Five Places to Practice your Italian

SAN FRANCISCO -It's one thing to learn to speak a new language like Italian, but it's an entirely different thing to actually use your new language skills in a social setting.  One doesn't just go from the classroom to a social function where everybody speaks Italian.  But there are places where you can practice in a safe and non-threatening atmosphere. 
Even though traditional Italian neighborhoods like North Beach and the Excelsior no longer have wall-to-wall Italian speakers, you can still find a few places to practice what you've learned.   
In North Beach, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club has a comfortable bar and lounge area where both bar tenders and members converse in Italian regularly.  One has to be a member to use the club facilities, or you can go as a guest of a member.  If either of these options appeals to you, contact the club at 415-415-781-0166 or e-mail membership@sfiac.org for more information. 
In the Excelsior, the Italian American Social Club is a friendly place with a nice bar and some very talkative Italian speakers.  Prospective members should call 415-585-8059 or visit their website at www.iascsf.com for more information. 
If you are not a "joiner" and prefer a commitment-free, hit-and-run approach there are numerous groups that meet at different places around the Bay Area whose sole purpose is to practice Italian over a cup of coffee and then go back to their lives.  The groups are sponsored by MeetUp.com, a nation-wide organization that encourages people to use the internet to get together in person to explore their interests.  Whether you're a rank amateur or a fluent speaker, if you are looking for a place to practice your Italian language skills this may be just what you're looking for.  Here are a few of the groups: 

Marin Italian Speaking Group.  About 300 members total, but meetings usually consist of 25 people meeting at an Italian restaurant (usually in Mill Valley) for dinner.  The organizer is Paolo Fraschetti. 

San Francisco Italian Connection.  About 230 members total, but meetings usually consist of 15 people meeting at the Yerba Buena Press Club in San Francisco.   

San Francisco Italian Language Meetup Group.  About 700 members, but meetings usually consist of a dozen or so people meeting at Caffè Greco in North Beach for coffee and conversation.  This group requires at least an intermediate level of Italian. 

Conversazione alla Stazione.  About 130 members, but meetings usually consist of a dozen or so people meeting at Caffè La Stazione in San Francisco for coffee and conversation.  This group is currently being re-vamped by the new organizer—L'Italo-Americano's own Nickolas Marinelli—into a multi-location conversation group especially for newbies to the Italian language.  Contact Nickolas@NostraColonia.org for more information. 
Italiani della Baia.  About 30 members, but meetings usually consist of half a dozen or so people meeting at Jupiter's in Berkeley for light conversation.

Nickolas Marinelli