Just enough news to digest with a cup of cappuccino...

If you’re in town on March 8 grab your sneakers and join in the second-annual Lago Maggiore Half-Marathon. The event, which last year attracted over 1,500 runners, begins at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Stresa, and follows a beautiful and flat course along the lake.

Work has begun on the so-called “Ice-Hotel” in Macugnana. Macugnana is a fascinating and historic village, at the foot of Mt. Rosa, with a strong Walser Swiss influence.Mark your calendars, by next winter one should be able to stay overnight, or visit the bar, in this ice palace.

The Stresa Carnevale festivities begin. First, costume parades this weekend for young and old. On Tuesday, it is a double festival in Piazza Cadorna, the piazza will be filled with tables offering traditional polenta and salami, and well as regional chocolate specialities. Later, King Falcett and his court will make their procession through town.

Dates have been set for Stresa for New Orleans, the annual summer Jazz festival. From June 25 to July 5, one can hear six different jazz bands performing along the Lungolago in Stresa. This event was born in 2006, to bring attention to, and raise money to replace, the many instruments lost to poor New Orleans musicians during Hurricane Katrina.

In the next couple of weeks I plan to write about a few more museums and winter activities, partly in preparation for my own upcoming trip on March 15. Come back and take a look. And as always, if you have any suggestions for topics, questions, or things to share, please send them in.

Thanks, as always, to Stresa 2.0, www.stresaduepuntozero.blogspot.com, for my news information.