Compact archive November 2006

New Year's Eve in Wenceslas Square

Thursday 30 November 2006 14:23

If you plan to spend the New Year’s Eve in Prague and you do not know yet where to go, one of the options is to go to Wenceslas Square in the centre of Prague.

The company Hvezdy na Vltave will organize here a big celebration of the New Year. For the first time in history of the Czech Republic, the show will be broadcast live on Czech commerical TV Nova. A big stage will be built near the statue of St. Wenceslas.

The organizers will pay no money for hiring the upper part of Wenceslas Square. According to the municipal authorities, this action is for everybody. Normally you have to pay from 10 to 50 CZK per 1 square meter per day, depends on the kind of action. The organizers would have to pay up to 150 000.

For your information, you have to pay 5000 CZK/hour to hire Petrin observation tower, 250 000 CZK/several hours for Charles Bridge or 550 000 CZK for a party in the first floor of the Municipal House.

Free Fashion Weekend in Prague

Thursday 30 November 2006 13:26

II. Free Fashion Weekend in Prague will show original designs of young Czech fashion designers made especially for younger generation. The organizers of this event respond to the high demand from people who visited the Free Fashion Weekend in April this year.

This project has an ambition to become the centre of present original fashion. More than 30 fashion designers, jewellers and alternative shops with fashion will introduce their goods during the weekend 2nd and 3th December.

The programme starts in NoD. Roxy (Dlouha 33 street) on Saturday 2nd December at 13:00 with special markets where visitors can try on and buy original clothes. Fashion show presenting the best designs starts at 20:00. On Sunday the markets are open from 13:00 to 17:00. There is no entrance fee.

St. Nicholas Day in Prague

Thursday 30 November 2006 12:09

On 6th December people in many countries of the world celebrate Saint Nicholas Day, commemorating St. Nicholas, a bishop, famous for giving gifts to people who needed it. Nowadays the evening before St. Nicholas Day people can see men with a white beard giving presents to children. In the Czech Republic “Mikulas” is accompanied by an angel and a devil.

If you want to see Mikulas with devils and angels, go to the centre of Prague or get in the traditional tram with Mikulas on board running in the centre of Prague. Note that this tram will go already on Sunday (and not on Tuesday!) from 13:00 to 17:00. This tram will run every 15 minutes via the centre of the city and will be for free for children and their parents.

Children will find useful tools and materials for creating their own masks of Mikulas, devils and angels in the markets of Old Town Square and Wenceslas square on Tuesday. They can also enter a small gingerbread house where they can make Christmas cards or decorations and garnish Christmas sweets.

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Action hero Vin Diesel is coming to Prague

Thursday 30 November 2006 11:16

Van Diesel, known from the films xXx, The Fast and the Furious or The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury, is coming back to Prague to act in his new film Babylon A.D. The shooting in Prague starts on 11th December, the premiere of the film is expected in 2007.

This film will be shot in Prague, as well as Montreal and Quebec. It will be the film version of french novel Babylon babies by Maurice Dantec. The director of this film is Mathieu Kassovits, the director of Gothika and The Crimson Rivers (Les rivieres pourpres). Vin Diesel will act next to Vincent Cassel and Michelle Yeoh, the Asian beaty from Bond’s movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Vin Diesel visited Prague a few years ago when shooting the film xXx. He admired that a lot of people use trams and walk in Prague. “I have never met so many people in love walking hand in hand as in Prague, which is great,” said Diesel.

Diesel was present at the Prague’s premiere of xXx, the proceeds of which helped the flooded Prague. This year Diesel might be invited to the ceremonial opening of the reconstructed Barrandov film studio in Prague, the biggest soundproof film studio in Europe.

Average salary in the Czech Republic

Thursday 30 November 2006 10:27

According to the Human Development Index 2006, the Czech Republic is on the 30th position out of 177 states of the world (complete list of states). This index measures comparatively life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. That means that also the average salary is considered.

