May 2013 picks: Vlna, food festival & fireworks

by Michal Kašpárek on April 29, 2013

May in Brno = fireworks, but there is much more in the town to do:

5/4-21 Itch My Hahaha Festival @ Kabinet Múz

The popular Itch My Hahaha party presenting fresh sounds turns into a four-part festival:

5/10 – Vlna vol 2. @ Vlněna

Last November, the first Vlna party was extremly refreshing: abandoned factory hall right in the middle of the town (1 Přízová st.), hundreds of young people, total chaos: just look at this gallery. This time, it could be even bigger.

Line up: Piča z hoven, To žluté co máte na kalhotkách, Gerda Blank, HERTZ DJs, T-Raidr.

5/10-12 – Špilberk Food Festival

Koishi, Il Mercato, Pavillon, Brabander and some other of the best restaurants of Brno will present their trademark dishes at Špilberk castle. Last year, the festival was a huge success among local foodies. Order your tickets online for a better price.

5/16 – Super Ego Kid; The Forks; Zucchini @ Fléda

Three noise bands playing in the middle of the crowd. That could be cool. CZK 100 is a no-risk ticket price.

5/18 – Museum Night

Probably the liveliest night in Brno. All museums will open their doors at 6 p.m. Until midnight, you can browse the expositions and enjoy various concerts. Some of the venues will charge small entrance fees. Check out the programme at the Brno Museum Night website.

5/24 – Night of Churches

Almost all churches in Brno (all Catholic, Hussite & Czech Brethren churches) will be open to general public from late afternoon to late night. What I like about this event is that you may enter many places closed for the rest of the year, esp. towers and crypts.

The list of churches joining the event in Brno is to be found at nockostelu.cz. No English version available.

5/24-6/16 – Ignis Brunensis Festival

Although the larger part of the bread’n'games publicly funded festival takes place in June, there are some events in May, too: Children’s Day at the airport (5/26), Vystec fest at the Exhibition Ground (5/25-26), and the opening firework show (5/25 at the Exhibition Ground). Explore the schedule of non-fireworks Ignis Brunensis events and the schedule of the firework shows.

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Giraffy Burger Bar

April 2013 picks: Jazz festival and fresh burgers

by Michal Kašpárek on April 3, 2013

It seems like winter doesn’t want to leave the town; at least there are many things that may cheer you up in April.

New restaurants and cafés

Two new burger bars open their doors on the first week of April: Giraffy Burger Bar at 35 Kounicova st. and East Village Bar & Diner at 2 Jaselská st.

Café Atlas opened next to the Bakala Hall at 6 Žerotínovo náměstí sq., which has been quite an unlucky place for café owners. I hope that the wonderful, encyclopedia-inspired interior designed by Martin Hrdina (Franz, Alfa café, Art café) will bring some luck to Ondřej “Čestmír” Pilát (also owner of Tungsram café).

Beer bar Na stojáka will launch at Jakubské náměstí on the second week of April. Cool concept: beer from cool breweries, cheaper than CZK 39/glass, you just have to drink it standing. I don’t mind that at all!

Jazz Fest Brno

various venues, jazzfestbrno.cz

After the wonderful concert of Chick Corea, the festival goes on with these concerts (check out the website for details):

  • Martin Brunner Trio a Epoque Quartet – Morning Walks(CZ) & Craig Taborn Trio (USA) on 4/4
  • Emil Viklický a Scott Robinson (CZ/USA) & Javier Girotto a Pigeon Saxophone Quartet (CZ/AG) on 4/8
  • Pivec – Novák – Kováč & The Trio of OZ featuring Rachel Z and Omar Hakim (USA) on 4/10
  • Free Tenors: Sokal-Štveráček-Wiesinger (CZ/AUT) on 4/11
  • Nikolaj Nikitin Quartet featuring Patches Stewart (SK/USA) Rez Abbasi Trio + special Guest Rudresh Mahanthappa (IND/USA) on 4/19
  • Dan Bárta a Robert Balzar Trio (CZ) & Gustav Brom Bigband feat. Roberta Gambarini_Pocta Günteru Kočímu (CZ/ITA/USA) on 4/21
  • Kekko Fornarelli Trio (ITA) & Shai Maestro Trio (IL) on 4/23
  • Luboš Soukup Quartet (CZ/SWE/DK) & Will Vinson Quartet (UK/USA) on 4/24
  • Charette/Štveráček/Šoltis Super Trio (CZ/SK/USA) & Milo Suchomel Groove Sextet – Jazz in the City (SK) on 4/30

Bonjour Brno 2013 — The Days of French Culture

4/3—4/27, various venues, bonjourbrno.cz (Czech only)

Like every spring, Alliance Francaise is doing their best to promote French culture with various events – and to piss off people who don’t speak neither Czech nor French :)

My picks: the week of French cuisine in La Bouchée restaurant (4/15—4/21), 12 films of Chris Marker screened in Art cinema with Czech subtitles (4/11—4/14) and a pétanque tournament taking place in Lužánky park on Sunday, April 21, on 11 a.m.

Encounter 2013 — International Festival of Theatre Schools

4/16—4/20, various venues, encounter.cz (English website)

Bringing some punk to theatre — for the 23rd time already.

Recommended concerts & parties

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Giraffy Burger Bar

March 2013 picks: Chick Corea, Swans, Yamato

March 1, 2013

I decided to discontinue the calendar of events and reduce the noise by publishing monthly digests of the most interesting concerts, festivals and things to do in the town. What’s going on in Brno in March 2013? 2/27—3/6: Cinema Mundi Film Festival @ various venues The largest film festival taking place in Brno each year. [...]

Grand Restaurant Festival is back

January 14, 2013

Curious about the best restaurants in Brno? Grand Restaurant Festival offers a budget-wise solution. From January 15 to February 28, chosen venues will offer special tasting menus.

Cuts hit public transit in Brno. Lines # 7, 13, 29, 45 aborted

December 23, 2012

The council fails to provide one of the basic services it is supposed to provide.

Christmas and New Year in Brno: 3 things to know

November 28, 2012

Curious about the Christmas markets, New Year’s Eve and helping people in need? There go the answers!

Thumbnail image for Mezipatra fest to focus on “power, manipulation and insanity”

Mezipatra fest to focus on “power, manipulation and insanity”

November 15, 2012

After selling out the cinemas in Prague last week, the popular gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender film festival Mezipatra moves to Brno for the 13th time. It will take place in Art cinema and Stadec club from November 16 to November 22.

5+1 things to do in Brno on St. Martin’s weekend

November 8, 2012
Thumbnail image for Signals from the Unknown: a tribute to Czech comics

Signals from the Unknown: a tribute to Czech comics

October 29, 2012

Good boys “Rychlé šípy“, cartoon animals “Čtyřlístek“, works of Kája Soudek and other celebrated artifacts of Czech popular culture have been finally given the honor they deserve: the exhibition called Signals from the Unknown. Tomáš Prokůpek and Pavel Kořínek have curated 300 items from several institutions and private collections. There are various affiliated events (Czech [...]

Thumbnail image for Beautiful books, posters and leaflets at Brno Biennial

Beautiful books, posters and leaflets at Brno Biennial

October 8, 2012

I finally went to see the 25th International Biennial of Graphic Design Brno. If you appreciate good design and typography, you have only three more weeks to do it too. You definitely should!