Consumption is the mirror of an internal desert. The sense of Christmas depends on the concept of existence and the value of man. It is a wait for a courageous message to try and give meaning to life. The profound reflection is voiced by the Cardinal and Patriarch of Venice, Angelo Scola.

You can’t rush a panettone. In fact it takes three rising phases to make it ‘soft and tasty.’ But before tasting it, you should – as recommended by the old Venetian Rosa Salva Pastry Shop – “let it sit for at least a few days until it develops all its flavors.”

The fight against diseases and hunger around the world is a priority for the United States and for the Bush Administration. This assurance comes from Ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez, the United States Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome, in an exclusive interview for NYCVE during a Venice conference.

With the Red Sox as this year’s MLB champions, other Boston teams are viewed as favorites to win in other sports this season. And people already begin to talk about a grand-slam year. This is certainly going to pique the eternal rival teams from New York.

Protectionism has a long history. Responding to political pressure, governments in developed and developing countries have protected their textile, auto, agriculture, and other producers from imports. In some places, farmers receive protection despite their small numbers because they hold disproportionate voting power. As the problem of protectionism is political, so must the solution be

Once upon a time on the western bank of the Grand Canal there was Rialto, a busy network of shops, warehouses and residences where the financial activity and the more important magistratures associated with the Venetian economy were concentrated. And once upon a time around Rialto there was a great flow of Venetians and tourists, who since the 16th century have continued to flock to this part of the early urban settlement. Indeed the current marketplace follows the layout of that early hub with its stands for fish, fruit and vegetables, butcher’s shops and a row of jewelry shops.

Does Christmas equal consumption? Or is it that on Christmas I consume therefore I am? Is Christmas an excuse for consumption? Or Christmas and consumption have little to do with each other, really? We explore that primal instinct, from the Dickensian Christmas to the current credit-card-swiping holiday season.

The fourth bridge across the Grand Canal: A dream becomes a reality

From an old Venetian customs house to a temple of contemporary art. The Punta della Dogana, overlooking the St. Mark’s Basin, will open for Venice a window into the future.