
What we’re about
Welcome to San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Friends of Italy!
We love, embrace, and engage in all aspects of Italian culture. Yes, we have a ❤️ for all things Italian! Whether you're a native Italian, Italian Swiss, an Italophile, or simply curious about Italy, this is the perfect place to meet new people and create friendships based on our shared passions. 🤝
Join us as we gather to savor Italian cuisine 🍝 in local restaurants, take cooking classes 🍳, and enjoy progressive dinners 🍷; practice the Italian language, explore Italian films 🎥 and music 🎶, celebrate cultural traditions 🎉, and organize travel events ✈️ to Italy and the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, including the stunning Canton of Ticino.
Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash
Upcoming events
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Italian Card-Game Night - SCOPA & Friends
San Luis Obispo Public Market Community Room - upstairs, San Luis Obispo, CA, US🎉 This evening, we will gather to learn, play, and master SCOPA, one of Italy’s most beloved and historic card games. Right at the start, we’ll determine who’s "new" to SCOPA and who has played before.
New players will get a basic SCOPA 101 tutorial to get started, and then we’ll seamlessly integrate everyone into the game. Whether you're a complete beginner or have played before, everyone is welcome and supported by our wonderful members!
🤔 What is SCOPA?
SCOPA, meaning "broom" or "sweep"🧹 in Italian, is a classic card game that has been bringing families and friends together for centuries. The goal of SCOPA is to "sweep" or clean the table of cards! You’ll play with the traditional 40-card Scopa deck, which includes 4 suits: denari (coins), spade (swords), bastoni (clubs), and coppe (cups).
Known for its simple-to-learn rules and exciting strategy, SCOPA is more than just a card game—it's a reflection of Italian culture, celebrating connection, joy, and a little bit of friendly competition.
Together, we’re not just learning and playing SCOPA—we’re also building a tradition of Italian Game Nights! These regular events will celebrate the beauty and camaraderie of Italian culture through play.
We alternate SCOPA with Briscola on Italian Game NIght now, and in the future, we’ll add Tressette, and even Tombola (the origin of Bingo!) 🎭🇮🇹
This is an opportunity to bond with fellow Italian culture enthusiasts, enjoy some friendly competition, and create unforgettable memories.
NOT REQUIRED TO RSVP: If you’re new and want to know something more, visit the YouTube channel of our Sicilian friend Christopher Cannucciari: Play-In Games and watch this 156 second Scopa video. If you want to see a game and learn more, visit Chris’s video How to Play Scopa - With a Play Through - 2 Full Rounds.
☕️🍕 A Quick Note: If possible, please pick up any food or beverages from the fantastic businesses at the SLO Public Market BEFORE 6 PM so we can start promptly and make the most of our evening!3 attendees
Past events
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