Over 1,500 years ago, there ruled one of the largest empires in the world: the mighty Roman Empire. As a civilization, the Romans proved themselves to be untouchable, accomplishing feats in almost every facet of society – language, religion, technology, art, literature, architecture, and engineering – and irrevocably altering the path of mankind. Then came the pizza.

Fast forward to 2019 and we, the Beijinger, look to honor the brave, the enterprising, the at times incredibly debauched men and women of Ancient Rome with our very own toga and pizza party.

As Julius Caesar famously uttered upon emerging victorious from the Battle of Zela in 47 BC, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” – I came, I saw, I conquered. Our motto? Veni, Vidi, Edi – I came, I saw, I ate. Because the 2019 Beijing Pizza Festival will be one to go down in history.

A Beijing toga pizza party – it’s what the Romans would have wanted

To get you in the frame of mind to befit such an occasion, we’re giving each and every one of you the opportunity to buy the entire toga outfit along with your ticket ahead of our 2019 Pizza Festival on Aug 17-18, 11am-8pm. There are several options depending on how deep you want to get (and we all know deep and pizza are a match made in heaven):

1. RMB 20: A ticket to the fest plus an olive branch wreath
2. RMB 60: A ticket to the fest plus a toga, waistband, olive branch wreath (including delivery)
3. RMB 50: A ticket to the fest plus a 2019 Pizza Fest T-shirt and olive branch wreath
4. RMB 60: Three tickets to the fest plus a picnic blanket

To avoid disappointment,
buy your tickets for this year’s Pizza Fest here!

Picnic blanket, you say? If the promise of you, your friends, and family slamming slices in the finest of historical garb wasn’t enough to get you hot and ready, then our new venue will. That’s because we’ve managed to secure what may be one of the best-kept secrets out there: Dongfeng International Sports Park. Located directly northeast of Tuanjiehu Subway station, this sprawling oasis is ripe for a day out, lazing in the sun. Just take a look at this beauty:

Just imagine this but with endless ‘za

On top of all of that, we’ll have the usual collection of the city’s top pizza vendors, drinks providers, live music performers, and entertainment galore. Better yet, the entire party will move to Sanlitun’s primo hip-hop club PH Global on Saturday, where all Pizza Fest guests will get free entry and discounts on drinks all night long. Much more on all of that in the coming days!

Pizza Fest cometh!

So, save the date, grab your tickets, and start learning how to wrap the perfect toga!

Images: Ray Town Studio, the Beijinger

The Painted Garden, created by the leading Italian Children Interactive Theatre Company, T.P.O, is actually one of three shows in a series called Children’s Cheering Carpet. This show is dedicated to dance and to the poetics of gardens. Following its successful debut in Beijing in 2015 with sold-out seasons, The Painted Garden is back this year, brought to you by TONG Production.

TONG Production believes that early childhood is an important stage for kids to experience, explore and learn about the world. They encourage creative expression through music, dance, drama, and other arts. Their goal is to bring quality children’s theater performances from all over the world to the young audiences and families in China.

TPO’s Artistic Director, Davide Venturini, was kind enough to answer some questions for us, shedding light the inspiration and motivation behind this mesmerizing form of theater.

What specific steps have you taken to make the play interactive?
Our research began with a workshop in Lisbon, at the Museum for Communication in 2002. We were required to create a play to engage children with severe learning difficulties using theatrical action. We created an empty space with a dance mat and projected images and shapes (squares, circles, small holes, etc.) on the floor. We asked the children to play in groups within these forms. Observing their movements, we realized that engaging in theatrical actions by making sounds and creating interactive images could develop strong emotional involvement as well. We also found that children tend to love gardens therefore making for a great theme to bring art and nature together.

Do you think interactive plays make young kids fall in love with theater or spark their imagination?
Children really like touching the performance space and rolling barefoot on stage. They especially like it when the images and sounds react to their touch. The hidden sensors that make the pictures come alive for the children also spark their imaginations. They develop a direct sensory relationship with shapes and colors while immersed in garden lights and other tactile elements.

Production has claimed the Painted Garden as being a “timelessly, universal story”. What can it offer kids in Beijing in this day and age?
The Painted Garden is a garden created by a painter! It is inspired by four colors: yellow, blue, green, red, which represent earth, water, leaves and love. They are simple and universal themes which children around the world can identify with and relate to.

What are you and your group hoping to achieve with this series of plays, in the long run?
For Chinese children it is important to participate in groups, to engage in dance based actions, creative play or simple exploration of space. We hope to channel their curiosity, develop a stronger desire to explore new possibilities, and expose them to new digital technologies.

What age group of kids are you working with and why?
We work with children from 4 to 8 years, because this is the growth phase when the use of their body for movement occurs spontaneously and naturally. Within this age range their bodily movements know no boundaries and there are no stark differences between dance and play. So, their movements are fluid and effortlessly perfect, just like dancers.

