The Music Hall of Williamsburg
March 3, 2008
The hippest neighborhood in the land (Williamsburg) recently saw the opening of another fantastic music venue. The Music Hall of Williamsburg is small enough to feel intimate, but big enough to get some phenomenal acts. The Hall has already hosted Patti Smith on opening night and a memorable series of shows by The National. On March 3 and 4, two classic lo-fi rockers take the stage—Vic Chesnutt and Jonathan Richman. This is your rare chance to see two legendary songwriters share the same stage. Arrive in the ‘hood early or stay late so you can hit up the gazillion cool bars that litter the area. Other notable upcoming shows include The Hives, The Black Lips, and Pelican. Williamsburg rocks.
Rome Wine Festival
March 3, 2008
Hooray! This coming weekend at the impressive Spazio Etoile is the Rome Wine Festival, running from the 29th until the 2nd of next month.
Whether you have a thirst for knowledge or vino and whether you choose to visit for information or inebriation, both are suitably and extensively provided for. Though there is a €20 entrance, there is free
tasting of over 350 wines from 84 producers and an impressive collection of international experts, critics and journalists offering their experience, insight and opinions into the fine art of winemaking.
Look out for us in the corner, nodding knowingly in agreement while surreptitiously necking our money’s’ worth.
Hotel de Russie
March 3, 2008
If you have a penchant for art and history and budget is not an issue, we might have just the place for you. Claiming to be ‘as breathtaking inside as out’, you can stay in a style that James Bond himself would be impressed with.
This sumptuous hotel also offers a vast array of full and half day excursions that will simultaneously satiate both your thirst for knowledge and basic tourist desires: from historical trips outside the city to extremely informative art centred city jaunts.
If their jaw-dropping prices are outside your budget, do not fear, as until the 29th February they’re hosting an amusing St. Valentines influenced mixed media exhibition by Vittorio Rappini. This show, it seems, aims to prove that you can artistically replicate women’s mouths just as well via pixel as oil and pencil. Good work if you can get it!
Prologue
March 3, 2008
Small but perfectly formed – we’re loving the little show at the rather excellent Nancy Victor gallery on Charlotte Street. Like all the best shows at the moment this is right at the cusp of where the graffiti world meets the fine art world. Those of you with a little bit of street history will recognise some of the names – Jay One, Juice 126, LX One, Remi/Rough, System and Timid – but if you’re new to the world then this is a good introduction to where exactly the scene is at at the moment. Vibrant, funny, political and brash, and all fro the princely sum of zero pound, zero pence, this is well worth a visit. Watch the stairs mind!
The Battles of František Vláčil
March 3, 2008
It is somewhat inexplicable that filmmaker František Vláčil lacks the popular international renown of Miloš Forman and Jiří Menzel. A poll of 100 Czech film critics in 1998 revealed Vláčil’s 1967 medieval-set epic Markéta Lazarová to be the greatest Czech film of all time
Comparable in vision and acumen to Bergman or Kurosawa, Vláčil was an uncompromising and demanding master of cinema whose films are unflinching stories of man’s struggle against some implacable force, be it society, nature or his own passion. It’s a struggle Vláčil knew well, as the director suffered through the strictures of the communist authorities, his battles with alcohol and his failed marriages.
The current exhibit at Prague Castle includes countless film clips and stills, screenplays, props, drawings and set designs, as well as behind-the-scenes footage never seen (and unlikely ever to be seen again), such as how Vláčil filmed scenes of dismemberment.
The Battles of František Vláčil
Until 31 May
Imperial Stables, Prague Castle
Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
Müller Villa
March 3, 2008
The Müller Villa is a classic example of the often self-contradictory work of architect Adolf Loos. Loos designed the house for František Müller, a leading industrialist during Czechoslovakia’s First Republic.
The villa itself is a leading example of Modern architecture, embodying Loos’ concept of Raumplan living space. Loos famously stated that he considered ornamentation to be “a crime”. “The work of art is not answerable to anyone, the house to everyone,” Loos once said. “And thus I love the house and hate art.” But while the exterior of the Müller Villa is so plain as to be harsh, the interior is richly decorated in various woods, marbles and fabrics.
After decades of neglect and abuse, the villa has been completely restored and is now in the care of the City of Prague Museum. Until the end of May, the museum is offering half-price admissions to the villa.
Müller Villa
Nad Hradním vodojemem 14
CZ 162 00 Prague 6 - Střešovice
Czech Republic
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tours begin at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Studio K
March 3, 2008
Studio K is a new cultural centre in East Amsterdam. Located in an old school building, Studio K is a diverse source for you cultural appetite. There’s theatre, film and even art on the menu, as are delicious foods on the menu of Studio K’s restaurant, the perfect place for a cup of coffee or lunch (and dinner too). Whether you’re in for a cultural adventure, or looking for a place to meet the locals, Studio K has it all and more.
Studio K
Timorplein 62
020 6920422
Cafe Notegen
February 14, 2008
Truly lost in time, a place where we come and imagine the last 100 years have never happened. We challenge you to find a cafe more charming than this.
Historically, this was a gathering place for Rome’s intellectual and artistic elite, which is as appealing to our egos as to our sense of cultural history. Even Bertolucci has shown his face here.
Open late, serving food and alcohol as well as fine coffee this is one of those unique cafes that are sadly being multinationalised out of many our world’s great cities.
There are often debates, poetry recitals and photographic exhibitions, which can nourish your creative soul as you nourish your physical body.
Ultrabeat @ Goa Club
February 14, 2008
This is an extremely long running, weekly club night in a venue that hosts an array of ear-pounding successful club nights in a lively and vibrant district of the city.
The ethos, to us, seems to be bringing all of Goa’s chilled-out comforts and tranced-up techno vibes to Rome. Presented in a swaggeringly cool and trendy setting with a relaxed, rather than exclusive, atmosphere and definitely far more for the hipsters than the hippies.
Easily and regularly attracting superstar DJs, on Thursday 21st Sven Vath, currently on a world tour, is dropping in.
LOW Festival 2008
February 14, 2008
The LOW Festival of Dutch and Flemish Art Festival to be held in Budapest from 15th February to 12th March. It’s all about contemporary arts from the Netherlands and the Flanders, including music – classic, jazz and pop, design, architecture, theatre and films.
The festival is organized by the Dutch Embassy and the Flemish Representation in Budapest to promote the Dutch/Flemish culture in Hungary.
Festival events will take place at over 20 locations in the Hungarian capital. Among the performances are “Kamp”, a play about the horrors of Auschwitz, classical music concert by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Dutch-Flemish art exhibitions, VJ tournament, a three-day program called “My City Amsterdam”. All in all, there will be approximately 500 performers and 100 performances.
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