The average salary in the Czech Republic rose 6,1% this year to 19 968 CZK. However, high salaries of top managers and IT experts are also included. Only one third of Czech people reach the average salary. The worst situation is in regions around Karlovy Vary, Hradec Kralove and Ceske Budejovice where the average salary is reached only by 23% of workers.

The best situation is in Prague. The average or higher salary is given to 57% of workers. The average salary in Prague region is around 25 000.

For comparison, Slovakian average salary is 14 419 CZK, Hungarian 18 056 and Polish 17 896 CZK. On the other hand, Austrian average salary is 76 351 CZK.

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Roger Waters from Pink Floyd is coming to Prague

Wednesday 29 November 2006 14:05

The founder member of Pink Floyd, guitarist, singer and songwriter Roger Waters is coming to Prague on his tour The Dark Side Of The Moon. Roger Waters is coming back to Prague 5 years after his last concert here. He is going to play legendary songs of Pink Floyd and famous songs of his solo career.

Roger Waters, born on 9th September 1944, is the author of the biggest Pink Floyd’s hits. In the 70’s he became Pink Floyd’s head and the main author of their texts. Their album The Dark Side Of The Moon has been one of the best-selling album all over the world. Waters stayed in Pink Floyd until 1985, then he started his solo career.

Waters will perform in Prague’s Sazka Arena on 13th April 2007. According to the unofficial information, the tickets for the concert will be sold from the middle of December on www.sazkaticket.cz.

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Czechs vetoed the increase in price of beer

Wednesday 29 November 2006 12:45

The Czech Minister of Finance Vlastimil Tlusty finally vetoed the EU plan to increase the minimum EU tax on beer to reflect the inflation. Tlusty’s argument was that there is zero minimum tax on wine which give wine a favourable market position. According to Tlusty Czech brewers should have the same tax conditions as winegrowers.

After Czech minister vetoed this plan, other ministers said no to the other Finish plan: to establish automatic increase in taxes on alcohol according to the inflation. Germany will take over the EU chairmanship next year, so it is not probable that this issue will be discussed again soon.

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Temporary changes in the public transport

Wednesday 29 November 2006 12:21

From Friday 1st December to Saturday 2nd December morning there will be no trams running via the crossroads of Havlickova street and Na Porici street to Stefanikuv bridge, that means no trams via namesti Republiky in the centre.

Tram no. 5 will go from Masarykovo nadrazi to Vltavska via stops Bila Labut and Tesnov, tram no. 8 will go from Florenc to Strossmayerovo namesti via Tesnov and Vltavska. Lines no. 14, 51 and night 54 will go from Masarykovo nadrazi to Strossmayerovo namesti via Bila labut, Tesnov and Vltavska.

From the morning 2nd December to the morning 4th December there will be no trams in the nabrezi Eduarda Benese between the bridges Cechuv and Stefanikuv. Lines no. 12, 17 and 53 will go temporarily via Chotkovy sady and Letenske namesti.

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The reconstruction of the Prague's main railway station starts soon

Wednesday 29 November 2006 11:10

The necessary reconstruction of the main railways station in Prague, which is now the place that people would rather avoid, starts on 14th December. The image of the railway station will be changed radically.

The reconstruction of the building and the neighbouring park should take 5 years and cost 1 billion Czech crowns. There will be no transport reduced due to the construction works. From March 2010 people can look forward to the pleasant shopping or just spending their free time in the new building of the main station.

Also the main bus station Florenc will change from a dirty place to a modern bus station in the centre of Prague. The reconstruction will probably start next year and will take 12 months.

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Joseph Davidovits: the truth about pyramids

Wednesday 29 November 2006 09:47

Today French scientist and writer Joseph Davidovits presents his book La nouvelle histoire des pyramides (New History of Pyramids) in Luxor Palace (in the Wenceslas Square) in Prague. The presentation starts from 17:00.

