By Tom Cesarini
What Little Italy needs is another coffee joint. Seriously, another caffe in the neighborhood? Indeed — one is coming this month to Amici House — but with a twist: a nonprofit twist. Operated by Convivio and dubbed Caffe Caritazza — the name a portmanteau of carita (charity) and tazza (cup) — our robust mobile station serves fine coffees, teas, sandwiches, salads, cold beverages, and snacks for our patrons visiting Amici House (and treats for our furry friends at the dog park). The caffe is well placed to provide service to surrounding businesses, residents, and visitors to Amici Park. Come grab a cup of coffee and feel good about your support for our neighborhood arts, culture, and education initiatives.
Expect to come for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat and stay to chat with our ambassadors to learn about the history of the neighborhood, our current programs, or other cool things we have planned. Hang out with friends (or make some new ones) while enjoying fresh coffee drinks on our patio — proudly serving Arcidiacono Coffee — the best in town! Proceeds benefit Convivio arts and culture programs and Amici House Event, Heritage & Visitor Center. Proceeds also benefit unsheltered and at-risk youth at Washington Elementary School, our partner in the neighborhood.
Check out our website for more information on Caffe Caritazza, hours of operation, and more about Convivio programs, initiatives, and our vision. And make sure to visit us for our caffe grand opening later this month, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy some compassion in your cup!
OH! San Diego celebrates our local architecture. And also don’t forget that on March 7-8, we celebrate OH! San Diego, presented by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. We are privileged once again this year to be a part of this great program. Come on down and visit us at Amici House, where you can pick up your guidebooks and passports for the weekend. We will also be conducting free, 15-minute walking tours on both days (at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.) to give you a little taste of what our larger cultural excursions look like. For more information on OH! San Diego, visit sdarchitecture.org/program/openhouse/.
— Tom Cesarini is the executive director and founder of Convivio and also serves as the Italian honorary consul of San Diego. Convivio cultivates community and fellowship, advances Italian cultural identity, and fosters multicultural awareness across myriad disciplines through education and research, social enrichment, and innovative programming. Visit: conviviosociety.org | Follow: @conviviosociety.
