World Scene: Italy

'Hemingway'gives discounts

Harry's Bar, the famed Venice watering hole where Ernest Hemingway held court over hearty food and stiff martinis, is offering a discount to "poor" Americans suffering from a weak dollar and subprime blues.

The decision by the owner of the restaurant, one of the most expensive even when the US currency is strong, underscores the growing concern about the weak dollar among tourism operators in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.