Compact archive December 20, 2007

Dan Perjovschi is a great artist, writer and cartoonist born in 1961 in Sibiu, Romania. He is blessed with an unique sense for a shortcut. His domain is a primitive caricature painting, which he can be unbelievably fitting.

The drawings present political commentary in response to current events. Another exhibition of Perjovschi’s is within a Portuguese bank consists of several comic strip style drawings which address more European issues such as Romania’s acceptance to the EU.

The comments of his drawings are so clever, you don’t know if you should laugh or cry. After Cold War – Global Warming. Middle class have middle drams.

Jiri Svestka Gallery, until 2th February, Tue – Fri – 12.00 – 6.00 p.m. Sat – 11.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Biskupsky dvur 6, Prague.

Little Quarter is a special part of Prague it surrounds Prague Castle and it is rich in baroque and renaissance architecture. One of streets there, is the most narrow street in Prague

It is so narrow there must be traffic lights in order people wouldn’t collide – maybe two dogs could sidetrack, but they have to be very small dogs. If you are square-shouldered or well.. fat, you shouldn’t enter the street at all – you can get struck.

It is steep, full of stairs, doesn’t have a name, but have two traffic lights. It goes from U Luzickeho seminare street to the Certovka restaurant, offering spectacular view of Charles Bridge.

Most of the tourists see the street as an attraction, so they push the walk button, take a few pictures and when they go, they don’t take the light seriously, so in the end they push with somebody so close only lovers usually do that.

“One time, one really corpulent German tourist got stuck” remembers the owner of Certovka Restaurant. “She couldn’t go up or down. The personnel tried to push her back to the street , but in vain. In the end we had to soap her, so she would slide more easily. She just had to go somewhere else for her lunch.” He smiles. Source: MF Dnes

The parking situation in European city centres is quite similar. The locals cannot park in front of their house, supplies are hard to deliver and the traffic intensity is high.

You want to park? You have to pay.
Prague City Hall solves the packed city centre by installment of zones of paid parking, where those who doesn’t reside around, can put their vehicles. Since yesterday, parking machines (on the picture) are operational.

There are reserved parking zones for locals and local enterprisers in function since November. In Prague 3 paid parking zones start in spring.

The unusual exhibition of Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague introduces some 140 maté vessels for the traditional south-American drink maté.

Maté drinking has been a cherished tradition among the Argentinian people from pre-Colombian times. Originally, maté cups were made from gourds, later on also from other materials, including silver.

Commissioned by Argentina, ceramic maté-drinking ware was produced from the late 19th century to the beginning of the Second World War in some European countries, particularly Germany and Czechoslovakia. In the 1940s, Argentina established its own production of such containers; however their quality was inferior compared to the European output.

The exhibition has been prepared in partnership with the Embassy of Argentina in Prague

Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, The Glass, Porcelain and Ceramics Hall, 17. listopadu 2 street, December 19th, 2007 -February 24th, 2008

The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble (NYSJE) is an internationally renowned recording and touring group. Since the bands inception in 1994, they have released five CDs and they have performed regularly throughout Europe, Canada, USA, and South America.

The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble is exactly what its name suggests: a group of New York ska musicians dedicated to exploring the links between ska and jazz.

NYSJEs recordings and performances have garnered them critical acclaim for their high energy, creative originals, kinetic ska interpretations of jazz standards, as well as their potent mix of dance hall, reggae, rock steady and jazz.

27th December 2007, Lucerna Music Bar, Vodickova 36, Prague 1