OUT OF TOWN/Toasting The Tuscan Times!7pm, July 26La Dogana Enoteca, strada Lauretana Nord 75, Valiano
Itching to get out of town? Come celebrate the launch of The Tuscan Times, an exciting new supplement to The Florentine. Thanks to enthusiasm and elbow grease from correspondents all over Tuscany, the first issue was just published and the project is already growing. Want to get involved and meet members of TTT’s Cortona community? La Dogana Enoteca is generously providing a complimentary apericena, the perfect opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and learn more about Tuscany’s English-speaking network. For further information, see the Facebook event or contact TTT Cortona correspondent Oonagh Stransky: 3472483921.
TRIVIA/Pub Quiz9.30pm, July 23Finnegan Irish Pub, via San Gallo 123r, Florence
Brutal heat got you feeling brain-dead? Give your mental muscles a good workout while you cool off indoors at Finnegan’s famous trivia night. Choose your companions wisely: teams are limited to 5 people, and to conquer the competition, you’ll probably want a history buff, a pop culture junkie, a sports fanatic and a geography whiz on your side. Members of the top three teams will take home prizes—and there are also several chances to win spot prizes throughout the evening! For more information, see the Facebook event.
La Serra MK Textile AtelierSUMMER/Pop-Up Party 7pm, July 23La Serra MK Textile Atelier, via Salvestrina 1, Florence
Enjoy an evening among local artisans in the beautiful La Serra MK Textile Atelier, a converted greenhouse-studio hidden in the garden of the historic Palazzo Pandolfini. Organized by Lost in Florence, MK Textiles, Slovenian jewelry designer Tinka Lončar and ceramics studio Officina Lab, the event offers free entry and many of the artisan wares will be for sale. Light refreshments, including some summery fruit cocktails, will be available. For more information, see the Facebook event.
EXPLORE/Monday with Machiavelli 6pm, July 27 Meeting point given upon reservation
Follow in the footsteps of one of the world’s most influential thinkers. The pioneer and ‘prince’ of modern political theory, Niccolò Machiavelli was a born-and-bred Florentine who penned syllabus standards in Western Civilization 101 like The Prince and The Mandrake. Stopping in Palazzo Vecchio and the Bargello, the two-hour tour (offered in English) will wind through 11 important Florentine spots, using Machiavelli’s work, life and philosophy to explain broader concepts of the Renaissance world. Reservations are required. For more information and to book, email centroguidefirenze@gmail.com or call 055/288448.
GROOVY/Flower Factory7.30pm, July 24Spiaggia sull’Arno, Lungarno Serristori, Florence
Whether you’re partial to mod London or psychedelic San Francisco, head to Easy Living on the Arno beach for a swinging sixties-style evening! Wear flowers in your hair, flash your peace signs and get ready to groove to all of the top tunes of the decade, dancing al fresco on the Arno beach. The featured DJ is Mike Pupils of the cool record store-Italian pub hybrid, Move On, and the fun runs until around 1.30am. For more information, see the Facebook event.