Joseph Davidovits is known for his shocking theory about the construction of pyramids. He posits that for the construction of Great Pyramid mostly limestone concrete was used instead of carved stone. He came with this theory more than 32 years ago.

Davidovits holds more than fifty patents and is the author or co-author of more then 130 scientific papers and conference reports. He is the co-author of The Pyramids: An Enigma Solved (1988) and the author of Ils ont Bâti les Pyramides: Les Prouesses Technologiques des Anciens Egyptiens (2002).

Functional bullets found in Kampa

Tuesday 28 November 2006 14:36

Kampa is a popular place near Vltava river in Prague. Yesterday somebody found functional projectiles on one of the benches there. An expect in pyrotechnics took the bullets to the safe place to destroy them.

According to the police, there were 17 bullets coming from the World War II. The bullets might have been found by a worker who was digging nearby in Certovka stream on Sunday.

It is not the first case this year that somebody has found a unexploded ammunition in Prague. Last June an artillery shell was found and destroyed in the storehouse in Veleslavin.

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International music festival Alternativa

Tuesday 28 November 2006 12:43

14th international music festival Alternativa is devoted to music streams that are called alternative. The festival takes place in Archa Theatre (Na Porici 26), Palace Akropolis (Kubelikova 27) and Kastan – the scene of Unijazz (Belohorska 150) from 1st December to 9th December 2006. The festival is held under the auspices of the Lord Mayer Pavel Bem.

Visitors can look forward legendary Belgian Univers Zero from Belgium (1st December in Archa) who will perform in the Czech Republic for the first time. Last evening of the festival is devoted to the 5th anniversary of Guerilla Records Publishing. For the programme click here.

The prices of the tickets differ according to the performances. Tickets can be bought at Arche theatre, Palace Akropolis, Unijazz reading room and Ticketpro.

Fans have a chance to chat with the world famous player on the theremin, Eric Ross, in the reading room of Unijazz (Jindrisska 5 street, 2nd staircase, 4th floor) tomorrow from 11:00.

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Opera In the Penal Colony for the last time in Prague

Tuesday 28 November 2006 11:46

Today it is the last chance to see the opera In the Penal Colony with the music of Philip Glass in the Czech Republic. The opera can be seen in Prague’s Roxy club tonight.

This opera was inspired by Franz Kafka’s short story and based on libretto by Rudolpha Wurlitzer. World’s premiere of this opera was on 31st August 2000, Czech premiere was on 14th and 15th December 2005. This last performance in the Czech Republic will be played by Agon Orchestra and conducted by Petr Kofron. The director is Miroslav Bambusek.

The opera starts today at 19:30 in Roxy Club (Dlouha 33 street). Tickets for 150 CZK are available at the Infocentrum of Roxy Club.

Two waggons against drugs on Prague's Main railway station

Tuesday 28 November 2006 10:54

Another project for young people can be seen these days on the Main Railway station in Prague. This project is devoted the prevention of drugs. This action is widely discussed and has many supporters and opponents.

From today the public can enter two wagons, former mail vans. There is dark inside and red arteries are drawn on the walls. The space inside doesn’t look cosy at all. A short film presents a group of young people who took a pill of Ecstasy and had an car accident. Pieces of the crashed car can be seen in the waggon. The other waggon shows famous and successful faces. Posters say that everyone can chose: drugs or being successful.

More waggons are expected soon. The next one should represent a housing of a drug addict – garbage and horrible smell. All this should prevent young people from starting with drugs.

American writer Michael Cunningham is coming to Prague

Tuesday 28 November 2006 10:29

American writer Michael Cunningham, the author of famous novel The Hours, is coming to Prague. He accepted the invitation of Prague Writers’ Festival. Cunningham’s fans can look forward to the date 16th December.

Cunningham is one of the most widely read authors today. This Pulitzer Prize holder is known for his novels The Hours (the film version of this novel won an Oscar), A Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood or Specimen Days.

