The Dante Society of Westerly, RI

Documentary Film Screening - Naples and the Amalfi Coast: La Dolce Vita?
2025-01-25 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Westerly Library, in partnership with Green Planet Films and the Dante Society of Westerly, is presenting a screening and discussion of “Naples and the Amalfi Coast: La Dolce Vita?”.
Details can be found on the library’s calendar: Documentary: Naples and the Amalfi Coast: La Dolce Vita?
A trailer of the movie is available to view: Movie Trailer

2025 Winter Gathering
2025-02-02 14:00 - 16:00 | RI
Time for the annual winter gathering, open to members of the Dante Society of Westerly and their spouses.
Cost is $15/per person; tickets will not be available at the door.
An email will be sent to members shortly with details.
Seating is limited. It was sold out last year; please pay early.
Online tickets for the 2025 Winter Gathering are sold out.

Lecture: Boogie Woogie Virtuoso Arthur Migliazza
2025-02-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Award winning pianist Arthur Migliazza brings the Boogie Woogie and Blues piano tradition back to life through truly unbelievable piano playing and engaging storytelling.
This living historian takes you on a one of a kind journey through the origins of this extremely influential and important African-American music and uncovers its connections and relevance to all of American pop music that followed, including Jazz and Rock and Roll. And yes, Italians are a part of the story as well!!

Note: Unless specifically noted as being streamed or recorded, the lectures in the lecture series hosted by the Dante Society of Westerly are live events only and are not recorded. They are neither streamed online nor available afterwards as recordings.
Lectures are free and open to the public.

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.

Cin Cin: An Exploration of Classic Italian Cocktails
2025-03-09 15:30 - 18:15 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
As part of the SoupyFest series of events, the UNITED in partnership with the Dante Society of Westerly presents Anthony Caporale for a tasting and deep-dive into the evolution, ingredient history, and cultural significance of Italian cocktails.
Anthony Caporale is an award-winning mixology author and star of “The Imbible” series of long-running Off-Broadway musicals about the history of cocktails and spirits. Known throughout the beverage industry for his dynamic and entertaining talks, this veteran of the New York stage will guide you through the history of classic Italian drinks, including live demonstrations of how to craft them perfectly at home. You won’t want to miss this unique evening of fun, facts, and fables, all viewed through a liquid lens!

Doors open at 3:30 with the lecture starting at 4:00. A tasting is included, which begins at 5:30. The event ends at 6:15.
Tickets are on sale at the United Theatre. The number of tickets is limited. Click here to go to their web listing and scroll to the bottom of the page to see the button to purchase tickets. Total cost per person is $25, which includes the lecture, tasting, and a $5 processing fee per ticket.

General Membership Meeting March 2025
2025-03-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the first of the four members’ business meeting for 2025.
Agenda will be sent to members shortly before the meeting.
Due to a scheduling conflict, please note that this meeting will be held at the Calebrese Club, and not the Senior Center.

Members are reminded that the bylaws require attendance at a minimum of 50% of membership meetings as well as participation and support in society activities.
The remaining meetings this year are scheduled for June 12, September 11, and November 13.

Please review the minutes from the previous meeting (November, 2024) prior to attending the meeting.
The minutes from the previous meeting and, when available, the agenda for this meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

2025 Membership dues should be paid before this meeting. If you have not yet paid, you may pay using this button:
Submit Dues

2025 Wine Tasting
2025-03-19 17:00 - 18:30 | River Bar, 37 Main St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Dante Society of Westerly Presents a Wine Tasting, featuring 5 Wines with food pairings.

The wines will be discussed by guest sommelier Lindsay Colucci, the Assistant Food and Beverage Director at the Shelter Harbor Golf Club.
Co-sponsored by The Wine Store and the River Bar, the event is being hosted in the upstairs dining room at the River Bar in Westerly, starting at 5:00.

The event is open to the public. Cost is $45/person. Seating is limited, and advanced purchase of tickets is required, available only online (see link below). Tickets will not be available at the door.
Please stay for dinner after the wine tasting and let them know you attended the wine tasting. The River Bar has generously offered to donate a percentage of dinner proceeds to the Dante Society of Westerly for their scholarship and education funding. Please make reservations before hand and state you will be attending the wine tasting.
This generous offer is also extended to members of the Dante Society who will be having dinner on the 19th but not attending the wine tasting. Please be sure to mention you are a member when making your reservation.

