Pill 25 part I.qxd - Think Magazine

Prague’s Alternative Medicine Issue #25, February 7th–20th, 2003

FREEEvery Other Friday

A Tale of Two CitiesCar Busters leads the charge for an auto-free future. p8Havel’s Last Shot p6 ● Sushi p20 ● Plus City Guide, Film, Clubs, Books & More!

Free soft drink with any order over 70 Kč(expires March 31, 2003)

Revoluční 4Tel. 222 322 022Open 10am-midnight

ISSUE TWENTY-FOUR, FEBRUARY 7TH—20TH, 2003Publisher: John Caulkins Editors: Micah Jayne, Alexander Zaitchik Editor at Large: Jeff Koyen Uncle: Andy MarkowitzProduction Director: Filip Bezděk Listings Editor: Markéta Hofmeisterová Senior Staff Writers: Joshua Cohen, Travis JeppesenContributing Writers: Arie Farnam, Scott MacMillan, Tony Ozuna, Marek TominCopy Editor: Jennifer SokolowskyTranslation: Kathleen Hayes Financial Director: Barbara Źebrowska Advertising Director: Eva Hádrová (e-mail: [email protected])Advertising Representatives: Menef KhalifeDistribution: www.conspiracy.cz A complete list of current distribution points can be found at www.pill.cz. Printed by Ringier Print, a. s.

The Prague Pill is published by alt.media praha s.r.o.,* Karmelitská 18, 110 00, Praha 1, Phone: 257 534 015, phone/fax: 257 534 016, e-mail: [email protected], www.pill.czISSN 1213-7391. * Also licensed in the New York City

active ingredientsp8

p10

p20

Auto Destruct 8Meet the people who want to kill your wheels.

Northern Lights 10Meet the people who made Manchester.

Raw Deal 20Meet the people who serve up sushi.

Letters 4Red Meat 4City Beat 5City Shot 5Analysis 6Syndicate This 7Film 10City Guide 12Get on the Guestlist 14Books 15Music 16Prague Log 17Art 18Savage Love 19This Modern World 19Dish 20Classifieds 22Rehabilitating Mr. Wiggles 22

the prague pill February 6—20, 2003 3

Hey friends. Wehave a new lineuphere at the Pill.

It’s not as thoughwe haven’t had toface changesaround here sinceDay One. It’s justthat this time we’rereally mixing it up.

The long andshort of it is this: Jeff Koyen (a.k.a. TheRinger) drifted by our office last Spring,stuck around to take our training wheelsoff, and boosted the paper in a big, bigway. He’d planned on leaving later thisSpring – but then he suddenly landed adream job as editor-in-chief of New YorkPress, a free city paper like ours but with100 more pages in it, and so left last week.Thanks for helping us out, Jeff. No hardfeelings, really. Now, about taking Alex withyou . . .

Alexander Zaitchik is going to New Yorktoo, to be Jeff’s associate editor. Alex is a

Pill co-founder who, together with MicahJayne, put this paper on the map. Wesalute you, bro. And wish you the best inNew York, New York. May your scribblesmove more (and bigger) mountains.

But enough gushing. We have work todo. It’s time to make the doughnuts.

Starting next issue (#26) Andy Markowitzis our editor. He’s an old-school (but notthat old) city-paper veteran from Baltimore.He’s got chops, believe it. He takes overthe editorial desk along with our two youngshotguns (but not that young), JoshuaCohen and Travis Jeppesen. It’s gonna begreat, this new Pill of ours. You’ll see. Enjoyit with us.

Yours, John CaulkinsPublisher

LeTTer From THe PuBLisHer

sTreeT

The above bags were purchased for 5 Kč each at a potraviny inthe Prague 1 neighborhood of Malá Strana. The full range of theCzech Republic’s plastic-bag supply can be appreciated onlyover a lifetime of shopping. A historical approach to thephenomenon of colorful Czech plastic bags still awaits propertreatment by one of this country’s finer galleries.

Republic of Diapers

Dear Pill boys,Jan Pavelka’s recollection of the 1978meeting of dissident intellectuals andthe Czech underground at Havel’scottage [“King’s Exit,” Pill #24] raisesmany important issues, all revolvingaround the question: Why did EgonBondy shit himself in Havel’s bed? Asan idealist Marxist, was he unable tocontain himself, sensing a “witheringaway of the state” in that surrealatmosphere of freedom? Or was theinfantile act a moment of “living intruth” which the others failed to notice(perhaps due to their hardeneddigestive systems)?

In “The Power of the Powerless”Havel defines living in truth as a“bacteriological weapon” that fermentsand grows in the semidarkness,hidden from the gaze of power, until it“finally surfaces into the light of day asan assortment of shocking surprisesto the system, usually too late to coverthem up in the usual fashion.” That isto say, was it something Havel put inhis special Ružyn gulaš? The answerto this disturbing question is unknownand Bondy remains secluded in thecountryside, in dignified silence. Whatwe do know is that Havel has oftenstated that entry into politics is akin toa Faustian wager and the price of thispact (or 1978 meetings) is rarelyknown until after the fact.

Looking back at the “good ol’days,” when issues were black andwhite, to the disappointing realism ofthe present, clearly indicates historicalevents did not turn out as the Czechunderground hoped for. (Note AndrejKrob’s evasive response to thequestion: “Was [Havel’s] presidency asuccess?”) Indeed, if the othermembers of the Czech undergroundhad known back then what they knownow, the question arises whether ornot they too would have followedBondy’s prophetic act. Their refusal tocomment on this matter, coupled witheulogizing Havel as some inimitablefather figure, indicate an insidiousconspiracy to keep all good Czechs ina perpetual state of diapers.

Yolanda [email protected]

I saw you . . . laugh at the film page

Editor, Thanks for supplying all the free magsaround town. I think your paper is areal step up from the old Thinkmagazine. You still got that irreverentvibe going with just the right tongue-in-cheek attitude. Sure, your moviereviewers are alienating themselveswith almost everyone (including a gentwho works with me and defendedBend it Like Beckham) but they seemto be entertaining the rest of us. Atleast for two or three paragraphs.

I want to know if you could put thisin the “I saw you” section, and it’s notmeant to be a means of embarrassingthe guy I’m talking about. I just want tosay something: To the Eagles fan withblond hair, McNabb jersey and a caston his left arm, thanks for doing therunner on the 500 Kč bet we made atthe Eagles – Bucs game. Real nobleof you. Philly fan epitomized?

Cheers, Leslie [email protected]

About flats and food

Hi, There are two things that started thechain of emotions that led me to sendthis letter to the Pill, even thoughthese are just small irritating facts of

life. Sometimes I just think thoseinsignificant facts should be out therefor everybody to ponder. So, I write.What else can a poor woman dothese days to get some fuckin’attention, except for walking toplessinto an Irish pub, since that is not anoption?

Fact #1: The Mona Lisa is not onlya painting, it is also a restaurant notfar from Vaclavske Namesti. Thisplace I remember “dearly.” However,visiting this place could cost you afortune, especially if you happen tobe a polite Swedish person who istrying not to disturb any kind ofpeace. The thing about this restaurantis that they charge for everything,even things that you have not orderedor eaten, like ketchup, soya or bread,maybe salt or pepper too. I guess Iwas supposed to have felt some kindof gratitude that I went into theirrestaurant. I had sort of forgottenabout that place because it was overthree months ago, but then yesterdaya similar thing happened.

Close to the Andel tram stationthere is a place called The Penguin onZborovská street. At first I loved it: nicestaff, nice food, not too expensive.Then – boom – the bill came. 100 Kcfor service, more money than mycompanion paid for his dinner. Weasked about it, since he did not haveto pay anything like this last time heate there. No answer, only somewords that they did not understandwhat we were talking about. What canI say?! I hate being treated like that,makes me want to say that Czechpeople are all about wanting yourmoney even if you are quite close tobeing what some people might referto as poor.

Fact # 2: I’ll be brief. I Just want totell you about the drilling, the constantrepairs or whatever it is. Is it so thatthe Czech handymen always use ahammer to fix the pipes in the wall oruse the drill for every purpose?Because ever since I got here aboutfour months ago, they have beendrilling. Every morning at eight o’clockthey start without any kind of mercyfor the tired people who worked untillate the night before. Tough luck tohave moved into this place just asthey started the secret experiment ofdriving the tenants insane. I will live, Iguess, but be aware of the handymen,because I am sure they will pay you anoisy visit when you least expect it.Yours truly,

Anna Bergströ[email protected]

Dean Reed: remembered!

Dear Editor, Thanks for John Caulkins’ article onDean Reed [“Red Elvis,” Pill #23]. Asa connoisseur of late-Soviet-erakitsch, I was long aware of this ColdWar bit-part player, but finding anysort of reliable information on himwas difficult. I caught tantalizingglimpses of Reed while studying inthe USSR in the late 1980s. Inparticular, I remember seeing apicture of “Din Rid” (wearing aRussian fur hat) pinned to the bulletinboard of a Kiev elementary school,together with other Soviet icons.Caulkins, however, leavesunanswered the question of Reed’squality (or lack thereof) as aperformer. In the USSR, his popularitywas mostly confined to kids, and wasmainly “top-down” anyway: Theauthorities were so glad to haveanyone defect to their side that Reedcould count on guaranteed supportfrom them. But really, guys, this madeReed the Kim Philby of pop music.The Soviets were also pleased that he

had the same last name as theAmerican revolutionary buried in theKremlin wall, John Reed.

Regards,Scott SpiresChicago, Ill., [email protected]

Prague über alles

Ahoj Pill, I can feel the good intentions inMicah Jayne’s recent article “Deaf inOne Ear” [Pill #24], but I disagree ona couple of points. The statement“Prague is stuck in a dope smokingyouth culture” sounds too generaland a little arrogant – almost aprovocation. Especially as it is takenout of context and printed as a pull-quote. Of course, there’s a lot of thattype of youth culture, but I’d like toremind you of the teahouse culture,where young people also gather.There are usually no cigarettes andno alcohol and people listen tomostly alternative music. I also thinkit is unfair to even raise theexpectation that Prague, as a capitalof a little and poor country, couldhave the same variety of live musicas Berlin. Being a musician myself,and having made a consciouschoice of Prague over Berlin, I stillthink that Prague is quite a goodplace for live music.

Tomaš SlanskyPragueVia post

Whores (Reprise)

Pill, Your problematic response about theprostitution question must beaddressed [ “Letters,” Pill #24]. Youhad an article about whorehouses,and instead of even approaching theissue of legalised prostitution, youwrote about it like a Prague beer touror fast-food guide. (When the veryadult men at your paper try to seewhat it is like to have no choice in lifebut to be fucked by 10 smelly fat menper day, then they will have opinionsworth listening to.) Then whensomeone questions you about yourprostitution advertisements, you justsay that if they are “busted,” you willstop running them. What kind ofanswer is this? Do you go along withanything until it becomes obviouslywrong even to the corruptestablishment that you are supposedto be an alternative to?

About advertisements, right on theother side of the page, you have alarge advert for a “Walk for Peace,” andabove it you have “paid advertising.”Why are you distancing yourself from apeace demonstration and not from thewhorehouses? Why don’t you put this

qualifier above the other adverts? Orare the ones for the whorehouses notreally advertisements, but some kind oftrade?

Finally, in your condemnation of themovie The Guru, you ironically criticisethat it doesn’t “deal with the plight ofsex workers” sufficiently, but then callthe director and screenwriter “sororitygirls.” We feel sorry for anyone soconfused between ideas of politicalcorrectness and hostility towards“girls” that you cannot relax and enjoysuch a simply delightful film.

We try to feel sorry for the 100percent “boy” management of thepaper, but really, you should beashamed.

Elisabeth HangarStefan [email protected]

Dear Elisabeth and Stefan,Thanks for the spirited little attack.

The answer to your first point issimply: No, we don’t think legallyoperating brothels represent a“corrupt establishment.” Consensualcommercial sex between adults is notthe same as human slavery. Moreover,the editorial side of this paper hasnothing, nada, nic to do with the adside.

The “paid advertising” above thepeace march was there to distinguishit from editorial content. Clearly thebrothel ads are paid for, butsometimes the writing in our ad wells(such as the paid-for poetry in Pill#23) could be mistaken for editorialcontent, so we tag it to clear upambiguity. More than anything, this issimply to help the reader understandwhat they are looking at. It’s standardpractice.

As for the review of The Guru: If themovie were written by men, the writerwould no doubt have called them “fratboys” instead of “sorority girls.” Andanyway, we reserve the right to havemore sympathy for sex workers thansorority girls. The only “confusion”here is your own need for robotic PC“consistency,” not something to befound inside our pages or in thismessy world of idiocy, resentments,suffering, contradictions and, yes,LOTS OF HARD-WORKING WHORES.

As for The Guru being a “simplydelightful” film, you’re the ones whoshould be ashamed, if not deportedimmediately.

Scots catfight!

Dear Pill,How nice to be reminded that the rightto free speech sometimes meanslistening to the inane drivel of theparanoid delusional. I refer to thepuerile offering on hooligan touristsfrom Liam Francis in Pill #24[“Letters”] where 20-year-old national

stereotypes were trotted out in thebelief that abusive xenophobia isgood for a laugh.

It’s appropriate that a self-confessed Scot should claim thestereotype for his nation of beingwilling to “show their arses to anyonewho cares to look.” Scotland must beproud of you Mr Francis. I certainlyhaven’t seen as big an arse sinceHelmut Kohl wore jodhpurs.

And Prague is now apparently inEastern Europe. Check your atlas, Mr.Francis. Perhaps you’d like our loutishvisitors to decamp to other “EasternEuropean towns” like Vienna?

Curious that Mr. Francis has such ahatred for the English given that theymay be the one nation on earth whowould appreciate his schoolboyhumour. We do not need yourpatronising drooling, sir. Grow up, geta life, or get laid (according to afellow correspondent in Pill #24 thereare now sufficient brothels in Pragueso that even someone with yourdubious grasp of geography shouldbe able to find one).

Billy WallaceScottish Writers [email protected]

Havel, dope, Spielberg, etc.

Dear Pill, Picked up issue #24, andcongratulations to the artist, MarketaHofmeisterova, for herportrait of Havel.Congratulations on the letters as well.They continue to be an interestingpart of the paper.

The Havel interviews with the agingdissidents and the translation of theRespekt interview provide credibility toThe Pill’s analysis of Havel as heleaves the presidency of the CzechRepublic.

The most disappointing article wasAlexander Zaitchik’s column. Mr.Zaitchik is an accomplished writer,but his reflexive anti-Americanism isshallow and juvenile. It’s as if helearned everything he knows abouthistory and political science fromSteven Spielberg. Mr. Zaitchik’srecounting of how he got high at theCastle smacks of such youthfulsolipsism. Rose Merrill, the Berlinmusic critic quoted in “Deaf in OneEar,” says of Prague, “It’s very muchstuck in the dope-smoking youthculture.” Mr. Zaitchik’s article certainlyseems so.

Name withheld on request

4 February 6—20, 2003 the prague pill

[email protected]

Our Letters Page:

Better Than Phone Sex? This issue: Havel’s messy friends, Prague versus Berlin, a coda on Dean Reed . . . and the ongoing prostitution debate.

ìDo you go along with anything until it becomes obviouslywrong even to the corrupt establishment that you are

supposed to be an alternative to?î —Elisabeth Hangar and Stefan Landers

In case you didn’t notice thee–mail address at the top of thepage, here it is: [email protected].

cITY BeaT

Bad TasteThe University of Hradec Kr·lovÈneeded cafeteria staff. Marcela Zup-kov· needed a job. But the 30-year-oldmother of three claims that when sheapplied, she was told she lacked a keyqualification: the right ethnicity.

Zupkova says she was shown thedoor by Eva Panochov·, head ofAkyma, the company that runs thecafeteria. The reason? ìRomsk˝p˘vod,î Panochov· wrote in a certifi-cate filed with the Hradec Kr·lovÈemployment office, which hadreferred Zupkov· to the university ñìRomany origin.î

ìMs. Panochov· told me that shedidnít want gypsies in her workplace,and that she has experiences withthem,î Zupkov· told MF Dnes. ìI con-fronted her, I told her that she does-nít know me and that she should giveme at least a chance in order to showthat I am not like the rest. She wasnítconvinced.î

Panochova defended her decisionto a Hradec Kr·lovÈ newspaper: ìIdonít have anything against Roma-nies, but how does it look to cus-tomers if a Romany serves themfood?î

This caught the attention ofRespektís Tom·ö NÏmeËek, who askedrhetorically in a column on the mat-ter whether university rector Jaro-slava Mikuleck· or any professors andstudents would care to explain how aRoma would ruin the taste of food.NÏmeËek also had some advice forthe director of the Hradec Kr·lovÈemployment office, who said on tele-vision that ìwe have to first documenteverything efficientlyî to proceedwith Zupkov·ís complaint.

ìWhat is it that he has still to doc-ument?î Nemecek wrote. ìRacistmotivation stands black and whiteon that office document.î

Zupkovaís case is far from unique ñìjust the tip of iceberg,î Jan Jarab, thetop federal official for human-rightsissues, told Dnes. While employmentdiscrimination is illegal in the CzechRepublic, Jarab said, securing a crimi-nal conviction is difficult, requiringproof of specific intent to deprivesomeone of their rights. Often, hesaid, an employer will agree to meetan applicant, ìthen when they getthrough the door, the employer saysthe position has suddenly becomeoccupied. . . . It is very difficult todemonstrate this kind of discrimina-tionî in court, he said.

