7th Annual Capitol Hill Independence Day Community Picnic from Patrick Richardson Wright on Vimeo.

7th Annual Capitol Hill Independence Day Community Picnic from Patrick Wright on Vimeo.

UPDATE: The pictures are up! Check them out! No password needed. Here are some samples:

Many years ago, my mother remarried a man from the Italian region of Umbria. Talk about cross-cultural education…Living with a bona fide Italian had its drawbacks, like my stepfather’s initial, limited grasp of the English language and his abiding refusal to accept that here in America men wash dishes. But there were some fortuitous perks to the marriage as well…like spending a month of each summer vacation living in a gorgeous farmhouse in the Italian countryside.

Our stay in Italy always lasted from the end of June to the end of July, leaving the 4th of July stranded amongst foreign wheat fields and people who had little appreciation for Yankee Doodle and the serious consumption of beer coupled with an abiding love of setting off fireworks. After a few years without all this, my mother, American to the core, decided if we couldn’t be in America for the 4th, she’d bring America with us.

Thus began the increasingly elaborate annual 4th of July with-an-Italian-twist party. It began with PAT’s (Pancetta, Arugula, Tomato sandwiches), a tart with USA spelled out in berries, and some paper plates printed with the American flag. But the next year, she bought tiaras. And the next she insisted our entire family wear Old Navy American flag shirts she’d bought for the occasion. Pretty soon, an entire suitcase was devoted solely to the transport of Independence Day decorations across the ocean. As the years passed, the Independece Day celebration doubled then tripled in size until it gained a reputation as a much-anticipated summer event by all of my parents’ Italian friends. Sitting at a long table on as the sun set on the 4th, they’d listen with rapt attention as my mother gave instructions on how to construct the perfect American hamburger in grammatically flawless Italian. 

The celebration kept growing and growing. We hadn’t yet figured out how to smuggle fireworks through customs the year my mother proposed to mount an interactive theatrical production of the birth of America from Paul Revere’s ride to the signing of The Declaration of Independence.  At that point, we drew the line. But one thing’s for sure: the woman knows how to throw a hell of a party. The Supreme Court has ruled: Rosanna Bowles is a true patriot. 

p.s. The 3 artful and obviously professional photographs at the end of the post were taken by the inimitable John Granen. The rest are by yours truly and fam.

Tomorrow is America’s 233rd birthday! Let’s do our patriotic duty and fete her right with a rousing round of songs. Here are a few links to lyrics you may want to print out in anticipation of the Big Day: 

You’re A Grand Old Flag

Yankee Doodle Dandy 

The Star Spangled Banner  (my aunt used to have a cat that would stop whatever she was doing to come sit on your lap when you sang this) 

This Land Is Your Land

Proud To Be An American (by Lee Greenwood! My fav!)

Living in America by Jaaaaaaaaaames Brown!

and last but not least-

Let The Eagle Soar music AND lyrics by John Ashcroft. Video of J. Ash singing included 

Oh man, I’m so excited already. Off to warm up my vocal chords. Tata!

*image courtesy of sonofthesouth.com

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Heck to the yes.

U! S! A!

See you there! xoxo

Bring everyone.

Here are some photos to get you inspired:

photo courtesy of All American Pet Brands

Photos coutesy of Darren Staples/Reuters

Boy oh boy! Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream is unveiling a brand new, super duper great, amazing like fireworks in your mouth ice cream sundae especially for the Cal Anderson 4th of July Party!!!!

This culinary creation will be called The Cal Andersundae. A very, very apt name, isn’t it?

The sundae will include:  the ice cream flavor of your choice adorned with balsamic strawberries, sprinkled  with fried basil leaves, lavished with candied walnuts, and drizzled with a delicious strawberry coulis! Mmm mm good is right.

Hurry in quick to try one for yourself starting this Friday to get pumped for the best Independence Day Celebration ever. We’re going to. But, really, we are. Because everyone knows that there’s no saying no to good ice cream.