Taste of Tuscany

Themed dinner featuring Italian food and wine, 3 course dinner

When: Whole period of festival (Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings from 6pm)

Where: Le Pain Quotidien, 54 Norton St, Leichhardt, NSW 2040

Cost: $38.50 per person with a glass of Italian wine, $88.00 per couple including a bottle of Italian wine

Bookings: call Jad Khoury, 9564 0099, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.lepainquotidien.com

Payment method: cash, credit card

Booking deadline: Bookings essential. Bookings over 12 people must book 48 hours in advance, deposit required.

Taste of Italy

Italian Cheese and wine tasting

When: Whole period of festival. 12pm – 5pm 7 days

Where: Le Pain Quotidien, 54 Norton St, Leichhardt, NSW 2040

Cost: $10.00 per person

Bookings: call Jad Khoury, 9564 0099, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.lepainquotidien.com

Payment method: cash, credit card

Booking deadline: Bookings essential. Bookings over 12 people must book 48 hours in advance, deposit required.

Italian Connection Touring Assembly - Italian Connection Trophy Norton St. to Lygon St. Car Rally

When: From 8.00 am – 10.30 am Friday 22 May

Official Start: 10.00 am

Where: Council car park, Marion St, Leichhardt

Cost: Audience is Free

Refreshments: BBQ Breakfast

Bookings: For Rally Start Audience no bookings needed

More information: Call Robert Gunn 02 9960 1733

Rally Participant Booking: To book a place in the actual rally please check at www.italianconnection.com.au to obtain registration forms. Only a few spaces are still available so we cannot guarantee a place.

Note: The Rally's official Charity is the Duchenne Foundation and drivers are also welcome to raise money for their chosen causes. Also there will be fundraising events at all locations on the journey to contribute to the Abruzzo earthquake disaster support fund.

Printmaking like the Masters

A one day intensive workshop where you will sketch and then translate your drawings into wonderful dry point copper etchings and monoprints.

Using techniques of the great masters of Italian art, students will produce wonderful multi-coloured prints using a variety of drawing, mark-making and printing techniques. You will learn all you need to know from plate preparation to editioning prints. (Course fee includes some materials.)

Course code: 092A032

Tutor: Tina Barahanos

http://www.artest.com.au/teachers.html#tinabarahanos

When: Sunday 31 May, 10am-4pm

Where: Art Est. Art, 67 Lords Road Leichhardt

Duration: 1 session of 6 hours

Cost: $150

Bookings: 9564 1519

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.artest.com.au

Modelling the Figure from Life

Feel like a real sculptor! With the forgiving medium of clay and the use of a life model you will be guided through how to 'see' the shapes and lines that are the human form. With the model striking a pose such as sitting or lying down for the day (with breaks!) we will use our fingers and basic tools to create in clay the figure that sits or lies before us. Degas, so well known for his paintings and pastel drawings, will be referenced for the way in which his clay sculptures captured the essence of a pose without the need for detail. (Course fee includes life model and clay.)

Course code: 092A029

Tutor: Linda Bowden

http://www.artest.com.au/teachers.html#JanneMarsh

When: Sunday 31 May, 10am-4pm

Where: Art Est. Art School, 67 Lords Road Leichhardt

Duration: 1 session of 6 hours

Cost: $150

Bookings: 9564 1519

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.artest.com.au

Italian Bilingual School Open Day

The Italian Bilingual School offers children from preps to Year 6 a unique educational opportunity to achieve excellence through bilingualism. All are welcome to see us in action on our Open Day. Join a guided tour, visit the classrooms, see bilingualism in action and check out our fun interactive demonstrations. Today is also a great opportunity to meet students, staff, teachers and parents as well as popular Principal, Robert Ruggeri.

When: Wednesday 3 June 2009, from 10am to 2pm

Where: Casa d'Italia Level 1, 67 Norton Street, Leichhardt

Cost: Free

Bookings: For more information please call: 9572 9077

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.ibs.nsw.edu.au

Vini di Toscana

Toscana is a key wine-producing region, with many famous wines and some of the oldest family wineries coming from this area. This region alone accounts for as much wine as the total Australian production. In this virtual visit to Toscana, you will be introduced to such wines as Brunello, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the great wines of Chianti. Find out why three wines, all made from the same grape, can be so different. You’ll enjoy tasting a number of wines accompanied by a selection of antipasti. Notes will be provided. (NB: Red wine only served.)

