Nightlife has been the most read topic on Brno Now. Photo by Zdenek Softic

These have been the most read articles of the last year (which was actually the very first year of Brno Now):

1. Brno nightlife 101: Guide to clubs and fun
2. Starobrno six pack on How I Met Your Mother
3. The most affordable, yet tasty sushi
4. The cost of living in Brno, Czech republic
5. The best value for money in a restaurant
6. 10 ways to have fun and make friends during your Erasmus study period
7. Biking in Brno: map of paths, trip ideas, safety advices
8. The best kebab in Brno
9. How safe is Brno for women? Tips for better personal safety
10. Shopping guide: Where to buy anything in Brno
11. 10 true specials of south Moravia
12. Photos of battle for Brno reshot in today’s streets
13. 5 great running and jogging trails
14. Buy tofu, noodles, coriander & rice at a Vietnamese market
15. Parking in Brno – guide to free or secure parking with maps

If you just discovered any interesting advices, why don’t you share them with your friends via Facebook? :)

brněnské siluety 2 - brno's silhouettes 2

Tom Křišťan is a talented photographer and you can meet him in the streets of Brno. He captured so beautiful photo of Parnas fountain at Zelný trh sq it’s making me jealous. What a simple idea and pure beauty.

American band Mahjongg performing at Fléda

There are 3-15 concerts or parties held every day in Brno, so it’s impossible to invite you to every single event via Brno Now — but you can use social service last.fm to discover what’s going on in the town.

The user-powered database of events is quite large and reliable, so save this search page showing upcoming events to your favorites. The cool thing is that you can listen to all the bands online, so you can decide whether to attend a concert of an artist you don’t know.

Too bad last.fm doesn’t export that calendar to RSS, Google Calendar or Twitter stream, I would integrate it to Brno Now.

Brno Now has been a handy tool for the expats in Brno for almost a year – here are the best articles to read if you are going to study in Brno this fall.

• Let’s start with two links: to orientate yourself, explore the maps of Brno at Google Maps or Mapy.cz (in Czech but with more businesses marked).
• One more link: I wrote a guide for Erasmus students for website Brno 101 some time ago.
• There are some more useful web services that will easier your relocation: find out how to find the right bus, apartment and concert.
• You’ll have to do some shopping. To find out where to buy food, furniture etc., print out our guide to shopping in Brno.
• Wanna party? These are the favorite pubs of Michal Kašpárek, the blogger behind Brno Now. I’ve published a list of popular clubs as well.
• Maybe you are a woman who is afraid of living alone in a completly unknown town. Don’t worry, just follow our safety guidelines.
• You’re probably young and green – so learn about biking in Brno.
• If you are still only thinking about relocation to Brno, check the cost of living in the town.

Brno Now has a category focused on new people in town – the district guides. If you are still looking for a flat, don’t forget to check your neighborhood there.

So – welcome, herzlich willkommen, dobrodošli! Become a Facebook fan of Brno Now and join a community of hundreds open-minded expats, willing to help each other.

New TV ad for construction machinery seller Mátl & Bula is mocking the legendary music video for Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction right in the streets of Brno.

The girls try to destroy one of the statues in streets I wrote about two weeks ago:

It’s so wrong on so many levels: it’s vandalism, it’s an imitation of someone else’s idea, it’s so sexist (oh, have you seen the backstage tape?) — but you know what? It’s also fresh and funny. I sent it to all my (male) friends and blogged about it just now — so actually, it’s a great viral campaign. I am just curious about the possible consequences for Mátl & Bula.

Photographer Dalibor Levíček has a beautiful gallery of worn-out ads from the streets of Brno. This image is stunning:

Aftertaste by Dalibor Levíček

According to a map, the poster is located somewhere at Nové Sady st. in Trnitá neighborhood.

I was surfing through Flickr and suddenly discovered this moving photo, taken by a wonderfully tallented photographer Luc Peskova-Kulichova:

A. and R.

Although Luc is from Prague, the photograph was made in Brno – the pair is standing in front of a chapel near Veveří catle.

Enjoy the live broadcast from Brno at Twitter!

Brno Now launched a Twitter stream and a Facebook page.

Both of the services are bringing you short news and also working as a new communication channel between you and me. If you feel curious about Brno or about Brno Now, just become a part of the growing community, ask questions, send tips, help this useful website to grow!

