Ciao, Tony!

Back in high school, the last of four, DB and I bonded over James Bond, Kodachrome, mail order camera stores and Italian movies.  Our friendship has survived cultural differences and distances not to mention a fit of jealousy on the occasion he photographed my girlfriend topless in his parent's pool. 30 years later I'll admit my jealousy was more about his talent --He took better pictures of my girlfriend than I ever could.

Instead of 'awesome,' DB and I used, "Ciao, Tony!" to express anything we thought was cool. This was from a long forgotten Italian heist movie where, for the duration of the film, beautiful Italian women shout, "Ciao, Tony" to the hero. I still use it but mostly keep it to myself nowadays -- It's too hard to explain.

DB's good about sending me clips from obscure foreign films.  I posted about Mina and Trad Italian way back in 2008 - Before some of you were born.  She's not singing in DB's clip but I love everything about it. The car, the hotel, the clothing...I've always thought God was Italian.  I don't think he's at the Vatican.  I believe he's hanging out in a hotel somewhere on the Amalfi Coast in a white linen suit and drinking a chilled Umbrian white while nibbling at a bruschetta. I believe if that sportscar in the clip pulled up, God might say, "Ciao, Tony!"

Rome in Manhattan

Dinner at Bocca on a humid Rome-like night. This was parked outside...


If only this were going on inside.

Off My Back: Moto Guzzi, Bellini & Mazzini

Camicia Moto Guzzi

Tre litri




Mina 'belts' out Morricone

Picked up the Moto Guzzi t shirt at The Art of the Motorcycle Exhibit sometime in early '99. The athletic laundry at the Union League Club in Chicago had much to do with it's faded patina and crinkled letters. It looked pretty much like it does now after the club washed it the very first time.

Contrary to the 3 liter bottle, this Bellini Chianti from Tuscany is no big shakes but for $40 it's a cheap show when you wheel this sucker out onto the dinner board in front of unsuspecting dinner guests who don't know wine from shampoo.

Two years ago I wrote about Mina here. Alfa's and Vespa's and rolling r's. What a performance. Makes me want to put a vowel on the end of my last name. Actually, S.L.A. Marshall did that but it's a story for Trad Dad to tell. This is a Ennio Morricone tune she did on Italian television in 1966. I have no idea what she's telling the audience in the intro but it sounds fantastic and more than ever I'm convinced - - God is Italian.