Anyone in Manhattan or the outer boroughs who wants to practice Italian conversation in a pleasant atmosphere, and at any ability level, has several wonderful, free resources available:

1. LINKUP, at http://nyclinkup.com This is a social networking site, unlike similar sites it is currently fee-free. Go to the site, join, and look up "Italian Conversation NYC". Of course, there are other groups that might interest you, too!

I host the Italian group. The skill level of members spans the gamut from first efforts through native speakers. We've already had several meetings: a coffee, a dinner, a movie night, a breakfast. Since I'll be in Italy until June 1, I'm not sure if another member of the group will offer an event during May, but I'll continue when I get back to offer two meetings a month in Manhattan, and members can set up additional meetings at times and places convenient to them.

For those working in the Grand Central area, there is a weekly lunch-hour group meeting. Everyone brings lunch and chats from 12:30 to 1:30 or so on Thursdays. If you want to attend, contact me by private messaging system or by responding here, and when I return in June, I'll be glad to let you know the details.

If you want to practice Italian in Queens County, there's a friendly group of people with varied language ability that meets (usually in Bayside or Jackson Heights, but we can incorporate other areas as membership changes). There's no fee. We meet in restaurants sometimes, other times in each others homes for everyone-brings-something dinners. One night we watched a movie on videotape, but most nights we just talk to each other. Contact me or respond on this board, and when I return in June, I'll let you know what's up in Queens.