General Giuseppe Garibaldi reunite as ghosts at the home they shared in 1850s, in…
Giacomo Puccini, and the End of the Golden Age of Italian Opera
Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot was the last opera of the golden age in 1926, two years after the great composer’s death. Legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini supervised the last great moments of Turandot at La Scala. Joseph Pucciatti, co-founder and director of…
Film: “The Truffle Hunters”
Dorothea's House 120 John Street, Princeton, NJ, United StatesSit back and savor the sights and sounds of the Piedmont woods, in this delightful documentary featuring a group of aging men who forage in the Alba woods for their favorite tuber -- the rare, prized white truffle. Guided by…
Italian Food For Thought
Dorothea's House 120 John Street, Princeton, NJ, United StatesDomenica Marchetti, author of eight books on Italian cuisine, will discuss the concept of “authentic Italian food” and whether it even exists. Italian food in America has come to be interpreted in myriad ways unheard of in Italy, while Italian…
Out of Rushmore’s Shadow
Dorothea's House 120 John Street, Princeton, NJ, United StatesLou Del Bianco portrays his grandfather, Luigi Del Bianco, and talks about his unsung contribution as chief carver on our nation’s greatest memorial, Mount Rushmore. Lou uses authentic photos, timelines and primary source documents to bring Luigi’s story to life.…