Compact archive June 2008

Permanent exposition The Story of Prague Castle

Monday 30 June 2008 17:51

The exhibition tells the tale of the main castle complex in the country and the people associated with it – from monarchs and presidents to nobility and courtiers, famous artists, builders, architects and scientists to craftsmen and servants. It is the story of a complex bearing the secret of the last resting place of the most important Czech princes and kings and patron saints of our country, of a place preserving the Czech crown jewels, St. Vitus’ Treasure, as well as a place representing a respectable residence of the head of the Czech Republic. The story begins in ancient history – in prehistory – and continues to the present time, recording more than 5,000 years, which mostly became fateful moments for Czech history and the history of all its inhabitants.

The main route leads through particular eras, to which are connected thematic branches – stories representing interesting items associated with Prague Castle, such as the Story of Coronation, Burial, Czech Patrons of the Church and Cathedrals. Part of the exposition is a special program for children, called Play Castle, and other interactive programs and projections.

Admission: Full 140 CZK : Reduced 70 CZK : Family 200 CZK

The Exhibition is open daily except 28.10 and 24.12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer (1.4. – 31.10.) and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter (1.11. – 31.3.).

The entrance can be reached through the Third Courtyard and the North Courtyard. There is also an entrance from St. George’s Square.

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Flogging Molly change date of Concert

Monday 30 June 2008 14:13

It is sometimes necessary to unexpectedly change a date of a concert, like this time, when the Flogging Molly moved their show from 13th June to 2nd July 2008. The reason is they are performing at USA music festival KROQ, an important one from the point of view of radio broadcast. So they gave to know: “We hope you will understand this our very important decision. We will compensate everything in July!”

The concert term was moved for Prague, Budapest and other European cities. Valid tickets can be still used. If the term does not suits you, you can hand your ticket back at the place of your purchase. The place – Prague Rock Café – stays the same, price of tickets, 410 czk as well.

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First Gay Pride Parade in Czech Republic Surprisingly Pointed at Different Problem

Monday 30 June 2008 13:39

It was supposed to be a gay party in the streets, such are common in liberal countries. But the gathering was violated by the neo-nazi organization Narodni Odpor (National Resistance) who couldn’t resist the temptation and went the violent way to publicity. They managed to get to the square before the parade started, and started to fire petards and throw eggs. Some participants of the gay parade got beaten, too, and the whole act was ended by one of the neo-nazi throwing a tear-gas grenade into the crowd.

First thing – we can be happy the one throwing the grenade wasn’t a police officer, we live in democratic country and such acts are forbidden. Second thing – those, who prematurely ended the parade by their violent behaviour should go to prison. The police have arrested 15 people, the others are searched for as they have been recorded on security cameras.

The Minister of the Interior Ivna Langer stated he watches the activities of Narodni Strana and considers establishing ban on them. The First Czech Gay Pride so pointed at different thing – we don’t have problem with increasing numbers of gay marriages, but increasing numbers of neo-nazi in our society.

Suzanne Vega in in Prague on Tuesday

Monday 30 June 2008 11:55

American songstress Suzanne Vega with her new album of last summer Beauty and Crime is coming to Prague. She sings about New York, love and violence and she still changes from adulthood of her show to soft, girlish melancholy. The typical rock of 80’s still lives! We can probably can look forward to her songs Luka and Tom’s Diner.

Her new songs have a dimension of chansons and they are quite various, as it is inspired by New York. There are known spots at her new album – the story of Sinatra with Ava Gardnera, a memory of a porn star Bettie Page. Her music? She juxtaposes acoustic guitar-driven melodies with coolly synthesized beats; intensely personal lyrics with compelling, short story-like narratives.

Her concert is on 1st July 2008 in Prague, Congress Centre.