ìThis case,î he said of Zupkovaíscomplaint, ìis uncommon. Therefusal was completely open and iseven written on paper.î

Fighting the WarTheyíll be marching in Mexico Cityand Chicago, marching in Amster-dam and San Diego, and theyíll bemarching in Prague on February 15as part of the International ActionDay to protest the seemingly immi-nent war in Iraq.

Organized by the Czech groupInitiative Against War in conjunc-tion with several other native andexpat activists, the Prague event isscheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. inN·mÏstÌ Jana Palacha. After an hourof music and speeches, including anaddress by Czech author andphilosopher Erazim Koh·k, protest-ers will march to the Czech govern-ment offices at the Vl·Ôa, then tothe U.S. Embassy and back acrossthe river to StaromÏstskÈ n·mÏstÌ.

Arie Farnam, an American activist(and Pill contributor) who is workingwith Initiative Against War on theFebruary 15 protest, says the routewas chosen to highlight plannedìCzech participation in any attack inIraq.î Parliament and Prime MinisterVladimÌr äpidlaís administrationhave approved deploying a Czechanti-chemical weapons unit to Iraq ina United Nations-backed war.

Also joining the internationalaction is the Communist Party ofBohemia and Morava (KS»M),which will hold a rally at VaclavskeNamesti from 3 to 4 p.m. Party ViceChairman Vlastimil BalÌk said theevent is not specific to Iraq but will bea general anti-war protest. There arealso plans for the KS»M crowd tomarch to the U.S. Embassy.

Farnam says she isnít concernedabout competing rallies dividingprotest ranks. ìEvery voice againstthe war is a great thing,î she said,ìeven if they are Communists.î

The Right to Arm BearsGlenn Spicker is a lucky man, bymost accounts. His Museum ofCommunism, which has just cele-brated its first year of chroniclingthe great workersí experiment,quickly attracted the attention ofPragueís fledgling but respectedadvertising community. Directorssaw it as a chance to spread their cre-

ative wings a bit and win covetedinternational advertising prizes.

Basil Mina of the firm LeoBurnett helped direct the creationof a series of spec (read: free) adver-tisements for the museum, many ofwhich have graced these pages.After Leo Burnett took home a prizeat last summerís European ad festi-val, EuroRSCG jumped in withposters starring a Russian nestingdoll sporting fangs and the adorablebear mascot of the 1980 MoscowOlympics toting a Kalashnikov.

ìResults were immediate. Peoplereally responded well to these ads,îSpicker said of the poster campaignlaunched last month, primarily on thewalls of Metro stations. But the imagesdidnít sit well with Pragueís sizableRussian population ñ or the folks backin the mother country, once theyfound out. A Moscow televisionreporter arranged to do an interviewwith the American cowboy capitalist,and it quickly turned messy, as Spickerfielded questions from the enragedartist who had created the Olympicbear. Turns out, according to Spicker,that EuroRSCG had not obtained per-mission to doctor the image. Perhaps

more to the point, the artist contin-ued, the berifled bear is ìoffensive tothe peaceful Russian nation.î

Spicker said his contract withEuroRSCG protects him from liabil-ity should the copyright issue endup in court. ìWeíve had a very open,positive relationship, and the agencyassured me [the rights] wouldnít bea problem,î he said. EuroRSCG offi-cials did not return calls for com-ment.

Compiled by William Hollister and staff

ìEvery voice against the war is a greatthing. Eeven if they are Communists.î

—Anti-war protest organizer Arie Farnam, on the participation ofCommunists in next week’s demonstration.


City Shot“Peace Square” by Marek Tomin

The Prague Pill welcomes submissions to City Shot. Send no more than five digital photos to [email protected] or drop prints at ouroffice (Karmelitská 18).

PRAGUE CENTERDLOUHÁ 33•TEL.:+420 224 826 662-3

www.travellers.cz [email protected]

DORMS • ROOMS • APARTMENTS

6 November 29—December 12, , 2002 the prague pill

anaLYsIs

As UN inspectors continue toscour Iraq for weapons of massdestruction and the nations of

the world brace themselves for anincreasingly likely Gulf War II, theCzech Republic prepares to play itspart without a president.

Amidst the sound of the drums ofwar, V·clav Havel came up with agrand theatrical finale to his presi-dency. Four days prior to the end ofhis term in office, he signed an openletter published in the London Timesin support of the US position on Iraq.Though largely symbolic and rhetori-cal, the letter, instigated by the primeministers of Britain and Spain, is notwithout meaning: It is a dose of pro-US propaganda designed to boosttransatlantic relations and head offthe reticence of two of Europeísbiggest players, France and Germany.French officials commented that theletter was no surprise and that ìit con-tains many things that France couldsign.î

Still, Havel could have easilyspared himself the gesture.

The outgoing Czech presidentwasnít even part of the letterís con-ception. The Times asked BritainísTony Blair and Spainís JosÈ MarÌaAznar to write a commentary on theIraq crisis. The Spanish premiercame up with the idea of an open let-ter, suggesting it be put before theprime ministers of other like-mindedEuropean countries. It was sent toItaly, Portugal, Holland, Denmark,Poland, Hungary and the CzechRepublic ñ but deliberately not toFrance or Germany. Eight countrieseventually signed.

According to the Czech ForeignMinister Cyril Svoboda, two versionsof the letter were written. Svoboda feltthe first was too hard-line to meritCzech backing and said so to VladimÌräpidla, the prime minister. Apparentlythere wasnít sufficient time to discussand consult on the softer seconddraft. The Czechs, unlike theHungarians made no effort amendthe letter. äpidla maintains that whenthe letter landed on his table, herefused to sign simply because foreignpolicy is made through official deci-sions ñ such as the Czech Parliamentísstatement on the Iraq crisis ñ and notnewspaper articles.

After äpidla passed the buck, thehot potato landed in Havelís lap whenhe was in Bratislava. After consultingPrague, Havel decided to sign. ìThepresident signed on his own authori-ty. Itís his decision,î Svoboda said.

Despite opinion polls showingthat two-thirds of Czechs are againsta war in Iraq, the Czech cabinet andParliament are united in supportinginvolvement in the conflict. Thougha Social Democrat, Czech DefenseMinister Jaroslav TvrdÌk is decidedlyhawkish in his approach to dealingwith Saddam Hussein. ìThere are

decisions that donít need to have thesupport of society at large. For meitís important that they have thebacking of those that have access toinformation,î he told LidovÈ Noviny.

ìSeeing that within NATO theCzech Republic specializes in protec-tion against weapons of mass destruc-tion, it would be considered a ges-ture of extreme selfishness for us torefuse to take part,î TvrdÌk said.ìThe trigger mechanism for us is

whether Saddam does or does notstick to the final [UN] resolution.Thatís a position somewherebetween the US, on one side, andFrance and Germany on the other.î

Both chambers of Parliament haveapproved a government resolutionauthorizing the deployment of addi-tional Czech troops to strengthen theanti-chemical unit currently stationedin Kuwait. The 400-strong elite unitwill only be directly involved in com-

bat if the US strike has the backing ofthe UN Security Council; otherwise itwill play a supporting role, carryingout humanitarian and emergency-aidmissions. The unit played an impor-tant role during the first Gulf War,though it also provided evidence thatUS troops had been exposed to dan-gerous chemicals that may have beenpartly responsible for the Gulf WarSyndrome.

Earlier in January, as tens of thou-

sands of US and British troops headedfor the Gulf, TvrdÌk visited the Czechcontingent in Kuwait and offered thetroops the chance to return home pre-maturely ìif they donít feel up to themission.î In typical ävejk fashion, 27soldiers decided to take up his offer. ìIhave enormous respect for my sol-diers,î TvrdÌk said. ìIf some of themtemporarily lost the ability to performthe function of military professionalsin combat, then itís right for me towithdraw them. They can have time torest and solve any problems theymight have and in time theyíll becapable of fulfilling their task.î

On the last day of January it wastime to turn off the neon heartthatís been adorning the Castle

since November 17th of last year.About an hour and a half before theofficial lights-out ceremony and party,Czech Greenpeace activists climbedthe scaffolding and unfurled a bannerwith the word ìWAR?î in the middleof the heart.

The banner, the last of a series ofimpromptu embellishments to Ji¯ÌDavidís provocative work, was direct-ly inspired by the Times letter.Greenpeace stated that it wanted toìinform the president that it finds hissupport for the letter in strong con-tradiction with his principlesî andcalled on him ìnot to switch off hisown heart.î

ìV·clav Havel has always been sup-portive of us and we feel sorry that heended his excellent career with such amove,î said Ji¯Ì Tutter, head of CzechGreenpeace. In another touch of theabsurd, Castle officials unplugged theheart about half an hour into theprotest, only to turn it on once againan hour later so that it could then beswitched off officially.

The previous day, Dagmar Havlov·had prepared a huge farewell partyfor her husband in N·rodnÌ divadlo.The monumental three-hour pro-gramme, which included communistpop icons such as Karel Gott andHelena Vondr·Ëkov·, was a far cryfrom the farewell the undergroundgave the president late last year.Though invited by the first lady,underground folk singers VlastimilT¯eöÚ·k and Jaroslav Hutka refusedto perform at yet another velvet rec-onciliation bash. D·öa surprised Vaöekwith pre-recorded video messages by,to name a few, George Bush I and II,Sean Connery, Madeleine Albrightand Kofi Annan. There were no mes-sages from Mick Jagger or Lou Reed.

Amidst emotional scenes atRuûyne Airport on the January 31st,as 70 elite troops boarded a Tu-154

military aircraft, De-fense Minister TvrdÌknoted that ìit was a mil-itary farewell. In manyways I would feel betterif I was going withthem.î

Given the fact that nopresidential candidatehas yet been found tosuit all the political fac-tions in Parliament, andMPs are quite likely topass an act introducingdirect elections, theCzech Republic may bewithout a president for

some time. Until then, PrimeMinister äpidla will be the temporarysupreme leader of the armed forcesof the Czech Republic. Only time willtell whether the Czech Republic,headed by äpidla in tandem with thegung-ho TvrdÌk, will play the role ofhawk or dove in the current crisis.

Marek Tomin is at [email protected]

This Bird Has FlownA farewell to hearts and doves.By Marek Tomin

Parliament has approveda resolution authorisingthe deployment ofadditional troops tostrengthen the Czechanti-chemical unitcurrently stationed inKuwait.

All we are saying . . .

. . . you know the rest.

sYnDIcaTe THIs

How to Lose Friendsand Kill PeopleCan an oil war be moral?By Alexander Zaitchik

Iím lucky. Iíve never experienced abomb blast. The closest Iíve comewas one of those vivid dreams

where you think youíre about to dieand youíre terrified. Then you wakeup to a racing heart and a purplepre-dawn calm.

The terror of real bombs is easyenough to imagine, and in this seasonof war, itís our duty to do so. Ceilingscollapse, everyone screams, theground shakes. The chemical windsburn. Blindness cracked by fire flash-es and ear-splitting booms. Every sec-ond an eternity. The bombs finallystop ñ but for how long? People aremissing. Bloody torsos lay silent. Thewailing that rises up with the dust andthe smoke is the original soundtrackto hell on earth.

Also imaginable is the distant post-bomb chatter in Washington andLondon, Warsaw and Prague. In thesecivilized cities, men who slept the pre-vious night under crisp sheets will dis-cuss regrettable losses and unfortu-nate necessities. As the second wave ofcruise missiles rains down on mothersclutching children in Baghdad base-ments, the spokespeople will calmlyassure angry publics that all precau-tions are being taken to spare inno-cent lives. Many thousands will perish,of course, but the bombs are smart,the bombers kind. In any case, theywill say, Saddam Hussein is the onewho bears ultimate responsibility.

How exactly Saddam caused thebombs to fall on his own country ñthis we all know. ìDespite extensivecooperation with UN arms inspec-tors, Saddam Hussein is hiding storesof illegal deadly weapons, and there-fore must be toppled, even if itmeans shooting thousands of mis-siles around the dwellings of his poorand battered subjects, who will wel-come foreign troops as liberators.î

All together now . . .Put any song on repeat for long

enough and people will eventuallystart humming. Although this populartune denies logic (inspections areworking, Iraq is totally hamstrung)and the facts (no weapons have beenfound) the official lies have swayedpublic opinion in more than onecountry. But the cover has frayedbadly, and even most hawks now admitthe obvious: this is a straight-upresource war, for oil.

Pessimists who warned that the 21stcentury would be a century ofresource wars ñ for energy, for water,for fertile land ñ look scarily prescientas the US digs in around Iraqís mightyoil reserves. (Ironically, the US is nowdoing the same thing Iraq did in 1990,thus triggering the first Gulf War.)

The Bush administration is chock-full of veteran oil industry heavy-weights, all well-versed in global ener-gy trends. They all know the world isabout to enter the downside of globaloil production. They know US depen-dence on foreign oil will rise to asmuch as 70 percent in coming years.They know Iraq sits on the worldís sec-ond-largest untapped oil fields. Forthem, this war is about staking outvaluable turf prior to the chaos likelyto accompany the looming era of ìper-manent oil shock.î

This isnít a conspiracy theory or ascience-fiction scenario. One of thefirst things the Bush team did in officewas commission a report on energysecurity. Prepared by the Council onForeign Relations and the James A.Baker III Institute for Public Policy,the resulting paper documented thedecline of oil production and men-tioned the need for military interven-

tion to secure supplies. It referred tooil as a ìsecurity imperativeî and pro-jected a period of exploding US ener-gy prices, economic recession andsocial unrest unless answers arefound. With a tone of urgency, iturged the Bush Administration toadmit ìthese agonizing truths to theAmerican people.î

But admitting these truths to theAmerican people would be problem-atic. People might start to questionour dependence on such a limited,unstable energy source. Who knows,they might not think oil justified massslaughter. They might even questionour profligate energy use, as they didin the 1970s, under Jimmy Carterísbrave and wise attempt to wean thecountry off foreign oil.

Rather than starting a discussionon these key issues, and rather thanemulate Carterís ìProject Indepen-denceî (which sought to reduce USoil dependency through conserva-tion and renewable sources ofpower), the Bush crew has gunnedfor a short-sighted, destructive anddeeply immoral path. Instead of cur-tailing consumption and pumpingmoney into research for alternativeenergy technology, theyíre plungingthe world into war, with potentiallydire consequences for both interna-tional order and the Iraqi people.

The idea that Iraqis are going tothrow a welcome party for US/UKtroops is a sick joke and an obsceneexpression of criminal vanity. Beforethe Gulf War, Iraq had one of the besteducation systems in the Arab world,advanced health care and a per capitaGNP of more than $3,000. After 10years of sanctions and low-intensity,this number is now $500, with highrates of children dying from curablediseases like typhus and diarrhea.Once a prosperous Middle Easternstate, Iraq is now one of the poorestcountries in the world.

There is precious little historicalevidence that the United States isgoing to suddenly start caring aboutIraq once it gains control over itsoil. Crucially, even before the UShas a chance to show its true inten-tions, it will have killed many inno-cent people.

A report titled ìCollateral Damage,îissued last November by the Inter-national Physicians for the Preventionof Nuclear War, estimates the totalpossible deaths on all sides during thewar and immediate aftermath to bebetween 48,000 and 260,000. Theorganization, which won the NobelPeace Prize in 1985, says subsequentdeaths from post-war epidemics andthe collapse of already damaged infra-structure could reach 200,000. Ifnuclear weapons are used, the deathtoll could near 4 million. In all ofthese scenarios, the majority of casual-ties will be civilians.

The next time a hawk tells you thiswar will be good for the Iraqi people,tell them youíll see them in hell.Soundtrack available at record storesthroughout Baghdad.

Čau for nowA personal note. Iíve taken an edit-ing post at an alternative newspaperin New York, and starting next issue,I will be on indefinite hiatus fromThe Prague Pill. I donít know when Iíllrejoin this paper, but I love this town,and Iíll probably be back.

For now, some public thanks.Micah Jayne. This newspaper was

Micahís idea. He alone wasnít scaredby the multitudinous technical,financial and logistical difficultiesinvolved in starting a paper fromscratch. I was ready to scrap by as aPrague-based freelancer, but Micahinsisted this was possible. He wasright, but largely because of his cre-ativity and hard work. In many ways,Micah has been the Hercules hold-ing up this globe for more than ayear. He manages a thousand aspectsof this organization that no one elsehas the brains, patience or ability tohandle. His byline hasnít appearedas many times as he or I would haveliked ñ nor will it in the future ñ buthis presence is behind every word.Much respect.

Production Director Filip Bezdekhas been with the Pill since issue #1,when we brought him in last-minuteto perform an emergency designoperation on Micahís kitchen table.Without his peculiar, vegetable-hatingbrilliance, the Pill might never havelifted off so fast, and it would certainlybe a lot harder to look at. Filip is ajovial mad genius, and I recommendstopping by the office just to meethim, although please not on produc-tion days.

John Caulkins is a great guy andsimply the best publisher in the world.Without his vision, patience and faith,there would be no Prague Pill.

Efka Hadrova has been with ussince we moved into our first tinyoffice, and helped build the businessside of the Pill. She parties almost ashard as she works, and god bless her.

Barabora Zebrowska has carriedout financial duties with admirablemeticulousness, and is destined to bea great theater critic. She also helpskeep Micah sane as he juggles 20 ten-nis balls.

