Tarzan Retired – The Work of Miroslav Tichy

Maybe you have heard of Miroslav Tichý (1926 – 2011), the eccentric and unsuspecting man with the homemade cardboard, plywood and tin cameras. Call him a Czech version of a Vivian Maier if you will – only his photo taking was never really a secret other than the odd looking cameras he used really worked. He...

LIFESTYLE

March 6, 2016

Mid-Century Czech Chair Designs

I have a chair fetish. Seriously. That is why I just had to post Mid-Century Czech Chair Designs. I became hooked when my boyfriend Michael introduced me to Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his Art Nouveau chairs. Then I moved on to van der Rohe, Wright, Rietveld, Corbusier, Stickley, Breuer, Austral, Eames and Piretti. So many designers who changed the shape of the chair....

LIFESTYLE

March 5, 2016

Visiting History: Radio Free Europe

When we were in Prague, we got to visit a place that has security more intense (we were told) than the White House in the United States of America… It’s not a government organization. It’s not the White House. It’s not Buckingham Palace. It’s not the Pentagon. And, thankfully, it was not the house of some...

Wanderlust

March 4, 2016

Photo Lens: Jiří Macht Poetic Prague

All of the images are from the book entitled Praha Poeticka or Poetic Prague. The photographer of these lovely images is Jiří Macht (born 1949). The scenes, a lonely looking Prague in black and white. Enjoy… Which image is your favorite? If you have not already subscribed to get TresBohemes.com delivered to your inbox, please use the...

CULTURE, Photography

March 2, 2016

The Ghosts of Czech Border Fortifications

In the interwar period, Czechoslovakia expanded its powerful network of fortifications along the border with Germany. Today we look at the ghosts of Czech border fortifications captured by Czech photographer Roman Kubeček. Work on the fortifications began in 1935 because of fears of a German invasion at the border (number 1545 kilometers). The huge project aimed to...

LIFESTYLE

March 1, 2016

Mushrooms with Scrambled Eggs

Mushrooms with scrambled eggs is a Czech favorite. There, it is known as Houbová smaženice s vejci. It’s been around as long as the forests have and I imagine it’s been a main course for many peasants who were lucky enough to have a chicken and to live close to the forest border… It’s not the...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

February 29, 2016

Alexander Hammid and the Avant Garde

Alexandr Hackenschmied (December 17, 1907 – 26 July 26, 2004). He was one of the most significant personalities of Czech film and photograph avant-garde. In the beginning of the 1930’s, he was a distinct promoter of world avant-garde movements and he organized one of the first avant-garde film projections in Prague, showing various films including those...

CULTURE, Movies

February 28, 2016

Shirley Temple, Czechs and Oscar Night

It’s Oscar night! Let’s dish about the Juvenile Oscars, Shirley Temple, Leonardo with old Hollywood, and how this all ties to our Czech roots. As movie lovers we can’t wait for the fun to begin. I used to watch every year because I saw every movie nominated – but the last 10 or so years,...

LIFESTYLE

February 27, 2016

Prince Bayaya – A Czech Fairy Tale

Prince Bayaya (Bajaja in Czech) is a classic tale told at bedtime in many households. It was written by the famous Božena Němcová (February 4, 1820 – January 21, 1862) who was a Czech writer of the final phase of the Czech National Revival movement. This version features illustrations by Karel Franta (born May 1928). Franta is both...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

February 25, 2016

The International Order of St. Hubertus

Who would have thought that The International Order of St. Hubertus was Czech? When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in Texas, the Huffington Post called called “the International Order of St. Hubertus, an Austrian society that dates back to the 1600s.” Correction… It is a Bohemian society, one founded in what is...

History, NOSTALGIA

February 15, 2016

Prague Locations Then and Now

Our images of Prague locations then and now highlights the beautiful city of Prague which has withstood much time. Many parts have grown and changed and much of it has remained the same. Today I am sharing some old black and white historical photographs with current ones to show how some things change while others remain the...

LIFESTYLE

February 14, 2016

Czech Cauliflower Patties

You can think of them as Czech Latkes. Seriously. Except omit the potatoes and substitute cauliflower instead. Then serve them with just about anything and they will add a deliciousness you’ve never imagined. Of course, you can eat them plain too. In Czech language, cauliflower is květák, and these delicious cauliflower patties are known as květákove...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

February 12, 2016

The Apple Maiden

The Apple Maiden or Apple Tree Maid is known as Jabloňová Panna in Czech. It is a Czech fairy tale as told by Karel Jaromír Erben. The illustrations are from my book entitled Pohadky with a copyright date of 1979. The following plates are illustrations from the story by Eva Šedivá. She was born in Prague in 1934....

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

February 10, 2016

Marilyn Monroe in Black

Milton Greene pulled out his camera in 1956 and photographed what came to be known as the Black Sitting. Photographed in his studio in New York, this has to be my personal favorite of Marilyn photographs. Marilyn Monroe in black has to be the special photographic series people recognize as the ULTIMATE Monroe-Greene achievement. What I love...

LIFESTYLE

February 8, 2016

Czech Potato Pancakes

In the Czech Republic, there’s a beloved dish known as Bramborák or locally as cmunda. These potato pancakes are cooked in lard and seasoned generously with marjoram, giving them a distinctive flavor. Unlike some versions found in other countries, Czech Bramborák is typically made large enough to cover the whole plate and is often served...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

February 4, 2016

A Perfect Day for Goulash

According to Wikipedia, “Goulash is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables, seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating from the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, goulash is also a popular meal in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Southern Europe.” Supposedly the origin of this delicious dish traces back to the 9th century to stews eaten by...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes