Compact archive December 2006

New Year´s Eve at the Old Town Square

Friday 29 December 2006 17:56

The Old Town Square in the center of Prague offers a program for both adults and children on New Year´s Eve. The program for children starts at 5 pm, then the celebration for adults will follow at 7 pm.

Children can see a magician´s performance there and learn how to conjure. Also a fakir will perform there and children can compete in singing.

The program for children will be replaced by a concert of various Czech bands in the evening. Humorous performances will be part of the show. Visitors can buy mull, punch or traditional champagne to drink while listening to the music.

Entry is free. Visitors are asked not to bring any pyrotechnics or drinks in glass to the square.

Dramatic incident on Prague airport

Friday 29 December 2006 15:36

Czech police was afraid, that it could be a terrorist attack: a Russian airplane had to make a forced landing on Prague airport Ruzyne because of a man, who threatened with hijacking the plane.

The incident happened yesterday around quarter past 10 am. A passenger of a plane flying from Moscow to Geneva came to the pilot´s cockpit and threatened, that he will blast a bomb. He seemed to be drunk. He demanded that the plane has to fly to Egypt.

The pilot with a help from other passengers managed to pacify and bind the man. The plane landed immediately on the nearest airport, which was Prague Ruzyne. A counter-terrorism commando and two fighter planes arrived quickly at the airport to check the situation. It was found out, that it was really “just” a drunken passenger and not a serious attempt to hijack a plane.

It is not clear, if the man will be committed to Czech or Russian authorities. He was accused of threatening safety of a plane and he may be imprisoned for 15 years.

A new shopping centre in Prague-Vysocany

Friday 29 December 2006 14:00

Prague quarter Vysocany is not a very nice place for living at the present time. All that people see from their windows is a huge sports arena Sazka, a parking lot and desolate surroundings. All this should change in coming years. New commercial and administrative buildings, entertaining centre and a park will be built there. The whole area will be called the “Green Island”.

The first building, a parking house, will be built in 2007. The existing parking lot will be then overbuilt by the shopping and entertaining centre. Also a hotel and a sport centre are planned there. There could be possibly an ice rink or a venue for cultural events.

At the present time, the inhabitants of the area have no proper place to go shopping, they have to go to the far centre in Cerny Most. A park should be built around the new houses, so the name Green Island will hopefully be fitting.

Theme:

Better tram service in Prague in 2007

Friday 29 December 2006 11:56

The public transport by trams in Prague will be improved in the coming year. New trams will be bought, some more will be modernized. A new tram line, leading to undergroung station Radlicka, will be built.

There are already 10 low-floor trams in service in Prague. At least 20 new low-floor trams Skoda, designed by Porsche, will be bought and 6 trams will be modernized. These changes will cost 1.27 billion CZK. Also underground trains, going on the B line, will be modernized.

The trams in Radlice, which terminate in the Laurova stop at the present time, will be extended to the underground station Radlicka.

Another pleasant change is that there will be conductors in some night trams since the second half of January. They are supposed to ensure the safety of passengers.

The Stefanikuv most (bridge) in the center of Prague will be repaired and therefore it will be closed for eight months. It will affect the transport in the area – trams will not be in service there at the time.

Theme:

Charles Bridge will be restored at last

Friday 29 December 2006 11:04

The restoration of Charles Bridge, one of the most important historical monuments in Prague, will start in spring 2007. The bridge needs a repair for forty years already and it has been planned for a long time.

The restoration will have two phases: the stone parapet will be reinforced, the bridge will get a new paving and the isolation of the whole bridge will be improved in the first phase. It should take about a year. The second phase, renewal of the whole Charles Bridge, will follow and it will last for about 10 years.

Visitors of this historical monument needn´t be afraid: the bridge will stay open to public and only one tenth of it will be repaired at the same time.

Gas lamps will be given back to the Charles Bridge and most importantly, the bridge will be saved from the water, which runs inside because of bad isolation.

