Associations

Ex-patriate organisations

• Alcoholics Anonymous English-speaking meetings: Tuesday - Thursday at Piazza Wagner nr. 2 at 18.30, Saturday at Via Borsieri nr. 6 at 18.30. For enquiries please call Trevor on 335.7682984

• American Business Luncheon. This was conceived by and for members of the (north) American community living and working in Milano. Whereas the core of the group is made up of executives from the American business community, and attendance is still by invitation only, today the American Business Luncheon is open to all those having interests or business dealings with North America and North American companies. Luncheons are held once a month, towards the end of the month. Info: www.americanbusinessgroup.org

"AperoNet is a social group that meets without a fixed schedule in the evening at various places in Milan. We're an international mix of Expats & Italians in their 30's-50's. no fees, no memberships, just show up when you like: http://aperonet.too.it "

• Association Milan Acceuil helps French and French-speaking people who have moved to Milan. It organises meetings, social, sports and hobby events. It publishes the bimonthly "Tam Tam". Info: tel. 02.4871.2519 (Mon, Tues, Thurs 9.00-15.30), fax 02.4001.2739, email milan.accueil@tiscali.it. The office is open every Thurs, 9.00-15.30, closed during school holidays.

• Benvenuto Club of Milan. We are a club of English speaking women of many nationalities from forty different countries. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 10 am –12 pm at Circolo Alessandro Volta, Via Giusti 16•MM2 Moscova. We exist to support women who moved into the Milan area. We also have an extensive program of special activities, visits and volunteer work. We meet socially in each neighbourhood of Milan. Contact the Newcomers Director at 338.969.1563, e-mail newcomersbenvenuto@yahoo.com

International Benvenuto Club of Varese is a club for English-speaking women from all over the world. The club has a number of regular and special activities. Meets every month for coffee (free for members) at Esselunga of Masnago or elsewhere. For information contact: www.benvenutovarese.org or membership@benvenutovarese.org

• The British Chamber of Commerce for Italy is the focal point of the British business community in Milan and other major Italian cities. Activities in Milan include a monthly lunch – an ideal networking opportunity – on the last Thursday of the month, seminars, tax and legal round tables, as well as an interesting social calendar (wine trips, golf outings, etc). Further details on www.britchamitaly.com or tel. 02.8056094.

• Diabetics Association. The Associazione Diabetici runs meetings and outdoor activities for diabetics nationwide, and especially for the Milan area. €20 per year. Info 335.8164.009, 02.5832.1254, diab_sweet_it@yahoo.com.

• Eurocircle was founded in 2000 in NY. Its goal is to enable expatriated professionals to meet, to express themselves, network, socialize, and find information about the city to which they have moved. Milan’s EuroCircle organizes a monthly happy hour and dinner in the centre of town for expats from all over the world. Contact Maria Chiara Russo, milan@eurocircle.com and state “membership to EuroCircle” in subject line.

• Finland. Club Finlandia Milano, club.finlandia@libero.it

• Greece. Centro Ellenico di Cultura, tel. 02.5519.0450, www.centroellenicodicultura.it

• Gregorian chant. If you're interested in singing Gregorian and Ambrosian chant, contact Giovanni Vianini of the Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, tel. 02.7010.4245, 02.7010.0338, 339.7604.237, e-mail vianinigiovanni@mail.virtuale.it. Lessons and rehearsals take place every Wednesday, 21.00-23.00, at the Aula Magna Università Card. Colombo, Basilica di San Marco, Piazza San Marco 2.

• The Hash House Harriers (defined as “The drinking club with a running problem”), or rather the Royal Milan & Bordighera Hash House Harriers, is a branch of the original club formed in Malaysia by British colonists who, given the lack of hares or foxes in that distant land, invented a chase based on a human hare leaving trails (true and false) of flour. Today in their attempts to cater for “the fit, the unfit and the social misfit”, they hold a group 40 to 60min run in Milan on alternate Mondays at 7.30 pm, a run in the countryside every other Saturday or Sunday, and various other events. Info on their website at www.milanhhh.com or contact S+M at suboyle@enjoy.it

• iBrit, Istituto Brasile Italia, is the official organisation for Brazilian culture in Milan, providing information on the country, and organising various cultural events including children's activities. For further information, iBrit, Via Borgogna 3 (MM1 San Babila), phone 02.7639.2273, e-mail info@ibrit.it.

• The Indian association of Milan is a social, non-profit organisation, celebrating Indian festivals and running other events, cricket matches and more. Info: tel/fax 02.21590175.

• Irish music enthusiasts meet every second Monday of the month at Kirribilly Pub, Via Castelmorrone 7, and every first Friday of the month at Frizzi & Lazzi, Via Torricelli 5, from 22.00, for traditional/progressive session. Info: Patrick, 02.4802.0486.

• Italy Expatriates, Expats in Italy

• The Milan Cricket Club, founded in 1972 by a brave group of UK expatriates. Fixtures are usually held on weekends in the countryside with lunch and dinner on Sunday. Contact:- tionale_europe@rediffmail.com"

• Partyamo is an idea created by Steven Walthew for international people. Partyamo organises social events which bring together everyone staying in Milan: picnics in the park, ceilidhs, aperitvi, Sunday brunch, day trips and more. See the website for details and enrolment form. www.partyamo.com

• The Professional Women’s Association was established in 1987, based on the recognized need of working women for a resource and network with which to exchange information about living and working in Milan. €100 January to December. Visit our website www.pwa-milan.org, e-mail pwa@pwa-milan.org.

• Rugby. Monza Rugby Club, www.monzarugby.com

Amatori Rugy, Centro Sportivo I Martinitt, Via Pitteri 56, Milan. Tel. 02.2641.5796, amatorirugby@libero.it

• “Toastmasters”: a bilingual club for improving public speaking abilities: it holds twice-monthly meetings on Tuesdays at 18.45, Caffetteria Santo Stegano, Piazza Santo Stefano 8. Info: www.toastmasters.it, info@toastmasters.it

Ex-patriate nightlife

• At Old Fashion Café, Viale Alemagna 6 (entrance from Viale Camoens), a popular event for international students and tourists is organised every Wednesday: music, buffet, cocktails, film in original language, disco, run by Eventsplace, www.eventsplace.it.

• Fnac runs English, French and Spanish conversation sessions, admission free. French, every Tuesday 13.15-14.15; English, every Wednesday, 13.15-14.15. Spanish, every Thursday, 13.15-14.15. Info from Fnac, Via Torino/Via della Palla, tel. 02.869541.

• Leopardi 13 has launched “International Happy Hours”, every Tuesday, run by a language school in cooperation with an event organiser. It is aimed at international people in Milan for brief periods, for those who are studying a language and want to practice conversation in a relaxing atmosphere. The Leopardi 13 café-restaurant is in... guess, Via Leopardi 13 (MM1/2 Cadorna), open from 7am to 02.00 am. Happy hour every evening 18.30-22.00, €6, or €12 for the Jumbo Cocktail in a 1½ litre glass. Info Andrea 393.749.6785.

• Soir Café , on Via Edmondo De Amicis 4, near the Colonne di San Lorenzo, runs “Flytonight” every Saturday, offering international atmospheres with evenings dedicated to the world's capitals, in music, art and culture. “Check-in” at 20.00, aperitifs, a quiet area with shiatsu massage, disco music from 22.00 to 4 am. Prices are reduced for non-Italians: €5 20.00-22.00, €8 after 22.00.