Janáček's Theatre (source: Wikimedia Commons)

From 2012 on, the quality of life in Brno may be going down.

The municipal budget of Brno got hit hard not only by the ongoing finance/debt crisis but also by a new rule, enforced by finance minister Miroslav Kalousek. The new system of wealth redistribution gives more public money to the so far underfinanced small Czech towns, while it cuts the donations to the so far overfinanced large cities. This means that the municipal budgets of Brno will be some 900,000,000 CZK (€35M) tighter in the future years.

While the town council does not even seem to try to save some money on huge infrastructure projects (like the new railway station), it has given a clear order to the directors of town-owned companies focused on culture and leisure time: find a way in which you can save 20 % of your budgets every year.

So, from the state of not really thinking much about money (no offense), many institutions instantly switched into a state of a saving shitstorm. And this could have bad consequences to the quality of life in Brno:

• Janáček’s Opera was supposed to close for seven months, which would actually mean the very end of this famous institution. After a huge protests of artists, fans of opera and some public personas (including former president Václav Havel), and also after a negative foreign press coverage, the town coucil is looking for a way how to save the opera. It is likely it will be joined with some other institution.
• Zoological garden is going to fire 20 percent of its employees
• Cinema Scala is going to close down. The town-owned space will be rented to another institution, probably to the owners of Fléda club.
• The price of public transport tickets and coupons will rise. Not only because the budget cuts, but also due to the VAT increase (14 percent, the highest level in the central Europe).

The cuts should not affect most of alternative clubs, festivals and events, as the council has not been cuddling them with donations. Surprisingly, this is becoming their advantage.

A lost dog found at Zvonařka st. on December 6

• Diocesan charity of Brno is helping “anyone who can not take care for himself/herself”, which means lonesome old people, terminally ill persons etc. They will be grateful for money at sent at 1583741621/0100 KB (source).
• Shopping mall “Galerie Orlí” at Orlí st. has been having a tradition of “the christmas tree of fulfilled wishes”. There are many letters to Jesus baby/Santa Claus written by children living in orphanages and similar institutions; you can buy them the gifts they want.
• Love animals? Donate the animal shelter run by the Metropolitan police or “adopt” an animal in the ZOO. You can also bring an abandoned dog or cat home.
• Got a lot of stuff (clothes, decorations, etc.) you do not actually need? Bring it to 38 Pekařská st. to a charity shop of Veronica foundation – the money made by selling it will be invested in various “green projects”.
• If you want to learn kids from poor Romani families English, contact the folks from Museum of Romani Culture (haven’t tried this one, it is a tip from a reader).
• One of my friends spends Christmas Eves by walking the streets and giving money and packs of cigarettes to homeless people. Way cool.

Of course, this list is not ultimate; I will try to update it on a regular basis. You can also get some “crowdsourced” tips at our Facebook page.

Vítězslav Krejčí posted this fancy video of winter ZOO to the Facebook page of Brno Now:

Zoo is opened every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and most of the animals is having quite a good time in the snow, so be sure to visit the garden before spring comes.

Help to build a new home for your favorite runaway monkey

Poster of Heiko (source: www.zoobrno.cz)

Gelada baboon male Heiko has escaped the garden for two times and the management of the ZOO is trying to collect money for building a better run, where Heiko would not feel so urgent need of running away.

If you want to help Heiko, send a short text message “HEIKO” to number 902 77 40 before January 31 (I think you need a Czech SIM-card to do this). It will cost you CZK 40 (€1.50) and you will receive a message that will serve as a ticket to the grand opening of Heiko’s new palace.

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A male gelada (theropithecus gelada). Source: Wikimedia Commons

The management of ZOO planned to hand gelada baboon male Heiko over to some other ZOO but it seems that the freewheeling monkey is actually a kind of advertisment for the zoological garden, attracting many new fans.

Heiko has run away from ZOO twice in last two years. In 2007, he was captured after several days while he was begging golf players in Jinačovice for cookies. In October 2009, he spent several nights hidden in woods around quarters Bystrc and Kohoutovice.

Martin Hovorka, director of the ZOO, anounced yesterday that Heiko would stay in Brno, relocated to a safer pavilion.

Source: Brněnský deník Rovnost

Driving to Brno ZOO has been complicated since the ZOO launched. It will change in 2012.

The management of the ZOO presented a project of a new entrance and a parking lot for 300 cars and 10 buses last week. The building was designed by studio Arch Design and the construction will cost about CZK 200,000,000 (€7,178,000).

The town hall will help the management to get money from european grants.

It doesn’t matter anymore that you don’t know a lot about Brno or about romance: there go 3 proven tips!

1. Have an unforgettable dinner

There are several really great restaurants in Brno and some of them prepared special “Valentine’s Day Menus” to feed all those hungry, romance-seeking pairs.

Martin Němec, the food and beverage manager of Rialto Ristorante, sent us this yummy menu, worth CZK 890 (€32):

• Fresh oyster
• Creamy terrine in Ikarimi – smoked salmon jacket on cucumber noodles
• Home-made ravioli filled with spinach, parsley, and quail soft-boiled egg white with truffle butter
• Veal medallions wrapped in potato chips with artichokes on morel sauce and Jerusalem artichoke or Cacciucco soup with Mediterranean fish and shellfish
• Sacher parfait with apricot sauce

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I also recommend restaurant Brabander at Joštova st.; they will be serving these delicatessen, worth CZK 759 (€27):

• Duck marinated in lemon and honey with peppermint and cranberry mousse
• Tiger shrimps in rice Wonton with spicy mango sauce
• Mint lime sorbet
• Turkey Tournedos with potato pudding and a drop of truffle oil
• Marchpane balls with chocolate and almonds

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2. Say goodbye to Bill and Tom, the Knuts of Brno

February 14th is the perfect day to say goodbye to Bill and Tom, cute fluffy young polar bears that will leave Brno and find their new home in Gelsenkirchen a day after the Valentine’s day. The entrance fee for the ZOO is very reasonable CZK 80 (€2.80).

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3. Learn about the history of sex

Exhibition “100,000 years of sex” located in the Špilberk castle has a “Valentine’s day discount” – pairs will pay CZK 200 (€7.20) for entrance instead of 2 times CZK 150. Hurray: exploring ancient erotic toys won’t destroy your budget!

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Whatever you will do, have a great Valentine’s Day!