ST - Neiman Marcus Italian Festival

[ches@io.com]

No Passports Necessary; Neiman Marcus - Downtown and the Italian Trade
Commission Celebrate the Best of Italy With Festa d'Italia
DALLAS, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In the historic tradition of Fortnightr,
Neiman Marcus celebrates Festa d'Italia with a four-week public exposition
from September 25 through October 23 in its downtown Dallas flagship
location. Free and open to the public, Festa d'Italia is a celebration of
Italian fashion, art, food and culture co-sponsored by the Italian Trade
Commission. The Downtown Dallas store will be visually transformed with an
array of spectacular in-store displays, unique cultural and historical
exhibits, and entertainment tied to Italy. The main floor will recreate an
Italian village at dusk. The aisles will become streets with small shops,
and every turn will reveal a surprise.

Massimo Mamberti, Italian Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade
Commission (ITC) in New York and Director for the network of offices in
the U.S., said ``Festa d'Italia is co-sponsored by the ITC as a very
important event among the many initiatives the ITC sponsors around the
United States. This is part of an ongoing effort to promote Italian
products, the established as well as the up-and-coming, to a wider
American public. We are pleased to collaborate with Neiman Marcus in
bringing the best of Italy to United States.'' Among more than 20 special
exhibits and attractions are: 


    Italian cultural exhibits:
    --  Versace Medusa Art Exhibit.  The image of Medusa is most notably
        associated with the Versace design and interpretation of beauty.
This
        fascination with "Medusa" is not only integrated into Versace's
        designs, but it is a focus of many works of art in the Versace
Private
        Collection.
    --  La Scala Opera Costume Exhibit.  A stunning stagelike exhibit
        featuring seven historic costumes -- five female, two male -- and
        high-tech interactive sound domes where customers can listen to
        selections from Italian operas including Aida, La Traviata,
Otello,
        Cenerentiola and Lola.
    --  Vespa exhibit -- the last of the all-metal two wheel vehicles --
this
        exciting exhibit features prototyped Vespas that have never been
        exhibited in the U.S., along with Vespa's ready-to-wear line.
    --  Ferrari exhibit -- an actual 1989 Ferrari Formula 1 race car will
be
        featured in this historic exhibit surrounded by artifacts and
history
        from Enzo Ferrari himself.  Neiman Marcus' Commerce street window
will
        feature a historic Ferrari, and on the first floor will be the
newest
        Ferrari, the 360 Modena.
    --  Shoe salon will be turned into a Venetian-themed mask shop with a
        gondola exhibit.
    --  Historic soccer exhibit dating back to 1400.

    The creativity of Italy's artists and craftsmen will be highlighted in
the
following exhibits:
    --  Exhibit of illuminated contemporary sculpture by Jacopo Foggini,
an
        Italian resin and plastic artisan.
    --  Emilio Tadini painting exhibit.  A noted author, book critic, and
host
        of a media program in Milan, Tadini was commissioned to paint the
        cover of the October issue of the book, Neiman Marcus' fashion
        publication.
    --  Exhibit of San Lorenzo fine Italian silver designed by prominent
        Italian architects, featuring both silver serveware and jewelry.
    --  View a fresco painting in progress
    --  Incredible Fornasetti exhibit will feature Fornasetti serveware,
        decoratives, and large furniture pieces. In addition, Fornasetti
will
        hand-paint three white Vespas, elevating them to an art form.
These
        Vespas will feature custom leather seats and saddlebags that will
be
        filled with Fornasetti dinnerware for the ultimate Italian picnic.
    --  Exhibit of Fortuny hand-painted silk light fixtures and
chandeliers
    --  Exhibit of fine Italian contemporary furniture

    Exhibits of Italian fashion, past and present:
    --  Missoni exhibit showcasing Missoni fabrics and current Missoni
        fashions.  In addition, the elevator wall on the 2nd floor will be
        wrapped in Missoni mosaic fabric squares.
    --  Beautiful Ferragamo historic shoe exhibit with pieces never before
        seen in the United States.
    --  Roberta di Camerino historic handbag exhibit featuring over 80
        handbags.

    Exhibits for children of all ages:
    --  A wonderful exhibit of marionettes dating to the late 1600s will
be
        presented by Carlo Colla and Sons.  This is the oldest puppet
theater
        in Italy.
    --  Interactive Leonardo da Vinci exhibit
    --  Teatro dei Pupi Sicilian puppet show performing six times daily.
    --  Pinocchio shop featuring Pinocchio merchandise that includes
clothes,
        decoratives and books.

    Other special attractions of note:
    --  Italian Fantasy Fountain. Palladium window on Ervay will feature a
        15-foot sculpted fountain depicting delectable Italian vegetables
in a
        fun fantasy setting.
    --  Replica of Juliet's balcony overlooking Italian fragrance court
where
        customers can walk out and have their pictures taken.
    --  The Zodiacr restaurant will be transformed into La Cantinetta, an
        outdoor-themed Tuscan eatery.

While the heart of the Festa d'Italia celebration will take place at
Neiman Marcus' flagship location in Downtown Dallas, Neiman Marcus stores
across the country will focus on fashion, food and wines never before
available in the United States. In addition, other luxury goods from Italy
will be featured, and the stores will host personal appearances by Italian
designers, Italian fashion previews and trunk shows. Neiman Marcus
restaurants will also offer menus and wines from various regions in Italy
as well as dishes prepared by guest chefs.

``Festa d'Italia will be a memorable happening of Italian style and
fashion. Through this four week celebration we will pay tribute to the
great fashions, culture and history of Italy and give our customers a
glimpse of Italy that they've never experienced,'' said Burt Tansky,
Neiman Marcus chairman and CEO. ``We hope people will travel from across
Texas and the United States to take part in this exciting event,'' he
added.

Launched in 1957, the Neiman Marcus Fortnight was an annual presentation
in the Downtown Dallas flagship store that honored the culture and
products of a foreign country. These events, held during the last two
weeks of October, were conducted in cooperation with the government and
industries of the honored country.

Through the 30-year history of these celebrations, which ended in 1986,
Neiman Marcus gave the Fortnight salute to Italy on three occasions -- in
1960, 1968 and 1975.

For more information on Festa d'Italia call 888-634-6269.

Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Stores, one of the world's best-known specialty
retailers, operates 31 stores in the U.S. Neiman Marcus Stores is part of
The Neiman Marcus Group (NYSE: NMG - news), which is headquartered in
Chestnut Hill, MA. 

SOURCE: Neiman Marcus


Sincerely,
F. Havas
ches at io.com

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