2012
March 20

Focus: Arts & Culture
After a successful sold-out performance in June of 2011, on March 20, 2012, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago and the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International once again presented a public theatrical performance based on I promessi sposi (The Bethrothed), in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater. Performers included Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, Gilda Gelati and Elsa Martignoni. A reception was held afterwards in the G.A.R. Rotunda, where guests were able to mingle with the performers.

 

2011
March 7

Focus: Arts & Culture
The Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, in collaboration with the Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest, hosted a dinner in celebration of Italy’s 150th Birthday at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Special guests included Alessandro Motta, Consul General of Italy in Chicago and Renato Turano, former Senator of the Italian Republic.




2010
August 23-27

Focus: Arts & Culture
The Sister City of Milan was represented at the 5th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival in Millennium Park, via Mazzone’s Italian Ice as a food vendor.

November 9

Focus: Arts & Culture
On the evening of November 9th, a private dinner and cooking demonstration for the U.S. launch of the Mamma Agata cookbook benefiting the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, took place at Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush Restaurant.

2009
October 9

Focus: Arts & Culture
The Milan Committee hosted its first Taste of Italy reception in Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, which featured tastings from Chicago’s finest Italian restaurants, including Phil Stefani’s 437 N. Rush, Piccolo Sogno, Italian Village, Italiasia and Tratorria Isabella.

June 25-26

Focus: Government
The Honorable Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, Commissioner for Culture for the City of Milan.

March

Darwin Elementary students traveled to Milan for a fashion exchange where students read a novel and sketched the clothes they visualized the characters in the novel to be wearing.

2008

Summer 2008

Focus: Education

Milan Committee co-sponsors Summer Fashion course at Domus Academy in Milan.

June 18-20

Focus: Government
A delegation of five City Councilors and their interpreter visited Chicago. During the visit, the delegation had a demonstration of the City of Chicago’s graffiti blasters at work, tours of the 911 Center, the Green Roof Garden on City Hall and the Center for Green Technologies, met with Aldermen Rugai, Burnett and Waguespack, the Chicago 2016 Team, After School Matters and CAIR Chicago (Council on Arab-Islamic Relations).

April

Focus: Education
Three Principals from Milan traveled to Chicago in April. They visited their sister schools and also meet with an administrator at Sayre Language Academy to explore establishing a Sister School Relationship with a school in Milan.  They also visited a parochial school and a Chicago Public School selective enrollment school.

March 22

Focus: Theater
The Milan Committee invited guests to join them for a talk and demonstration by Antonio Fava, renowned Italian comic actor.

February 8

Focus: Education/Fashion
The Committee hosted "The Windy City Meets the Fashion City" seminar, a presentation on insight into the Milan Fashion System, the Domus Academy Approach and information on the Milan Summer Program.

2007

May 1-6

Focus: Government
A delegation was in Chicago to further strengthen Sister City School relationships and also to experience Chicago.  During their stay they went on a riverboat architectural tour, a VIP tour of Millennium Park, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Art Institute, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.  They also visited Darwin Elementary, Schurz High School, Andrew Jackson Language Academy, Otis Elementary, the Istituto Italiano Di Cultura, and had a luncheon at Paula D'Angelo's and CPS headquarters.

March 3-16

Focus: Education
Twelve students from Darwin Elementary visited Milan, Venice, Verona, and Rome.  This exchange was initiated during the Committee trip to Milan in November 2006.

2006

December 12

Focus: Culture, Education
Members of the Committee traveled to Milan to sign a Sister City School Agreement to meet with Fashion institutions, the Comune, the L3, and a photographer to encourage art, culture, and education exchanges.

Lucia Mauro spoke about her latest photographs and sign her new book, "Frieze Frame II: Textures & Colors of Italy" at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Chicago.

May

Focus: Culture
Reception and Lecture at Museum of Science and Industry in collaboration with the Leonardo DaVinci Exhibit and visit by L3 from Milan. Fundraiser for the Milano Gardens.

2004
December 4

Focus: Culture
A cocktail reception was held at the Hilton Towers to raise funding for the Milano Garden.

2002

May 15

Focus: Culture
On the Wings of Italy: Exhibition and Civic Celebration includes rare Futurist posters and memorabilia featuring the flight of Francesco De Pinedo, the first Italian Aviator to reach the United States. Location: Richard J. Daley Civic Center, 5:30-7:30pm.

May 12

Focus: Culture
Members of the Committee will host a delegation from Milan to promote cross-cultural exchanges and tourism.

2001

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee hosted a concert at the Chicago Cultural Center to honor Verdi, presented by Maestro Bartoletti.

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee hosted a post-concert reception for Paolo Conte at Orchestra Hall.