Barbor· Hor·Ëkov· is no longerwith the paper, but if sheís readingthis, I want her to know how deeplyher early support and work areappreciated. With a fax in our Karlinstudio, she single-handedly got thepaperís listings off the ground. I wishher nothing but happiness.

A warm shout-out to VincentFarnsworth and Gwendolyn Albert,two ex-Pill staffers from the bad olddays. I remember our copy-editingdinners fondly.

Big kisses for Adrienne ClaireAmmerman. For all the right reasons.

Thanks to all the writers Iíveworked with over the past year, and allof the readers Iíve met in bars and onour letters page.

The new editorial team here at PillHQ is funny, talented and capable,and Prague is lucky to have them.

OK.

Alexander Zaitchik is now at [email protected]

Pessimists who warnedthat the 21st centurywould be a century ofresource wars lookominously prescient asthe US digs in aroundIraq’s mighty oil reserves.


8 November 29—December 12, , 2002 the prague pill

Six local revolutionaries envision a world without cars.By Alexander Zaitchik

Once upon a more innocent time,everybody loved cars. They weremodern democratic marvels:

compressors of space and time thatmeant freedom and status the wayunfiltered Luckies meant flavor andhealth. Tram tracks were ripped upper orders of General Motors and carculture was institutionalized in thename of progress ñ street by street ñfrom Pasadena to Paris.

As long as the Model-T got withinreach of the little guy, nobody cared.The few crotchety intellectuals rant-ing on the sidelines went unheard bya public that had the radio up andthe windows down until well pastmid-century.

In the 1960s, the carís image finallystarted to sputter. The ranks of socialcritics targeting the automobile grew,and public debates sparked whereverthe car had transformed life in itsimage. Smog blankets, traffic stress,industrial levels of violent death onthe highways, the withering of down-town business districts and communi-ty life generally ñ all were attacked asthe insidious shadow of King Car.

Today, those early counterculturecatcalls sound quaint. The most urgentand damning critique of the car is nowmade by evidence of encroaching cli-mate change caused by the worldísmassive, growing and continuouslypolluting fleet of vehicles. More thanjust a ìquality of lifeî issue, questioningcar culture has become part of human-ityís fight for survival.

In 2003, criticizing cars is an articleof faith across the green-left spectrum,from Greenpeace to Reclaim theStreets. But the group with the mostlaser-like focus on ìautomobilityî isthe local one with the funny name:Car Busters, a busy little Prague-basedoutfit with a single-minded dedication

to stopping the onward march of carculture around the world. In acramped, flyer-filled office near theStraönicka metro station in Prague 10,their staff of six quietly burn througha slew of ongoing projects. They crankout a quarterly magazine and amonthly bulletin, help co-ordinateanti-car actions worldwide, and main-tain a website (www.carbusters.org)featuring a multilingual resource cen-ter and a contact directory for activistsand policy makers.

The English-language magazinecurrently has a circulation of 3,000,with a Czech version in the works. Thelatest issue features articles on thephysical health effects of drive-thruculture and a round-up of Car-Free

City days on four continents,together with the usual car-toons and scalding gallowshumor found in the justifiablyworried world of environmen-tal activism.

In its six years of life, CarBusters has employed French,Romanian, Finnish, Cana-dian, German and Australianactivists. The current staffincludes two Brits, two Czechsand two Americans.

Fittingly, the two Yanks arefrom California, in many wayscar cultureís ground zero. Itwas in the American West thatfreeways, roadside diners andtowns centered around inter-sections first bloomed. This isthe world Randy Ghent grewup in, and heís already spenthalf his life trying to changeit.

The 30-year-old Ghent is aveteran activist and CarBustersí last remainingfounding member. He firstentered green politics fight-ing to save the redwoods in

Northern California in the ë80s andhas since built a long war-record ofinternational activism and journal-ism, including work with the Alliancefor Paving Moratorium and regularcontributions to Auto Free Times andAdbusters, for which he was Europeancorrespondent. In 1997 he attendedCar Bustersí founding conference atLyon and stayed on. In 2000, hehelped the organization set up shopin Prague, where cheap rent and lowprinting costs facilitate its work withactivists in Central and EasternEurope.

Ask the soft-spoken Ghent what hehas against cars and heíll take abreath before warning that the sub-ject is bigger than a sound bite. A lotbigger, in fact.

ìCars are the largest source of pol-lution and environmental destructionin the world. Almost half of all petro-leum is consumed by cars ñ a majorimpetus for the looming war in Iraq.Half of the toxic air pollution, a thirdof the smog and at least a third of allgreenhouse gasses are [also] pro-duced by cars.î

Less discussed, Ghent says, is theautomobileís role in deforming theurban environment, replacing ìhigh-quality pedestrian habitatî with coldand dangerous speed corridors.Illustrating this point, Ghent com-pares the charming maze of medievalstreets, passages, marketplaces andpublic squares in Old Town to the rel-ative emptiness of Legerova near I.P.Pavlova or Olöanska in éiûkov.

ìTraditionally streets and publicspace in general were just as much forsocial interaction as movement, andspace devoted purely to movement wasconsidered wasted and kept to a mini-mum, like hallways in homes. Therewasnít this singular obsession with get-ting elsewhere as fast as possible, whichhas been reinforced by planning

departments bending over backwardto accommodate the car. On Legerovayou have to jump over a three-footmetal barricade just to cross the street.What kind of public life can grow in aplace like that? [And] when people areisolated in speeding metal boxes andliving in dreary neighborhoods emp-

tied of places worth visiting, they endup alienated, stressed and depressed,lacking a sense of community or asense of place. Their social supportnetwork has failed them, because itcanít co-exist with an environmentbuilt for and around automobiles.î

Here in the Czech Republic,Ghent says, you can see the effectseverywhere.

ìAll of these little villages that usedto be one-street villages now have thisthoroughfare. If you look at a lot ofold pictures of cities, you see how theywere more about community life andless for movement. There was lessalienation and loneliness. Just bygoing out of your front door youcould have spontaneous exchangeswith people.î

Even the slickest auto-industry

flacks would dread debating theseguys. Every member of the CarBusters collective is battle-hardenedand can attack car culture on multi-ple fronts with expertise. They allhave deep experience organizingevents in conference centers and onthe streets. All are dead seriousabout ending the Auto Age.

Thirty-four-year-old Jason Kirk-patrick is a former city councilmanfrom the progressive city of Arcata,California, and a star organizerbrought in to handle Car Bustersíthird biannual ìToward Car-FreeCitiesî conference, to be held inPrague next month. Seventy-five inter-national activists representing trans-portation campaign groups in Europeplan to attend, with four events opento the public.

Like Ghent, Kirkpatrick is a walk-ing PR machine for the car-free cause.Stats and studies fly from his mouthlike sparks off a Benz in a chop shop.Give him a minute and heíll explainwhy car-free cities are better for smallbusinesses. Give him two and heíll tellyou why theyíre better for everythingfrom the common cold to the localwater table.

ìIf you have to walk down a street,youíre likely to go to two or threestores,î he says. ìBut get out of yourcar and youíll shop at just one. Theamount of retail space a city loses toparking spaces is enormous, and jobsand revenue are lost. This is a giganticeconomic impact. In wealthyAmsterdam, 29 percent of trips are bybicycle, the highest among big cities inEurope.î

Ghent politely interrupts to men-tion a recent study of 30 Germantowns. It seems that those with themost pedestrian zones have lowerunemployment and a bigger tax base.

Car Busters is funded by its mem-bers, subscribers and a hodgepodge

Feature

They all have deepexperience organizingevents in conferencecenters and on thestreets. All are deadserious about ending theAuto Age.

Infernal Combustion

The latest issue of Car Busters magazine argues that drivingis bad for your health.

of grants. The upcoming Prague con-ference is partially underwritten bythe EU, the Council of Europe and asprinkling of Rockefeller crumbs.Like any ragtag NGO, Car Bustersícash situation is rarely stable for long.ìWe used to get money from theFoundation for Deep Ecology,î saysGhent. ìBut their priorities changedand now theyíre buying forests inChile.î

Finding money is complicated bythe admittedly radical nature of theCar Busters platform, but Ghent saysthe frankness and range of thegroupís voice is what makes it soimportant as a clearinghouse forideas and exchange between activists.

ìWe have the luxury of being radi-cal and provocative since we arenítinvolved directly in politics,î he says.ìIn fact, thatís a large part of ourappeal. People feel weíre like a breathof fresh air because we donít temperour language to please those in power.This is why our website has over 300hits a day while larger, institutional-ized groups ñ which tend to bore peo-ple with meaningless buzzwords likeësustainable mobilityí ñ have a hardtime building a grass-roots following.î

In a political atmosphere whereenvironmental activism is sometimesequated with terrorism, isnít theimage of ìcar bustingî a little . . . vio-lent?

ìWe expect ëCar Bustersí to betaken more figuratively than literal-ly,î says Ghent. ìWe raise radicalquestions and advocate a full rangeof effective nonviolent tactics, but wedonít actually go around telling peo-ple to smash cars aside from theirown. And an old car can be convert-ed into a nice big artsy flowerplanter, so thereís no need to let ouraggressive sides take over.î

In other words, they arenít tied toal-Qaeda. In fact, Car Busters pub-licly denied responsibility for theDecember sinking of 3,000 luxuryBMWs, Volvos and Saabs in theEnglish Channel. As a cheeky public-ity stunt, they plan to repeat theproclamation whenever natural dis-asters end up destroying large num-bers of automobiles.

Despite the caustic cartoons andattempt to stigmatize car owners byestablishing Autoholics Anonymouschapters around the world (one ofthe groupís latest side projects),Pragueís Car Busters are hard-corerealists, working for incrementalchange as they push radical ideasahead of the inevitable policy lag.Pillorying fat people in the West whodrive SUVs isnít going to save theworld, and they know that.

They also know that the real chal-lenge isnít even in the West. Thenumber of cars in the developingworld is exploding, and convincingplanners in those countries that theWestern model is costly and destruc-tive is a Car Busters priority. Althoughmost of their contacts and projectsinvolve the West, all of their work isdone with an eye toward influencingglobal developments.

According to Kirkpatrick andGhent, gleams of hope are breakingthrough the smog in poor countries,and both tell stories of working withtransport officials around the devel-oping world, especially in Asia,where mega-cities of tens of millionsof people make the US model a sui-cidal impossibility.

Richard Lane, a 24-year-old CarBuster from Sussex, England, stressesthat news from poorer countries ismore mixed than people think.ìMore Third World planners are com-ing over [to Europe] to watch and getinvolved in car-free days,î he says.

ìWe always hear about the newhighways and the KFC drive-thrus.There are the stories that in Jakartatheyíre seizing rickshaws and throw-ing them away, which is true, but itísalso true that itís the past mayor ofBogot· [Colombia] that has given usthe best model for the developingworld by making Bogot·ís car-free thebiggest in the world, coupled with anambitious long-term [plan] to chasethe car out of this city of 6 million.Heís currently in West Africa talkingto local officials. Once you have onegood model, it can really take offexponentially.î

Car Busters doesnít put muchhope in the cleaner cars now beingintroduced in the West, such ashyper-efficient ìsmartî cars andhybrid-fuel models.

ìIf these [cleaner] cars were

replacing the cars that exist it wouldbe one thing, but thatís not whatíshappening,î says Ghent. ìAnd ofcourse, clean cars do nothing toaddress the worsening quality of theurban environment or the continu-ing carnage on the roads ñ thatísover 1 million people killed and 10million injured every year. More thantwice as many people have died since1900 in US car collisions as havebeen killed in all the wars in US his-tory. In the global South, the figuresare even more alarming.î

Here in Europe, contradictorytrends abound, with green shootssprouting amidst galaxies of freshlylaid asphalt.

ì[Europe] is moving simultaneous-ly in both directions,î says Ghent.ìThere will be more roads, more cars,a lot of [suburban] development.Here in the Czech Republic, EUmembership will mean reduced pol-lution [from some sources], but alsohighways everywhere at the expenseof trains, which seem destined for fur-ther cutbacks and perhaps privatiza-tion, which is now destroying whatísleft of Britainís passenger rail system.

ìTailpipe emissions per vehiclewill improve, but even these gainsmay be cancelled out by rising carownership.î

In the face of this avalanche ofexhaust, what does Car Busters haveplanned for the future?

ìWe want to decentralize the orga-nization,î Ghent says. ìIn nextmonthís conference we want to get tothe point where more people can dothings independent of Car Busters.We work with a lot of internationalgroups and individuals, from groupslike Car-Free Russia and Road AlertUK to others like Institute forTransportation and DevelopmentPolicy, based in New York City. Peoplegive us info and we pass it on throughour magazine and bulletin, but wewant to develop a stronger network ofgroups around the world.î

For now, Pragueís Car Bustersknow that the worldís car popula-tion, already over 500 million, growsevery day. They know the major carmakers are building bigger andmore wasteful cars and that millionsof people still want to buy them.When asked if they have any hopeagainst hope, Ghent volunteers thesober observation that things will getworse before they get better.

ìOf course,î he says, ìthey arealways doing both.î

Alexander Zaitchik is at [email protected]

This week-long conference will bringtogether people from across Europeand beyond who are actively promot-ing alternatives to car dependence andcar culture. Locals are invited onTuesday, March 18th, to hear interna-tional speakers at Kino Aero,Prague 3. Featured presenters includeJ. H. Crawford (author of CarfreeCities, editor of Carfree.com), JohnWhitelegg (editor of World TransportPolicy & Practice), and Lars Gemzoe

(co-author of New City Spaces andPublic Spaces – Public Life). Foodand presentations are from noon until5 p.m. Books (in Czech and English)will be available for signings. ATransport Activism Video Night will takeplace at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March19th at Toulcuv Dvůr EkologickéCentrum, hosted by Car Busters andthe Czech Indymedia Centre(http://prague.indymedia.org/).

The regular monthly Cyclojízda

(Critical Mass bike ride) leaves fromJiřího z Poděbrad at 6 p.m. onThursday, March 20th(http://jizdy.cyklopraha.cz).

On Friday, March 21th at 7:30p.m. is the Car Busters SpringEquinox Benefit Concert/ClosingParty, in Malá Strana below thePrague Castle at historic BaráčnickáRychta, featuring the lively PůvodníBureš (CZ) and special guests.

More information can be found athttp://www.carbusters.org/confer-ence, or by phoning 274-810-849.

Car-Free Cities III March 17th – 22nd

“In the Czech Republic,EU membership willmean reduced pollution[from some sources],but also highwayseverywhere at theexpense of trains.”

Busting makes them feel good: Prague’s anti-auto crusaders show off some of their handiwork.

Prague’s favorite English-language bookshop. Real books only. Týn 4, Prague 1Tel: 224 895 737fax: 224 895 738e-mail: [email protected]

Virus Video

Prague’s unofficial film schoolV i r u s V i d e o , Te m p l o v á 8 ( n e x t t o M a r q u i s d e S a d e ) . Te l . : 0 6 0 7 5 0 8 9 3 3



FILm

From the Vault: Classic Films Coming SoonLolita (1962)Directed by Stanley KubrickWritten by Vladimir NabokovStarring James Mason, ShelleyWinters, Sue Lyon, Peter Sellers

Early Kubrick with a script by thenovelist, this Lolita is less tawdryand more textured than the origi-nal. Humbert Humbert is thequintessential European inAmerica, aghast at all thephilistines yet tempted by his land-ladyís teenage daughter. He spoutspoetry and she sips malts; then thelights dim, and no, you never seelittle ëLo naked. The film hasweaker moments (especially theinterminable driving scenes) but isworth the price of admission if

only for Peter Sellers. Here, in hisfirst recorded German-Englishrole, Sellers as Dr. Zempf sets outthe persona he would later perfectin Dr. Strangelove. Itís brilliant.Vatch dis movie, vill you,liebchen? ■ February 20th at éelezn· at 5:30

The Tin Drum (1979)Directed by Volker SchlöndorffWritten by Jean-Claude Carričre andGünter Grass. Starring Mario Adorf,Anglea Winkler and David Bennent

Based on one of the greatest nov-els of post-war Germany, The TinDrum, or Die Blechtrommel, is osten-sibly the story of young OskarMatzerath of Danzig. Acutally, it isthe story of the whole of NaziGermany. Matzerath, a strangeprodigy who refuses to grow up,soon rejects everything aroundhim ó his middle-class values, hisparents, his society and his intel-lect. His only response to the hor-ror mounting around him is todrum on his eponymous drum, onthe tinny hollowness of hisnationís soul. ■ Thursday February 13th atUnijazz at 7:00

The Great Dictator (1940)Directed by Charles Chaplin. Written by Charles Chaplin. Starring Charles Chaplin, PauletteGoddard, Jack Oakie.

It did not escape notice in the1930s that the worldís mostdespised dictator looked eerily likeits most popular entertainer.Charlie Chaplin made the most ofthe resemblance, using the occa-sion of his first full-fledged talkieto abandon the beloved LittleTramp to actually play Hitler (aswell as a persecuted Jewish bar-ber). The result is a flawed butdeeply felt satire that still astonish-es with its balletic slapstick,inspired silliness (especially whenChaplinís ìAdenoid Hynkelî duelswith Jack Oakieís Mussolini-manque), and a generous human-ism that gave Red-baiters anexcuse to hound Chaplin for yearsto come. Self-indulgent, sentimen-tal, but still stirring. ■ Friday February 14th at KinoMAT at 6 and 8:30

24-Hour Party PeopleDirected by Michael WinterbottomWritten by Frank Cottrell BoyceStarring Steve Coogan, ShirleyHenderson, Paddy Considine

Early in 24-Hour Party People,Factory Records boss TonyWilson (Steve Coogan) finds his

wife having sex with The BuzzcocksíSteve Shelley in a nightclub toilet. Itísnot a shock; Wilson has alreadywarned us, in an aside to the camera,that this is going to happen.

