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Event Details: Directions, admission info, more
More: Frank Stallone headliner for Feast of Little Italy
The feast is on. But with a few significant changes.
The Feast of Little Italy (561-427-0500, feastoflittleitaly.com), one of the increasingly popular events on the annual local foodie calendar, returns to Jupiter’s Abacoa Town Center this weekend.
But for the first time in the feast’s seven-year history, organizers are now charging admission — albeit a modest $5 at the door (children 12 and under are still free).
Blame it on financial pressures, says event producer Jerry Somma. “I would have loved to have kept itfree,” he adds. But given his goal to “keep the tradition alive” without “compromising the integrity of the event,” he says the charge became necessary.
At the same time, patrons do get a bit for their money, including free wine seminars (courtesy of Banfi) and cooking demos (courtesy of Sorrento Cheese) and free concerts (by Frank Stallone, Peter Lemongello and the Legends of Doo Wop, among other acts). There’s also a kiddie area, with games and other activities.
Of course, there’s food — and plenty of it — for an extra charge. Offerings include lots of traditional Italian-American favorites, from pizza to pastries. I was generally impressed by the quality last year, especially with items from local restaurants. This year also sees the introduction of an onsite coffee
bar, billed as Café Borghetti, featuring cappuccino, espresso and liqueurs.
The event runs on Friday (3 to 10 p.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Parking is free.
Wine with a Latin accent
Finally, here’s a heads up on a big event in the works: the Latin American Vinofest in downtown Delray Beach, slated for Jan. 28-30, 2010.
Just as the name implies, it’s a celebration of all things wine and Latin American — a timely event given the increased prominence of such countries as Chile and Argentina in the wine world. Events will include wine seminars ($30 or $25 if purchased in advance), winemaker dinners at various local restaurants ($95 or $175 per couple) and a wine auction. The big public event will be a Wines of Latin America showcase ($50 or $45 if purchased in advance), featuring wine and food samples galore.
The event is all the brainchild of Frank Reider, a wine maven and owner of downtown Delray’s Gol! The Taste of Brazil restaurant (411 E. Atlantic Ave., 561-272-6565, golthetasteofbrazil.com). Reider is also at work on a book on Latin-American wines.
Tickets to the festival will be available beginning Dec. 15. Go to the event’s Web site (thevinofest.com) for more info.
A tasting party: More delicious fun on tap
There’s more foodie fun on tap this weekend — namely, the Great Chef’s Tasting Party, slated for Sunday (4 to 7 p.m.) at the West Palm Beach Marriott (1001 Okeechobee Blvd.). The event benefits the local chapter of United Cerebral Palsy.
For an admission price of $85 ($75 if purchased in advance), patrons get to sample goodies from several local restaurants and catering companies, including the Palm Beach Steakhouse (a personal favorite), PGA National’s Ironwood Grille, The Chesterfield’s Leopard Lounge, Cucina Dell’Arte, Nick & Johnnie’s, Leila, Couture Cakes, Havana Hideout, Talay Thai, Field of Greens and Someone’s in the Kitchen Catering. A selection of wines, courtesy of Republic National Distributing Co., will also be offered.
And if want the VIP treatment, you can enjoy that — for a price of $150. That includes a pre-event champagne reception with a special menu.
For tickets, go to United Cerebral Palsy’s Web site (ucpsouthflorida.org) or call organizer Jessie Smith at (561) 357-7779, Ext. 15
It should be free as in the past.
My group will not be attending this year….
So, the organizers still charge the vendors a fee to set up shop, and now want to charge the patrons a fee to be able to buy from the vendors? SORRY – they must have taken some lessons from PBG bankers or something – but count me out this year.
$5 ENTRY FEE EQUALS LESS ATTENDANCE AND LESS SALES FOR THE VENDORS AND A PASS BY ME. SEE YOU NEXT TIME IT’S FREE, AND I’LL SPEND MY USUAL $50 OR SO, BUT I WILL NOT PAY AN ENTRY FEE TO SPEND MY MONEY.
Do they know there’s a recession going on?
It’s a fund raiser for Pete’s sake!