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Prague wants to legalize Prostitution

Monday 30 June 2008 09:59

MF Dnes brought news about Prague Town hall recent tendencies to decriminalize the business in the area of the capital city. According to MF Dnes, there is about three thousand prostitutes in Prague, in the present time moving to private flats from the streets. The representatives want to propose a motion for giving the prostitutes a licence.

This way of filing prostitutes the police get a tool for controlling them. The girls will also have to go to regular medical check-ups and pay taxes. The prostitutes in Prague are now usually covered from view, working in clubs labelled as “dance cabarets, strip bars or erotic discotheques”. There is about thirty of them around Wenceslas square only, in whole Prague much more.

Flogging Molly in Prague - Irish folk-punk you will love

Friday 27 June 2008 15:42

What makes a band truly remarkable? Insightful lyrics? Memorable melodies? Blow-your-mind live performances? The truth is that it takes all of those things along with a boundless enthusiasm, an infectious energy and a supreme devotion to the fans. With this rare combination, a band may ascend past “good,” – or even the record industry’s Holy Grail, “marketable” – and reach sublime.

Drawing on the hardships and joys of their own lives and a musical history ranging from old world Celtic to modern day punk rock, the seven members of Flogging Molly do just that, and they do it with a charm and an ease that makes them one of the most accessible bands performing today.

“We’re not a traditional band,” explains Dublin born singer/songwriter, Dave King. “We are influenced by traditional music and inspired by it, and we put our own little twist on it.”

“If it didn’t have mandolin, accordion, fiddle and whistle, it would be punk rock, and if it didn’t have guitar, bass and drums, it would be traditional Irish music,” King admits, adding, “You can’t be bothered being labeled.”

Eight member group punk-folk group which recently produced new album Float. Contagious energy, strong melodies.
2nd July in Rock Café, Prague. Are you going?

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The cause of Presidential Vote Corruption postponed

Friday 27 June 2008 13:27

The Czech police have postponed the criminal announcement of the presidential vote corruption. The presidential vote, when Klaus was voted the president again, was an international disgrace. Now it seems, no one will be punished. Josef Notný (SNK) stated, one person from ODS wanted to bribe him into voting for Klaus. The Anti-corruption police leader Roman Skrepek said to Pravo there wasn’t any proof.

Novotny confirmed to Pravo that Vlastimil Sehnal, who is a senator for ODS, offered two millions czk for his vote for Klaus. Novotny said there is no proof, as the investigators weren’t allowed to the security cameras tapes at all, with the comment there are no cameras in the room, where Novotny was supposed to be bribed. Novotny showed a picture of the camera, but they said it is a speaker.

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Klaus announced he won't subscribe the new gay-lesbian law, but he neither treads it.

Friday 27 June 2008 11:46

The president Vaclav Klaus so gave the public know, his attitude to the registered partnership is still reserved. The new law, changing some regulations connected to gay and lesbian partnerships won’t be subscribed, but also won’t be sent back to the parliament. So it will be probably passed.

For the president, the law represents one step of a line, at which end is the same laws for hetero and homo families. For Klaus, who always repeats he supports traditional family, the idea of a gay or lesbian couple adopting a child is unthinkable.

At least he doesn’t use his backroom tactics, like in the case of Blob, to stop the inevitable development. Czech homosexual couples are gaining influence, they will have their first gay-parade this weekend, and no one can expect a country in the middle of Europe to go backward.

Prague Smichov Beach is now Opening

Friday 27 June 2008 09:48

The Smichov Bank of Vltava has a new layer of nice white sand and wooden floors for tables were laid yesterday. The place is coming back to life again. For the fourth time, it will be possible to take a seat, have a drink and sunbathe or chat under an umbrella, in the very centre of Prague.

The Smichov Beach is opened everyday since 10 to 22 hours until the half of September. The full capacity of the place is about five hundred people, so no wonder the place with a view of Vysehrad and Podskali hosted about 40 thousand people last year.

The all-day ticket to the beach is 50czk, small kids for free. There will be concerts of various groups and thematic evenings focused e.g. on mediterranean cuisine. There is a beach volleyball field, of course, you can play petanque. The place is sweet.

