i heart iOS6

I updated my beloved iPhone 4s to iOS6 some time ago but I JUST noticed an amazing new feature that is very handy for bilingual folks like us (grin).
iMessage now has the capability of remembering the last language (keyboard) you used with a contact so that when you write to that contact again, it automatically sets the proper keyboard. Yeah, I know switching keyboards isn't that time consuming or complicated but it just makes things easier to have iMessage do it for you. Love it. Brilliant. Hats off to the Apple team.
Enjoy it, bilingual peeps!

(you can read about it here.)

What gives, ATAC?

Lately I've been noticing more and more city buses sporting signs (some are even handwritten) saying: "Don't ask the driver for info".
I realize it must be frustrating for these drivers to navigate Rome's crazy-ass streets while tourists and non-expert bus users ask info, BUT (you knew that was coming) what do you expect, ATAC? Not everyone knows the bus stops by heart and not everyone has an app for that. Maybe you should consider listing the stops so that EVERYONE knows which one is which, and which is coming up next. Then they just might stop asking for info.
Duh...

Che vergogna

Italy, you're embarrassing yourself with stuff like this. Stop it. Now.

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (in English with Italian subtitles)

HEY, ROME-DWELLERS!

 Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
(in English with Italian subtitles)
October 8, 9, 10 ONLY
at:
The Space Cinema Moderno
Piazza della Repubblica 43
at 19:30 and 22:00
and
The Space Cinema Parco De' Medici
Viale Parco De' Medici 135
at 19:40 and 22:10

you can buy tickets online at:
http://www.thespacecinema.it


https://www.facebook.com/theartofrapitalia

Pierogi heaven in Rome

I love me some pierogi. When I'm in the US of A, I can get them just about anywhere- from supermarkets to restaurants; when I'm in Rome... not as easy.
The other day I was having a fierce pierogi craving and decided to google it to see if, by chance, I'd find any stores in Rome that sold them. Lo and behold I found a sweet new Polish supermarket IN Trastevere! Could it get any better? Why yes it could! I went there and they had several different kinds of pre-made pierogi (vegetarian friendly options), the prices were very good (a giant container of sour cream for 1.80- take that Castroni! A package of 18 pierogi for 3.60), and the shop owner was quite possibly the nicest human being I've ever met.
I am thrilled to have found an awesome and convenient pierogi dealer in my 'hood.
If you're craving anything Eastern European (they even sell ceramics), go check this place out!
Sklep polski u Michala
Viale Trastevere, 233 

Mon-Sat 9-20
Sun 9-15

tel. 06 89567658 - 340 7248203

mzalewski@alice.it
OH, and they have a website too! 
http://www.skleppolskiroma.com/

Beppe Severgnini

I'm a big fan of Beppe Severgnini. His take on life in America as an Italian and his take on Italians in general entertain me to no end! His books can be rather enlightening and amusing for people attempting to navigate Italian culture and mentality.
You can imagine how excited I was to find out that on Saturday September 15th on La7, his new show "Atlantico-Pacifico" will air at 22:30.
I for one will be tuning in to watch his cross-country train trip through the USA pre-election.
And while I'm at... all you American expats: make sure to request your absentee ballots!!

Life as a pedestrian in Rome

I'm proud to call myself a hard core pedestrian. In all my years in Rome, I've never felt the need to own a car or a scooter (okay, maybe once or twice I've said to myself "Damn, wish I had a scooter right now" but I've never actually taken the plunge so it doesn't count), I manage to get by just fine with my monthly ATAC pass, my feet, an occasional taxi, and scooter rides from friends. To me, that's what city life should be about- being able to get around without the hassle of a car. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer Romans seem to agree with this. There's been a drastic increase in the number of cars in this city and the result is anything but pretty...

Ridiculously illegal parking jobs (see photo above) can be seen all over the city: cars parked on the crosswalk, on the sidewalk, on the curb, right in front of "No Parking" signs, etc. It makes life miserable for pedestrians, bikers, parents with strollers, and people in wheelchairs. I can't begin to count the numbers of times I've found myself literally trapped on the sidewalk, unable to get across the street because cars were parked back to front along the street and crosswalk. Luckily, I'm small so I can often squeeze my way through but not everybody can do this and more importantly NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DO THIS!

Since the traffic police don't seem to give a shit about doing their job, people have started to come together and create movements like:

Testaccio: Gli automobilisti indisciplinati

and

Incivile a Bordo- you can buy their NON-damaging stickers and place them on the windows of cars that are parked like assholes. I myself find it immensely rewarding! http://www.disegnopposto.net/incivile_a_bordo.html

It's reassuring to see the people fighting back. Rome needs more people to stand up and start making changes!