Theme:

Safer pedestrian crossings in Prague

Thursday 28 December 2006 17:55

An original system how to protect pedestrians from irresponsible drivers was installed in Prague 13. When some car will approach a pedestrian crossing near the school or near a bus stop too fast, the traffic sign will start to twinkle intensely to warn the driver.

Safer pedestrian crossings are already in Prague quarter 6: there are special large coloured surfaces on the roads in front of the crossings, where most accidents happened in the past. The coloured surface is rough and it enables the drivers to stop the car more easily. It is 20 metres large and it can be seen for example in Sarecka street or Ankarska street.

There are also special lights reacting to movement of pedestrians on several crossings. These lights start to twinkle when a person is crossing the road.

Nevertheless, the best solution for safer pedestrians in Prague would be more traffic lights in the city. It is planned to install 200 new traffic lights in 10 coming years.

Theme:

Last chance to see a multimedia exposition

Thursday 28 December 2006 15:50

An interesting art happening takes place in the River Town Prague area: an international workshop of contemporary interdisciplinary art. There is a variable multimedia exposition with participation of artists from various countries.

You can see theater performances there, interactive works, hear music and much more. There are videos, extraordinary pictures and paintings on the walls, all conceived as a living artistic organism.

The symposium takes place in the hall No.40, River Town Prague (Holesovicka trznice), Bubenske nabrezi (quay). It is open to visitors from Monday to Thursday between 11 am and 8 pm and from Friday to Saturday between 6 pm and 1 am. It is open till the 1st January 2007.

Theme:

Prague music clubs on New Year´s Eve

Thursday 28 December 2006 13:45

Do you already have a plan, where to go on New Year´s Eve? What about a celebration in some of the best Prague music clubs? Here is a selection of program on New Year´s Eve for your inspiration…

Roxy (Dlouha street 33) – “Return of the King”: probably the best music club in Prague offers dance music with some of the most popular Czech DJs.

Palac Akropolis (Kubelikova street 27) – “Festa Da Madrugada”: the cult club in Zizkov quarter will celebrate in latin, funk, reggae rhythms.

Mecca (U Pruhonu street 3) – British DJ Lee Dagger will play house music in this club

If you are into dance music, you can also visit Radost FX club(Belehradska 234), or Karlovy Lazne club (Smetanovo nabrezi 198). Rock music will be played in Vagon (Narodni 25). You can expect reggae music in Matrix (Konevova 13).

Transport changes in Prague on New Year´s Eve

Thursday 28 December 2006 12:00

Several important roads in Prague will be closed for transport on New Year´s Eve and also during the fireworks on New Year´s Day, 1st January 2007.

The closure of Prague roads on 31st December will be the same as last year. There will be no transport permitted in the streets Parizska (from the Siroka street to the Old Town Square), Jachymova, Mostecka, Josefska, Ve Smeckach, Vodickova, Stepanska, the slip-road from the trunk road to the Wenceslas Square, and a part of the Jindrisska street in direction to the Wenceslas Square.

During the fireworks on the New Year´s Day, the Letna Gardens will be closed from 10 am to the next morning. The quay road between the Stefanikuv most (bridge) and Klarov will be closed just for half an hour, from 5:50 to 6:20 pm, as well as the Dvorak Quay between the bridge and Jan Palach Square. There will be no tram service between Narodni divadlo and Cechuv most and between Staromestska and the crossing by the Stefanikuv most between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.

Theme:

Cheaper shopping in Prague

Thursday 28 December 2006 11:01

Big sales of winter goods started in Prague just after Christmas. Winter clothes, shoes, sporting goods and electronics are up to 50% cheaper now and it will be up to 70% later. These sales will continue at least till the end of January.

For example stores such as Tesco or Electro World offer big sales at the moment. There will be more and more discounted goods later and the reduction in price will be higher. Furniture will be on sale around the end of the year.

There were problems with the lack of the announced discounted goods last year. That´s why the stores are now obliged to announce the beginning and the end of the sales and also to specify the quantity of the discounted goods, if there is not enough of it in stock.