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Czechs Massively going on Vacation Abroad

Friday 27 June 2008 08:46

To go on vacation abroad is much more tempting than before. The Czech crown was strong the last year already, but now the crown is even stronger, so it is possible to live decently on holiday. Lidove Noviny wrote about increased interest in foreign currency purchasing.

Simplified – if now it is possible to buy euro for about 24,4 czk, at this time one year ago it was 29 czk. Euros are so cheaper of 16 percent. If we talk about dollar, it is even better as it falls, because it is cheaper of 28% compared to the last year; one dollar is now 15,60 czk, last year it was 21,60.

The average standard of housing for Czechs at vacation is now 3-star hotel.

Alanis Morissette in Prague Concert

Thursday 26 June 2008 17:40

The Canandian songstress Alanis Morissette performs in Prague with her June album Flavors of Entanglement.

Alanis succeeded with her emotive folk-pop-rock in the half of the 90’s. Today, she is an owner of seven Grammy prizes and loved by millions of fans world wide.

Her international debut album was the rock-influenced Jagged Little Pill, which remains the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the U.S., and the highest selling debut album worldwide in music history.

Her liking of electricism, either the music or the spiritual one, brought new sounds and styles, which she introduced to her fans on her recent tour with Matchbox Twenty. She also sung her song Underneath, reflecting words of Mahatma Gandhi, that you have to be the change you want to see in the world.
The date is 12th August 2008, tickets are sold at Ticketpro starting at 990 czk, the venue is the Congress centre

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The first Gay Pride Parade in the Czech Republic soon

Thursday 26 June 2008 15:29

lesbians at the gay pride in the US The Czech Republic is a liberal country, that’s a well-known fact. Gay marriages have been going for quite some time, but there has not been any gay parade yet. That is about to change, as Saturday 28 June in Brno should be the day of “Rainbow Parade”

And the whole merry-go-round starts to turn again, as it was turning before the registered partnership was allowed – groups of Christians and right wing extremists are again trying to speak higher number of extreme statements than the other group, just to let the whole topic go a few years later, when the gay theme doesn’t get media coverage.

The event is aimed at reducing the level of homophobia among Czechs. Gays and lesbians will ask for tolerance during their march, but it is more than clear some people are not willing to tolerate them. Media are curious, how the event will go, but hopefully it will be an event of peace, as intended.

Gay Parade: Brno, 28th June 2008, 14:00 at Namesti Svobody

Two Czech Scientists arrested for doing a research in India

Thursday 26 June 2008 13:45

rhino beetle Because of their passion for science, the two Czech etymologists got into troubles with Indian law. Their crime was they collected beetles and larvas in Indian National Park. Right now, both of them are being held prisoner with the possibility of getting two to seven years of prison for collecting rare species in protected areas.

The arrested Czechs are employees of the Academy of Science, the Etymology branch. They are science workers so basically, they were doing a biological research. The Czech Government and the Academy backs our citizens in the court that that takes place on 7th July, and they hope Indians will understand their activity was not based on profit.

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Czech Tapestries Exhibition in Prague Museum

Thursday 26 June 2008 11:45

tapestry exhibition in Prague Designers, artists and architects are the authors of the projects, according to which tapestries are created in the manufacture in Valsske Mezirici of Northern Moravia are created for more than 110 years.

The cross-section of the 20th century production is displayed until 21st September at the exhibition in the Decorative Arts Museum in Prague, just by Charles Bridge.

The exhibition introduces the founder of the manufacture for tapestries and hand-made carpets Rudolf Schlattauer (1861-1915) but also works of younger designers plus works of present tapestry artists.

The exhibition starts today in Umeleckoprumyslove Muzeum – The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and lasts until 21st September 2008.