Seating is limited. Please buy your tickets early.
There has been sporadic issues with processing ticket requests. Tickets are still available. If you submitted payment and received a receipt we have your name on file as having paid – you are all set. If you have not been able to successfully submit a request and you wish to purchase tickets, please send an email to EventTickets@DanteSocietyWesterly.org. Someone will respond and assist you with your purchase.

2025 Italian Language: True Beginner (1)
2025-03-27 18:30 - 2025-05-01 20:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Are you interested in learning Italian? Have you never taken any classes in Italian, or it was so long back that you feel you need to start again? A basic introduction to Italian may be a good way to start. In line with promoting and fostering the community’s awareness of Italian culture, the society is pleased to support Italian language classes. This session is for persons who have no prior knowledge of Italian, or otherwise wish to start at the beginning. They are looking to learn the basics – present tense of verbs, basic vocabulary like telling time, days of the week, understanding directions.
This session consists of (6) 1.5 hr classes, from March 27 through May 1, meeting at 6:30 every Thursday at the Westerly Senior Center.
Classes are open to the public, with approval of the instructor, and cost $130 for the session.
Society members, in good standing before the first day of class, are eligible for a discount.
Additional information on the Italian language classes may be found here: Italian Lessons Information
For questions and enrollment, please email the instructor: italianlessons@dantesocietywesterly.org

Movie: Roman Holiday (1)
2025-04-07 13:00 - 15:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the original 1953 movie staring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. (A remake was made in 1987). From the United Theatre “Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann’s regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.”

The movie is unrated, runs approximately 2 hrs, and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 1954, winning 3 (Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Writing, Motion Picture Story; Best Costume Design).
Details and a trailer can be found here on IMDb.com.
Additional information on the movie can be found here on Wikipedia.
A link to the theater listing is HERE.

There are two showings of the movie on April 7: 1:00 and 6:45.
As part of the United Rewind Series, tickets are $12 online; $10 at the theater at the day of the showing; free to those 65 or older.

Movie: Roman Holiday (2)
2025-04-07 18:45 - 20:45 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States

Movie: Cinema Paradiso (1)
2025-04-14 13:00 - 16:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
From the United Theatre “A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village’s theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater’s projectionist.”

The movie is unrated, runs approximately 2 hrs, and won an Academy Award in 1990, winning 3 (Best Foreign Film).
Details and a trailer can be found here on IMDb.com.
Additional information on the movie can be found here on Wikipedia.
A link to the theater listings is HERE

There are two showings of the movie on April 14: 1:00 and 6:45.
As part of the United Rewind Series, tickets are $12 online; $10 at the theater at the day of the showing; free to those 65 or older.

Movie: Cinema Paradiso (2)
2025-04-14 18:45 - 21:45 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States

Lecture: "My Life With Dante: A Tale of Two Books"
2025-04-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Professor Joseph Luzzi presents “My Life With Dante: A Tale of Two Books”

How does an 700-year-old writer still resonate in this moment? Please join us for an event that will explore the ongoing fascination of the great Italian poet and philosopher Dante, as Bard professor Joseph Luzzi connects Dante’s status today as a global literary icon to the debates about him in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. While writing his two latest books, Luzzi noted an unexpected dialogue that ensued between the works: Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Biography (Princeton University Press, November 2024) and his translation of Dante’s Vita Nuova (Norton/Liveright, December 2024). He will talk about translation as both a practice and a metaphor, the often-overlooked power of storytelling in scholarly works, and the uncanny ability of literature to represent a kind of home to the severely displaced and even persecuted.
Joseph Luzzi is the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Literature at Bard College and an award-winning writer, teacher, and scholar of Italian culture. His recent book, Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance was shortlisted for the 2023 Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize and was selected as a New Yorker Best Book of 2022. He lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Note: Unless specifically noted as being streamed or recorded, the lectures in the lecture series hosted by the Dante Society of Westerly are live events only and are not recorded. They are neither streamed online nor available afterwards as recordings.
Lectures are free and open to the public.

