Compact archive July 2007

67% people are satisfied with Prague police

Tuesday 31 July 2007 16:08

Prague people are least satisfied with the work of the police than people in other regions of the Czech Republic. Even though the number of satisfied people has grown from 56% (2004) to 67% (2007), it’s still the lowest in the country.

25% of Prague people are totally dissatisfied with the work of the police, the country average is 22%. Prague people also feel least safe – only 82% feel safe in comparison with almost 90% in the whole country.

Unfortunately, Prague is also on the sad top in the number of corruptions of police officers. Prague people would also welcome more police officers on the streets than citizens of other towns or villages in the Czech Republic.

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Svetlana Portnyansky in Prague's Spanish Synagogue

Tuesday 31 July 2007 14:37

Svetlana Portnyansky If you want to enjoy great Jewish music performed by the leading Jewish singer in beautiful spaces of Spanish Synagogue in Prague’s Jewish quarter, visit Svetlana Portnyancky’s concert “Favorite and Famous – the great Jewish and International Masterpieces”.

Svetlana Portnyansky is a successul solo Jewish singer born in Russia and currently living in the USA. She’s been giving concerts all over the world, bringing the Jewish culture, music and tradition to the whole international Jewish community.

Her Prague’s concert, the first one in the Czech Republic, will take place in Spanish Synagogue (Dusni 12 / Vezenska 1) in Prague on Tuesday 14th August 2007. Tickets can be bought via Ticketpro for 1,500 – 1,000 CZK.

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The Magic of Eastern Africa in Prague

Tuesday 31 July 2007 13:10

Ethiopia / photo by Ruda Svaricek Famous traveller and photographer Rudy Svaricek will share his experiences and adventures in a new photo exhibition called The Magic of Eastern Afrika.

The large-format photographs in this exhibition will take us to the interesting part of Africa – Ethiopia. The pictures will tell stories about its inhabitants and the jewels of architecture and will present the country as a country of contrasts.

The exhibition starts tomorrow in the exhibition hall of the Botanical Garden in Prague-Troja. You can travel in your mind to Africa every day between 9:00 and 19:00 until 31st August 2007.

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Czech roads are the sixth dangerous in Europe

Tuesday 31 July 2007 11:48

Czech roads are the sixth most dangerous roads out of 24 surveyed countries in Europe. The research was made according to statistics showing how many people died on the roads per 100,000 inhabitants.

The most safe roads are in the Netherlands, then in Norway and Sweden. The most dangerous roads can be found in Greece, Poland and Belgium.

Only the last three weeks it cost 89 lives on Czech roads. According to analysts, high mortality on roads has several reasons. Czech people don’t fear the new road law any more, there are not many police officers on the street, the quality of roads is bad and especially many drivers are aggressive and reckless.

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Mamma Mia! will come to Prague

Tuesday 31 July 2007 09:58

Mamma Mia! Czech audience will see for the first time the famous musical Mamma Mia! created by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from legendary Swedish band ABBA.

The musical is full of hits of ABBA, such as Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All or Voulez-Vous. Since the premiere the musical has already earned 2 billion USD and has been seen by more than 30 million people. It has been translated from English into 8 languages, such as Korean or Flemish.

Mamma Mia! will be played in Sazka Arena in Prague from 10th to 18th October 2007. Tickets for Prague’s performances will be available from 1st August 2007 via Sazkaticket.cz.

Eastern culture in NoD in Prague's Roxy club

Monday 30 July 2007 16:54

Experimental space NoD in Roxy club presents EasternAlliance project the aim of which is to respect the particularities of Eastern culture and to increase publicity about contemporary culture in the east.

On Tuesday 7th August the project will be accompanied with the event celebrating the edition of Mexican magazine The Artist. The music will be provided by Los Amigos and Mariachi Azteca De Praga.

NoD Roxy is situated in Skolska street 28 in Prague. It’s supported by the city of Prague. The project EasternAlliance will be presented there until 28th August 2007.

The end of smoking in Czech restaurants?

Monday 30 July 2007 15:17

Whether smoking should or should not be prohibited in restaurants is now a ‘hot topic’ in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic may join other countries, such as Great Britain or Italy, where smoking in public indoor spaces is prohibited. A new anti-smoking law should be discussed by politicians this September.