Focus: Government
The Milan Committee hosted a delegation led by Senator and Vice-Mayor Riccardo De Corato. One purpose of the visit was to present a $20,000 donation to the Milan Committee for the creation of the Milan Garden. Their itinerary included visits to Millennium Park, Streets and Sanitation, Graffiti Blasters, the Office for People with Disabilities and the Department on Aging. Senator De Corato met with Alderman Burke and Mayor Daley.

2000

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Milan are collaborated to present Landmarks of Chicago and New York: A Tale of Two Cities, a collection of 150 black and white photographs featuring each city’s architectural treasures. The exhibition has had successful showings in Chicago’s sister cities Paris and Prague and was on display November 23 through December 10 at the Palazzo Reale Milan. Hosted by the City of Milan, the exhibit opened with a gala reception sponsored by the Milan office of Chicago-based advertising firm Leo Burnett.

1999

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee arranged a reception for Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun, who presented a lecture at the Newberry Library.

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee developed a festival to celebrate the master crafts of Italy. Milano Square featured 13 master craftsmen who demonstrated their skills, including the restoration of antique fabrics, paintings, pottery and musical instruments; jewelry design; silversmithing; textile weaving; mask making; paper marbling; and ceramics. In addition, the four day event featured entertainment including Commedia dell’Arte, puppetry, lectures on cuisine and travel, and film. Milano Square was previewed by attendees at a gala benefit.

1998

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee held a fundraiser featuring Andrea Marcovicci at The Casino.

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee participated in the Columbus Day Parade and surrounding activities including A World in a Weekend featuring Milan and performances by opera singers at Daley Plaza.

Focus: Education
The City of Milan sponsored an exchange among 15 high school students in Chicago and Milan for two weeks each.

Focus: Government
Mayor Richard M. Daley met with Mayor Albertini in Milan.

1997

Focus: Culture
The national Italian travel magazine WEEKEND Viaggi sent Mariatersa Montaruli, travel writer, to report on Chicago. Members of the Milan Committee entertained her during her visit.

Focus: Culture
The Chicago Children's Choir performed in Milan.

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee played host to a preview party for the Michelangelo show at The Art Institute of Chicago. Proceeds benefited the Chicago Children's Choir trip to Milan in July.

1996

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee will sponsor the Riccardo Luppi Quartet from Milan which will participate in the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park.

Focus: Government
The Honorable Marco Formentini, Mayor of Milan, and Mario Felicetti, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, visited Chicago to expand the sister cities relationship.

Focus: Culture
The Milan Committee hosted a dinner and theater fundraising event for the "Milan Garden" project. The Milan Committee is sponsoring the restoration of the section of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue from Balbo to Roosevelt Road and a special garden to honor the Milan sister city relationship. The restoration is a collaborative project between the Chicago Park District, city of Chicago, the Chicago Hilton and Towers, and the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.

1995

Focus: Economic Development
Several members of the Milan Committee participated in an Italian-American Chamber of Commerce event, "Operating Strategies for doing business in Italy," serving as speakers and moderators for the event.

Focus: Economic Development
The Milan Committee hosted and scheduled appointments with city officials and business counterparts for a Milan delegation. The visitors included the minister for Economy and Tourism for the Region of Lombardy and a councilman from the City of Milan.

1994

Focus: Government
The Milan Committee hosted visiting members of the Milan Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon, which included guests from the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development.

1993

Focus: Culture
Milan poet Franco Cajani participated in the 1993 Chicago Poetry Festival at Navy Pier.

Focus: Education
The Milan Committee and the Institute of European Studies awarded several scholarships to American students to study in Milan.

1992

Focus: Culture
The "Elegant Techniques: Italian Furniture Design 1970 - 1990" show was held at the Chicago Cultural Center and organized by the Italian Trade Commission.

1991

Focus: Culture
The Oggi-Milano event, featuring five Italian fashion designers from Milan, showcased their latest fashions in an event produced by Marchetti Special Events at the Field Museum.

Focus: Education
Chicago's St. Xavier University established a campus in Milan offering an accredited MBA program to Italian and U.S. graduate students.

Focus: Culture
In conjunction with the Italian Trade Commissions, the Milan Committee brought the "Compasso d'Oro (Golden Compass Award) Exhibit to Chicago with the assistance of the Chicago Athenaeum. The Golden Compass Award is Italy's most prestigious design award.

1989

Focus: Education
An exchange program placing Italian students in Chicago universities was headed by a delegation of Italian college presidents and faculty members who traveled to Chicago to make the arrangements.

1986

Focus: Culture
The Apparel Mart conducted a series of fashion exchanges with Milan.

1985

Focus: Signing
Milan and Chicago signed a sister cities agreement in 1973. The relationship was strengthened in 1985 with exchanges between students of Chicago's School of the Art Institute and Milan, which now participate in yearly exchanges.