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.

Movie: Big Night (1)
2025-04-21 13:00 - 15:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
A 1996 film staring Tony Shalhoub (Primo) and Stanley Tucci (Secondo). From the United Theatre “Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.” The movie was nominated for 17 awards, winning 9, including Boston Society of Film Critics, Critics Choice, and the Sundance Film Festival.

The movie is rated R for language, runs approximately 1.75 hrs.
Details and a trailer can be found here on IMDb.com.
Additional information on the movie can be found here on Wikipedia.
A link to the theater listing is HERE.

There are two showings of the movie on April 21: 1:00 and 6:45.
As part of the United Rewind Series, tickets are $12 online; $10 at the theater at the day of the showing; free to those 65 or older.

Movie: Big Night (2)
2025-04-21 18:45 - 20:45 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
A 1996 film staring Tony Shalhoub (Primo) and Stanley Tucci (Secondo). From the United Theatre “Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.” The movie was nominated for 17 awards, winning 9, including from the Boston Society of Film Critics, Critics Choice, and the Sundance Film Festival.

The movie is rated R for language, runs approximately 1.75 hrs.
Details and a trailer can be found here on IMDb.com.
Additional information on the movie can be found here on Wikipedia.
A link to the theater listing is HERE.

There are two showings of the movie on April 21: 1:00 and 6:45.
As part of the United Rewind Series, tickets are $12 online; $10 at the theater at the day of the showing; free to those 65 or older.

Movie: Enchanted April (1)
2025-04-28 13:00 - 17:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
From the United Theatre “When married British women Rose Arbuthnot and Lottie Wilkins decide to take a break from their respective spouses, they stay at a castle in Italy for a quiet holiday. Joining the ladies is Caroline Dester, a young socialite, and Mrs. Fisher, an older aristocrat. Liberated from their daily routines, the four women ease into life in rural Italy, and each finds herself transformed by the experience.”
The movie was nominated for a dozen awards, winning two Golden Globe awards in 1993 for Best Performance by an Actress (Miranda Richardson) and Best Performance by a Supporting Actress (Joan Plowright).

The movie is rated PG, runs approximately 1.5 hrs.
Details and a trailer can be found here on IMDb.com.
Additional information on the movie can be found here on Wikipedia.
A link to the theater listing is HERE.

There are two showings of the movie on April 28: 1:00 and 6:45.
As part of the United Rewind Series, tickets are $12 online; $10 at the theater at the day of the showing; free to those 65 or older.

Movie: Enchanted April (2)
2025-04-28 18:45 - 20:30 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States

Ciao Italia
2025-05-02 17:00 - 20:00 | Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, 14 Railraod Ave., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Local Color – Ciao, Italia
This month The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly is hosting a show, in part sponsored by the Dante Society of Westerly. It is featuring a special display of works inspired by Italy and Italian culture. More details, including information on the exhibiting artists, can be found on the Cooperative’s home page (westerlyarts.com) and their calendar listing (Current Exhibit).
There will be an open reception on May 2 from 5 PM to 8 PM. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday 11 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM.

2025 Annual Fried Dough Breakfast
2025-05-18 08:00 - 11:00 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Dante Society of Westerly is hosting a Fried Dough Breakfast and Bake Sale.
Proceeds from the event help support educational grants and scholarships in keeping with the mission of the Dante Society.
Cost is $10 for 12 and older, $5 for under 12 yrs.
Tickets may be purchased in advance from members of the Dante Society of Westerly, or at the door.

Society members are encouraged to volunteer to assist with the event. Volunteer forms may be found by clicking on the “Volunteer” button below: Volunteer

General Membership Meeting June 2025
2025-06-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the Second of the four members’ business meeting for 2025.
Agenda will be sent to members shortly before the meeting.
This meeting will be held at the Senior Center.

Members are reminded that the bylaws require attendance at a minimum of 50% of membership meetings as well as participation and support in society activities.
The remaining meetings this year are scheduled for June 12, September 11, and November 13.