According to the survey of Median agency, 54% of Czech people would prohibit smoking in restaurants. 74 % of non-smokers in the Czech Republic want non-smoking restaurants, on the other hand smoking in restaurants want 87% of smokers.

Smoking in the Czech Republic is prohibited in theatres, cinemas, sport halls, railway stations, waiting rooms and bus or tram stops, in offices of state administration, in schools, hospitals and other medical institutions. People can smoke in restaurants provided the restaurant does not have any extra places for smokers.

First class in Pendolino trains will be more expensive

Monday 30 July 2007 13:42

pendolino Travelling in the first class in SC Pendolino trains will be more comfortable but also more expensive. Czech Railways want to offer more types of newspapers, more food and newly a glass of bear, but the price will be 12% more expensive from 1st September.

Travellers will be also able to buy the travel tickets for Pendolino via their mobile phones. The service is called Teletiket. Customer will pay for the ticket with their credit card.

A new fare SC Net will enable travellers to travel by Pendolino trains as well as regional trains with only one ticket. More information about customer fares and reductions can be found at www.cd.cz.

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Prague becomes more popular for gay tourists

Monday 30 July 2007 11:56

Prague and Budapest are popular cities in central Europe for homosexually oriented people. According to the analyst of tourism Jaromir Beranek, it’s mainly because Czech people are more tolerant and friendly towards homosexuals than neighbouring nations.

Prague also offers a wide range of services for homosexually orientated people, such as gay clubs, bars, hotels, saunas or gay trips and sightseeing tours. These trips for homosexual people are often advertised as “get-acquainted trips”.

According to Tourism Intelligence International, about 10% of all international tourists are homosexual. Most of them don’t have children, therefore they can afford more frequent trips abroad. Beranek says that there are about 600,000 tourists coming to Prague every year to search for services connected with their minority sexual orientation.

Metro line B with shorter intervals

Monday 30 July 2007 10:26

Thanks to the road works on Palackeho square that have caused seven tram disruptions in Charles Square, there are more travellers on metro lines B that go via Charles Square.

The Prague Public Transport Company decided therefore to increase the number or metro trains in the morning and afternoon peaks in the section Smichovske nadrazi – Florenc. This situation will last only until 31st August 2007.

Other lines run thanks to the summer period in longer intervals. The metro is overcrowded many times, especially in station Dejvicka, Andel and I.P.Pavlova. The situation should get better with the new metro line D.

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2007 FIM Czech Republic Speedway Grand Prix

Friday 27 July 2007 16:10

Speedway Grand Prix More than 35 TV companies from the whole world will broadcast the dramatic race of the Speedway Grand Prix of Czech Republic, which is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.

The sixth race of the Speedway Grand Prix will take place in Prague’s stadium Marketa. The best competitors from the whole world will show their skills on Saturday 28th July 2007. The main race starts at 19:00.

Tickets (from 300 CZK – to 2,300 CZK) can be still bought as the cash desks at the stadium. The start of the race is at 19:00, so if you manage to be at the venue around 17:00 on Saturday, there should be no problem to get the tickets. To Marketa Stadium you can get from Malostranska metro station by tram no. 22 to stop Vypich. Then it’s only a 5-minute walk.

Prague is a good place to find a job

Friday 27 July 2007 14:21

Prague citizens are convinced that it’s easy to find a new job in Prague, a survey of the European Commission showed on Thursday. This survey focused on quality of life in 75 cities in the EU, Turkey and Croatia.

More than 70 % of people living in Prague, Copenhagen and Dublin believe it’s no problem to find a good job in the metropole. The opposite opinion is shared in Palermo, Frankfurt (Oder) and Naples. On the other hand Prague people think it’s hard to find housing at a reasonable price and they are not satisfied with the quality of air.

The cities where people feel most satisfied in are Dutch Groningen, Polish Krakow and German Leipzig. The least satisfied are citizens of Turkish Instanbul, Italian Naples and Greek Athens. (This survey in detail can be found here.)

