Crosspudlains flocked to a party last night to celebrate the launch of a new local Italian restaurant.
The owners of La Dolce Vita laid on free tasters of pizza, focaccia, bruschetta and a selection of pastries, all washed down with Italian wine.
La Dolce Vita is based in the old A’Villa Caruso unit on Sandygate Road. The restaurant has been completely redecorated with clean white walls and a small drinks bar in the back corner.
It is a family-run affair, with Luciana and Gianpaolo preparing the food and Nirvana managing the restaurant with her husband Matthew.
The pizzeria is now open for bookings on 0114 266 9811.
La Dolce Vita restaurant - locals at the opening eventLa Dolce Vita - serving foodLa Dolce Vita restaurant - fresh pizzaLa Dolce Vita restaurant - Nirvana and MatthewLa Dolce Vita restaurant - pastriesLa Dolce Vita restaurant - chef Luciana with pastry chef GianpaoloLa Dolce Vita restaurant: now open for bookings
If you’ve passed Crosspool shops on Sandygate Road recently then you will have seen that new hanging baskets and planters have been installed around the precinct.
The new additions will support our Sheffield in Bloom competition entry for 2011.
A planter in Crosspool precinctHanging baskets in Crosspool precinctPlanters opposite Artisan restaurant in Crosspool precinct
In the latest in this series of occasional interviews with local residents, we meet local magician Dan Ellis.
How long have you lived in Crosspool and what do you like about it?
I’ve lived in Crosspool for my whole life which is 18 years. It close to everything that I need. School was only a five minute walk, grab a bit of lunch from the shops and its only 15 minutes on the bus away from the city centre.
How did you get into being a magician? Are you in the Magic Circle?
I get asked this a lot and my honest answer is I have no idea how I got into it. My granddad was a magician but he died when I was young and I don’t really remember him. I think most boys get a magic set for Christmas when their little and most of them grow out of it. I guess I didn’t! I am a member of the Sheffield Magic Circle.
What does this involve doing day to day?
Being a magician isn’t as glamorous as it might sound. Day to day I just meet people, make phone calls, send emails and letters to get myself more gigs. When I do perform I do mainly close-up magic which is the sort of stuff you might see the likes of David Blaine doing on TV. I do magic right under people’s noses so there are no boxes or glamorous assistants to hide behind; it’s just me having fun with my audience.
Has being an magician given you the opportunity to tour and travel?
I’ve done shows up and down the country but a majority of my work is local. It is yet to take me abroad but hopefully it won’t be too long. Magic is the sort that thing that come across well in any language so I hope it can take me all over the world in the future.
Crosspool magician Dan Ellis
What sort of performances to do do for events, parties or corporate dos? If people are interested in booking you, how can they get in touch?
Like I said I’m mainly a close-up magician meaning I do magic for small groups of people at parties, weddings and corporate events. I mix and mingle with guests and perform magic right under their noses.
Magic is a great ice breaker which is why I think corporate events and weddings are very good venues for it. Often there are groups of people who have never met before and my magic creates a talking point for people. It also helps create a great atmosphere which fits in with parties and weddings really well.
If people are interested in booking me they can check out my website which is www.citymagicians.com or give me a call on 07976 300898 and I’d be happy to chat even its just about what its like to be a magician.
If you could do one thing to make Crosspool better, what would it be?
I can’t really think if anything I would change in Crosspool apart from maybe having a magic shop here but that would probably put me out of a job if everyone could do it! I think that things like the Crosspool Festival and the summer fare are really great things for the community and I think that Crosspool should have more of these things.
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A’Villa Caruso Italian restaurant in Crosspool has closed. A sign in the window of the Sandygate Road pizzaria states it will reopen under new management soon.
In the meantime, paper has been put up to cover the windows.
A'Villa Caruso restaurant: to reopen under new management?
As well as the ever-popular carvery, Crosspool Tavern is now offering a breakfast deal.
For £2.99, you get a sausage, two rashers of bacon and then can help yourself to hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans plus fried and scrambled eggs. There is also a vegetarian option with Quorn sausages. Tea, coffee and toast is extra.
Breakfast is available from 8-11am Monday to Saturday and 9-11am on Sundays.
The council’s licensing board meets today to discuss concerns from Tapton and King Edward VII lower school teachers regarding the safety of pupils as they are drawn onto Darwin Lane at busy times in order to buy from the ice cream van.
In January, a boy was hit crossing the road to reach the van. Ice cream man Chris Turner has been trading on the site since May 1971.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 