Please review the minutes from the previous meeting (March 2025) prior to attending the meeting.
The minutes from the previous meeting (pending release) and, when available, the agenda for this meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

2025 Juneteenth - Wilcox Park
2025-06-19 11:00 - 13:00 | RI
This year Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition (Westerly ARC) will be sponsoring the 5th annual celebration of Juneteenth in Wilcox Park on June 19th from 11-1. With a theme of “And Still We Rise – a Celebration of Community, Resilience, and Hope”, the celebration will include:

guest speakers
community spirit awards,
student essay contest awards
story telling
music and dancing
food
informational tables for community organizations
activities for children

The Dante Society will have an information table at the event, providing information on membership as well as upcoming events.

2025 Annual Summer Gathering
2025-06-25 18:00 - 20:00 | RI
This is the annual membership gathering for the end of the 2023/2024 season. The Pat Sposato Award is presented at the event.
Members can find additional details on the event and the attendance signup form by clicking here: Summer Gathering Signup

2025 Johnny V's Meatball Challenge and Pasta Dinner (Updated Aug 21)
2025-08-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Calabrese Club, 28 Pleasant Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The count is in: Dunns Corners Market selected as the favorite meatball after a very close count of votes from over 250 persons participating in the first Johnny V’s Meatball Challenge.

The Dante Society of Westerly will host the first Johnny V’s Meatball Challenge and Pasta Dinner, where diners vote in a blind taste test for their favorite meatball.

>> SOLD OUT! <<

>> SEE UPDATE NOTED BELOW FOR EXTENDED TIMES OF THE EVENT <<

Three generous sponsoring contestants are participating in the challenge, donating their meatballs for the event.
The contestant will be assigned one of 3 colors (green, white, and red) on the day of the contest, and each of their meatballs will have a small flag with that color to identify it.
Each ticket has a stub which is the ballot to vote for your favorite of the 3
It is a buffet style dinner, served from a service table, with open seating. You do not need to come at a set time; service will start at 5:00 and run through 8:00. (note the earlier start time)
You do not need to wait for the results as we will publish on our web site and Facebook page later that evening as to who was selected as the peoples’ choice for favorite meatball.

Sponsoring Contestants
Dunns Corner Market
Joyce’s Everyday Gourmet
Westerly Packing

Ticket Information

>> SOLD OUT! <<
Each ticket contains 2 parts: one part for the dinner and a second part that is the ballot for voting for your favorite meatball.

If you bought your tickets at the Chamber of Commerce, be sure to bring them with you.
If you ordered tickets online, when you arrive for dinner stop by the desk at the door to pick them up.

Menu
Salad
Bread
Pasta with sauce
(3) meatballs, one from each sponsor
Dessert

Note: Each meatball will have a small green, white, or red colored flag. The ballot half of your ticket contains a list of the 3 colors. Be sure to select your favorite meatball by circling the color of the flag it came with, and submitting your vote at the ballot box before you leave.

Merchandise for the event will be available at the event.
A raffle will be held for gift baskets donated by the sponsors as well as for the buoy which the society had on last year’s Stonington’s Lobster Trap Christmas Tree.
All proceeds from this event go toward the society’s education grants, lectures and other educational events.

General Membership Meeting September 2025
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
This is the Third of the four members’ business meeting for 2025.
The general agenda is:

Call Meeting to Order
Opening Statement by the President of the Society
Approval of Minutes
New member Introduction
Committee Reports
Upcoming Events & Programs
Other new items

The full agenda can be found in the Index of Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
This meeting will be held at the Senior Center.

Members are reminded that the bylaws require attendance at a minimum of 50% of membership meetings as well as participation and support in society activities.
The remaining meetings this year are scheduled for June 12, September 11, and November 13.

Please review the minutes from the previous meeting (June 2025) prior to attending the meeting.
The minutes from the previous meeting and, when available, the agenda for this meeting may be found using this link: Index of Agendas & Minutes

Lecture: "The Land of the Living" by Timothy Crellin
2025-09-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Westerly Library Auditorium, 44 Broad St, Westerly, 02891
Timothy Crellin: an author talk on “The Land of the Living”.
(Sicilian Americans and the Myth of the Melting Pot.)