What comes next is a surprise:Coogan-as-Wilson introduces the realHoward Devoto, bandmate of thereal Shelley in the real Buzzcocks.Devoto interrupts this purportedaccount of the real lives of real peo-ple to note that the scene weíve justseen did not take place. By way of

response, Wilson quotes famed filmdirector John Ford to the effect thatgiven a choice between fact and leg-end, heíll always choose legend.

This pomo playfulness is both typi-cal of 24-Hour Party People and true tothe spirit of its subject, the relentlesslyself-mythologizing Manchester musicscene of the 1980s. Creating legendout of fact was Manchester music-mak-ersí way of circumventing the wealthand power of Londonís cultural domi-nance, and no one self-mythologizedmore energetically than Wilson. For allits winking warnings that much of whatwe are seeing is exaggerated or simplymade-up, 24-Hour Party People capturesthe feel of the sceneís wildest years.

Interestingly, the film chooses toretell the rise and fall of Wilsonís mav-erick indie label as a broad comedy.Itís an unusual approach given thatthe Factory story involves two deaths

and a heavy dose of heartbreak. Thatit works is mainly due to a well-judgedperformance by comedian Coogan,who plays Wilson as a posturing butlikable buffoon. In Cooganís hands(with help from screenwriter FrankCottrall Boyce), Wilsonís all-toohuman frailties constantly undercuthis pretensions. Between quotingobscure philosophers and expound-ing on his grand schemes, he worriesabout the size of his hips.

A Cambridge graduate schooled insituationist and postmodern theory,Wilson returns to Manchester in themid-70s to work in local television butfinds himself inspired by punkís DIYethic. (The movieís thematic if not lit-eral starting point is a famed pair of1976 Sex Pistols shows in Manchesterattended by Wilson, Morrissey, andfuture members of Joy Division, TheBuzzcocks, and Simply Red.) In his

spare time Wilson starts Factory as aclub night to showcase local bandsthen graduates to releasing records.

Wilsonís unlikely double life ñ TVpersonality by day, rock impresario bynight ñ is used to good comic effect.When heís not building his musicempire, Wilson earns his living report-ing on the likes of sheep-herding geeseand geriatric canal workers. Eventually,of course, the two worlds collide andthings get messy ñ and painfully funny,as when a coked-up Wilson tries tomake pre-interview small talk with astuffy government minister.

The light tone is surprisingly effec-tive when it comes to the filmís mostsaddening subplot, the tale of seminalFactory band Joy Division. Leadsinger/writer Ian Curtis, whose songs

of alienation and heartbreak helpeddefine Brit postpunk, hung himselfjust before Joy Divisionís first U.S.tour. Boyce and director MichaelWinterbottom resist the temptationto turn Curtis (Sean Harris, suitablyfrail and intense) into a tragic rockcliche. Taking its cue from Curtisíambiguous suicide note (ìAt this verymoment I just wish I were dead.î), thefilm offers no easy explanation whythe 23-year-old killed himself, eschew-ing melodrama in favor of bittersweetcomedy. Wilson is filming a typicallylightweight news item about a town

crier when he learns that his star hashung himself. Though shaken, hepersuades the town crier to spreadthe news of Curtisís death, and incor-porates this into his report. Itís a taste-less, even exploitative gesture, but anoddly moving one.

Strangely, the reinvention of JoyDivision as revolutionary electron-ic/dance band New Order followingCurtisís death gets short shrift in 24-Hour Party People, despite being oneof the most musically significantchapters of the Factory saga.Instead, Winterbottom fast-forwardsto the Ecstasy-fuelled ìMadchesterîscene of the late 1980s, whenFactoryís Hacienda club became adance music Mecca and guitarbands such as Happy Mondays andThe Stone Roses made it into themainstream with a distinctive mix ofindie rock and dance beats. The 40-something Wilson ultimatelybecame an unlikely spokesman forthe rave generation.

As Factoryís ambitions grow,though, so do the losses, leaving thecompany increasingly dependent onHappy Mondays just as HappyMondays become increasingly depen-dent on hard drugs. (The bandspends the money that Wilson sendsthem on crack.) Ultimately, Factoryfalls apart, victimized by the same dis-regard for standard music-biz proce-dure that made the label unique:Bands were given complete creativecontrol, half the revenues, and hand-shake agreements that allowed themto walk away at any time.

When the money ran out, most ofthem did, and Factoryís attempt tochallenge the British music sceneísstatus quo ended in failure. Despitethe unhappy ending, 24-Hour PartyPeople is an effective reminder of theambition and idealism of a recordlabel that lived fast, died young, andleft a great soundtrack.

Sam Beckwith can be reached [email protected]

Manchester United The snorts, sounds and scum of Factory Records’ heydey. Review by Sam Beckwith

I SuckEddie Murphy and OwenWilson go down together.Review by Andy Markowitz

I SpyDirected by Betty ThomasWritten by Marianne and CormacWibberley, Jay Scherick, David RonnStarring Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson

Whatís drearier than two gifted,savvy performers marking timein a leaden buddy flick? Two

gifted, savvy performers markingtime as cheery apologists for Mr.Bushís War.

Nominally based on a 1960s U.S. TVshow, I Spy offers up a few laughs,because even sleepwalking EddieMurphy can loot that much from hisstore of aging tricks. But theyíredrowned, like Murphy and co-starOwen Wilson, in a backwash of sourcynicism.

The original I Spy wasnotable for featuring a blackco-protagonist (played byBill Cosby) whose blacknesswas incidental. Here itís inte-gral ñ itís straight-up salt andpepper as Murphyís swag-gering boxer KellyRobinson is improbablyenlisted (by GWB himself)to team up with WilsonísAlex Scott, an agent withthe, uh, ìBureau of NationalSecurity.î The mission: Layhands on an invisible

bomber (yep) before a Budapest-basedvillain (human skeleton MalcolmMcDowell) can auction if off towhichever brown or yellow personwants baddest to blow the shit out ofAmerica. High-tech spook Scott bringsthe toys while Robinson brings thebling, whether taunting neanderthalwhiteys in the ring or ñ get this ñ coach-ing his feckless paleface partner on get-ting it on with a leggy colleague.

Thatís a good sign of the laziness ondisplay here (although Murphyprompting Wilson through an earpieceto recite ìSexual Healingî to his crushis kinda funny), and the buddy-bond-ing and action sequences are stagedwith slack indifference. Murphy barelybreaks a sweat, but Wilson strains visiblyto invest the movie with a modicum ofthe smart/dumb cool he brought toZoolander and The Royal Tenenbaums, asif trying to convince us (or himself)that something other than sheeropportunism lured the craftywriter/actor of Tenenbaums and Rush-more into this tower of crap.

Similarly, the movie itself grasps for aplayful, self-mocking tone ñ the superagents bicker! The super gizmos break!ñ but there isnít any genuine satirehere, or even farce, just George Bushíspicture in the paper at the end. Dopeyas they can get, the Austin Powers

movies recognize spy-flicktropes as inherently ridicu-lous and treat them accord-ingly. I Spy wants credit forsnarkiness while enlistingwithout a trace of irony tofight the Axis of Evil.Hollywood toeing theWashington line is nothingnew, but this flippant, faux-hip reactionary-lite is some-how scarier than a half-dozen Schwarzeneggerblitzkriegs. And not nearlyas entertaining. ■

For all its winkingwarnings that much ofwhat we are seeing isexaggerated or simplymade up, 24-Hour PartyPeople captures the feelof the scene’s wildestyears.

One eight-ball, please: Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) takes a break from breaking the Manchester scene.


Pill Kino ListingsFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7Aero: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue, documentary)

at 5:30, The Idiots (Dan) at 7:30, Amarcord (It) at 10Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 3:15,

Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8 and 10Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Amadeus at 6 and 8:45Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8 Edison: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 4:30 and 8:30, Láska shora

(Cz) at 6:30Evald: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, Vidocq (Fr)

at 7, Road to Perdition at 8Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:

The Trumpet at 2 and 9Illusion: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5 and 8Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 4:30,

Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9KC Zahrada: short Jan Švankmajer´s animated movies - J.S. Bach:

Fantasia G-moll, The Fall of the House of Usher, A QuietWeek in the House (Cz) at 5:30 and 8

Kotva: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am and 7, Year of the Devil (Cz) at 2and 9:30, Shrek (animated) at 4:30, Big Lebowski at 11:30

Lucerna: The Guru at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Once Upon a Time in theMidlands at 2 and 9

Mat: Monty Python´s Life of Brian at 6, The Brats (Cz, Englishsubtitles) at 8:30

Morava: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 5:30,Minority Report at 8

Oko: Black Cat, White Cat (Serbo-Croat) at 7, My Big Fat GreekWedding at 9:30, Acid House at midnight

Ořechovka: Talk to Her (Sp) at 5:30 and 8Perštýn: Fimfarum (Cz, animated) at 5, Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue,

documentary) at 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: Milan Klikar´s films (Cz) at 5:30Praha: Bend It Like Beckham at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk to Her (Sp)

at 2, 7 and 11:30, The Ignorant Fairies (It, Turk) at 4, HeLoves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30,Mulholland Drive at 9, Wings of Desire (Ger) at 11:15

Rock Café-Kino 63: Harrison´s Flowers at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,

5:15 and 8:30, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Czdub) at 11 am, 3 and 6, Heaven at 9

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8Aero: Treasure Planet (Cz dub, animated) at 3:30, Projekt 100/

2003 - Brazil at 5:30, The Idiots (Dan) at 8, Blow-Up at 10:30Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 1 and 3:15,

Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8 and 10Dlabačov: Quo Vadis (Pol) at 5 and 8Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8Edison: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 4:30 and 8:30, Láska shora

(Cz) at 6:30Evald: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: Treasure Planet (Cz dub, animated) at 3, He Loves Me... He

Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, Vidocq (Fr) at 7, Road to Perdition at 8Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:

The Trumpet at 2 and 9Illusion: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 2, 5 and 8Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 4:30,

Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9Kotva: Stuart Little 2 (Cz dub, animated) at 11 am and 2, Shrek

(animated) at 4:30, Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7, Year of the Devil(Cz) at 9:30, Big Lebowski at 11:30



Morava: Amadeus at 5 and 8Oko: Treasure Planet (Cz dub, animated) at 2:30, Kieslowski -

Camera Buff (Pol) at 4:30, A Short Film About Love (Pol) at7, Three Colors: Red (Fr) at 9:30, Acid House at midnight


documentary) at 7:30 and 10Praha: Bend It Like Beckham at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk to Her (Sp)

at 2, 7 and 11:30, The Ignorant Fairies (It, Turk) at 4, HeLoves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30,Mulholland Drive at 9, Wings of Desire (Ger) at 11:15

Rock Café-Kino 63: The Piano Teacher (Fr) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9Aero: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Late Night Talks with Mother (Cz) at 6,

Blow-Up at 8:30 Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 1 and

3:15, Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8Delta: Sex and Lucia (Sp) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Quo Vadis (Pol) at 5 and 8Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8Edison: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 4:30 and 8:30, Láska shora

(Cz) at 6:30Evald: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: Treasure Planet (Cz dub, animated) at 3, He Loves Me... He

Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, Vidocq (Fr) at 7, Road to Perdition at 8Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:

The Trumpet at 2 and 9Illusion: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 2, 5 and 8Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 4:30,

Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9Kotva: Stuart Little 2 (Cz dub, animated) at 11 am, Cats and Dogs

(Cz dub, animated) at 1:30, Shrek (animated) at 4:30, Girlie(Cz, Slov) at 7, Year of the Devil (Cz) at 9:30



Morava: Spy Kids: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 5:30, 24Hour Party People at 8

Oko: Z devatera pohádek (Cz, animated) at 2:30, Kieslowski -Blind Chance (Pol) at 4:30, Three Colors: Blue (Fr) at 7, AShort Film About Killing (Pol) at 9:30


documentary) at 7:30 and 10Praha: Big Lebowski at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk to Her (Sp) at 2 and

7, The Ignorant Fairies (It, Turk) at 4, He Loves Me... HeLoves Me Not (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30, Mulholland Drive at 9

Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,5:15 and 8:30, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Czdub) at 11 am, 3 and 6, Heaven at 9

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10Aero: Fimfarum (Cz, animated) at 6, Everything You Always

Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask at 8:30Bio Roxy: Pointing - documentary on graffiti (Cz) at 8Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 3:15,

Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8Delta: Earth (Sp) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue, documen-

tary) at 6 and 8Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8Edison: Van Wilder at 5:30 and 8Evald: Italian for Beginners (Dan) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, Vidocq (Fr)

at 7, Road to Perdition at 8The Hungarian Culture Institute: The Criminal and the Lady (Pol) at 5:30Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:


Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9Kotva: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am and 7, Year of the Devil (Cz) at 2

and 9:30, Kandahar at 4:30Lucerna: The Guru at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Once Upon a Time in the

Midlands at 2 and 9Mat: The Shawshank Redemption at 6, The Brats (Cz, English

subtitles) at 8:30Morava: 24 Hour Party People at 7:30 and 8Oko: The Draughtsman´s Contract at 7, Monsoon Wedding at 9:30Ořechovka: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5:30 and 8Perštýn: Fimfarum (Cz, animated) at 5, Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue,

documentary) at 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: Cirkus bude (Cz) at 5:30, The Way Through the Bleak

Woods (Cz) at 8

Praha: Before Night Falls at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk to Her (Sp) at 2and 7, Chocolat at 4, He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr)at 4:30 and 9:30, Amores perros (Sp) at 9

Rock Café-Kino 63: One World 2003 Festival (previews, call for pro-gram) at 7

Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,5:15 and 8:30, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Czdub) at 11 am, 3 and 6, Heaven at 9

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11Aero: Death in Venice (It) at 6, Stalker (Rus) at 8:30Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 3:15,

Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8Delta: Intact (Sp) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Idiots (Dan) at 6 and 8:15Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8Edison: Van Wilder at 5:30 and 8Evald: Italian for Beginners (Dan) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, Vidocq (Fr)

at 7, Road to Perdition at 8The French Institute: The Town Is Quiet (Fr) at 7:30Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:


Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9Kotouč Film Club: Monster´s Ball at 8:30Kotva: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am and 7, Year of the Devil (Cz) at 2



subtitles) at 8:30Morava: Amelie (Fr) at 5:30 and 8Oko: Last Tango in Paris (Fr) at 7, Sex and Lucia (Sp) at 9:30Ořechovka: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5:30 and 8Perštýn: Fimfarum (Cz, animated) at 5, Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue,

documentary) at 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: The New Mission of Judex I. (Fr, silent) at 5:30, The New

Mission of Judex II. (Fr, silent) at 8 Praha: Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk

to Her (Sp) at 2 and 7, Chocolat at 4, He Loves Me... HeLoves Me Not (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30, Amores perros (Sp) at 9

Rock Café-Kino 63: The Closet (Fr) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12Aero: Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 3:30 and 6, The

Grande Bouffe (Fr) at 8:30Blaník: Kameňák (Cz) at 4:30, 7 and 9:30British Council: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at 5 Budějovická: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 3:15,

Amelie (Fr) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8Delta: Intact (Sp) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Late Night Talk with Mother (Cz) at

6 and 8Eden: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:30 and 8Edison: Van Wilder at 5:30 and 8Evald: Italian for Beginners (Dan) at 5, 7:15 and 9:30Evropa: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 5:30, The Waiting

List (just in Spanish) at 6, Road to Perdition at 8The French Institute: The Town Is Quiet (Fr) at 7:30Hvězda: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am, 4:30 and 7, Ten Minutes Older:

The Trumpet at 2 and 9Illusion: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5 and 8The Italian Culture Institute: Macaroni (It) at 6:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 4:30,

Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 7:15, Die Another Day at 9KC Kaštan: Courage for Every Day (Cz) at 8Kotva: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 11 am and 7, Year of the Devil (Cz) at 2



subtitles) at 8:30Morava: Amelie (Fr) at 3Oko: The Ignorant Fairies (It, Turk) at 7, The Piano Teacher (Fr) at

9:30, Human Traffic at midnightOřechovka: The Man Without a Past (Fin) at 5:30 and 8Perštýn: Fimfarum (Cz, animated) at 5, Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue,

documentary) at 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: The New Mission of Judex III. (Fr, silent) at 5:30, Lesní

chodci (Cz) at 8Praha: Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 1:45 and 6:30, Talk

to Her (Sp) at 2 and 7, Chocolat at 4, He Loves Me... HeLoves Me Not (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30, Amores perros (Sp) at 9

Rock Café-Kino 63: Prague Stories (Cz) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8Dlabačov: Monster´s Ball at 6 and 8Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: K-19: The Widowmaker at 5:30 and 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8The French Institute: Late August, Early September (Fr, English sub-

titles) at 7:30The Hungarian Culture Institute: The Real America (Hung) at 6Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9Kotouč Film Club: Blind Chance (Pol) at 8:30Kotva: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 11 am and 7, Spy Kids

2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 2, 8 Women (Fr) at 4:30Lucerna: Once Upon a Time in the Midlands at 11 am and 9, Euro

