Words and Photo By Tyler Yank
Oh, Italia. How I miss thee. Hearing that beautiful, melodic language I’ve been trying to master since university, tasting that delicious food I try so desperately to replicate in my kitchen, and touring the remnants of such an epic and ancient empire – Italia, when will I see your fair face again? A day does not go by without my mind wandering its way back to our time together in the streets of Firenze. There I am again, museum-hopping and buying dozens of those skinny leather bracelets from vendors as mint gelato drips attractively down my chin.
Dramatic sigh.
For now, I will keep my feet firmly on Quebec soil to celebrate Montreal Italian Week and all the glory that it will surely bring. From August 6 to 15, with the majority of events happening in Little Italy – on St-Laurent, in the neighbourhood roughly south of Jean-Talon – Italian fashion, art, music, and le macchine di lusso (hint: featuring Lamborghini and Ferrari) will be showcased for one and all.
Contemporary Italian art will be exhibited in various locations around the city, including a stained-glass exhibition at the Musée du Château Dufresne, and a modern graffiti art display by Milanese artists Marco KayOne Mantovani and Luca Flycat Massironi, at the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre. As well, on August 14th, a Canadian-Italian fashion show will take place, featuring such names as Mimi&Coco, Lady Dutch, and many more.

However, if all else fails, just follow my predictable lead and use Montreal Italian Week as an excuse to wander Little Italy and chow (ciao?) down on all the wonderful, rich Italian food you can always find there. Salute!

For a full schedule of Montreal Italian Week activities: http://www.semaineitaliennedemontreal.com/en/