“The Land of the Living” grows out of the author’s fascination with his Sicilian heritage, on his mother’s side. Timothy Crellin studied Italian and lived in Bologna for a year. He has Italian citizenship, speaks fluent Italian, and visits his family in Sicily as often as possible. The other taproot of the book is Tim’s deep study of war in the 20th century, and particularly the generational impact of World War I, World War II and Vietnam on immigrant families.
“Crellin doesn’t sugarcoat the immigrant experience. Instead, he honours it with grit and grace, showing the daily grind of laundry carts, fish hauls, language barriers, and constant fear that the American Dream might be nothing more than a mirage.” {from Book Reviews Cafe, May 1, 2025}
Timothy Crellin is an Episcopal priest, raised in the Boston area and educated at Brown University and Harvard Divinity School before being ordained in 1996. Since February of 2022 he has been Rector of St. Paul’s Church in Gardner, Massachusetts. Tim was Vicar of St. Stephen’s Church in Boston from 1999 to 2022, and was the founder of St. Stephen’s Youth Programs. Previously he was Associate Rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill. In addition to being Rector and Dean of the Wachusett Valley Deanery, Tim is a chaplain with a local hospice provider. He serves on the Ethics Committee at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, and on the Social Justice Commission of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
Published in February of this year, user reviews of the book can be found on Amazon.

Note: Unless specifically noted as being streamed or recorded, the lectures in the lecture series hosted by the Dante Society of Westerly are live events only and are not recorded. They are neither streamed online nor available afterwards as recordings.
Lectures are free and open to the public.

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.

Opening Night: Italian Immigrants in Westerly
2025-10-01 17:00 - 19:00 | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join us in the Hoxie Gallery for the Opening Night of the exhibit “Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories“

The evening will feature history, Italian music, and refreshments.

Can’t make Opening Night? The exhibit will be on display for the entire month of October!

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park. It is free and open to the public.

Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories
2025-10-02 - 2025-11-01 | Westerly Library, 44 Broad St, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
In celebration of the Dante Society of Westerly’s 50th anniversary, we are proud to present an exhibit entitled “Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories”

This exhibit, hosted in the Hoxie Gallery at the Westerly Library, features the immigration histories of many of Westerly’s prominent Italian families, the hardships they endured, and their ultimate triumphs. Many of these families are responsible for making Westerly what it is today.
On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, join us in the Hoxie Gallery, from 5 – 7 PM, for the exhibit’s Opening Night and an evening of history, Italian music, and refreshments.

Can’t make Opening Night? The exhibit will be on display for the entire month of October!

This event is presented in partnership with the Westerly Library and Wilcox Park.
The exhibit is free and open to the public.

2025 50th Anniversary Gala
2025-10-03 18:00 - 20:30 | The Haversham House, 336 Post Rd., Westerly, RI, 02891
The Dante Society of Westerly will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a Gala on October 3.
Music by Arthur Migliazza.

Person of the Year
As part of the Gala, the Society honors four of the original 16 charter members of the society:
Edward Gradilone
Robert Liguori
Mary Matos
Elizabeth McFarland Santoro

Ticket Information
There are two options for purchasing tickets:
» Individual tickets, are sold out. with open seating, may be purchased at $100 per ticket, either online (as e-tickets) or at the Chamber of Commerce (for paper tickets),
» Table Packages are sold out. A table package, which includes 8 tickets plus a reserved table and a full page advertisement in the Event Program is available for $1,000, and available for purchase online or via email request.