Living Nativity Scene at the Prague Castle

Wednesday 27 December 2006 18:00

A charitable performance called “Living Nativity Scene” took place by the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle few days ago. You can see it there once again on 6th January 2007. The profit of the event will go to the foundation “Help the children”.

The show is performed by students of dramatic art. It is inspired by biblical stories and there are scenes from old Czech folk-plays. Also Christmas carols, those well-known and also some less-known ones, are performed there.

Joseph and Maria, the three Magi, angels and the devil play a role in the performance. Only Infant Jesus is replaced by a doll. The Living Nativity Scene takes place there for a fourth time already and it caught attention of Prague Castle visitors and tourists.

Theme:

Fireworks on New Year´s Day in Prague

Wednesday 27 December 2006 16:30

The traditional New Years´s Day fireworks will be fired from the Letna Gardens this year. It promises to be a spectacular show with almost 7 000 flares, lasting 15 minutes.

It will be a colourful performance of 20 “pictures”, including traditional flower motifs, large geometric effects and a big finale. It will be possible to watch the fireworks from the quays of the river Vltava, from bridges and all the high places in Prague. The ideal place for watching it is the Cechuv most (bridge) and the quay around it.

These fireworks will take place on 1st January at 6 pm. It will be soon after dark, so it is possible to enjoy it even if you are a family with children.

Fireworks on the New Year´s Eve at midnight will take place at the Wenceslas Square.

Cuban music in Roxy Club tonight

Wednesday 27 December 2006 15:00

Do you fancy spending a night dancing to Cuban rhythms? There is a party of Cuban music, called Fiesta Latina, in Roxy Club tonight!

The music group “SANTY y su Son de Cuba” will certainly draw you into dancing. Their music combines several styles, such as salsa, merengue, guanguanco, afro and others.

You can also see an afro-latin dancing performance there, as well as a thematic film projection, and enjoy Cuban drinks.

The party starts tonight at 7:30 pm and the entrance fee is 100 CZK. The Roxy Club is situated in Dlouha Street 33, Prague 1. You can go there on foot from the Old Town Square, or from the nearest underground station Namesti Republiky.

Theme:

Prague - a popular Christmas destination

Wednesday 27 December 2006 13:43

Prague is one of the five most visited places in the European Union during Christmas. There are about 50 – 60 000 tourists in the city these days. They enjoy especially the Christmas markets. About two thirds of the tourists are from the countries of the EU.

While Prague citizens were in a hurry to buy some Christmas presents when they can, tourists came to the city to relax and that´s why they mostly enjoyed the Christmas events in Prague more.

The Christmas market in the Old Town Square was full of tourists, who chose Christmas goods there and watched the killing of carps with surprise: many of them didn´t know, that it is a Czech tradition, to have a carp to dinner on Christmas Eve.

The traditional Czech Christmas Mass by J. J. Ryba was performed at the Old Town Square and people listened, drinking mull – the hot spiced wine.

About 70% hotel rooms in Prague were full during Christmas and it will be even more on New Year´s Eve – there will be no vacancy left in the city.

Theme:

Czech Cubist architecture exhibition

Wednesday 27 December 2006 10:23

You have a chance to visit an exhibition of extraordinary Czech artistic phenomenon these days: the exhibition of Czech architectural Cubism in the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in Prague.

Prague was a second European centre of Cubism after Paris, since 1909. Czech artists, inspired by the Parisian Cubists, developed this style in architecture and design, and it evolved in the unique Czech architectural Cubism.

The exhibition focuses on the most important period between 1911 and 1914 and it introduces the outstanding personalities such as Pavel Janak, Josef Gocar, Vlastislav Hofman, Josef Chochol and Emil Kralicek. The exhibition shows Cubist buildings realized in Prague and also in several other Czech cities. You can see Cubist design there and also some projects, that were not realized.

The exhibition lasts till 11th February 2007. You can find the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in Betlemske Namesti (square) 5a, Prague 1.

Theme:

Open clubs during Christmas

Friday 22 December 2006 14:16

For those who want do not want to spend Christmas Eve in the warmth of their home (or a hotel), we bring some tips for Prague’s clubs open on that day.