At midday on 16th December Cunningham will give autographs in Big Ben Bookshop (Mala Stupartska 5 street). He will also give a public reading from his works in the small hall of the Municipal Library of Prague (Marianske namesti 1 street) on 16th December 2006 from 19:30. After the reading there will be a discussion with the author. Tickets cost 100 CZK, they will be sold in Municipal Library of Prague from 1st December.

International Christmas Bazaar Prague 2006

Monday 27 November 2006 12:14

This annual Christmas charity bazaar is organized by the Diplomatic Ladies Association of Prague. It will offer Christmas exclusive gifts and food specialities from more then 50 countries of the world.

The proceeds from the event (tickets are sold for 50 CZK) will be given to Czech charitable organisations. Visitors can look forward to a lottery.

The International Christmas Bazaar Prague 2006 takes place in the Congress Hall of Hotel Hilton Prague (Pobrezni 1 street) on 3rd December from 10:00 to 16:00. Tickets are available in Hotel Hilton.

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More bridges over Vltava in Prague

Monday 27 November 2006 12:12

Prague is going to have more bridges over the River Vltava. The reason is simple: the number of bridges is not sufficient for the increased volume of traffic.

The building of the first, 35 meters long, bridge should start in 2009. It will connect Prague’s Troja with Holesovice. The bridge will be not only for cars but also trams. Also new foot bridges will connect island Stvanice with Karlin and Holesovice with Karlin a Rohansky island.

There are 17 bridges over Vltava now, four of them are railway bridges, one is designed only for trams. The longest bridge in Prague, Zeleznicni bridge (railway bridge), is 1100 meters long. Longest bridge for cars is Libensky bridge with 780 meters. The oldest bridge in Prague is Charles bridge finished in 1402.

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Prague among the most competitive regions

Monday 27 November 2006 10:50

Prague’s region belongs to the most competitive regions in the EU. That is the statement of Sheffield University in Great Britain and the George Washington University.

The most competitive region in the EU (out of 118 regions) is Brussels which has the highest GDP per capita. Then it is Finnish Uusimaa including Helsinki. Nokia mobile company is seated in this region. Then it is Paris and Stockholm. Only two regions from the new EU member states are in the first ten regions – Prague and Bratislava.

The most competitive country in the EU is Finland, then Luxembourg, Switzerland and Norway.

Competitive index measures investment, employment in research and development, number of patent applications, highway accessibility, productivity, wages, public transport capacity, etc.

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Dog Eat Dog in Prague tonight

Monday 27 November 2006 09:49

Ten years after their latest concert in Prague, Dog Eat Dog are going to play in Prague’s Lucerna Music Bar tonight. Their concerts is held within their European tour where they introduce there new album Walk With Me (2006).

This American band is popular among fans of rock, rap or hip-hop. The current lineup of the band consists of Dave Neabore (bass), John Connor (vocals), Brandon Finley (drums) and Matt Salem (guitar).

Dog Eat Blog’s concerts starts in Lucerna Music Bar (Vodickova 36 street) at 21:00. Tickets are still available in the box office of Lucerna Music Bar for 400 CZK. After Prague’s concert the band performs in Brno, Frydek-Mistek and Havlickuv Brod.

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Exhibition of Danish architecture in Prague

Monday 27 November 2006 08:56

Jaroslav Fragner Galerie (Betlemske namesti 5a) in Prague offers an exhibition of architect projects, this time young Danish architect Bjark Ingels and studio B.I.G.

Studio B.I.G. takes part in many architectural competitions all over the world. It is the winner of the competition for a new building for EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. Projects of B.I.G. are novel and has environmental undertones.

The exhibition is held under the auspices of J. E. Jorgen Bojer, the Danish ambassador in Prague. The exhibition is open every day (except Monday) from 10:00 to 18:00 until 17th December.

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