Pudding (Fr, Sp) at 2, 4:30 and 7 Mat: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But

Were Afraid to Ask at 6 and 8:30Morava: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 3,

40 Days and 40 Nights at 5:30 and 8Oko: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 6, Late Night

Shopping at 9:30, Human Traffic at midnightOřechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 5,

Die Another Day at 8Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4 and 6:30, Year ofthe Devil (Cz) at 4:30 and 9:30, Útěk do Budína (Cz) at 7

Rock Café-Kino 63: Amores perros (Sp) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2, 5:15

and 8:30, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at10:50, 1:45 and 4:35, Lesní chodci (Cz) at 7:25 and 9:10

Unijazz: The Tin Drum (Ger) at 7Železná: student animated films (Cz) at 6

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14Aero: 24 Hour Party People at 6, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

at 8:30, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai at 11Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8 and 10Dlabačov: Crouching Tigger, Hidden Dragon at 6 and 8:15Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: K-19: The Widowmaker at 5:30 and 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 5:30, Being Light (Fr) at 7, My Big Fat

Greek Wedding at 8Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6, Projekt 100/

2003 - Amarcord (It) at 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9KC Zahrada: Captain Corelli´s Mandolin at 5:30 and 8Kotva: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 11 am and 7, Spy

Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 2, 8 Women (Fr)at 4:30, Monty Python´s The Meaning of Life at 11:30

Lucerna: Once Upon a Time in the Midlands at 11 am and 9, EuroPudding (Fr, Sp) at 2, 4:30 and 7

Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Great Dictator at 6 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: official reopening of the cinema after the flood,

surprise, free entry! at 8:30Morava: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 3,

40 Days and 40 Nights at 5:30 and 8Oko: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 6, Ghost Dog: The

Way of the Samurai at 9:30, Human Traffic at midnightOřechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 5,

Die Another Day at 8Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: The Elusive Summer of ´68 (Serbo-Croat) at 8Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4, Year of the Devil(Cz) at 4:30, 9:30 and 11:30, Solaris (Rus) at 6:30 and 11,Útěk do Budína (Cz) at 7

Rock Café-Kino 63: Dancer in the Dark at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2, 5:15


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15Aero: How to Fly through 5 Years Or 5 Years in the Air without

the Layover - celebration of the 5 years of Aero at 7:30Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 2, 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

11 am, 2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8 and 10Dlabačov: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 5:30 and 8Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone (Cz sub) at 2:30, K-

19: The Widowmaker at 5:30, 24 Hour Party People at 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Return to Never Land (Cz dub, animated) at 3, Girlie (Cz,

Slov) at 5:30, Being Light (Fr) at 7, My Big Fat GreekWedding at 8

Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: Monsters, Inc. (Cz dub, animated) at 2 and 4, We Children

from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9Kotva: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 11 am and 2,

8 Women (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30, He Loves Me... He Loves MeNot (Fr) at 7, Monty Python´s The Meaning of Life at 11:30


Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Amarcord (It) at 6 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5,

Rok ďábla (Year of the Devil, Cz, English subtitles) at 8:30Morava: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 3,

Bend It Like Beckham at 5:30 and 8Oko: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 1:15, Hollywood

Ending at 4:30, Celebrity at 7, Deconstructing Harry at 9:30,Human Traffic at midnight

Ořechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 2and 5, Die Another Day at 8

Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4, Year of the Devil(Cz) at 4:30, 9:30 and 11:30, Solaris (Rus) at 6:30 and 11,Útěk do Budína (Cz) at 7

Rock Café-Kino 63: The Piano Teacher (Fr) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2, 5:15


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16Aero: Italian for Beginners (Dan) at 6, The Ignorant Fairies (It, Turk) at 8:30Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

11 am, 2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8Delta: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Blow-Up at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 5:30 and 8Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer´s Stone (Cz sub) at 2:30, K-

19: The Widowmaker at 5:30, 24 Hour Party People at 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Return to Never Land (Cz dub, animated) at 3, Girlie (Cz,

Slov) at 5:30, Being Light (Fr) at 7, My Big Fat GreekWedding at 8

Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: Monsters, Inc. (Cz dub, animated) at 2 and 4, We Children

from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9Kotva: Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 11 am and

1:30, 8 Women (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30, He Loves Me... HeLoves Me Not (Fr) at 7


Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Amadeus at 5 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5,

Rok ďábla (Year of the Devil, Cz, English subtitles) at 8:30Morava: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 3,

Bend It Like Beckham at 5:30 and 8Oko: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 2, Small Time

Crooks at 5:30, Everything You Always Wanted to KnowAbout Sex But Were Afraid to Ask at 7, The Curse of theJade Scorpion at 9:30

Ořechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 2and 5, Die Another Day at 8

Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4 and 6:30, Year ofthe Devil (Cz) at 4:30 and 9:30, Útěk do Budína (Cz) at 7

Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2,5:15 and 8:30, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Czdub) at 10:50, 1:45 and 4:35, Lesní chodci at 7:25 and 9:10

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17Aero: Black Cat, White Cat (Serbo-Croat) at 6, Underground

(Serbo-Croat) at 8:30Bio Roxy: The Exorcist at 8Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8Delta: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Isle (Korean) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Blow-Up at 6 and 8Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: Road to Perdition at 5:30 and 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 5:30, Being Light (Fr) at 7, My Big Fat

Greek Wedding at 8The Hungarian Culture Institute: Penguin (Pol) at 5:30Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9Kotva: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 11 am and 7, Spy

Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 2, 8 Women (Fr)at 4:30 and 9:30


Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Milky Way (Fr) at 6 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5,

Wings of Desire (Ger) at 8:30Morava: Grill Point (Ger) at 5:30 and 8Oko: Italian for Beginners (Dan) at 7, The Lord of the Rings: The

two Towers at 9:30Ořechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 5,

Die Another Day at 8Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: short Louis Feuillade´s movies (Fr, silent) at 5:30Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4 and 6:30, Year ofthe Devil (Cz) at 4:30 and 9:30, Himalaya (Tibetan) at 7

Rock Café-Kino 63: VideoCulture Fest 2003 - amateur internationalvideo, young production (14 - 21 years) festival at 4, OneWorld 2003 Festival (previews, call for program) at 8


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18Aero: Year of the Devil (Cz) at 6, A Clockwork Orange at 8:30Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8Delta: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue, documen-

tary) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Great Dictator at 6 and 8:15Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: Road to Perdition at 5:30 and 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 5:30, Being Light (Fr) at 7, My Big Fat

Greek Wedding at 8

The French Institute: An Outgoing Woman (Fr, English subtitles) at 7:30Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9Kotouč Film Club: Bend It Like Beckham at 8:30Kotva: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 11 am and 7, Spy Kids 2:

Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 2, 8 Women (Fr) at 4:30 and 9:30Lucerna: Once Upon a Time in the Midlands at 11 am and 9, Euro

Pudding (Fr, Sp) at 2, 4:30 and 7Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Blow-Up at 6 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5,

Wings of Desire (Ger) at 8:30Morava: Grill Point (Ger) at 5:30 and 8Oko: The Man Without s Past (Fin) at 7, The Lord of the Rings:

The Two Towers at 9:30Ořechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 5,

Die Another Day at 8Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: Magdana´s Donkey (Georgian) + The 19th Century

Georgian Chronicle (Georgian) at 5:30, Revolt of theFishermen (Rus, English subtitles) at 8

Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4 and 6:30, Year ofthe Devil (Cz) at 4:30 and 9:30, Himalaya (Tibetan) at 7


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19Aero: Monsoon Wedding at 3:15, The Man Without a Past (Fin) at

5:30, Lesní chodci (Cz) at 8Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at

2 and 5, Extreme Ops at 8Delta: Projekt 100/ 2003 - The Idiots (Dan) at 5:30 and 8Dlabačov: Bread and Tulips (It) at 6 and 8Eden: Die Another Day at 5:30 and 8:30Edison: Road to Perdition at 5:30 and 8Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8Evropa: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 5:30, My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 8 The French Institute: An Outgoing Woman (Fr, English subtitles) at 7:30The Hungarian Culture Institute: Dvanáct křesel (Cz) at 5:30Hvězda: Intact (Sp) at 11 am, 4:30 and 9, Girlie (Cz, Slo) at 2 and 7Illusion: We Children from Bahnhof Zoo (Ger) at 6 and 8:30The Italian Culture Institute: Splendor (It) at 6:30Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 5:15 and 6:55, Heaven at 9KC Kaštan: Private Torment (Cz) at 8Kotva: He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (Fr) at 11 am and 7, Spy

Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 2, 8 Women (Fr)at 4:30 and 9:30


Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Brazil at 5:30 and 8:30Modřanský Biograf: Some Secrets (Cz) at 9:30 am, The Lord of the

Rings: The Two Towers at 5, Wings of Desire (Ger) at 8:30

Morava: Grill Point (Ger) at 3Oko: The Realm of the Senses (Jap) at 7, The Lord of the Rings:

The Two Towers at 9:30Ořechovka: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 5,

24 Hour Party People at 8Perštýn: Cruel Joys (Cz, Slov) at 5, 7:30 and 10Ponrepo: Jan Švankmajer - Precursors and Conspirators - Georges

Franju (short movies, Fr) at 5:30, Fantomas (Fr, silent) at 8Praha: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 1:45 and 9, Amelie (Fr) at 2,

Baraka (no dialogue, documentary) at 4 and 6:30, Year ofthe Devil (Cz) at 4:30 and 9:30, Himalaya (Tibetan) at 7

Rock Café-Kino 63: Prague Stories (Cz) at 7:30Světozor: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10:45 am, 2, 5:15


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20Aero: Last Tango in Paris (Fr) at 6, The Man Without a Past (Fin)

at 8:45Blaník: Catch Me If You Can at 4:30, 7 and 9:30Budějovická: Treasure Planet (Cz dub, animated) at 3:15, 8 Women

(Fr) at 5:30, Talk to Her (Sp) at 8Dlabačov: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Brazil at 6 and 8:30Eden: The Guru at 5:30, Road to Perdition at 8Edison: Ice Age (Cz dub, animated) (call for times)Evald: The Samsara (Tibetan) at 5 and 8The French Institute: The Color of Lies (Fr) at 7:30The Hungarian Culture Institute: Close to Love (Hung) at 6Hvězda: Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, The Guru, Italian for

Beginners (Dan) (call for times)Illusion: Cruel Joys (Slov) at 6 and 8Jalta: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 4:15,

Kameňák (Cz) at 7:10 and 9Kotouč Film Club: Monsoon Wedding at 8:30Kotva: My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 11 am and 7, 24 Hour Party

People at 2 and 9:30, Amelie (Fr) at 4:30Lucerna: Once Upon an Angel, Our Little Town (Cz) (call for times)Mat: Projekt 100/ 2003 - Late Night Talks with Mother (Cz) at 6,

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 8:30Modřanský Biograf: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz

dub) at 5, Road to Perdition at 8Morava: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones at 5:30,

Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue, documentary) at 8Oko: Being Light at 7, Mulholland Drive at 9:30, Fear and

Loathing in Las Vegas at midnightOřechovka: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 4:30 and 8Perštýn: Heaven at 5Ponrepo: Dead of Night at 5:30Praha: Girlie (Cz, Slov) at 1:45 and 6:30, Year of the Devil (Cz) at

2 and 7, Full Frontal at 4, Intact (Sp) at 4:30 and 9:45,Some Secrets (Cz) at 9

Rock Café-Kino 63: Kandahar at 7:30Světozor: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 10:45

am, 1:40 and 4:30, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at10:45 am, 2, 5:15 and 8:30, Lesní chodci (Cz) at 7:20 and 9:10

Unijazz: Sing, Cowboy, Sing (Ger) at 7Železná: Lolita at 5:30

For Palace Cinemas multikino listings, consult www.palacecinemas.cz (English version available)

VILLAGE CINEMAS ČERNÝ MOST FEB 7—12 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10 am, 11 am, 1:20, 4, 5,

7:30 and 8:30 Kameňák (Cz) at 10:10 am, 12:10, 2:10, 4:15, 6:20, 8:25 and 10:30Extreme Ops at 10:30 am, 12:40, 2:50, 4:55, 7:10 and 9:20I Spy at 1, 3:30, 5:40, 7:50 and 10The Transporter at 4:10, 6:10, 8:10 and 10:10Die Another Day at 10:55 am, 2, 5:05 and 8:05Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 10:30 am, 2:05 and 6Ice Age (Cz dub) at 10:20 am, 12:20 and 2:15Sweet Home Alabama at 9:30Spy Kids: Island of Lost Dreams (Cz dub) at 10:40 am

VILLAGE CINEMAS ANDĚL FEB 7—12The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 10 am, 12:30, 1:30, 4,

5, 7:40 and 8:30I Spy at 10:10 am, 12:10, 2:10, 4:10, 6:10, 8:10 and 10:10Kameňák (Cz) at 11:05 am, 1:20, 3:45, 6:05, 8:15 and 10:45Extreme Ops at 11:30 am, 1:40, 3:50, 5:55, 8 and 10:10The Transporter at 10:55 am, 1, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30

Die Another Day at 11 am, 2, 4:40, 7:20 and 10My Big Fat Greek Wedding at 10:05 am, 12:05, 5:50, 7:50 and 10:05Intact (Sp) at 3:40, 6 and 8:45Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Cz dub) at 10:20 am, 1:50

and 5:10Ice Age (Cz dub) at 10:15 am and 1The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at 2:10Útěk do Budína (Cz) at 8:4024 Hour Party People at 3

CINEMA EUROPAHeaven at 2:20, 6:20 and 10:25 (plus at 10:20 am on weekend)Naqoyqatsi (no dialogue, documentary) at 12:20, 4:20 and 8:20The Pianist at 11:50 am, 4:50 and 7:35Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet at 2:50 and 10:30

GOLD CLASSDie Another Day at 4:45, 7:45 and 10:20 (plus at 2:05 on weekend)The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at 5:15 and 8:20 (plus at 1:45

on weekend)

Jeff Koyen was never late for the movies in Prague, but sometimesthe movies were late on him. He urges you to call ahead.

Please consult the Venue Finder on p. 14 for theater addresses.


Chateau (1)Jakubská 2Still listed in many guidebooks as Chapeau Rouge,it’s the same old hang for locals and temporariesalike. It can look a bit roguish at times, but it’s actu-ally warm and fuzzy and more than just a meet mar-ket. Bring a cool, mellow attitude, and the doors ofthe city may open for you. Not the sure-thing it oncewas, nonetheless an organic character keeps it vital.

Újezd (2)Újezd 14As good an excuse for spending some of yourevening on the “small side” as any. Three roomsfeaturing varying tunes to herbalize to. Probably asclose as Prague gets to an alternative rock ’n’ rollbar. Welcoming to all in that Amsterdam kinda way.

Dusk Til Dawn (3)Týnská 19One of the new set of cocktail bars flourishing nearTýn square, filling a niche by providing quality drinks tothe older (25-35) but not snobbier set. Radical concoc-tions at reasonable prices and a groovy interior makethis a good place to start or wind up an evening.

Thirsty Dog (4)Elišky Krásnohorské 5A guidebook mainstay that’s changed quite a bitover the years. New ownership has kept the drinkprices and quality eats at their former level, but themadness is gone. The clientele has shifted fromYanks to Brits, but the smattering of local universitystudents keeps the place out of the obituary column.

Marquis de Sade (5)Templová 18This former Hapsburg-era brothel around the cor-ner from Chateau can look like a Prohibition-eraspeakeasy, replete with gangster balcony. Swingsfrom crazy to mellow with disconcerting unpre-dictability, as all kinds stop in to test the waters.

Batalion (6)28. Října 3This 24-hour den of chaos has a New Orleans-styledyslexia about day and night, and is for ragers andalcoholics alike. Entertainment includes the occa-sional band, big-screen music videos, billiards,frumpy metal-heads, and the only 24-hour internetin town. You’d think you’d see more hipsters.

La Casa Blu (7)Kozí 15Tucked away in old town, this funky Latino-Czechbar is a friendly, well-lit room with a passable mid-night Mexican food menu, and they’ll even put icein your drinks. A good place to chill with yournew soulmate without too much interference fromthe tri-lingual staff.

Fraktal (9)Šmeralova 1This Holešovice basement bar often feels like theBeverly Hillbillies have come to Prague. A friendlyhome-style joint that hosts a mix of neighborhoodfreaks and expats testing their various resolvesnightly, and failing happily. Real canines welcome.

Wakata (10) Malířská 14Part of the burgeoning Letná underground, this isthe place for turntable fanatics, as some of the bestyoung, local talent spin dub and hip-hop through ahaze of homegrown. Cool interior, not touristy.

Palác Akropolis (11)Kubelíkova 27The only Sure Thing in the city. Two bars hostname DJs doing things you shouldn’t try at home.Experimental, buzzing, cheap booze, no cover.Unpredictable and welcoming. Worth the adventure,five minutes from the center. 130 Kč in a taxi.

U Malého Glena (12)Karmelitská 23Little Glen’s is one of the oldest and most estab-lished bars in Malá strana. Featuring nightly jazz inits cozy basement and healthy short-order foodupstairs. A place where all ages and inclinationsfeel at home. Staff open to your silly questions.

Le Clan (14)Balbínova 23The devil has to play somewhere. This after-hoursclub caters to no one, and yet all the flotsam fromthe other bars and clubs in town congregates herenightly from three until sometime after dawn.Groups in dark corners perform illicit acts to thump-ing French house music. A low-key attitude will getyou in the door, the secret is trying to get out.