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Sonic Youth to perform in Prague

Friday 27 July 2007 12:48

American alternative rock group Sonic Youth is coming to Prague this August. Thurson Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon and Steve Shelley will return here after 11 years.

Sonic Youth was formed in New York in 1981. They have become one of the leading alternative rock groups with a characteristic guitar style.

It’s been 20 years since they issued the band’s successful album Daydream Nation considered as the first peak of the band’s creation. It’s probable that the band will present some of the hits from this album at Prague’s concert.

Sonic Youth will perform in Archa Theatre (Na Porici 26) on 25th August 2007. Tickets are on sale via Ticketpro for 995 CZK.

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Czech Secession exhibition in Prague

Friday 27 July 2007 11:14

Mucha's Light of Day The Gallery At The Bethlehem Chapel (Galerie U Betlemske kaple) presents the works of Czech artists who created their works in the period between the beginning of 1890s and 1910 in the exhibition called Czech Secession.

The biggest part of the exhibition is devoted to Alfons Mucha, especially to his decorative posters The Flowers and The Times of the Day and posters from his stay in the Czech Republic. Among other authors whose works are presented at the exhibition are Frantisek Kupka, Max Svabinsky or Vojtech Preissig.

The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 until 16th September 2007. The Gallery At The Bethlehem Chapel is situated in Betlemske namesti 8 in the centre of Prague.

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Orangery at Prague Castle is open to the public

Friday 27 July 2007 09:38

Orangery at Prague Castle [Photo Richard Bryant/Arcaid] The orangery of Prague Castle situated in the Royal Garden was opened yesterday to the public. The orangery is used for growing exotic plants, especially citruses.

The orangery was designed by the Commander of the Order of the British Empire Eva Jiricna. The heating and irrigation are controlled by a computer. The venetian blind control, lighting and ventilation is automatic.

As a part of the orangery is an accompanying exhibition on the history of Prague Castle gardens. The orangery is open until the end of August from 12:00 to 15:00, the entrance is free.

Interesting exhibitions in Prague this summer

Thursday 26 July 2007 17:12

Do you want to visit any of Prague museum or gallery exhibitions during your stay in Prague this summer? We bring you a short list of exhibitions that are worth seeing.

Sternberg Pallace near Prague Castle shows significant Rembrant van Rijn’s work of art – A Bearded Man in a Cap. The Trade Fair Palace offers the exhibition of present-day Zimbabwe sculptures. Zbraslav Chateau hosts an exhibition of Asian arts focused mainly on Korean art.

Wallenstein Riding School presents the works of famous Czech artist Jan Zrzavy, Emil Filla is presented in the Riding School of Prague Castle and sculptor Ladislav Zivr in Queen Anne’s Summer Palace in the Royal Garden.

The National Museum shows the beauty and uniqueness of Madagascar Island. Japanese culture is presented through the photographs by Joe Hloucha in Naprstkovo Museum (Betlemske namesti 1). A retrospective exhibition of Jindrich Styrsky is placed in the House At the Stone Bell in the Old Town Square. Neo Rauch’s exhibition can be found in the Rudolfinum Gallery.

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Tour de Ski in front of Prague Castle

Thursday 26 July 2007 15:31

For Tour de Ski 2007 here

Hradcanske namesti (Hradcany Square) near Prague Castle will be the venue of the World Cup in cross-country skiing as well as the second stage of the Tour de Ski on 30th December 2007.

This information has been confirmed by former cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova and the director for cross-country skiing events for the International Ski Federation (FIS). Neumannova said that there no more beautiful place in Prague for the race.

Tour De Ski will consist of 8 races in 5 different places. The first two stages will take place in the Czech Republic, the rest in Germany and Italy. Prague will organize a free technique sprint. The points from the each Tour de Ski stage will be counted into the World Cup score, which might bring great cross-country skiers into Prague.

The track will start near the standpoint of Prague Castle guards and finish near Schwarzenberg Palace. The capacity of the square is about 10,000 people and there will be no entrance fee. The qualification for the race will start at 12:00, the main race at 14:00.

