Italian Cultural Institute Hosts "Milano for the Young Generation"

New York, N.Y.    Fifty selected guests were invited this week to a "one-day-art-event: Nourishment for the Soul" in New York. Hosted by the  Comune di Milano  and  EXPO2015 , this event was held in the  Italian Cultural Institute  on Park Avenue.

Representatives of Milan's government and arts spoke. Photo: John Lee. The event included food and wine, poetry, music, and food for the body and the soul, in a special two hours-event to draw attention to Milano, cradle of culture - and future host of the 2015 World Exposition. The flag flies proudly on Park Avenue at the Italian Cultural Institute of N.Y. The international renowned poetess  Alda Merini 's last interview was screened over a delightful vegetarian lunch by a Michelin-rated chef flown in from Milan,  Pietro Leeman . The short film dedicated to Alda Merini,  Reato di Vita  by Elena Maggioni, was also shown. The select guests were able to vie scenes of Milano on a special light table. Photo: John Le\ The interview was conducted by Paolo Ortaggi for TV 2000. Elena is a very young  regisseur also flown in from Milan, representing the  Scuola Civica del cinema di Milano  to promote the philosophy "Milano for the Young Generation." Duomo di Milano - the Cathedral of Milan - from the Square. Photo: John Lee. Caterina Demetz, a very young musician coming from Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, played the piano at the conclusion of this event, "Milano: a story of art, food, literature, design… nourishment for the soul."

Via Monte Napoleone is the most famous high fashion shopping district and the houses of many Italian high fashion designers. Photo: John Lee. The afternoon was conceived and coordinated by  Francesca Parvyziar  for Thinx Events. It was characterized by tradition, quality and simplicity, in preparation of  EXPO 2015 , the Universal Exposition.

Celestial Dome, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milano. Photo: John Lee. Francesca organized the first event linked to the theme of Expo "Waiting for Carmen" - the first edition of 'Milan Prizes its Youth,' last December at the premiere of the Bizet Opera at Teatro alla Scala .

La Scala (Teatro alla Scala) is the world renowned opera house in Milan. Photo: John Lee. Milanese excellences such as the Mayor of Milan, Ms.  Letizia Moratti  and Milanese chef Pietro Leeman were present.

The elegant lobby of La Scala, world epicenter for opera. Photo: John Lee. Pietro prepared the light lunch in cooperation with  St. Ambroeus New York , inspired by Milanesian traditions and cooked with natural products, all coming from Lombardia and served on Alessi pottery. See  John Lee 's review of the food in  The Stewardship Report .

Chef Pietro Leeman presented a light vegetarian lunch for the hot summer day. Photo: John Lee. Bread was the heart of the lunch, as a simple basic food having a key role in the Mediterranean cuisine. The wine was server courtesy of Poderi di San Pietro.

The enchanting and sophisticated Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Photo: John Lee.  The event was part of  Lincoln Center 's Festival Circuit, along with  I Demoni  by  Fedor Michailovič Dostoevskij,  produced by the  Municipality of Milan .

Originally published in  The Huffington Post , July 13, 2010.

For more on Italy by  Jim Luce , see:

Italy Hosts Child Soldiers Symposium

Saying "No" to Recruiting Child Soldiers

European Salon in SoHo: Meet gfSpace

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