Dinner is opener for Festa Italiana

A dinner in the true Italian style will open Festa Italiana at the Italian American Community Center in Gates on July 18. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the dinner features a menu designed and prepared by Chef Stuart Slusky, a Monroe Community College culinary instructor.

The dinner will be conducted slowly, in the Italian style, so that all courses can be fully enjoyed. Entertainment during the dinner will be provided by a vocal quartet consisting of two sopranos and two tenors from the Eastman School of Music who will perform light opera. The vocalists will be accompanied by Benton Hess, also from the Eastman School of Music.

Reservations for the six course meal, which includes wines donated by AV Imports and Eber Brothers, are $45 each and can be obtained by calling the Italian American Community Center at 585-594-8882.

Following the kick-off dinner, Festa Italiana will continue from July 19-21 with free admission on the grounds of the Italian American Community Center, 150 Marconi Boulevard in Gates near the intersection of Buffalo Road and Manitou Road. It includes an Italian classic car show, an exhibition of 16th, 17th and 18th century art, foods, crafts, music and games.