Jun 16, 2010

Party celebrates Italian goodsBy Cathy KightlingerIndyStar.com

Indiana — Claudia Ryan and her customers celebrated Italy and many of its products inside her North Illinois Street store in Indy last week.

Ryan’s swanky home furnishings and gift store, Charles Mayer & Company, is one of about 20 stores nationwide that the Italian Institute of Foreign Trade selected to showcase new products by emerging Italian companies. So, Ryan wasn’t going to let the designation go without an Italian-inspired in-store soiree.

Wednesday, she got her Indianapolis-area pals Turner Woodard and David Dutro to park their Ferraris in front of the shop for a private party co-hosted by Paola Santini, honorary vice consul of the Italian Consulate.

The event helped kick off a 10-day celebration, when the store will feature more than 24 collections — including jewelry and glassware — from Italian artisans and designers.

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