The 11th of November is the day when it is supposed to start snowing in the Czech lands. At least that’s what a Czech proverb says. But the weather was surprisingly warm yesterday. And it should last for a few days at least. So the first snow is yet to come but you no longer have to wait for the young St Martin’s wine (Svatomartinské víno) from Moravia or the French Beaujolais Nouveau. The season of young wine tasting has started and you can enjoy it with roast goose and traditional Moravian sweets served at numerous restaurants and events across the country. One such event, Letenská husa, will be in Prague’s Letenský park this weekend.
Once you have eaten and tasted the wine, you may be ready for some music. There is plenty to choose from. Lila Downs, a Mexican singer who contributed to the Frida soundtrack with her song Burn It Blue, will play at Palác Akropolis on Thursday. Jean Michel Jarre will present one of his best albums, Oxygene, the same night at O2 Arena. If you prefer swing, don’t miss the Swing Music Festival at National House of Vinohrady, featuring the American vocalist band Take 6, the Czech retro-swing band Melody Makers, or the Slovak-born trumpet player Laco Deczi. (13-15 November)
The Electronic Beats Festival in Prague is set to rock the stage at Veletržní palác on Friday with a line-up of popular electro-acts, including Red Snapper, Róisín Murphy, Hercules And Love Affair. The following day, Michael Bolton, an American singer and songwriter, who has released 17 studio albums and 35 singles in his more than thirty-year career, some of which have topped the US charts, will play in Prague’s Lucerna.
You can end the week with The Rezurex and Al & the Black Cats, two American bands that are great at combining early rock-n-roll with punk. They will play on Sunday night at Prague’s Klub 007.
On Monday, Roxy will celebrate the national holiday (the 19th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution) together with Monster Magnet, an American hard rock band from New Jersey. The band will present their latest release 4-Way Diablo.
Once you have satisfied your taste and hearing, you can focus on feeding the eyes. Two exhibitions are opening in Prague these days: The Czech Press Photo at Prague’s Old Town Hall will present prize-winning photographs taken by Czech journalists over the last year. (13 November – 20 January)
Art Nouveau-inspired jewellery created by Irena Veselá Rendlová of white brass, silver and fossil stones as well as art works of Karel Votipka, who exhibited at Hellen Drutt’s gallery in New York, will be on show at Gallery KusKovu as part of the exhibition called Metal and stone, stone and metal from 18 November.
Pass the Popcorn
In my opinion, the best film event of the week is the Prague Short Film Festival scheduled for 12 – 16 November. The festival hosted by Světozor will present the best short films created over the last year by talented young filmmakers from all over the globe. Don’t miss the first films of today’s famous directors, award winning films from prestigious festivals, women’s vision of sex or the phenomenon of dogs in film. Check out the festival programme here.
Apart from that, three film premiers are arriving to your local theatre:
Sztuczki (Tricks) is the second feature by Polish director Andrzej Jakimowski after Squint Your Eyes in 2002. The movie picked up the Europa Cinemas prize in Venice and receives great reviews. The story of two children in search of their father could at first glance seem rather conventional, but it is enriched by a sense of space and rhythm showing Jakimowski as a master of directing, according to Hollywoodreporter.
In Anglické jahody, Czech director Vladimír Drha shows how the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia changed the lives of locals. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Etan Cohen’s second movie about New York Zoo animals, is supposed to be brighter and more engaging than the original film, Chicago Sun Times writes.