Baráčnická Rychta (15)Tržiště 23/555Another Malá strana beer hall turned music club,Rychta also offers affordable and tasty Czechmeals. The young garden crowd moves inside forthe winter when rivers of Pilsner are consumed.

C L U B SRoxy (16)Dlouhá 33Legendary for a reason, this remarkable renovatedold Jewish theater maintains a raw warehouse vibedespite its status as Prague’s downtown super-club.Top international Djs and bands help create the bestclub atmosphere in Prague.

cITY GuiDe

Radava LanesMilady Horákové 37Tel. 233 101 213, www.radava.cz

Be the first on your block to goretro! If you don't remember all thegood times you had bowling – eitherbecause you never bowled orbecause it was so long ago – take arefresher on the Brunswick lanes inHolešovice. Cultures collide in thishospoda-meets-bowling alley thatburrows inconceivably deep into thecity block – no doubt contributingcountless audible torments to thebabičkas living in the buildingabove. Never mind the suffering itmust cause; you can actually feelyour cares dissolve as the ballsmashes into the wooden pins.Everyone cheers a strike, everyonegasps at a spare, everyone makesthose silly puckered-up faces at asplit! There's no need to fear theJesus – Czechs haven't gotten thehang of bowling yet, so it's an openfield for any sharks among us. Thereare 10 full lanes, and they even kickin the black-light for nightmarishlyentertaining psychedelic disco-bowling! Ten lanes sounds like a lot,but just imagine how many peoplethere are in Holešovice! Call aheadto reserve your lane, and kill thetime at the restaurant out front,which serves decent Czechpub fare. Check theirwebsite for eventdetails.

How do I get on the map?The reviews on this page are trustedrecommendations of our staff and friends, notpaid ads. Advertising space is available onthis page, however. Contact our advertisingdepartment at [email protected] or call257 534 015 for details.

SPOTLIGHT ON

Industry 55 (18)Vinohradská 40The crowd is young, Czech, and all have huge pupilswhere their eyes once were as they jog around wait-ing for the mother ship to pick them up. Hard technobeats until noon on weekends. Some swear by it.

Mecca (19)U Průhonu 3The nice thing about this house music venue isonce you get there, you have made the commit-ment. The sound system and the talent on thedecks are arguably Prague’s finest. Most come todance and space out, so say hi at Mecca and try toget closer at Le Clan afterwards.

La Fabrique (20)Uhelný trh 2Classic pick-up joint featuring cheesy Euro-discowith cheesy Euro-emcee. But that’s not why you’rehere is it? Foreigners, tourists, and local high-schoolgirls and secretaries come here to get their funklessfreak on, and get ripped. Leave no man behind.

Double Trouble (21)Melantrichova 17Down the street from La Fabrique, with better musicand more Germans and Italians. No matter, the sameetiquette applies here except that the cute little girlyou’re falling in love with has just have passed yourwallet on to a friend. On the other hand, impromptuamateur strip shows spontaneously break out.

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Express Trains (Eurocity connections)from Prague to Berlin,Budapest and WarsawTrain schedules are usually reliable,but are subject to occasional delays.To confirm departure times online,check the English-language searchengine on www.prague.tv, and don’tforget to bring something to read.

Prague to Berlin (Daily)Average trip: 5 hours6:44 a.m. from Hlavní Nádraží8:44 a.m. from Hlavní Nádraží12:44 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží3:00 p.m. from Praha Holešovice5:00 p.m. from Praha Holešovice

Prague to Budapest (Daily)Average trip: 7 hours12:43 a.m. from Hlavní Nádraží6:10 a.m. from Hlavní Nádraží8:58 a.m. from Praha Holešovice12:58 a.m. from Praha Holešovice3:55 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží11:22 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží

Prague to Vienna (Daily)Average trip: 5 hours6:55 a.m. from Hlavní Nádraží10:58 a.m. from Praha Holešovice2:58 p.m. from Praha Holešovice5:58 p.m. from Praha Holešovice

Prague to Warsaw (Daily)Average trip: 9.5 hours1:05 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží6:39 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží9:10 p.m. from Hlavní Nádraží

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Emergency NumbersPolice: 150 (from any public or private phone)Fire: 158Ambulance: 155Mobile emergency operator: 112

Canadian Medical CenterVeleslavínská 1, Prague 60602 335 670

American Medical CenterV Celnici 5, Prague 52214 33 110

Self-Service LaundryLaundry KingsDejvická 16, Prague 6

LaundrylandLondýnská 71, Prague 2Na příkopě 12, Prague 1Vinohradská 50, Prague 2Plzeňská 344, Prague 5Chrudimská 2a, Prague 3

Cyber LaundryKorunní 14, Prague 2

Taxi ServicesAAA Taxi: 214 014 or 233 113 311City Taxi: 233 103 310Halo Taxi: 244 114 411ProfiTaxi: 231 415 161Taxi Praha: 266 776 677

English-Speaking Realtors Prague RentalsSudoměřská 13, Prague 3, Tel.: 222 718 271

DT RentalsŽitná 4, Prague 2, Tel.: 296 212 310

Happy House RentalsSoukenická 8, Prague 1, Tel.: 222 311 855

Select Hostels (year-round)Traveller’s HostelDlouhá 33, Prague 1, Tel.: 224 826 662

Hostel ElfHusitská 11, Prague 3, Tel.: 222 540 963

Clown and Bard HostelBořivojova 102, Prague 3, Tel.: 222 716 453

Týn HostelTýnská 21, Prague 12248 08 333

Hostel U melounuKe Karlovu 7, Tel.: 224 919 330

Hostel OrlíkTerronská 6, Prague 6, Tel.: 224 311 240

Post OfficesMain Post Office: Jindřišská 14, Prague 1Staré město: Kaprova 12, Prague 1Malá Strana: Josefská 4, Prague 1

Car RentalsHertz: 222 231 010National: 224 923 719Budget: 224 889 995Dvořák: 224 826 262Alimex: 220 961 414

Health CentersCanadian Medical Center: 257 211 111International Medical Services: 222 580 301

or 602 289 361 (emergency) Unicare: 235 356 553 or 601 201 040

(emergency)Prague Women’s Health Center: 251 614 686 or

603 810 076 (emergency)American Medical Center: 220 807 756American Dental Associates: 221 181 121

Credit Card ContactsVISA: 224 125 353Master Card: 261 354 650Diners Club: 267 314 485AmEx: 222 800 111

☎

Lucerna Music Bar (22)Vodičkova 36One of the most genuine music scenes in Prague. Onweekends the sweltering Music Bar hosts the conti-nent’s finest retro ’80s party. They sing, they flirt,drink, take over the stage to the same tunes everyFriday and Saturday. Like Bill Murray in GroundhogDay, the more you go, the more ways you will find totake advantage of what’s on offer. Don’t be shy, anddecide on your slow-dance partner before 2:30 a.m.

Clown and Bard (23)Bořivojova 102Plenty of guests at this Žižkov hostel end up stayingfor months without ever making it out of the build-ing. The loud, unpredictable but comfortable bar iswhy. Occasional live bands. Worth dropping by.

Bulldog (U Buldoka) (24)Preslova 1Great food upstairs and a new club downstairs havemade this roughneck ex-sports bar popular with locals.Decent DJs spinning house music and a spaciousdancefloor might fill up if folks don’t feel too “cool” toshake some booty. Use sparingly and at your own risk.

Zvonařka (25)Safaříkova 1A great view of the south city on the terrace is justone reason to find this stylish and professionally runvenue. If you see a party announced here, don’t missit. One of the best sunset drinks in town, supplement-ed by healthy and hearty Asian-inspired food.

C A F É SSt. Nicholas Cafe (26)Tržiště 9Just down the street from the U.S. Embassy, thismellow and cavernous bar has been the hang-outof choice for Malá Strana’s singles crowd for years.A pleasant place to take a date, enjoy a cappucci-no and play a game of chess.

Café Louvre (29)Národní třída 20Louvre is a gem. A huge selection of sweets, excellentespresso, and an extensive selection of newspapers ina variety of languages complimented by billiards. TheFrench breakfast is a cheese plate, fresh vegetables, atwo-egg mushroom omelet, three mini-croissants, anda glass of juice for 99 crowns. Spend the day here.

Kavárna Obecní Dům (30)Náměstí Republiky 5Private booths and a grand piano. This Mucha-festis a sight for sore eyes, especially during the win-ter. You'll want to thank them for letting you evensit down. Though it's best avoided immediately pre-and post-concert, anytime is a good time for theirice cream and coffee.

Jazz Café 14. (31)Opatovická 14This little nook (or is it a cranny?) will be playingthe same Satchmo record in one hundred years,and it'll still attract the same student crowd hanker-ing for some hermelin, coffee and conversation.Intimate atmosphere for intimate people.

Café Konvikt (32)Bartolomějská 11A two-tiered cafe where the local students drinkenough white wine to flood Prague. A great placeto read in; a great place to be seen reading in. Aimlow, the ground floor is where it's at.

Kavárna Medůza (33)Belgická 17Mirrors and photos on the wall, while you sit at yourgrandmother's table- this is the hippest, most put-togeth-er place in Vinohrady. Excellent juices and coffees, com-fortable couch. Go ahead and kiss, nobody's looking.

Ebel (34)Týn 2Ready, willing and Ebel, this Ungelt coffee shop isPrague's answer to Starbucks, though much, muchless evil. Mind-boggling coffee selection and theoutside seating is great for people-watching.

Café Franz Kafka (35)Široká 12As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasydreams he found his bedroom transformed into acoffee shop… One of the best places to be alone inthe heart of Old Town. There is, though, an inexplic-able terror in tearing Kafka's face open – it's print-ed on their sugar packets.

Memories of Africa (36)Rybná/JakubskáMore beans than an English breakfast. More Africanthan the Mau Mau. This cozy two-table room cooksup some caffeine concoctions that boggle the mind.You'll walk right by it three times before you find thedoor, but once you do, you'll never leave.

Lucerna Café (37)Vodičkova 36You're sipping coffee in an Art Deco arcade, you'relooking through the windows, you're ashing yourcigarette, you're waiting for the exhale to answerthe beautiful person across from you. You're abadass. Good coffee and interesting clientele.

The Globe (38)Pštrossova 6Seller of used and new books, purveyors of finecoffee, meeting place of expats, expatellas andtravelers from around the world. The mocha coffeeis recommended, as is the veggie pocket. Internetin the front, books in the back, English all-around,the Globe remains a Prague institution.

Wigwam (39)Hroznová 6One of Kampa’s many flood victims, this comfy lit-tle bar was barely open a week before being turnedinto an aquarium. It's re-opened and a great sound-track and friendly staff make you feel at home.

Café Orange (40)Puškinovo náměstíSnuggled between Vítězné náměstí and theAmerican residence in Bubeneč, the only thingOrange needs is more space. The city's best fresh-squeezed juices – grapefruit and orange, a well-thought out menu and high-grade people-watchingtables in the front windows make it special.

Popocafepetl (41)Vodičkova 30This is the second PPP in the city, but everyonebegged us to keep the first location secret – it's likethat. Most everyone we know swears by the sangria.In the Lucerna passage closest to V jámě. One wordof caution though – ladies, watch your purses.

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Get in on the ground floor – advertise in the Pill. Tel.: 257 535 015, mobile 603 481 443, e-mail: [email protected]


Friday, February 7A Studio Rubín: O.K.K.O. (live)Agharta: František Kop Quartet (modern jazz)Akropolis: Dj A.L.I. & guest (hip hop, Small Scene), When Penguin

Meets Beats - Djs Tall, Janef & Radimon (flute) + special guestDj Courtney (Theater Bar)

Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Svátˇa Karásek and PozdravpánbuBaráčnická Rychta: Lachout (Olympic revival)Batalion: Steam (Led Zeppelin, Cream, Free...)Delta: Chadima & RichterFuturum: 80s & 90s party - TV show and video, Djs Jirka Neumann,

Roman Pluhař, Jirka Březina & ZuzkaD Guru: Excelence + Djs Morse, Marek Řeřicha & E.S.W.L. (poprock, multi)Imperial Jazz Café: ApendixielandIndustry: Testament Dance Party - Djs Kavalír & Marek ŘeřichaKain: AbraxasKD Opatov: TakinÓffKlamovka: Michal Filek + String Time Acoustic BandLa Provence: Jazz TimeLe Clan: Lounge with Dj Renda and guestsLucerna Music Bar: Pop 80s & 90s video party - Dj Jirka NeumannMalostranská Beseda: Krausberry (rock)Mánes: Tropicana (Latino-American night) Mecca: Dj Peter Moskito, Dj Neo and guest, Hip Hop and Old School

C’Lounge by Dj OmarMeloun: Czechoslovakian discotheque with Djs Balda and Kříča,

Karaoke Caruso ShowMetropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens)Mlejn: Fuck da Karot (ethno hard core), M.Z.H. (punk), Affe Afekt

Revival band (tekno), GinnungagapMrtvá Vrána: Dj Liquid A (latino, reggae, funky music), free entryNebe: Dj Kuba SoulcheckProsek: Vyhoukaná sovaRadost FX: Robodisco - Dj Hakan Lidbo (Paperecordings, Swe) - live

+ Dj Tvyks (CZ)Reduta: Vlasta Průchová & Co.Rock Café: Gypsy Night - Bengas + Dj MaaraRoxy: Bugget Out!...Viva Acid House - Djs Justin Robertson (UK) + Phil

Kieran (UK), support by Dan Cooley, Deep Lounge Chill Out - Airto,Lucas

Salmovská literární kavárna: Ester Kočičková & Lubomír NohavicaSedm Vlků: Djs Infinity & Beast67 (dń´b)U Malého Glena: Robert Balzar (modern jazz)Ultramarin: Dj David BowlesUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Luboš Andršt Blues Band feat. Ramblin RexVagon: Palice + Uširváč (Hudba Praha revival), Reggae party at midnightWakata: Djs Saku & Slávek (breakbeat)XT3: Booyaka team - Fat Free Georgina, Maxim, Dave Wave &

Mefuzo (dń´b, ragga)Železná: Vertigo (space modern jazz)007 Strahov: Bassbeast (jungle)

Alfred ve Dvoře: All the Only Ones (poetic dance performance, chore-ography by A. Stodolová) at 8

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: Misanthrope (Moliére, in Czech) at 7:30Damúza: Escorial (M. de Ghelderode, in Czech) at 8Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo V Celetné: The Cripple of Inishmaan (M. McDonagh, in Czech) at 7:30Image: The Best of Image (black light theater) at 8Komedie: Hamlet (W. Shakespeare, performed by the Klicperovo

divadlo, in Czech) at 7:30Kongresové Centrum: Chicago (F. Ebb, B. Fosse, musical, in Czech) at 7Laterna Magika: Ulysses at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: The Lantern (A. Jirásek, in Czech) at 7NoD: Dark Love Sonnets - life of F.G. Lorca and R.R. Rapún (poetic

theater, music - Miriam Bayle, in Czech) at 8Obecní Dům: Michal Novenko - organ concert (J. Brahms, G.

