Attend the Italian Life Expo in Portland, Maine Next Week

The Italians are invading Portland, Maine next week! Don’t worry, it is a friendly invasion for the first Italian Life Expo. Held at Portland’s waterfront Ocean Gateway Center, the festival will host exhibits on food, wine, and travel opportunities in Italy. Six sessions over the weekend will focus on wine tasting, travel, and culinary products. The event is sponsored in part by Dream of Italy and proceeds will benefit Maine’s Institute for International Studies and the Spannocchia Foundation, which supports conservation efforts and environmental education in Tuscany. Among the mostly Italian exhibitors are restaurants, vintners, outdoor and sports specialists, travel and tour companies, the Italian consulate and Italian language specialists. Artisan products from Italy will be available to sample and buy, including cheese, prosciutto, olive oil, Italian regional wines, preserves, clothing and ceramics. Guests will have the opportunity to discuss travel options with Italy travel experts, including traveling in Tuscany, visiting destinations off the tourist track, and taking cooking lessons in Italy. The Italian Life Expo will be held from June 9-11 from 11am-9:30pm at Portland’s Ocean Gateway Center. Sessions fall on Friday and Saturday, with a welcome reception on Thursday. Visitors can buy sessional tickets or day passes, which include access to the exhibit hall, a wine glass for sampling Italian wines, food, and samples of artisan products. So join the Italian invasion! — Elaine Murphy