Compact archive September 13, 2007

Plzensky Prazdroj, the largest producer of beer in the Czech Republic, is going to raise the price of all the brands of beer by six or eight procent. One of the most famous Czech beer, pale lager Pilsner Urquell, may be by 1.40 CZK more expensive from this November.

The reason for the increase in price are the higher prices of barley and hops. “The current price of a ton of barley is about twice as high as it was last year,” said the head-manager of Plzensky Prazdroj company Mike Short. If the prices of hops and barely keep on rising, Prazdroj suspects further rise of the price.

Another brewery that’s going to increase the price of its beer is Budejovicky Budvar. Staropramen, the second largest brewery in the Czech Republic, doesn’t plan any increase of price yet.

Prague will be one of the cities in the world to host the annual exhibition of the World Press Photo again. The best photographs made by professional press photographers will be displayed in Prague’s Karolinum from 14th September to 7th October 2007.

Visitors of this exhibition can see closely the winning photographs of the World Press Photo of the year 2006 made by Spencer Platt from the USA – young Lebanese driving down a street in a bombed neighbourhood in southern Beirut.

The exhibition in the Carolinum gallery will be open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 – 18:00. The full entrance fee is 90 CZK, the reduced one is 50 CZK. Clementinum is situated in Ovocny Trh 3 street.

The leaders of the Social Democrats from central European countries will meet in Prague today and tomorrow to discuss the American radar base in the Czech Republic, energetic security, the reform treaty of the EU and the principle of new social Europe.

The leaders of Social Democrats from Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary have promised to attend the meeting in so called Lidovy dum in Hybernska street in Prague. Among those who will have a speech are Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Chancellor of Austria Alfred Gusenbauer or the chairman of German SPD Kurt Beck.

The evaluation of this meeting will be process into a document called ‘Prague’s Challenge’, said the Chairman of the Czech Social Democrats Jiri Paroubek.

Charles Square (Karlovo namesti) is a really busy place regarding the traffic in the city. What’s more, the city of Prague has established new parking zones, which makes the situation for drivers who don’t live in that area even more difficult. Therefore, the councillors of Prague district 2 plan to build several underground garages with the capacity of about 300 places as soon as possible.

The city of Prague first have to make a study to find out whether an underground garage under the Jesuit College in Charles Square wouldn’t damage the historical integrity of the place.

Charles Square is not the only place that needs more parking places. New garages may also appear under Tylovo square and Jiraskovo square. Another option is Ostrcilovo namesti with an underground garage as well as an overground garage between the pillars of Nusle Bridge.

Big fans of Star Trek will meet in the cultural house in Prague-Ladvi (Buresova 1661/2) on 22nd September 2007. The celebrations of this legendary serial should be even bigger than last year. And what’s more, the fans can look forward to Marina Sirtis, playing one of the main characters in Star Trek – Counsellor Deanna Troi.

This year’s celebrations called CzechTREK Convention 2 will focus mainly on the second season of Star Trek: New Generation. The organizers of this event promise a rich programme including a film show.

Marina Sirtis will answer questions of the audience. Fans of Star Trek can also take a picture of her (or together with her) or get her autograph. Besides Marina Sirtis, the visitors can meet several Czech actors who dub Star Trek.