[rshoffer]

Well, we just returned from the Italian festival. What a let-down. We went for dinner. There was 1 stand selling sausage hoagies.... the last time I saw a line that long was for Sarah. All it was ... tables with people who brought their stuff (booze) from home... There was a great band, Paul Vesco Orchestra Band playing... I looked for, but the only thing "Italian" I saw was red, white and green tablecloths. Maybe Spanish Springs was better...

[graciegirl]

Hey Doc. With a name like yours you should be checking out the Octoberfest!!

[The Great Fumar]

doggoneit rshoffer ,,,

you were in the obama tent.....

Fumar

[beady]

I agree with rshoffer...I went down to LSL, watched the parade, and then went in search of some good Italian food....didn't find it...only Hoagies......very disappointing.

[KathieI]

That's very sad. Guess I sort of expected that the food wouldn't be all that great. But, I'm sorry it was such a disappointment. Was it very crowded? Were the carts nicely decorated? Wish I could have been there.

I'm gonna ask the Gracie question -- anybody take pictures?? Say Goodnite Gracie... I'm taking over...

[judylou]

We went to Spanish Springs and the parade was about the same as always. They had a nice crowd and lots of food vendors and two of the restaurants had Italian specials. We saw Big Dave Worker and he can really sing.

[Ooper]

Yeh... seems like all the action and food were at Spanish Springs. Crowd wasn't huge but I think the rain had something to do with that.

[iaudit]

I couldn't believe how many people left after the parade.

[aln]

I come from Milwaukee where we have 3-4 day weekend ethnic festivals every summer for the past 25-35 years.
They're all in the same place (Milwaukee's Lakefront Summerfest Grounds.).
They're attended by 10's of thousands of people. They have GREAT ethic food & fireworks & music.
The celebrations in The Villages don't compare in any respect.

B-U-T
Be thankfull we we got what we got.
In the very short time I've been here I've gone to all the ethnic parades and enjoyed the enthusiam, ambiance and celebrations.

Thank you.

Al

[Rokinronda]

Went to the SS square about 7. It was quieter than last 3 years. The rain probably didn't help. KB's was packed and was serving an Italian menu. There were several food vendors (sausage and peppers at several) and Bourban Street had an all you can eat pasta special with choice of several sauces for $6. Wished we had checked the menus.....We had just had a bite outside at Toojays, enjoying the music. I sure wish we had seen the pasta special first. Its funny how italian and pasta always go together!! We love the deli and baklava, but really wanted pasta. Oh well, pasta for dinner tomorrow night??

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by The Great Fumar

doggoneit rshoffer ,,,

you were in the obama tent.....

Fumar

Tell me he's now claiming to be Italian!

[784caroline]

Have to agree with the first posting..the vendors at LSL were very disappointing in terms of food. The Italian Sausage and peppers from the Nancy Lopez Resturant were decent and at a fair price. One vendor had some canolis, while another had what looked like a good Meatball Sub. Dominic's I think would have made a killing with their key location, if they were still in business.

The definite highlight was the Italian Tenor with Paul Vesco's Orchestra....he was OUTSTANDING while the band it self was not bad either. BTW...the tenor is Puerto Rican/Italian.

[smalldog]

Smalldog Sez
Spanish Springs was supposed to be equal if different from LSL but oftimes Spanish Springs is more equal than LSL ...... fact of life in Da Villages
...... and I thought Obama was Irish along with the O'hara's,O'brians,
O'mallys, etc ................