Tamyra d'Ippolito

Owner, Ragazzi Arte Café
Member since November 2006

Thumbs Up for Tamyra!

I grew up in Worthington and Linton, Indiana.  I was an only child in a single parent home.  I dreamed of traveling to foreign countries.  At the age of 18, my dream came true, and I went to Madrid, Spain with the Spanish Club.  We traveled in Madrid and the south of Spain.  I was so smitten with Spain that I went back 7 more times!  Wonderful country!  That led to traveling to every country in Europe! In fact, I spent my 21st birthday in Paris and went back there 7 more times.  I know a great hotel if anyone is going. 

In Asia, I went to Japan and Hong Kong.  I spent a memorable trip in Istanbul, Turkey and Greece (Athens and Santorini).  To the south of the U.S., I traveled extensively through Mexico and Brazil.  One trip to Brazil was a one month scholarship from the Rotary Club (I cannot say enough good things about them).  I took side trips to Canada and the Carribean.  Even found time to explore the Grand Canyon and Hawaii.  Traveling has always been my passion, and I am very happy I did a lot of it when I was younger!

I went to college in Terre Haute and studied Graphic Design and Photography.  One semester, I spent studying in my beloved Spain in Sevilla.  That was a great experience I will never forget.  I received a B.F.A. degree. 

After college, I moved to Houston, Texas and lived there for 4 years.  I worked in advertising.  I later moved to New York City and lived there for 20 years!  I lived in Boston for a brief year and missed New York City so bad I moved back!  I was planning to stay for one year in New York.  But there is a lot to take in when living in the Big Apple!  I made my home in Manhattan and Brooklyn.  I worked in investment banking, foreign exchange as a Regional Director, advertising, production art, computer graphics, and also as a Manager at Dean and Deluca in Prepared Foods. 

I had many dinner parties and loved every single minute of it until September 11th.  I was in the World Trade Center on September 10th.  I use to work in the building.  A friend of mine died in the building, and many of my friends were lucky enough to escape.  I decided then I wanted to move back home to Indiana! 

In 1999 I went to Italy on a trip with my girlfriend, Julianna, and I met my future husband, Renato.  He was on vacation too at the time he had been living in San Francisco. I had been pickpocketed in Milano, so he took Julianna and I out to lunch in Rome across from the Colisseum.  The next year I met his family in Calabria over Thanksgiving.  He has 7 brothers and sisters! 

In 2000 we were married in the Metropolitian Museum of Art in the Egyptian Room in New York City.  We went on our honeymoon to San Francisco and I broke my ankle.  After arriving back in New York City I fell again and shattered my elbow.  So the first few months of marriage I was in a wheelchair.  I met Rosie O'Donnell in the hospital, because  she had ran a fishing hook through her hand.  She invitied us to be on her show at the time.  She gave us a trip to Hawaii to make up for our San Francisco honeymoon. 

We had always thought about having a restaurant - friends loved to come to our house for dinner!  In 2005, after moving to Bloomington, we created Ragazzi Arte Cafe.  Our goal is to serve delicious food in beautiful surroundings, by candlelight with excellent music.  Once a month we explore other cultures with Ragazzi International: a  six course dinner from Iran, Spain, Morocco... and this week France.  We also have a single's group that meets once a month.  There is live jazz music on Friday nights.

When I have free time, I love to read, write in my journal, take walks, enjoy photography, painting, meeting friends for breakfast.  Or daydreaming about the next trip I would like to take somewhere in the world.  I also love writing letters and feel like it is a lost art.  Receiving letters is extra special too!  My favorite artists are Vincent Van Gogh, Matisse, and Frieda Kahlo.  There are many others I admire greatly.  I love foreign films.  One of my favorite authors is Gore Vidal (I traveled to Ravello, Italy where he was living.)  

As ever, Tamyra
tamyrad2004@yahoo.com    
Ragazzi's Phone #: 812-323-9005
Click HERE to view Ragazzi's website!

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