SLIDESHOW: Watch the people eat the pasta atop Church Hill

Mesmerize Wilkerson and Ashley Slattery disagree about the best place to get a temporary tattoo at the Richmond Italian Street Festival, but the stepsisters share taste in food.

Both claimed Italian sausage as their favorite from yesterday's tempting selection that included cannoli, chicken and eggplant kabobs, cheese tortellini pesto, garlic knots and fried calamari.

"We just walk around trying everything out," said Mesmerize, a Hermitage High School freshman.

That included the Gyrosphere, a ride whose "three moving axes simulated weightlessness" with calorie-burning side effects. According to the sign, five minutes of strapped-in spinning was equal to a 30-minute aerobic workout -- not that the girls cared.

"We also like coming for the social gathering," Mesmerize said.

Ashley, a Brookland Middle School student, nodded in agreement.

That was a sentiment shared by many yesterday at the fourth annual event that brings Italy to Church Hill, with wine, music, vendors and food. The festival continues today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on East Broad Street between 23rd and 26th streets. There is a $2 donation to enter.

"I'm not Italian . . . but it's a way for people to get to know their neighbors and area businesses," said Kirsten Gray. The festival regular lives in the area and owns the Eric Schindler Gallery at 23rd and East Broad streets.

"I love hanging out on my porch with my family and seeing all the people walking by, and, of course, my kids love the festival. . . . [Plus] the movement is becoming more local, where people are doing their shopping, eating and schooling in neighborhoods."

Bellevue Elementary School's principal, Sherry Wharton-Carey, who helped staff the school's table with Gray, said the event also offers visitors a chance to learn some Italian history. A few tables down, Gerri Legum was enjoying her education.

The Beijo bag sales representative said she couldn't resist an invitation to set up a table at the festival.

"I had never even heard of it," she said. "But I thought, 'How can an Italian festival not be fun?'"
Contact Penelope M. Carrington at (804) 649-6027 or pcarrington@timesdispatch.com.