Rock Cafe in Narodni trida (Narodni 20) is open on 24th December from 23:00 to 5:00. The entrance is free. You can dance to music by Veselej DJ. Palace Akropolis (Kubelikova 27)organizes show call “X-massive: Santa Klaus leave da house!”. The show starts at 22:30. Vagon Club (Narodni trida 25) plays from 23:00, entrance fee is 100,- CZK.

Smaller Akord Club (V Celnici 4) offers Christmas band. Jazz you can hear in U stare pani Club (Michalska 9). You can also visit Punto Azul music club (Kroftova 1) in Prague-Smichov or Cross Club (Plynarni 23) in Prague-Holesovice.

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Conductors on night trams in Prague

Friday 22 December 2006 14:06

As we have already informed, the travelling by night trams in Prague should be safer next year thanks to the presence of conductors on board. The Prague Public Transit Company announced that the conductors will appear on the trams for the first time between 10th and 15th January 2007.

The conductors will be Prague police officers, sometimes together with ticket inspectors. They will be not in every tram, but only in selected lines. They will be responsible for the safety of passengers and absence of homeless people sleeping on the trams.

In the future the Prague Public Transit Company wants the police officers to give fines to people without a valid ticket. Nowadays only ticket inspectors can do it.

Theme:

New software development centres in the Czech Republic

Friday 22 December 2006 12:44

American technology company Quadbase Systems from Silicon Valley will build a branch in the Czech Republic. The workers in the branch will develop internet applications Java. The Czech Republic is sought for its talents in software developments and good technological infrastructure. American companies cover 60% of investments to research and development in the Czech Republic.

International companies opened more than 40 technological, development and distribution centres in the Czech Republic. E.g., branch of American Sun Microsystems Company was opened in Prague this year.

The world’s biggest software company, Microsoft, decided to open European business support center for mobile technologies in the Czech Republic. The centre will provide services to leading European mobile phone providers and manufacturers of mobile equipment.

Also Prague has a good change to win the seat of the navigation system Galileo. According to Tomas Hruda from CzechInvest, the Czech Republic has many experts in space and satellite technologies. Also the favourable geographic position of Prague in the centre of Europe and good infrastructure make it a good candidate.

What to do in Prague during winter holidays

Friday 22 December 2006 11:16

If you are going to spend the coming holidays in Prague, there are many things what to do in the Czech capital. On 24th December you can taste Czech traditional fish soup on Old Town Square or visit St. Vitus Cathedral whose entrance is for free from 12:00 to 16:00 (you can get the Bethlehem light there). At midnight you can attend a Christmas service there.

On 25th and 26th December families with children can visit Prague Castle for free. The Royal Garden is exceptionally open from 25th December from 9:00 to 17:00. If you like ice skating, you can go to Ovocny trh every day from 10:00 to 21:30.

On New Year’s Eve you can go to Wenceslas square to enjoy the New Year’s Eve party of Czech commercial TV Nova. The show is for everybody for free. The coming of the new year will be celebrated by a firework above Wenceslas Square. If you want to join the celebration in Prague, better keep your car out of the city centre. Some streets will be closed.

Theme:

President rejected proposed government

Friday 22 December 2006 10:36

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mirek Topolanek, went to Prague Castle yesterday to give President Vaclav Klaus a list with the names of the new ministers in the three party cabinet (Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and Greens). President has rejected to appoint the new government so far.

According to Vaclav Klaus this government would not have broader support in the lower house and it should not win the confidence vote just because of a few opposition members. According to Prime Minister this government is the only solution out of the political crises.

Institutional experts now debate whether Klaus’s rejection of the proposed government is against the law or not. Vladimir Balas from The University of West Bohemia thinks that President can express his reservations but he cannot reject the proposed government.

Irish evening in Prague

Thursday 21 December 2006 13:20

All the fans of Irish dance music are invited to celebrate 10 years of Irish music in the Czech Republic. The celebration takes place in Prague’s T-mobile arena on 25th Apr