February in Parma

February... The most terrible month of the year!! Grey, cold, humid, and with 29 days this year... as if winter wasn't already long enough!

Well, fortunately there is still a bit of life in town and in the mountain, and hot chocolate in all the cafés. And Valentine's day...

Kids will enjoy the Carnevale. Saturday 18 at 2:30 pm from piazza Duomo to Cittadella.
Teatro delle Briciole, Teatro del Cerchio, EuropaTeatri, Theatro del Vicolo, offer shows for kids.
Activities at Libri e Formiche, RosaLimone (11, 18, 25 Feb.)
Laboratorio Famiglia al Portico offers cooking workshops every Tuesday at 3:30/4:00 pm. The place isn't very central but the atmosphere is really friendly (and the patience of the staff... endless). On Feb. 5 at 4 pm, special event: Hansel & Gretel, story and cookies.
Children's Corner at Casa della Musica, 4 Sunday concerts for children.

NEW:  Biblioteca di Alice has reopened in Parco Ducale, in the greenhouse (near Palazzo Ducale). Dedicated to children and teenagers, it offers a vast choice of books, including some in foreign languages, and DVDs. The place is very pleasant and unlike other libraries, children can make (reasonable) noise! On Feb. 29 at 4 pm, a party (show + snacks) will be offered to children and families.

Cinema:
The original ones at Cinema D'Azeglio, Via D'Azeglio, 33
Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar", in English.
"Les émotifs anonymes" en français le 14 février.

Music:
Cori di Cuore Feb. 4
Aperitivi alla Casa della Musica until May 212 and Concerti until April with a season dedicated to Claude Debussy.
Nuove Atmosfere, a series of 13 concerts until May 2012.
Teatro Regio: lyric season (Aida and Stiffelio) and concert season: a few tickets are still available!
Estri Armonici 2012 season at Teatro al Parco.
Tutti per uno XL opening on Jan. 30 at Auditorium Paganini.

The Festival Internazionale della Chitarra (classic guitar festival) will take place in April, but tickets for the opening concert with early music super stars Jordi Savall and Rolf Lislevand should be bought now (still a few left)!!

Art:

Last days!! Very interesting exhibition: "Parma: immagini della città dal Ducato all’Unità d’Italia" at Fondazione Cariparma until Feb. 19.

Let it snow:

Schia is Parma's nice little ski resort. Schia ski school can be found on facebook.

Check, or rather, double check weather and road conditions before driving up the mountain!