There was a motor show held in Brno two weeks ago – you can easily find many galleries of models posing with glamour cars, but I still prefer this simple picture:

Autíčka by Pepetka

I missed the last “free hugs campaign” – but my friend Michal didn’t. I will try to be more active, so we all can get a free hug next time:

"Free hugs campaign" by midori.witch

I hope none of these girls had to be put to sleep:

Mantila Brno @ 10th Aesthetic Group Gymnastics World Championships

Thumbs up for this simple shot of one of the best-known hotels in Brno:

Hotel International by Uwe.Koch

Interesting articles from last two weeks:

• Empty Brno Dam revealed its secrets: grenades and mud traps (The Czech Daily Word)
• Thousands registered to attend the Pope’s September mass in Brno (The Czech Daily Word)
• Yellow plague, says a racist slogan painted on a Vietnamese bistro (The Czech Daily Word)

The funniest tweets

• sadwska: is in Brno! What is that weird smell here?
• AlexWalmsley: When a stranger in Brno tells you that you have a reputation it’s time to start planning your move

Ignis Brunensis 2009 is over. According to a press release, the fireworks and other events were seen by 1,574,000 spectators (not including the Museum night, Night of churches and Motor show), which is a new record.

(I can easily imagine how were those exact numbers created, but… let’s shut up and celebrate.)

I found some great photos at photo-sharing site Flickr, although there’s no sharp picture of the last Friday’s wonderful Grandfinale (by SFX Barrandov). Anyway, enjoy these pics and galleries:

The winning fireworks show by Grupo Luso Pirotecnia (Portugal), captured by Flickr user vasekk

Spanish fireworks show, captured by Flickr user Morten Almqvist

Fireworks above the cathedral of St. Peter, photo by Petr Dvořák

Ignis Brunensis 2010 will start on May 21 and end on June 6 – I’m really looking forward!

A “crowdsourced” piece of art was created last friday during the museum night. Hundreds of people played with cobblestones left at Husova st. and made dozens of funny ornaments and statues. Check a large Facebook gallery!

Cobblestone statues and ornaments created during the Museum night. Photo by Alex Butin

Flickr finds of the week

Janáček

confederate flag at the tackiest American-west-themed restaurant EVER in Brno

Porsche 996 Turbo

le parkur

Twitter buzz

• Be_Bis: yesterday’s trip to brno..http://twitgoo.com/672f
• CZECHPOINT101: Cooperation with Mayo clinic brings millions to Czech researchers in Brno: http://bit.ly/mfu6S
• sammybiddle: “Petr kubik – Brno, Czech Republic – new concept of taxi via kwout” – Petr kubik – Brno, Czech Republic – new… http://tumblr.com/xy81twqjc
  
• IntendantKingFM: Just went to Brno and got some wine. Moravian wines are very excellent!
• justineabigail: $1 beers and 2$ bottles of wine?! Can you say heaven? Brno = love
• CTK_news: Brno authority wants to retain sickle and hammer on monument http://tinyurl.com/pp3z2v
• standacz: Im having wonderful sunday in Brno

Articles & blogposts

• Read about Brno in English
• ProtestFest: one thousand alternative culture fans in the streets of Brno

Flickr discoveries

The Brno dam is being cleaned. Beaches go much further than usual and the whole place looks very different than last year – swimmers are sad, metal detectorists burst with joy. Check out a photo by Yakobo.

Half-empty dam by Yakobo

I’m not the only “lomographer” who unpacks his equipment every spring :) This cute picture was taken in quarter Žabovřesky.

"miss photographer in slightly deformed spacetime" by sempull_tampush

Tweets from Brno

• Bassplayer6489: Brno, Czech Republic is home to the most amazing park/castle in Europe, Spilberk Castle.
• VirtualRnet: A new version of Brno for rFactor has been released – http://tinyurl.com/couxl8
• godfather_cz: Finally proper running sushi in Brno Momo Sushi Bar: http://twitpic.com/4up1b !!!
• bretislav: “The andromeda galaxy will collide with the milu way in a few billion years.” outdoor space exhibition, Brno… Way cool!
• rowlandwright: Brno is a lovely town to walk through and the weather has been fab. http://twitpic.com/4sx07
• rowlandwright: Brno is a cute and charming town and I hadn’t even heard of it before. Yup philistine. http://bit.ly/rmQsC
• Colllins_Behnam: Just arrived to Brno! Really beatiful city, reminds me to Vienna!Babicz is a really cool guy, we will look for dinner, and of course beer:-)

Week in blogs and media

• Czech skateboard-and-skatestore used the F-word in its advertising (The Czech Daily Word)