Nobody’s Son by Mark Slouka

We interrupt our regular programming to alert all of our Czech and Slovak friends in the New York area to try to attend Mark Slouka’s book launch for Nobody’s Son at the Powerhouse Arena on Thursday, Oct 20, 2016. Mark Slouka is a fellow member of Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences (SVU)* and we’re pleased to...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

October 17, 2016

Bohemian Enameled Glass – 1700s to 1800s

Today we are looking at the beautiful hand painted pieces of Bohemian enameled glass – 1700s to 1800s. The glass then was non-leaded and the painted details are in vitreous enamel, also known as porcelain enamel. This kind of enamel was used to decorate glass vessels since the Roman period, and there is evidence of...

Bohemian Glass, CULTURE

October 16, 2016

Sunday Snacks from a Czech Kitchen

Today, October 16th is World Food Day, a day when people the world over are asked to join the global movement to end hunger. World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. We’re making a...

LIFESTYLE, Recipes

October 15, 2016

Pestrý Týden 1926 Vintage Covers from Czech Weekly News

Today we are looking at Pestrý týden from 1926 – Vintage Covers from Czech Weekly News. Pestrý týden (Variety or Varied Weekly news) was a popular illustrated magazine during the First and Second Czechoslovak Republic during the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. It was published November 2, 1926 to April 28, 1945 and it maintained a very high standard...

NOSTALGIA, Periodicals

October 15, 2016

Groovy Dance Party with Karel Gott

We’re feeling a little groovy today and we’ve been listening to old vintage Karel Gott YouTube videos from the 60s and having a blast. So much so we’ve decided to let you in on the party. Welcome to the groovy dance party with Karel Gott! Turn on your speakers, enjoy and make sure to pay...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

October 12, 2016

Čapek’s Bookshelf: The Book Design of Josef Čapek

Look at what we found today! A rare Japanese First Edition copy of Čapek’s Bookshelf: The Book Design of Josef Čapek. This amazing full color edition features 119 Czech Avant Garde book covers from the 1920s and 1930s. Superb collection of Czech avant garde graphic design from the 1920s and 1930s. Also includes an appreciation...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 11, 2016

Accompanying a Kroj, Folk Headwear

Last week we were able to look under a kroj to reveal the many layers and many people reached out and told us how much they enjoyed the post. Today we are once again sharing the gorgeous photography from the site of Kristýna Petříčková, a Czech costume designer actively engaged in the reconstruction of historical...

Fashion, LIFESTYLE

October 10, 2016

Tramp Music Songbook Covers Pre-1940s

Czech trampská hudba, also known as Czech tramping or tramp music and tramping songs, known as trampská píseň, or trampske písničky are a style of song and music associated with an activity known as tramping. Originating in the early 1900’s, many say it was right after WWI that the sound came to then called Czechoslovakia....

ENTERTAINMENT, Music, NOSTALGIA, Periodicals, Tramping

October 9, 2016

Cost of a Typical Meal at a Czech Restaurant

Sunday is a good day to look at the cost of a typical meal at a Czech restaurant. No matter where you are in the world, people love to go out to eat and in the USA we can expect to spend anywhere from $5-10 for a fast food quick meal including a burger, fries and coke to...

Food, LIFESTYLE

October 7, 2016

What’s Under a Kroj?

Do you ever wonder what’s under a kroj that makes it so puffy and how many layers it actually has? We do. For those who do not know what a kroj is, a kroj is a Bohemian, Moravian or Slovak traditional folk dress or costume from the area of what’s today called the Czech Republic or...

Fashion, LIFESTYLE

October 6, 2016

Czech Posters for Films

Again we came across something wonderful. Today we are sharing Czech Posters for Films from the Collection of Terry Posters. This is the official Exhibition Catalogue from 2013 and was published on the occasion of the exhibition from August 28 to December 1, 2013 at the National Film Center, The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 5, 2016

AngusFarm – Texas Tack Meets Old Bohemian Farm

There is nothing like the joy of real food and there’s no place like home to get it. For us, home is in the Czech Republic and the place we can most recommend for a natural and farming meal (and stay) is AngusFarm. A beautiful bit of the old American West in the heart of...

Food, LIFESTYLE

October 3, 2016

Domov Czech Magazine Collection

Today we are looking at some retro covers from Časopis Domov (Home Magazine) from the 60s, 70s and 80s. This Domov Czech Magazine has existed for 56 years and it’s still a popular item on newsstands today. Oh, what we wouldn’t give for some of these very old editions of the magazine! So modern for the time, despite...

NOSTALGIA, Periodicals

the-new-vision-for-the-new-architecture-czechoslovakia-1918-to-1938

October 1, 2016

The New Vision for the New Architecture Czechoslovakia 1918-1938

Browsing at an old bookstore, we came across a treasure! The New Vision for the New Architecture Czechoslovakia 1918-1938 by Jaroslav Andel, published by Scalo Verlag AG, Zurich 2006. What a beautiful and fantastic huge volume featuring the Modernist and avant-garde architecture from Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1938. This hardcover edition of The New Vision for...

Architecture, Books, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT

September 29, 2016

The Czechs of Masaryktown, Florida

On our last visit south, we visited Masaryktown, Florida. We had heard there was a vibrant Czech community there and a Czech hotel and restaurant. But when we arrived, all that it seems remains are the Czech street names, the hotel building and a sign that briefly touches on the history of this once vibrant community. The...

LIFESTYLE

September 28, 2016

St. Wenceslas Day

Today is September 28th, better known as St. Wenceslas Day. It is a National Holiday in the Czech Republic. This holiday is always celebrated on the 28th of September and, is also known as ‘Czech Statehood Day’. It has been a public holiday since 2000. It is the feast day of St. Wenceslas, the patron...

Holidays, LIFESTYLE