» Individual paper tickets may be purchased at the Westerly Chamber of Commerce

Located at 1 Chamber Way, Westerly RI
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9 to 5; Friday 9 to 4; Phone 401-596-7761
$100/ticket Cash or Check (NO credit cards)
The chamber cannot hold/reserve or mail tickets – pick up only
There are a limited number left
Tickets no longer available

» Individual e-tickets may be purchased online –Tickets no longer available

$100/ticket (Credit Cards only) – using the button at the bottom of this section (“ONLINE PURCHASE ( … )“)
after clicking on the link, select the purchase option (ticket), and enter the names of the people (including yourself) for whom you are buying tickets.
Select the number of tickets (it must agree with the number of names listed) and continue on to the payment

» a Table Package NO LONGER AVAILABLE may be purchased online for $1000 using the button at the bottom of this section (“ONLINE PURCHASE ( … )”)

The package includes 8 tickets, a reserved table, and a full page add in the Event Program
After clicking on the link, select the purchase option (table package), and enter the name you wish to use for the reserved table.
The default for a table purchase is 1; continue on to the payment
We will contact you to discuss your preferred content and placement in the Event Program

Online Purchase (Only Tickets Are Available)

Event Program
The Event Program contains brief biographies and photos of the honorees. Space is NO LONGER AVAILABLE available in the Event Program for congratulation messages and/or advertisements. Pricing is $250 for a full page; $125 for a half page; $50 for a quarter page; and $25 for an eighth of a page. A link for online purchases will be available shortly. For additional information, click on the “CONTACT” button in the main menu of this page, select the Category “Brochure Content Questions or Comment”, and complete your request.
To purchase space, use the button below to select the size you desire and to pay by credit card. You will be contacted to discuss your content.

Purchase Program Space

Menu
The meal is buffet style. The buffet will include: Assorted Appetizers, Salad, Baked Haddock, Chicken Marsala, a Prime Rib Carving Station, Coffee and a Plated Dessert.

2025 Italian Snacking with Anna Francese Gass
2025-10-19 16:00 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
As part of the UNITED Table series, the UNITED and The Dante Society present a special talk, screening, and book-signing with Westerly native Anna Francese Gass celebrating her 2024 cookbook, “Italian Snacking: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Hour of the Day,” and her new television series “Instant Italian with Anna Gass” which launched in March on FYI.

The UNITED Table series is a culinary entertainment series presented to celebrate the food we eat and the creative, hardworking people who take the care and thought in preparing and presenting that food, preserving its history, and filling our lives with the tastes, smells, and experiences that bring people together. Through conversations, tastings, book talks, food fests, and screenings from the culinary cineverse, The UNITED Table invites you to pull up a chair. Bon appetite!.
More information and tickets are available online at
https://unitedtheatre.org/

2025 Fall Italian Classes
2025-10-27 - 2025-10-30 | Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
The Dante Society of Westerly is sponsoring a new series of Italian lessons this fall.

The courses will be taught by Gayle Restivo, certified Italian language teacher and Dante Society Member.
All classes will be held at the Westerly Senior Center, State Street.
Each class meets once per week beginning the week of October 27th, 2025.

Beginner 1 – Thu 5:30-7pm
Beginner 2 – Thu 7-8:30pm
Intermediate – Mon 6:30-8pm
Advanced Intermediate – Tue 6:30-8pm

Classes are open to the public.
Prior registration is required.
Five student minimum per class is necessary.

To register please contact Gayle Restivo at
gaylerestivo@yahoo.it

Cost for 6 week session:
$150 per student
($120 for current Dante members)
(Payment due at the first class: cash or check)

2025 An evening with Consul General Arnaldo Minuti
2025-11-07 18:30 | The United Theater, 5 Canal St., Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
An evening with Consul General Arnaldo Minuti of the Italian Consulate in Boston
As part of the Dante Society of Westerly’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, we welcome Consul General Minuti who will discuss the Italian American relations and the importance of Italian Immigration to the US, especially in the early and mid 20th century.

Consul General Minuti is a career diplomat who has previously served as the Head of the Office for International Cooperation against Global Threats and Counterterrorism of the Directorate General for Political Affairs and Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFA). He has served at the Embassy of Italy in Ethiopia and was Consul of Italy in Canada for the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He was Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy in Mexico City and was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to UNESCO in Paris. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Counselor of Embassy. He is Lieutenant of the Carabinieri Corps (of the reserve) and is Knight of the Italian Republic.

There will be a public reception following Consul General Minuti’s remarks.
The talk and reception afterwards are free and open to the public but prior registration is required.
Please register by November 1. Register (free) at the United Theatre’s web site using the button “TICKETS” near the bottom of this link: UnitedTheatre