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Prague Ska Conspiracy in Cross Club

Thursday 26 June 2008 09:49

Originally, the project Prague Ska Conspiracy was intended as an instrumental group put together from members of Vertigo and Green Smatroll. Those who have lived in Prague ska – jazz scene for some time know, that these two names mean very quality sound by professionally educated musicians.

It was supposed to be an instrumental group, and it was for some time. But things changed rapidly when Mariana, the new singer with African roots, who decided the new direction in the first minute – the instrumental part became just a mount for her singing, very much jazzy, reggae, soul and African.

The group in its present form belong to the prominent musical ensembles of Prague, if we look at the overall quality of sound. You can hear them today, in club Cross, Plynarni street at Holesovice, where else than Prague.

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Celine Dion concert tomorrow

Wednesday 25 June 2008 18:01

The pop megastar Celine Dion introduces herself to her music fans in the Czech Republic. Within the world tour Taking Chances she is going to sing in Prague.

The tour, on which she is going to visit more than hundred of cities in five continents was started in February 2008.

Celine Dion, often labelled as the best selling woman interpret of all times, have sold over 180 million copies and gained over 1000 significant trophies, including Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, World Music, Juno and Felix Awards.

Celine Dion concert in Prague is tomorrow 26th June in Prague Multipurpose arena O2.

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Czech Green Party Leader – use a bike to get to work!

Wednesday 25 June 2008 15:42

Bursik initiated the ministry employees to use bicycles for their way to the parliament. Does the image of parliamentarians in Prague, where to use a bike means to hazard with life, going to work on bike seems Utopical? Maybe, but Bursik launched a mission to show environmentally friendly behaviour.

He already achieved that the roof of the Environment ministry was equipped with solar panels, he very well knows that the change of the society starts with an individual. Cars of his cabinet are hybrid ones, and he also fights for half of the car pool of the parliament would be hybrids. It is his credit that the parliamentary buffet offers ‘bioproducts. But this time… he may ask for too much. But if he wants to point at the situation, he is doing it right.

Yesterday Prague Transport Employees Strike

Wednesday 25 June 2008 13:45

Why to demonstrate? The deputies of union of Prague Public transport company don’t like the state-owned company doesn’t reflect increasing prices of goods and services on salaries. They decided to show their dissatisfaction by blocking Jecna street, which is a very centre-located expressway, where about 60 000 cars pass daily. They used packs of straw for stopping the traffic from 1 to 2 pm yesterday.

The strike of drivers included tramways stopping at the station, but the Prague Public transport company was prepared for it; they had back-up drivers prepared and just replaced those who didn’t wanted to continue, so in the end only seven tramways stopped, or they moved dead slow. The bus drivers were more successful, as about 200 buses stopped at stations.

Taxi drivers also joined the strike, but compared to the state transport company workers they caused not just dismay, but also disgust. They demanded cancellation of limits for charges, so they could go deeper into being an abomination. They blocked the road to the Airport and refused to take customers in. Hopefully, their demands won’t be listened to, prior to helping those who need it – the state employees who really have something to complain about.

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New York Gallery sells Czechoslovakia Formica

Wednesday 25 June 2008 11:58

an armchair In the Art district of New York Brooklyn with a fabulous view of Manhattan is possible to see an incredible thing – a prestigious vendor gallery selling Czech furniture from previous century. It may look like in the Husakovo 3+1, but you can only find the pearls of design.

a chandelier The subtle armchair with wooden hand rests, a kitchen chair from bent wood, a dish chandelier or the undefeated classic of 60’s Czechoslovak design – Formica kitchen table. The privately known objects return one into the grandparents house, even when one is one metro stop away form Manhattan.

The kingdom of Czech design belongs to Borton Quillen, and when he opened it he had no idea that one day the filmstar Rachel Weisz would come and buy a functionalist table worth 4200 dollars or that the French styler Christian Louboutin take a few accessories into his studio.

The design of the Czechoslovakia era became a hit at home again too, rising interest in Czechoslovakia design illustrates for exa