SPORT/International Champions CupAugust 2, 9pmStadio Artemio Franchi, viale Manfredo Fanti 4
The boys are back in town! Fiorentina gets back from pre-season activities in Northern Italy in time to participate in a series of summer games. Now in its third year, this is the first time that the International Champions Cup has gone truly global, featuring the best football clubs from around the world. In the only match on their home turf, la Viola will face off against Barcelona, the current Champions League titleholders. For more information on the friendly tournament, visit the International Champions Cup website.
ph. via Flickr user pocait
CULTURE/Balagan CaféSelect Thursdays until August 27Florence Synagogue garden, via Luigi Carlo Farini 6
In 18th- and 19th-century Russia, the word Balagan referred to pop-up theatres in city squares where folk performances took place. At Florence Synagogue’s Balagan Café, the Hebrew hub opens its doors for apericene, concerts and talks in its magnificent garden, offering a chance to sample delicious traditional Jewish foods and explore varied components of Jewish culture. This week’s concert (July 30) promises to be a highlight: New York trumpeter Frank London, a key figure in the klezmer musical tradition originating in Eastern Europe, will perform. For more information and the full lineup, see the website.
ph. via Open Mic at Tasso Hostel Florence
SHARE/Open Mic NightAugust 5, doors open 7.30pmTasso Hostel, via Villani 15, Florence
A new series of Open Mic Nights for Florence’s creative community kicked off with a bang last month, spotlighting local wordsmiths of all stripes. The #wineandwords will continue in August and on the first Wednesday of every month. Everyone from playwrights to poets, translators to Twitter stars is invited to tell their stories on stage. The free event is English-based, but all languages are welcome. Email marisa@mondodicorpo.com.au if you would like to speak. Watch the Facebook page for further details and any updates.
MUSIC/Street ClerksAugust 3, 8.30pmPiazza del Carmine, Florence
Recently pedestrianized piazza del Carmine is home to a cool new community-oriented summer spot, Di Cultura In Piazza. Nightly this summer, the space hosts concerts, family activities, sport events and more, with street food and drinks to boot. Local ‘pop & rollers’ Street Clerks will rock the piazza with their made-in-Florence sounds this Monday. Head here for more on the Street Clerks, and for details on summer programming in the square, see the Facebook page ‘Di Cultura in Piazza.’