Frescobaldi, H. Howells) at 5Rokoko: The Marriage Certificate (E. Kishon, in Czech) at 7Státní Opera: La Traviata (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Twelfth Night (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Killer Joe (T. Letts, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30

Saturday, February 8A Studio Rubín: Muff & Marcel BártaAgharta: Roman Pokorný Trio (modern jazz)Akropolis: Rude Audio (Small Scene), The Tchendos - Djs (freestyle,

Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: TělaBaráčnická Rychta: Munka Sosztali (HU, CZ)Batalion: Odnikud nikamFuturum: 80s & 90s party - TV show and video, Djs Jirka Neumann,

Roman Pluhař, Jirka Březina & ZuzkaD Guru: Hookers + Ševcovský Pop, Dj Murphy (system beat) Imperial Jazz Café: ApendixielandIndustry: Attention! - Dj Dan CooleyKain: Maria ScareKD Opatov: Dexxter, Fialky, Mayflowers (rock)Klamovka: Prádelna (rock)La Provence: Vesna AnimaLe Clan: Moonshine with Dj Brian and guestLucerna Music Bar: Pop 80s & 90s video party - Dj Jirka NeumannMagická Zahrada: Pragasón - La Música Cubana En Praga (son

cubano, latin jazz)Malostranská Beseda: Žáha (blues, soul)Mánes: Czechoslovakian Party - mixMecca: Camouflage - Djs Chris Sadler, Formi and guest, C’Lounge

by Dj A.L.I.Meloun: Czechoslovakian discotheque with Djs Balda and KříčaMetropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens)Mlejn: Punk-Rock Festival - Proklenný Wokno, Flattus, First Choice,

Bublifuck, Salash Modrá Vopice: Šántí, Zen + Méďa Péďa (rock)Mrtvá Vrána: Dj Spin and guest (new house music dimension), free entryNebe: Dj Moskito+ GuestRadost FX: Open House - Djs Fafa Monteco (Fra), Paco (Fra), Maxx,

Chris QuadrantReduta: Jana Koubková & Bossanova BandRock Café: Slot, Shade & U-Prag, Dj Murphy Roxy: Bush - jungle session - special guest Dj Matrix (UK), support

Djs Koogi, Gabanna, 2K, Down Tempo Chill Out - Stanzim, BlueSedm Vlků: Djs Hellium & Rido (oldschool, jungle, ragga)U Malého Glena: Robert Balzar (modern jazz)Ultramarin: Dj Mist (trip hop, funk, acidjazz)Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Luboš Andršt Blues Band feat. Ramblin RexVagon: Vrať se do hrobu + Rockń´Roll Gang, Rockotheque at midnightWakata: Djs Beatz Smokin´Weedz (reggae)XT3: Garden Zitty soundsystem - Djs Errphorz, Shin, Falty bross &

Mc Dr. Kary (ragga, jungle)Železná: Mladá Kref - Blue Crystals (blues) at 5, Šavle Meče (jazzfunk)007 Strahov: Djs Orion, Each & Wich (hip hop)

Alfred ve Dvoře: Figures in a Landscape (P. Nadaud, dance theater) at 8All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Archa: Café Music - Kateryna Kolcová (songs, in the café of the

Archa theater) at 7Branické Divadlo: The Open Couple (D. Fo, in Czech) at 2Divadlo ABC: An Ideal Husband (O. Wilde, in Czech) at 5Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Oh Romeo (E. Kishon, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Marriage (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 3 and 7:30Divadlo Na Zábradlí: Happy End (D. Lane, in Czech) at 5Divadlo V Celetné: The Fox (D.H. Lawrence, in Czech) at 4, All in the

Timing (D. Ives, in Czech) at 8Divadlo V Řeznické: The Collector (J. Fowles, in Czech) at 7:30Image: The Best of Image (black light theater) at 8Laterna Magika: Ulysses at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Metro: Carmen (P. Merimée, in Czech, drama) at 3Národní Divadlo: Macbeth (G. Verdi, opera) at 7NoD: The Golem (G. Meyrink, in Czech) at 8Rokoko: Closer (P. Marber, in Czech) at 7Státní Opera: Nabucco (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Mary Stuart (F. Schiller, in Czech) at 2 and 7Švandovo Divadlo: Volpone (B. Johnson, in Czech) at 7 Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30

listings

BARS AND CLUBS007 Strahov: Kolej blok 7 in P6, tel. 257 211 439 Abaton: Povltavská 2175 in P8, tel.: 266 312 719Agharta: Krakovská 5 in P2, tel./fax 222 211 275Akropolis: Kubelíkova 27 in P3, tel. 296 330 911At The Shot Out Eye (U Vystřelenýho Oka): U božích bojovníků 3 in P3, tel. 226 278 714Atrium: Čajkovského 12 in P3, tel.: 222 721 838Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Balbínova 6 in P2, tel.: 737 347 057 Bar Pirahna: Žitná 47 in P1, tel. 222 210 350Baráčnická Rychta: Tržiště 23/555 in P1, tel. 257 532 461Batalion: 28. Října 3 in P1, tel./fax 220 108 148Blues Sklep: Liliová 10 in P1, tel. 224 248 794CZ Beat: Balbínova 26 in P2Černá kočka: Thámova 8 in P8, tel. 224 811 102Černý Kůň Restaurant: Palác Lucerna, Vodičkova 36, tel. 224 212 659Delta: Vlastina 887 in P6, tel. 233 312 443Dr. Voják: Plzeňská 221/130 in P5 (Motol), tel.:777 123 356 Fraktal Bar: Šmeralova in P7, tel. 723 108 805 Futurum: Zborovská 7 in P5, tel. 257 328 571Guru: Rokycanova 29 in P3, tel. 222 783 463Hájek: Ovčí hájek 2549 in P13, tel. 251 614 453Hells Bells: Na Bělidle 27 in P5, tel. 257 320 436Chateau: Jakubská 2 in P1, tel. 222 316 328Imperial Jazz Café: Na Porící 15/1072, P-1, tel.: 224 816 308Industry: Vinohradská 40 in P2, tel. 608 754 051Jáma (The Hollow): V Jámě 7 in P1, tel. 224 222 383Jo’s Bar and Garage: Malostranské náměstí 7 in P1, tel. 262 971 478Kafárna Na Kus Řeči: Bezručovy Sady 1 in P2, tel.:222 512 580Kain: Husitská 1 in P3, tel. 603 483 283Kavárna Na Půl Cesty: Central Park in P4 (Pankrác), tel.:290 052 615KC Kaštan: Bělohorská 150 in P6, tel. 233 353 020KC Zahrada: Malenická 1784 in P11, tel. 271 910 246KD Opatov: Opatovská 1754, P-4: Jižní Město, tel.: 272 941 401Klamovka: Podbělohorská 3 in P5, tel. 257 220 165-6Klub CI-5: Moulíkova 5 in P5, tel. 603 572 271Klub v Jelení: Jelení 15 in P1, tel. 233 357 666, 233 350 120La Casa Blů: Kozí 15 in P1, tel. 224 818 270La Provence: Štupartská 9, P-1, tel.: 290 054 510Le Clan: Balbínova 23 in P2Legends Music and Sports Café: Týn 1 Ungelt in P1, tel. 224 895 404Lucerna Music Bar: Vodičkova 36 in P1, tel. 224 215 957Lucerna: Štěpánská 61 in P1, tel. 224 212 003M1: Masná 1 in P1Magická Zahrada: Národní 6 in P1, tel.:224 931 358Malostranská Beseda: Malostranské náměstí 21 in P1, tel. 257 532 092Mánes: Masarykovo nábr. 250, P-1, tel.: 224 931 112Marquis de Sade: Templová 8 in P1, tel. 224 817 505Mecca: U Průhonu 3 in P7, tel. 283 871 520Meloun: Michalská 12 in P1, tel. 224 230 126-7Metropolitan Jazz Club: Jungmannova 14 in P1, tel. 224 947 777Mlejn: Kovářova 1615/4 in P13 – Stodůlky, tel./fax 226 522 507Modrá Vopice: Spojovací 1901 in P9Mrtvá Vrána: Žerotínova 31, P-3, tel.: 777 171 075Music Bar U Buldoka: Preslova 1 in P5, tel. 257 329 154N11: Národní 11 in P1, tel. 222 075 109Na Slamníku: Wolkerova 12 in P6, tel. 723 403 447Nebe: Křemencova 10 in P1, tel.:224 930 343 NoD: Dlouhá 33 in P1 (above Roxy), tel. 224 826 330Norton: Dušní 15 in P1, tel.:608 022 477Poetická Kavárna Obratník: Jindřicha Plachty 28 in P5, tel. 257 327 446Prosek: Jablonecká 322, P-9, tel.: 286 884 212Punto Azul: Kroftova 1 in P5Radost FX: Bělehradská 120 in P2, tel. 224 254 776Red Hot and Blues: Jakubská 12 in P1, tel. 222 323 364Red Room: Křemencova 17 in P1Reduta: Národní 20 in P1, tel. 224 912 264Rock Café: Národní 20 in P1, tel. 224 914 416Rocky Reilly’s: Štěpánská 32 in P1Roxy: Dlouhá 33 in P1, tel. 224 826 296Salmovská literární kavárna: Salmovská 16, P-2, tel.: 224 919 364Scarlett’s: Mostecká 21 in P1, tel. 257 532 649Sedm vlků: Vlkova 7 in P3Sky Club Brumlovka: Vyskočilova 2 in P4, tel. 241 484 153Swamp: Újezd 5 in P1Tendr Club: Parížská 6, P-1, tel.: 224 813 605The Thirsty Dog: Elišky Krásnohorské 5 in P1, tel. 222 310 039Trojka: Prokopova 16 in P3U Buldoka: Preslova 1, P-5, tel.: 257 329 154U Malého Glena: Karmelitská 23 in P1, tel. 257 531 717U Staré Paní: Michalská 9 in P1, tel. 224 228 090Újezd: Újezd 18 in P1Ultramarin: Ostrovní 32 in P1, tel. 224 932 249Ungelt Jazz’N’Blues Club: Týn 2 in P1, tel. 224 895 748Unijazz: Jindřišská 5 in P1, tel. 222 240 901Vagon: Národní 25 in P1, tel. 221 085 599Wakata: Malířská 14 in P7, tel. 223 370 518XT3: Pod plynojemem 5 in P8, tel. 284 825 826Zion: Cimburkova 14 in P3Zoo Bar: Jilská 18 in P1, tel. 604 231 684Zvonařka: Šafaříkova 1 in P2, tel. 224 251 990Železná: Železná 16 in P1, tel. 224 239 697

SELECT THEATERS AND CONCERT HALLSA Studio Rubín: Malostranské náměstí 9 in P1, tel./fax 257 535 191Akcent: Ostrovského 3 in P5, tel.:257 003 281 Alfréd ve Dvoře: Františka Křížka 36 in P7, tel. 233 376 997All Colours Theatre (black light theater): Rytířská 31 in P1, tel. 221 610 173Animato: Na Příkopě 10 (Palác Savarin) in P1, tel.: 281 930 740Archa: Na Poříčí 26 in P1, tel. 222 328 800Branické Divadlo: Branická 411/63 in P4, tel.:244 462 813Činoherní klub: Ve Smečkách 26 in P1, tel. 296 222 123Damúza: Řetězová 10 in P1, tel. 608 52 06 90Dejvické Divadlo: Zelená 15a in P6, tel. 233 332 430Disk: Karlova 26 in P1, tel. 221 111 087Divadlo ABC: Vodičkova 28 in P1, tel. 224 212 585Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Jungmannova 31 in P1, tel.:224 946 436Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Václavské nám 43 in P1, tel. 224 211 911Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: Křesomyslova 625 in P4, tel. 241 404 040Divadlo Na Prádle: Besední 3 in P1, tel. 257 320 421Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Náměstí míru 7 in P2, tel. 224 257 601Divadlo Na Zábradlí: Anenské náměstí 5 in P1, tel. 222 222 026

Divadlo Pod Palmovkou: Zenklova 34 in P8, tel. 284 812 209Divadlo U Hasičů: Římská 45 in P2, tel. 222 516 910Divadlo V Celetné: Celetná 17 in P1, tel. 222 326 843Divadlo V Dlouhé: Dlouhá třída 39 in P1, tel. 224 826 795Divadlo V Řeznické: Řeznická 17 in P1, tel./fax 222 230 996Duncan Centre (dance theater): Branická 41 in P4, tel. 244 461 342Globe Theatre: Výstaviště in P7 – Holešovice, tel. 222 711 515Gong: Sokolovská 191 in P9, tel.:266 311 629Image (black light theater and pantomime): Pařížská 4 in P1, tel. 222 329 191 Karlín (Hudební divadlo v Karlíně): Křižíkova 10 in P8, tel. 224 816 213Klementinum: Mariánské náměstí 5/ Karlova 1/ Křižovnická 2 in P1, tel. 221 663 111Kolowrat: Ovocný trh 6 in P1, tel. 224 901 448Komedie: Jungmannova 1 in P1, tel.: 224 222 734 Kongresové Centrum (Congress Center): Třída 5. Května in P4, tel.:239 071 111Laterna Magika: Národní třída 4 in P1, tel. 224 914 129Lyra Pragensis – Divadlo Inspirace: Malostranské náměstí 13 in P1, tel. 261 218 570Malé Nosticovo Divadlo Pod Čertovkou: Hellichova street in P1 (Kampa), tel.: 241 768 555Metro: Národní třída 25 in P1, tel.: 221 085 201Minor: Vodičkova 6 in P1, tel. 222 231 351Miriam: Ke Strašnické 10 in P10, tel: 604 541 680Montmartre: Řetězová 7 in P1, tel.: 272 911 491Národní Divadlo (National Theater): Národní třída 2 in P1, tel. 224 901 448National Marionette Theatre: Žatecká 1 in P1, tel. 224 819 322, Novotného lávka 1 in P1Obecní dům: náměstí Republiky 5 in P1, tel. 222 002 336Paegas Arena (formerly Sportovní hala): Výstaviště in P7 – Holešovice Pidivadlo: Letohradská 44 in P7, tel.: 233 375 706-7Ponec (dance theater): Husitská 24a in P3, tel. 224 817 886Rokoko: Václavské náměstí 38 in P1, tel. 224 217 113Rudolfinum: Alšovo nábřeží 12 in P1, tel. 224 893 352Solidarita: Solidarity 1986 in P10, tel.: 274 815 296Státní Opera (State Opera): Wilsonova 4 in P2, tel. 296 117 111Stavovské Divadlo (Estates Theater): Ovocný trh 1 in P1, tel. 224 901 448Španělská synagoga (Spanish synagogue): Vězeňská street in P1, tel. 224 810 099Švandovo Divadlo: Štefánikova 57 in P5, tel. 257 321 333Ta Fantastika: Karlova 8 in P1, tel./fax 222 221 366Ungelt: Malá Štupartská 1 in P1, tel. 224 828 082Viola: Národní třída 7 in P1, tel. 224 220 844

KINOSAero: Biskupcova 31 in P3, tel. 271 771 349Bio Roxy: see clubs – RoxyBlaník: Václavské náměstí 56 in P1, tel. 224 032 172Budějovická: Budějovická 1667 in P4, tel. 261 382 297Čajovna pod Stromem čajovým (Tea Room): Mánesova 55 in P2, tel. 222 251 045Delta: see clubs – DeltaDlabačov: Hotel Pyramida, Bělohorská 24 in P6, tel. 233 355 109Eden: U Slávie 1 in P10, tel. 272 737 551Edison: Hlavní 1402 in P4, tel. 272 767 667Evald: Národní 28 in P1, tel. 221 105 225Evropa: Vítězné náměstí 4 in P6, tel. 220 219 069The French Institute: Štěpánská 35 in P1, tel. 221 401 011The Hungarian Institute: Rytířská 27 in P1, tel. 224 222 424Hvězda: Václavské náměstí 38 in P1, tel. 224 216 822Illusion: Vinohradská 48 in P2, tel. 222 520 379The Italian Culture Institute: Šporkova 14 in P1, tel. 257 533 600Jalta: Václavské náměstí 43 in P1, tel. 224 228 814Kino 63 at Rock Café: see clubs – Rock CaféKotouč Film Club: VŠK 17. Listopadu, Pátkova 3/A1402 in P8, tel. 233 551 040 – 45Kotva: Náměstí Republiky 8 in P1, tel. 224 811 482Lucerna: Vodičkova 36 in P1, tel. 224 216 972, 3Mat: Karlovo náměstí 19 in P2, tel. 224 915 765Městská knihovna(Film Club at the City Library): Mariánské náměstí 1 in P1, tel. 222 113 425Modřanský Biograf: U Kina 44 in P4, tel. 241 772 832 Morava: Boleslavova 13a in P4, tel. 241 403 456Oko: Františka Křížka 15 in P7, tel. 233 375 675Ořechovka: Na Ořechovce 30 in P6, tel. 233 343 839Perštýn: Na Perštýně 6 in P1, tel. 221 668 432Ponrepo: Bartolomějská 11 in P1, tel. 224 233 281Praha Art: Václavské náměstí 17 in P1, tel. 222 245 881Světozor: Vodičkova 41 in P1, tel. 224 947 566Železná Art Kino: see clubs – Železná

MULTIKINOSCinema City Galaxie: Arkalycká 874 in P4, tel. 267 900 567Cinema City Zličín: Řevnická 1 in P5, tel. 257 950 966Ládví: Burešova 1662 in P8, tel. 286 587 027Mini Multikino Modřany: Sofijské nám. in P4, tel. 244 402 256Palace Cinemas Hostivař: Park Hostivař, Švehlova 32 in P10, tel. 257 181 212Palace Cinemas Letňany: Veleská 663 in P9, tel. 257 181 212Palace Cinemas Nový Smíchov: Plzeňská 8 in P5, tel. 257 181 212Palace Cinemas Slovanský dům: Na Příkopě 22 in P1, tel. 257 181 212Village Cinemas Anděl: Radlická in P5, tel. 251 115 111Village Cinemas Černý Most: Chlumecká 8 in P9, tel. 266 790 999, 0811

VIDEO RENTALS Video Express: Prokopská 3 in P1, tel. 257 535 139 and 604 302 126Video Gourmet: Jakubská 12 in P1, tel. 222 323 364Video To Go: Čelakovského sady 12 in P2, tel. 224 235 098 and

Vítězné náměstí 10 in P6, tel. 224 318 981Virus Video: Templová 8 in P1, tel. 723 671 637

SELECT GALLERIESAustrian Cultural Institute: Jungmannovo nám. 18 in P1Czech Museum of Fine Art: Husova 19-21 in P1, tel. 222 220 218Galerie Bayer & Bayer: Retezová 7 in P1Galerie Display: Bubenská 3 in P7Galerie Mánes: Masarykovo nábr. 250 in P1Galerie Rudolfinum: Nám. Jana Palacha in P1, tel. 224 893 111HOME Gallery: Truhlárská 8 in P1Josef Sudek Atelier: Újezd 30 in P1Leica Gallery Prague: Burgrave’s Palace at Prague CastleObcení dum: Nám. Republiky 5 in P1, tel. 222 002 336Obcení galerie beseda: Malostranské nám. 21 in P1Prague City Gallery at House at the Stone Bell: Staromestské nám. 13 in P1, tel. 224 827 526Prague City Gallery at the Municipal Library: Mariánské nám. 1 in P1Prague City Gallery at Old Town Hall: Staromestské nám. 1 in P1, tel. 224 482 751Veletržní palác: Dukelských hrdinu 47 in P7, tel. 224 301 003

v e n u e f i n d e r

Each issue, The Pill offers valuable prizes to ourastute and enthusiastic readers. Answer thequestion before the gifts run out, and one will beyours. SMS your answer to to 603 481 443 oremail to [email protected]. Please include a validemail address and your first choice of the prizes.