Why is everyone complaining?! Its $5!! Really?…you dont have $5 to drop on an all day event? Its more expensive to go to the movies and that only lasts 2 hours!
5.00 for the honor to buy from venders, next it will be a charge for the green market!!
I don’t believe this is a fundraiser….”Feast of Little Italy was established in 2003 to create an experience rich in Italian culture that celebrates the contributions of great Italians through food, music, art and tradition within the community for the entire family to enjoy.”
I’m sure the vendors aren’t happy when they know the $10 a couple could have gone to their sales!
Oh come on! You are going to lose a fortune with the ObamaPelosiReid health care robbery. Go for 5 bucks and get drunk on some Italian wine so you won’t have to think about what this “person occupying the White House in lieu of a Presdident” and his Mao praising socialist comrades are doing to your freedom. Just my opinion while I am still allowed to voice it.
…you guys are just pissed off that a black man is in the Whitehouse!!! Get over it!!! The idiot Bush served 8 years, so you know My President can and will be there for another term. We may not get another change, but we’re here now, deal with it!!!!
Maggie, Sorry but your tired old attempts to make my disagreements with Obama’s philosophy about him being child of a WHITE Mother and a BLACK Father. They have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he is the first BI-RACIAL man as President. I abhor his philosophy as much as I did Carters, Karl Marx, Mao, Castro, et al. In fact IMO one of the most admirable aspects of the Obama Presidency is that he is the child of a White mother and a Black father and he was able to attain such an office. It makes me proud that so many CAUCASIANS voted for this man eventhough his philosophy is IMO wrong. That is as much a testament to his Mother’s parents who raised him as it is to him. But, of course you knew that your answer was a “red herring” written by you in lieu of your ability to respond in a cogent manner to my complaints about his philosophy. Unfortunately for you, though I will not allow you to get away with such utter nonsense without calling you on it and correcting your bias. Feel free to disagree with my opinions of Obama’s philosophy that is a valid road for you to take. Try to present some intelligent remarks but remember, IMO, your dubious and smoke screen nonsense about his color merely demonstrates your own insecurities with his presidency. I, and most Americans are way beyond judging one by their color. It seems, though that the only people who refer to Obama’s color are those (like you) who complain about and attack anyone who disagrees with his philosophy. I pity folks who are so rascit that they must resort to the Presidents color in an attempt to defend him. Are his beliefs beyond your ability to defend?
Wow— how’d we go from drinking Italian wine to a political debate?
Back to the topic at hand…………$5 a person is not a lot if it’s one person. But, if you have a group of 5– that is $30. Or a family of 4— is $20. That is LOT of money so spend to walk around and SPEND more money.
I did to to the Festival and we payed our $10. I was VERY disappointed in the size of this year’s event. WAY smaller with WAY less vendors. And the fence? Felt like we were penned in like animals. I will not attend again. It was a waste of $10. All in all, we spent $60 on admission, a paper-plate of food and some wine. We could’ve went out for a really nice dinner for $60.
Why the charge? THe vendors pay the event organizers! Why do they need MORE MONEY!?!? They are getting booth rentals……
I see this as the end of the Feast!
Now that is a relevant, but sad comment on the festival. Free or 5 bucks if the festival is a disappointment then it is not worth the price of admission. As I was unable to attend I trust your evaluation of it as, to be generous, poor. If there is one next year I will attend if only to give them the opportunity to fix what was wrong. Everyone deserves a chance to correct a mistake. BUT just one. Thanks for your input let’s hope that the organizers pay as much attention to your wise thoughts as I have.
Hey Guys<
It cost money to advertise, rent equipment and a location, hire entertainment, insurance. Free is nice, but get real.
When an event is totaly free people do NOT always spend more, usually that is an excuse to not bring cash because they want to keep it FREE. I have been both a vender and a promoter.
First the vendors had to pay a fee for their booth but now the festival organizers want me to pay a fee to buy things? They should be happy I attended – but never again. What an Outrageous money grabbing scheme – this is the beginning of the end of the traditional festivals. If a supermarket charged an entry fee, do you think people would patronize it?