ALL ABOUT PARMA - IN ENGLISH!

Parma mia! is a blog for ex-pats and English-language speakers in Parma as well as for tourists who want to learn more. We've got lots of tips and tidbits to share: where to buy your foreign foods, favorite restaurants, what's on for kids during the weekends, local agricultural fairs, where you can find a babysitter or chiropractor and hints on how to make it through the bureaucratic maze that is Italy (see tabs below). This forum is for you: please share your ideas/events with us at parmamia@gmail.com or on FB at Parma Mia.

And remember to like Parma Mia on Facebook for weekly updates. Buon divertimento!


February 3, 2014

February 2014 in Parma!

Please remember that if you or your children are applying to public (and many private) schools, February is the month to do so. For more info, visit: Servizi Educativi

And here's your February update...we welcome your feedback!

Winter Wonderland
Ice skating rink at Euro Torri until mid-February;
Ice skating rink piazza Pellicelli  until mid-February;
Ice Skating rink in front of the Super Conad (Campus) until mid-February;
Inverno Rifugio Lagdei has weekly snow-showing hikes followed by food or drinks.
Please check weather conditions.
Boat rides in the Val Comacchio Park every Sunday (weather dependent, reservation required);
At Monte Schia, children ski for free from Monday to Friday. For more info (and to verify if the ski lifts are open), please click here
Of course, many of you may want to participate in the "settimana bianca" - remember hotels book up quickly in February in Alto Adige and Val D'Aosta (and prices rise too), so if you're planning to go, reserve now!

General "Family" Events for the Family in Parma, Click here
For general Parma Events, Click here and here!

Theater and Cinema for Kids
-Theatro del Vicolo: Feb 9, 16, and 23 fables for children
-Teatro delle Briciole: Feb 9, 16 and 23, for children
-Teatro del Cerchio: Feb 16 and 23 for "ragazzi"
-Europa Teatri: Feb 15 and 16 for "ragazzi"
-Festival Vietato ai Maggiori in Fidenza.
-Castello dei Buratini Marionettes for children
-Il Regio (Opera) Per I Piu' Piccoli

Courses and Art for Children
-Moms' Club: February 3 Biblioteca Ilaria Alpi
-Rosalimone: Dates not online yet
-Libri & Formiche: February 6
-Laboratorio Famiglia al Portico

Carnevale
Programma del Carnevale di Parma 2014    
01 marzo 2014 Grande sfilata dei Carri allegorici c/o Piazza Duomo Parma
02 marzo 2014 Festa di carnevale c/o Piazza Ghiaia ;
Il Gran Carnevale di Bussetto: February 16 - 23
Carnevale Borgotarese: Beginning February 23
and of course...
Carnevale di Venezia: Beginning mid-February

Cinema in original version (mostly English):
The original ones at Cinema D'Azeglio, February 4 - Nebraska.

Special events:
On Valentine's day, in public museums buy 2 tickets, get one free at Reggio di Colorno.
San Valentino in a Castle
San Valentino out on the town
Knit-Café: February 6 at the Barilla Center

Music:
Auditorium Paganini Tutti Per Uno classical music series beginning Dec 13;
Nuove Atmosfere, a series of 20 concerts from November to May 2014;
Casa della Musica - Parlare di Musica;
Concerti Aperitivi - Fondazione Toscanini to May 2014;
Teatro Regio: Opera in February; Remember that Parma Danza tickets should be available shortly
MusicEmotion: Cinema Astra
Zerbini Jazz Club: Circolo Arci Zerbini
Shakespeare in Live: Different jazz, soul R&B...

Art
Fondazione Magnani Rocca Closed until March;
Ricordiamo perche' non accada piu' (Remember so it doesn't happen again): Reggio del Colorno until February 9

For a list of the Museums In and Around Parma Click Here

Gastronomic Adventures
Valceno in Tavola continues, click here for participating restaurants;
Tanto di Cappelleto, Calestano, Sundays

-For a comprehensive list of restaurants and trattoria in the area, click here;
-"Like" Bar Teatro Via Bixio 62A on Facebook for weekly invites to "ethnic dinners" in Parma! For example, this February 7 there's an African Dinner to try!
-We've recently learned about a lovely service "foodie" guide service (and more), run by an American in Parma: http://www.mycousinemilia.com/

English & Other Language Connections
German Reading Group on February 11
English Reading Club on February 4
Stendhal Lecture Group (French) on Febuary 25
Spanish Group Lectures on January 15

Also on Facebook remember to "Like" the following pages:
-Parma Internazionale (Monthly aperitivo and online community via Internations)
-ENGLISH EVENTS Inglese PARMA MODENA (Wednesday evenings drinks and games in English)
-Reggio Emilia, Modena and Parma English Meetup (English language dinners in Parma)

Elsewhere
In Milan this month (Eventful): Tickets for upcoming concerts, festivals, etc. Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Backstreet Boys...
In Milan this month (CiaoMilano): Find your way around Milan in English. Great exhibitions this month including Faces from the Last Century from the Centre Pompidou, Warhol, Rodin, Pollock (Palazzo Reale). Many of these exhibits offer "children's tours" for which you need to reserve in advance.
Check out the acquarium, planetarium, and Natural History Museum as well.
For the more design-oriented, there's a great exhibition going on at the Triennale as well as installations at Hangar Biccoca.
In Florence this month: Movies in English, Madama Butterfly and more
In Bologna this month: Masterchef & Wine Tasting, Cena con delitto and more
In Bologna this month: Find your way around Bologna in English
Modena in English