When: Thursday 4 June, 7-9pm

Where: Osvaldo Polletti, 148 Norton St, Leichhardt

Cost: $60 per person (includes wine tasting, antipasti and course notes)

Bookings: Call Italianicious on 1300 134 986 or visit www.italianicious.com.au

Drawing David - Michelangelo's Masterpiece

In celebration of Viva Leichhardt! this is a special evening of life drawing where you will draw a life model in poses reflecting the athleticism and pathos of Michelangelo's David, and other romantic works of the Italian masters.

Good food, wine, music and atmosphere provided, just bring your own drawing media.

Course code: 092A028

Tutor: Linda Bowden

http://www.artest.com.au/teachers.html#lindabowden

When: Friday 5 June, 7pm-9pm

Where: Art Est. Art School, 67 Lords Road Leichhardt

Duration: 1 session of 2.5 hours

Cost: $40.00

Bookings: 9564 1519

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.artest.com.au

ViVa Leichhardt - Opening Night

Leichhardt is well known as the Inner West's Italian epicentre, so what better way to celebrate than with a Bellini on Norton St. Food by Bar dei Castelli and all drinks provided. Fashion parade with local boutiques Rouge on Norton, Evas Vintage and more. Music provided by Casa del Disco

Cost: $10 per person. VIP Guests (invitation only) free

Bookings: call For more information please or to reserve your ticket please call 9518 3696 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Payment method: visa/mastercard/cheque/online/cash

Booking deadline: 5 June 2009

Note: Champagne Bellini on arrival. Numbers strictly limited to 100 people. All proceeds donated to Boomalli Arts Co-operative Flood St Leichhardt

Foodies Walking Tour of Norton Street

Discover the flavours of Sydney’s beloved Little Italy with the team from Italianicious. We begin the tour with a typical Italian breakfast of coffee and pastries at Bar Sport, a Norton Street icon since 1956. This will be followed by a tasty shopping trip to Norton Plaza where we’ll visit Norton St Grocer, renowned for its Italian smallgoods and AC Butchery, one of Sydney’s best continental meat outlets. Our next stop is the Co.As.It. Italian cultural centre and then family-run pasticceria Mezzapica where you’ll sample traditional Italian sweets. You’ll have plenty of time to fill your shopping basket along the way. We end our tour with a sumptuous three-course lunch at Osvaldo Polletti, which specialises in southern Italian cuisine, accompanied by a tasting of Italian wines from another Norton St icon, Amato’s Liquor Mart.

When: Saturday 6 June, 10am-3pm

Where: Tour commences at Bar Sport, 2A Norton St, Leichhardt

Cost: $120 per person (includes guided tour, Italian breakfast, three-course lunch and wine tasting)

Bookings: Call Italianicious on 1300 134 986 or visit www.italianicious.com.au

Painting A Still Life

A day of drawing and painting the still life from observation! Working from the inspiration of "the everyday" of Renaissance art, using still life students will explore the work of famous artists and learn techniques in tone, colour, composition and form. Formal elements of art will be introduced via quick sketches and studies, and students will complete their own painting on canvas using oils or acrylics, or mixed media.

When: Sunday 7 June, 10am-4pm

Where: Art Est. Art School, 67 Lords Road Leichhardt

Cost: $120

Bookings: 9564 1519

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.artest.com.au

ViVa Leichhardt Short Film Festival

It's back! And this year the sky is the limit as this year's festival runs an open theme for the first time. Filmmakekers have had a blank canvas from which to create, limited only by their own imagination.

When: Sunday 7 June, 2009 at 8:30pm

Where: Palace Cinemas, 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt

Cost: $15 (To be confirmed at a later date)

Bookings: call Katy Davies at Co.As.It on 9564 0744

Photo with a Ferrari

Come and get your photo taken with the iconic Italian Ferrari and two gorgeous models, and receive your free copy of “The Way to Happiness” - 21 principles guiding you to a better quality of life.

When: Sunday 7th June -12pm-4pm

Where: Norton street (near the Norton Plaza)

Cost: $2

Bookings: No booking necessary. For more info please contact: Mary Szental, Leichhardt Mission – Church of Scientology 02 9518 3442

Note: Polaroid photos will be taken or bring your camera

How to Improve Relationships – Workshop

Learn how to maintain good communication in the family and improve relationships with friends and co-workers. Presented by International lecturer, Henry Blumenthal (B.A, B.Law, former school principal with over 40 years experience in family counselling).

When: Sunday 7th June 4pm-5:30pm

Where: 2/14 Norton Street, Leichhardt

Cost: $10, includes refreshments

Bookings: For more info please contact: Mary Szental, Leichhardt Mission – Church of Scientology 02 9518 3442