Carmina Burana Open Air Opera in Prague

Thursday 26 July 2007 13:40

Carmina Burana Open Air Opera on the Czech largest floating stage will tell the medieval story of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Polovetsian Dances by Alexander Bordin.

The 350 m2 floating stage can be found near Strelecky Island on the Vltava river in the historical centre of Prague. The show will present the performance of the Czech Symphonic Orchestra, vocal and ballet soloist, VUS choire of the Charles University, the historical dance group Saltatio Vitae or the historical fencing and fireworks show by Spitfire Pyro Prague.

The performances will be held every day at 20:30 from 28th July to 26th August 2007. Tickets for 1,200 CZK can be bought via Ticketportal and Tickepro.

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Museum Kampa in Prague might be fined for an advertisement

Thursday 26 July 2007 11:51

The Culture, Monument Care and Tourism department of the city of Prague wants to fine the Kampa Museum provided the museum won’t remove the sign on the building of the museum tempting to the new exhibition Andy Warhol – Disaster relics: Selected Prints.

According to the city edict, no covers are allowed on buildings in the historical city reserve, especially on buildings signed as a national monument, which is the case of Sovovy Mlyny, where Museum Kampa is located.

The art collector Meda Mladkova, whose foundation organizes the exhibition, is shocked by the possible fine. According to her, Prague should be glad to have an exhibition like this, an exhibition that enriches the cultural life of Prague.

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Troja Chateau will be closed this Saturday

Thursday 26 July 2007 09:52

Troja Chateau Troja Chateau situated near the Vltava River in Prague-Troja will be closed this Saturday (28th July) and open again this Sunday. The interiors of Troja Chateau are used by the City Gallery. You can visit there an exhibition of paintings, beautifully decorated interiors or a museum of wine.

Lovers of classical music can visit Troja Chateau grounds this Sunday at 15:00 to enjoy the concert of Vivaldi quartet from the cycle Musical Walks. The admission is free.

How honest are Prague people?

Wednesday 25 July 2007 15:59

The researchers of Reader’s Digest conducted an experiment to find out how honest people in 32 cities in the world are. They “lost” 960 brand new mid-prized mobile phones in busy public spaces (30 phones in each city) to see how many phones would be returned.

The researchers observed the mobile phones from a distance by the researchers, rang them and waited. Passers-by either answered the phones, called to preset numbers programmed in the mobile phones or just kept the phones for themselves.

Prague scored eighth together with Helsinki, Budapest, Warsaw, Auckland and Zagreb. Only 7 mobile phones out of 30 were not handed back there. All but one mobile phones were returned in Ljubljana in Slovenia, only 13 mobile phones were handed back in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. 654 mobiles were handed back in total.

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First shops on the promenade along the Vltava

Wednesday 25 July 2007 13:56

Masarykovo nabrezi in Prague Prague has an ambition – to create a splendid promenade along the river like other European metropolises, such as Paris or Berlin. There should be restaurants, cafes, sportscentres, a swimming pool and open-air theatre along the Vltava river from Vysehrad rock to Stefanikuv Bridge.

Even though the construction is going slowly, there are already four stands between Palackeho and Jiraskuv bridge. They offer refreshment, traditional Czech cakes, fresh fruit and Moravian wines. Tomorrow at 15:00 a music band will welcome walkers in Rasinovo riverside.

The shops and cafes will be open from 10:00 to 22:00. The city plans to create fish markets by the river before Christmas. If people get used to going there for fish, the market might stay there temporarily, as there’s no fish market in Prague at the moment.

Underworld at the Electronic Beats Festival in Prague

Wednesday 25 July 2007 12:02

British band Underworld Last year the Electronic Beats Festival in Trade Fair Palace in Prague brought The Prodigy, this year fans of electronic music can look forward to British band Underworld.

Underworld have made many fans throughout the world thanks to their own style in electronic music. This October they are going to issue a new album called Oblivion with Bell. The visitors of Prague festival of electronic beat in Trade Fair Palace will hear the songs of the new album live.

Underworld will perform at the Electronic Beats Festival on 27th October 2007. Tickets are on sale via Ticketpro. Until 31st August they cost 350 CZK, until 30st September 450 CZK and from 1st October 550 CZK.

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