April 2021
CASA SPOTLIGHT
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IMPORTANT: Please keep the foundation updated with current contact information
for you and your spouse, including email addresses and cell phones.
To provide updates, call 718-273-7660 or email.
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Great News We’re Making a lot of Progress!
Casa’s new elevator/stair tower extension is 95% complete, as highlighted by Rampulla Associates on social media:
“Casa Belvedere, The Italian Cultural Foundation in Grymes Hill is renovating their facility to provide handicapped accessibility while keep the historic Renaissance-style mansion a cultural icon for Staten Islanders. Check out the work in process from our team to help Casa Belvedere capture their vision of expansion for their members and the public. Our team looks forward to more progress of this historical building.”
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Construction has started on Casa’s second and third floors. Schedule a tour with James Paone!
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Work In Progress on the Second Floor |
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Structural Beams Delivered & Installed |
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We are so grateful for the very generous donations of Anthony & Carlo Seneca of C&A Seneca Construction. They are providing much-needed skilled labor and project management for our final phase of a decade-long project: the second and third floors’ build out.
Upon completion, the second floor will be available for members-only additional dining options, including the second floor Terrace (with amazing views), use of conference rooms, and space for members to host large or small special events (dubbed Casa Belvedere’s NIght Job.) For a tour of the work in progress, please email James Paone - or call 718-273-7660.
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Note: The third floor, named “The Sky Lounge,” will be a VIP private lounge and meeting space reserved for major donors with exclusive, keyed access. If you are interested in finding out more about the Ambassador Circle and Legacy Builders Circle, VIP membership & Sky Lounge, please email [email protected]
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Bourbon/Whiskey Lounge Rendering |
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Guardians of Culture and of Casa Belvedere, We Need Your Help!
Members, you are the Guardians of the first-ever Italian Cultural Center in Staten Island. And you are the guardians of our historically significant building. We need your help to complete our last phase of a decade-long restoration and transformation project.
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Nonno’s Garden
Big plans are in place for our Spring 2021 fabulous vegetable and herb garden to begin cultivation. A heartfelt thank you to Board Member Nick D’Amato and his son Nicholas, who worked tirelessly to transform Nonno's Garden into four large tiers so we can expand our food production. Also, special thanks to our loyal, enthusiastic and hard-working volunteer gardeners who will soon be returning to their job site with much work ahead. We are so grateful!
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School Trips Starting Soon: Elementary school students and summer campers will soon be welcomed to Casa Belvedere for field trips, where they will learn food production skills and seed-to-table, STEM-based programs.
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Casa Belvedere’s Blog is now available on our website, featuring articles about all things Italian and Italian-American, as well as articles about the fascinating history of the mansion and its original owners. Give them a read at your leisure:
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a look back at the transformation of our mansion
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Do you like garlic as a moderate or predominant flavor in Italian cuisine?
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Cooking at Casa programs for adults and children are selling out fast! Sign up today to reserve your cooking class spots. All are held in Bacco, socially distanced and with limited spaces.
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Adult classes include empanadas, shrimp and clams, pasta making, Sicilian rice balls, and making mozzarella.
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Children’s classes include fruit empanadas, parent-child gnocchi making, meatballs, mini cheese rice balls, and cannoli.
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Check out the latest episode of “My Dad Can Cook” as James Paone and special guest Daniel Seddiqui, host of Living The Map, prepared a delicious spring menu.
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"Casa Kids Crafts" workshop on April 1: Children learned about famous glass artwork created on the island of Murano near Venice.
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo condemned hateful graffiti that was recently spray painted on the Christopher Columbus statue in New York City. Click here to read his statement.
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Congratulations to Maria Pedulla, who won the Foundation’s Easter Basket raffle! The overflowing gift basket was donated by Pastosa Ravioli of West Brighton, and everyone was a winner because owner Vincent D’Antuono Sr. gave every ticket holder a one-pound bag of ricotta cavatelli.
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Spring in bloom at Casa Belvedere
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Belvedere Club Happenings
Mother’s Day reservations are now being taken
at The Belvedere Club for Sunday, May 9. To make a reservation, call the dining club directly
at 718-420-6040. Please note that the club will now request a $100 reservation fee to hold holiday reservations. The fee will be applied as a credit to your check, and will be refunded if you give 48 hours notice that you can’t keep the reservation. The new fee is to prevent no-shows which financially impact the Club, especially during the Pandemic.
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Happy Earth Day
April 22:
Enjoy these views of Italy from space!
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A reminder that The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations to the capital campaign are fully tax-deductible. Members' annual dues are separate from the capital campaign, but also a tax-deductible donation, earmarked to underwrite our myriad of arts and cultural program offerings. Members' Belvedere Club spends are separate from annual dues and capital campaign donations.
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