The Painted Garden, Apr 29 – May 15
Ages 4-8. This interactive show uses multimedia to engage children in a theatrical dance. The stage is projected into a high-resolution and colorful palette nick named “the magic carpet”.  The magic carpet has dozens of sensors underneath that allow both the performers and the audience to activate images. A parallel workshop takes place after the show. RMB 300, discounts for kids and group buy. 6.30-8pm. M Theatre, Beijing Oriental Media Center (5203 1012)

Photo Courtesy: Tong Production and Children Interactive Theatre Company, T.P.O

Salina Ferretti is the general manager of Falc S.p.A., an Italian footwear manufacturer that owns the Naturino, Falcotto, and Voile Blanche brands. Founded in 1974, the company’s products are now sold in thousands of outlets all over the world. Ferretti herself is the mother of two teenaged boys and lived in Beijing for two years in the past. We caught up with her when she came to town for the 20th annual China International Clothing and Accessories Fair (CHIC).

How did you become interested in shoes?
A turning point in my career came with the start of motherhood and the interest in my child’s health and well-being. Whenever I was dressing my kids, I tried to choose matching shoes for every outfit they had, and at the same time tried to [ensure that they were]age-appropriate, comfortable and made from healthy materials.

How has Naturino grown since you joined the company in the 1990s?
Everything started in the Civitanova Marche region of Italy. Today, millions of parents and kids know and enjoy the benefits of Naturino. We are present in important markets like China, the US, Canada, Germany, India, and Brazil with approximately 5,000 sales points and 60 exclusive stores.

Secondly, our shoe production is growing every year; our actual annual production is now around 2 million pairs of shoes.

Lastly, Naturino’s manufacturing process has also developed throughout the years. We use the latest innovations in the footwear industry and respond to suggestions from our partners and clients. To meet the needs of parents and kids is the best way to grow for us.

What makes Naturino different from other brands?
Our shoes have what we call the three “pluses”:

• Materials are 100 percent healthy and safe for use in children’s footwear. Our company has its own tannery, which produces and processes the leather we put in our shoes. Furthermore, each material used in the manufacturing of our shoes is allergy-tested.
• Each and every Naturino design is made in line with Italian fashion’s latest trends. We not only want to sell shoes, but also to let the rest of the world experience a touch of Italian style and culture.
• Thanks to the support of pediatricians and orthopedic doctors, our team has designed a unique feature called the “sand effect,” which ensures good posture, comfort, and hygiene for little ones.

Tell us about Naturino’s “sand effect.”
According to pediatricians, the best support for children’s feet is sea sand, which molds to the shape of the foot without restricting movement. Naturino’s “sand effect” system recreates the sensation of walking on sea sand; the foot rests on a soft layer that shapes under the weight of the body the help the foot arch develop naturally. This flexibility allows little feet to move freely without pinching or squeezing.

What’s the question you hear the most when it comes to children’s podiatric health?
Moms-to-be and new moms frequently ask what age they should start letting their babies wear shoes and what characteristics these shoes should have. Some moms worry about how often they should change their kids’ shoes; others ask what the right fit for their children is. When it comes to kids’ health, we mothers never stop wondering if we are making the right choices.

What’s the biggest challenge for Naturino in the Chinese market?
I started coming to China for business about 12 years ago. Back then, the kids’ footwear market was still starting out and not many high-end brands existed. Now, the Chinese market is practically overloaded with national and foreign brands and some of them produce really good quality shoes. The biggest challenge we face nowadays is to make people understand why Naturino should be their first choice when it comes to children’s shoes. 

As the mother of two teenaged children, how do you balance work and family life?
It is never easy for a working mom to find a balance for her family and her career. To be honest, my work absorbs a lot of my time. I need to travel abroad frequently, but I am still with my children on the phone. Before leaving, I make sure that everything at home is taken care of so that they don’t encounter any difficulties. All my free time is dedicated to them; I try to spend it with them as a friend, to have them share with me their thoughts, worries, stories, etc. I am also lucky to be surrounded by a great family team that supports me every step of the way.

Which Naturino shoe would you recommend to first-time buyers?
For little girls, I would recommend colorful and elegant lace up sandals like this one:

It zips on the back for a slip-on fit and features colorful flowers on the instep. It is very light and flexible, and the natural materials ensure full freedom of movement and foot hygiene.

For boys I would recommend this semi-open sports shoe:

These are designed especially for those active little boys who love to run and play. They provide comfort, stability and the right ventilation even for hot summer days.

What can we expect from Naturino in the future?
Our biggest promise to our customers and followers is to keep providing a first-line product to them – a product that is 100 percent safe and healthy for their little kids.

Naturino shoes are currently available at eight locations in Beijing:

• Sci-Tech Plaza
• Golden Resource New Yansha Mall
• Lufthansa Youyi Shopping City
• Yansha Outlets Shopping Center
• Shin Kong Place
• Modern Plaza
• Cuiwei Department Store
• Shuangan Shopping Plaza

All photos courtesy of Naturino