Rome Blogs

So where does one go to find interesting things to do in Rome?  Things that aren't in the tourist books, things that locals do.  You go find a blog, of course!  And because my knowledge of Italian is stumbling, it will have to be an expat blog.

Here's a post on Antica Enoteca, a wine bar off the Via del Corso, the big fashion shopping street that runs from the Piazza del Populo in the north down to the Piazza Venezia just above the Roman Forum.  The blogger goes there for some peace and quiet after the crush of the shoppers because it is cool in summer and cozy in winter.  And also because it is open when regular restaurants aren't.

Then of course there is Katie Parla's blog which centers on food (she contributes to the NY Times).  She has a Rome on a Budget category which should help us find pizzas and pasta.  She has a recent post on Where to Eat in Rome in August, because in August many restaurants are closed, but maybe we can use it as well in November.

This blog eventually led me to the recent Italian film La grande bellezza or The Great Beauty about  an "aging socialite, Jep Gambardella, who once wrote a famous novel in his twenties, only to retire into a comfortable life writing cultural columns and throwing parties in Rome. After his 65th birthday party, he walks through the ruins and city streets, encountering the various characters, reflecting on his life, his first love, and sense of unfulfillment."  It sounds like something we should see before we go and fortunately there are 22 copies in our library system (it wasn't available through Netflix streaming or Amazon Prime of course).

Another Rome blog is Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome and she also has a list of Pizza places: best pizza in rome {2013} so we should be set for cheap meals.  One she reviews is Il Leoncino by the Spanish Steps which is noteworthy for being open for lunch (not just dinner) and for its bean, sausage and onion pizza.  I've placed it on google maps and it isn't quite next to the Spanish Steps but it does have the requisite grumpy waiters and a forno in the middle of the restaurant which makes it cozy in winter, perfect for us in November!

She has lengthy reviews of other pizzerie so we should be set as far as that goes!

Revealed Rome
How did I miss this blog when I posted?  The author has a November posting on "How to Spend a Rainy Day in Rome" and she recommends going to Testaccio, where she recommends visiting the mercato and the MACRO art museum (but not EATALY).