The Question:Which nationality is not currently represented onthe Car Busters staff?

1. British2. American3. Finnish4. Czech

■ Clou3x2 tickets, Tuesday, February 18 at Rock Café

■ Big Fire Hat no.32 tickets, Saturday, February 22 at Abaton

■ Mix (Timmy S.)2 tickets, Friday, February 14 at Roxy

■ Flaming Lips2 tickets, Saturday, March 2 at Akropolis

Do you know something we don’t? Didn’t find your favorite club here? Did you just open a new place? Let us know at [email protected]!

GEToNtHeGuESTList!!GEToNtHeGuESTList!!

La Casa BlůKozí 15, Praha 1

“Look and drink our realheart”

Friday, February 14,St. Valentine

ı

Valentine’s DayFenruary 14th

Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day wasnot invented by Bohemia Sekt. It was inventedby a much larger corporation, the CatholicChurch. At the end of the 5th century A.D., PopeGelasius declared Feb. 14 St. Valentine’s Day,in honor a martyred Roman priest who is saidto have performed secret marriages for star-crossed lovers. The middle of February waschosen to commemorate the anniversary of thesaint’s death and/or to Christianize an existingpagan festival called Lupercalia, a fertility fes-tival dedicated to the God Faunus.

The oldest valentine still in existence was writ-ten in 1415 by the Duke of Orleans to his wifefrom his cell in the Tower of London (you can seeit at the British Museum). By the 1700s the mid-February exchange of handwritten love notes andsmall gifts was common in Britain and theColonies. The whole card business got goingaround the end of the 18th century, and reallytook off in the 1840s with the introduction ofmass-produced valentines in the United States.

In the Czech Republic, Valentine’s is a relativelynew (post-1989) holiday. Instead of hearts andCupid’s arrows, this country had scythes and hoes,which were hung to celebrate the Communist insti-tuted International Day of Women (March 8th).Celebrate both.

Things to do on Valentine’s Day:•Pack a thermos of hot wine and a blanketand climb Petřín hill. •Hit Mecca’s Valentine Night party. Leaveearly and walk around Holesovice. •Flowers!•Cheese baskets are nice. •Get a hotel room in the city you live in.(Clean sheets!)•Clean the apartment.•Body oil. •Nothing says “I love you” like local liquor.


Sunday, February 9Agharta: Roman Pokorný Trio (modern jazz)Akropolis: Djs Yanizz & Psixer (Small Scene), Pro Sound System - Djs Liquid

A & Kryshpeen, Mc Dr. Kary (reggae, dancehall, dub, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Irish Dew (Celtic music)Batalion: Hard Rock CaféGuru: Dj Andrew K (techno)Malostranská Beseda: Go´Lash (A. Lantern, in Czech, performed by

the Divadlo Lucerna MB) at 8:30Metropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens)Nebe: Dj DowntempoReduta: Staří psiRock Café: Music Bar - free entry!U Malého Glena: Leimonarion Jam Session - come to jam!Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Luboš Andršt Blues Band feat. Ramblin RexVagon: Gothart (Balkan world music)Wakata: Dj Tuvok (breakbeat)XT3: Sunday breakzŽelezná: Poetry in the Twilight. Music and Poetry. Open Mic in

English at 5, Correct Groove Quartet (groove jazz)007 Strahov: Dr. Woggle and the Radio (GER), Fast Food (ska, reggae)

A Studio Rubín: Tracy´s Tiger (W. Saroyan, in Czech) at 7:30Alfred ve Dvoře: Bliss (V. Švejda, dance theater, scenic comics & pan-

tomime) at 8All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: The Dinner Game (F. Veber, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Zábradlí: Arabian Night (R. Schimmelpfennig, scenic read-

ing, in Czech) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: The Cripple of Inishmaan (M. McDonagh, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo V Řeznické: Romeo and Jeannette (J. Anouilh, in Czech) at 7:30Kongresové Centrum: The Sound of Music (R. Rodgers, O.

Hammerstein, musical, in Czech) at 7Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: The Child and the Enchantements/ Sinfonietta (M.

Ravel, L. Janáček, ballet) at 2 and 7Ponec: Archa Adrift! - Phasing, Sour Milk, Shadow (dance theater,

performed by CandoCo, UK) at 8Státní Opera: The Magic Flute (W.A. Mozart) at 2Stavovské Divadlo: Xerxes (G.F. Händel, opera) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30

Monday, February 10Agharta: Saxtime (modern jazz)Akropolis: Ajn Kesl Buntes - Djs Vanja & Hujer (Small Scene), Dj

Baltazar & guest (latino, lounge, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Jaroslav Samson LenkBatalion: Apres Ski PartyGuru: Jam with Bohuš Matuš (improvisational show)Kain: Long QueueMalostranská Beseda: The Original Prague Syncopated OrchestraMeloun: Rock and Oldies Party with Radio Beat Djs Metropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens)Nebe: Dj DowntempoReduta: P.J. Ryba TrioRock Café: Music Bar - free entry!Roxy: Free Mondays - Ian Sen (live), Tchendos Djs Ottoman +

Wokurka (free entry)Salmovská literární kavárna: Vladimír MertaSedm Vlků: Dj Brada (acid jazz)U Malého Glena: Stan the Man Bohemian Blues BandUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Lukáš Martínek Blues Band Vagon: Pod Černý vrchWakata: Dj Matoa & Mc Adrenalin (dń´b)XT3: Djs Skywalker & Cashmeer (down pulse)Železná: The Soft Winds Jazz Trio & jazznika (modern jazz)

Akcent: Out at Sea (S. Mrožek, in Czech), The Bald Soprano (E.Ionesco, in Czech) at 7

Alfred ve Dvoře: Mur-Mur (visual theater, performed by Stage Code,CH, CZ) at 8

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Disk: Mighty Aphrodite (W. Allen, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: The Gamblers (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Rainmaker (R. Nash, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Zábradlí: The Terrace (J.-C. Carriére, in Czech) at 7Divadlo U Hasičů: Don´t Drink the Water (W. Allen, in Czech) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: The Awakening (J. Garner, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Fiction (black light theater) at 8Kolowrat: Vor dem Ruhestand (T. Bernhard, in Czech) at 7Laterna Magika: Ulysses at 8Ponec: Archa Adrift! - Phasing, Sour Milk, Shadow (dance theater,

performed by CandoCo, UK) at 8Rokoko: The Lion in Winter (J. Goldman, in Czech) at 7Rudolfinum: Doležal Quartet (Smetana, Míča, Janáček) at 7:30Státní Opera: The Magic Flute (W.A. Mozart) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: The Idiot (F.M. Dostoyevsky, in Czech) at 7Studio Ypsilon: The Boy Mother of Rátót (G. Schwajda, in Czech) at 7:30Švandovo Divadlo: Volpone (B. Johnson, in Czech) at 7 Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Tell Me On a Sunday (A.L. Weber, D. Black, in Czech) at 7:55

Tuesday, February 11Agharta: Gera Band (modern jazz)Akropolis: Future Line (Big Hall), Dj Zhulenos Aires & guest (elektro, acidtek

& freestyle, Small Scene), Hip Hop - Djs A.L.I. & Emmitt (Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Radůza Baráčnická Rychta: Pavel Sedláček & CadillacBatalion: LäpplaeGuru: Dj Kyslík (tekhouse)Kafárna Na Kus Řeči: Hardbeat Rockers (rock) Kain: Folimanka BluesKC Zahrada: 2+2 Sax Quartet (jazz)La Provence: ChansonLe Clan: Tropical Heat with Dj Mucho and guestsLucerna Music Bar: Prague International Blue Night ´05 - Albert Lee

& Hogan´s Heroes (UK)Malostranská Beseda: BluesberryMánes: Old Gold Canal Jazz BandMeloun: 80s Party with Radio Kiss Djs Metropolitan Jazz Club: Ivo Cíl Trio (swing evergreens)Nebe: Dj Liquid AReduta: Matěj Benko Latin QuintetRock Café: Free Zone - SŃĆ - free entry!Salmovská literární kavárna: Puca Rua (traditional Irish music)Sedm Vlků: Fatal Noise Djs (jungle, techno)U Malého Glena: Stan the Man “In Duo”Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Lukáš Martínek Blues Band Vagon: jam session - free entry!Wakata: Dj Liquid A (collector´s choice)XT3: Dj Saku (breakbeat)Železná: Zuzana Dumková Group (vocal original music)007 Strahov: Djs Pold.1K & Reverb (jungle night)

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Disk: Disco Pigs (E. Walsh, in Czech) at 7:30 Divadlo ABC: The Ash and Akvavit (B. Ahlfors, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: Katharina Knie (C. Zuckmayer, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Lysistrata (Aristophanes, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Na Zábradlí: The Dresser (R. Harwood, in Czech, performed by

the Divadlo V Dlouhé) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: The Cripple of Inishmaan (M. McDonagh, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Fiction (black light theater) at 8Kolowrat: Not Just Hamlet - Radovan Lukavský Beneficium at 7Komedie: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (B. Brecht, in Czech) at 7:30 Laterna Magika: Ulysses at 8Lyra Pragensis: Sonnets (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 6:30Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Ponec: Archa Adrift! - Phasing, Sour Milk, Shadow (dance theater,

performed by CandoCo, UK) at 8Rudolfinum: Czech Chamber Soloists Brno (Matys, Martinů,

Tchaikovsky) at 7:30Státní Opera: Aida (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Much Ado About Nothing (W. Shakespeare, in

Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Headsman´s Holiday (K. Hamvai, in Czech) at 7,

Už jsme doma (concert, in the Studio) at 8Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Play Strindberg (F. Dürrenmatt, in Czech) at 7:55

Wednesday, February 12A.M. Vikadlo: Fumasův písničkový koncert (Původní Bureš)Agharta: Jiří Stivín & Co. (modern jazz)Akropolis: Zlatá kozačka, Dj Spejbl & guest (oldschool acid, Small

Scene), Djs Stanzim & Maatoha (breakbeat, dń´b, Theater Bar) Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Třetí Dech (folk night) Baráčnická Rychta: Swing Dance Room - The Prague Swing OrchestraBatalion: Koko TrioFuturum: PaliceGuru: Kencore Passa + Homeless Varpose (hc)Industry: Dance party Djs - Happy Night - Michal Jirák & LinerKain: NaturalKlub V Jelení: Jiří Smrž (guitar recital)La Provence: Hedervari Quartet, Travesti ShowLe Clan: Nuit Sexy - DjsLucerna Music Bar: Věra Špinarová & A.Pavlík, special guest Anna K.Malostranská Beseda: Reliéf & guests (bluegrass, gospel)Mánes: discotheque

listings

BOOKS

The Gangs of New YorkBy Herbert AsburyArrow Press (1927/2002)366 pages

Despite the enormity of New YorkCity, the universe is mostly empty.In proving this emptiness, physi-

cists recognized something humanityhad intuited for eons. And this emptyuniverse is amoral. Philosophers whotrained this emptiness inward wereonly theorizing a long-held suspicion.Natural disasters terrifically referred toas Acts of God, and inevitable tragediesof happenstance and wrong timing,are amoral occurrences, inexplicableprocesses shackled to unstoppable,directionless power. And the onlymoral force in the universe as we knowit is us humans.

As humans with the free will toquestion free will, we have evolvedan awkwardly opposed idea: infamy.In specific usage: a strange populari-ty, an evil fame, an elevation of asomehow defensible villain. The infa-mous murderer seems somehowamoral, especially when murderinghis own. The murder is expected andnecessary. The murder affirms theexistences of the murderer and themurdered, and anyway the murdererwill eventually end up murderedhimself. It is their inextricable fates.

This reprinted volume of nonfic-tion (first published in 1927) byHerbert Asbury is set in a portion ofthis universe named Five Points ñNew Yorkís amoral heart. There, inthe 19th and early 20th centuries,men like Monk Eastman ñ aliasJoseph Morris, alias Joseph Marvin,alias Edward Delaney, alias WilliamDelaney, alias Edward Eastman ñleader of a gang of 1,200 men, splitskulls and kept score. ìI had forty-nine nicks in me stick, aní I wanted tomake it an even fifty,î he is reportedto have said. Here women like RedNorah married dead husbands. Hereoccupations included horse-poison-ing, election-rigging, pimping andMikado tuck-ups. Here the supposedinnocents, like the 10- and 11-year-oldassassins of the Daybreak Boys, mur-der and are murdered with the appar-ent randomness, lack of sentimentand ruthless speed of nature herself.Here large gangs of large men wagesavage war in overpopulated streets,tearing at each othersí faces in anocean of flesh. This is all true, includ-ing the hyperbole. Such is the nature

of infamy ñ it slips into the explana-tions and understandings archetypeand myth provide.

And infamy isnít the only worddefined. The appended glossary enti-tled ìThe Slang of Early Gangstersîincludes words derived from English,Hibernian English, Gaelic, Yiddish,Italian and early Ebonics. A selectionof words imparted meanings notfound in Websterís, or wholly invent-ed, includes: Sam or the Bens, who arefools or idiots, and to snitchel the blokeísgigg, which is to smash someoneísnose. As in, ìAnyone who wouldnítread The Gangs of New York is a Sam orone of the Bens, and someoneshould snitchel those blokesí giggs.îOr in this more able example fromthe glossary, ìHe told Jack as how Billhad flimped a yack, and pinched aswell of a spark fawney, and had sentthe yack to church, and got half acentury and a finniff for the fawney.î

The reason for this volumeís re-release (and itís a pity one was neces-sary) is Martin Scorseseís new film ofthe same title, due to arrive in Praguecinemas in May. A movie screen is flat,and movies are a flattening, a trans-ference of a lived-in universe to anempty rectangle suspended in thevoid. Film as a medium, no matterplot structure or shot sequence, isinherently linear. Each present imageimmediately renders null the previ-ous image, which itself replaced, andwarrants, its previous image. Iímeager to see the filmed version, forthe very reason that Asburyís person-alities are each an individual flatimage, a proposal or role, and theirlives seem a mere moment. Asburyísgangsters were molded into destinies,into honors and tribal lines they diedfor, hopefully leaving someone else,through their seed or their loyalty, toreplace them.

The Dedalus Book of AbsintheBy Phil BakerDedalus (2003)296 pages

Itís for export only. Who wouldwant it here? Absinthe ñ and youhavenít heard it here first, folks ñ is

a lie. Itís shit. And it shits all over yourmornings-after. Itís for Czechs to giveto non-Czechs as presents and fortourists to haul home, wrapped safelyin their suitcases, to set on theirhome liquor shelves and never open.

Here are the facts: Wormwood (animaginative derivation from theAnglo-Saxon wermode meaning ìmindpreserverî) ñ or more specifically, itsactive ingredient, thujone (or tanace-tone) ñ makes absinthe hallucino-genic. Thujone, a terpene, is derivedfrom thujone oil, distilled from Thujaoccidentalis or white cedar, as well asfrom other trees of the arbor vitaephylum. Thujone is a near relation tomenthol (the preferred smoke ofhookers and German portfolio man-agers) and THC, Tetra-hydra-cannabinol, the active ingredient incannabis. Now the bad news: EU reg-ulations, to which the Czech Republicvoluntarily adheres, prohibit absinthecontaining more than 10 parts ofwormwood per million, or 10mg ofthe stuff per kilogram of alcohol,meaning if you drink enough youíll

end up fall-down drunk and notmuch more. The same effect ñ i.e.,intoxication ñ can be obtained fromscotch, rum, vodka and even the ubiq-uitous pivo. Absinthe hallucinationsare for liars, tourists or wannabeRomantics. Sorry.

Enter the nostalgia: Absinthe wasonce much, much stronger. In theBelle Epoque, the wormwood/alcoholratio was more like 260-350 parts permillion. Any schmuck with a paint-brush could do a few shots and paintSunflowers. Any asshole with a fountainpen could write this line: ìAbsinthe,mere des bonheursî (ìAbsinthe, motherof all happinessî) and dissipate into anearly grave and posthumous fame.

Still, as alcohol, absinthe is harsh,potent stuff. If only the booze wentdown as easily as the book. TheDedalus Book of Absinthe, ably writtenby Phil Baker, is a well-researchedand entertaining wealth of fact andfancy, anecdotes and informationabout the Green Fairy (or GreenDeath or Green Ghost or Green any-thing). Interspersed with historicalaccounts of absintheís production

and legislation are debauched acc-ounts excerpted from the writings offamous debauchees, among themHemingway, Picasso and Van Gogh.Also surveyed are the rituals of liba-tion, including digressions on theappropriate hardware. Those whothink a shot glass, a spoon, sugar anda lighter are sufficient for an interest-ing Saturday night are in for an edu-cation. Ever hear of mainlining purewormwood? When you recover fromthat, you might want to have somegreen eggs and ham (of Dr. Seussfame) for Sunday brunch ñ greeneggs made green from absinthe, arecommended hangover remedy.

The final section is a quirk, a taste-test of widely available absinthebrands. Howíd the home team fare?Hillís, the oldest and most reputableof Czech absinthes, scored a threeout of five, as did the imaginativelynamed Prague. Sebor and King ofSpirits each scored a four. I take therankings with a grain of salt (or aspoonful of flaming sugar to makethe medicine go down). Phil Baker,though an insightful writer, is a Brit,and we all know how they drink.

Joshua Cohen is at [email protected]

Gangs BangGreen FairiesNew York’s gangs, Europe’s booze make a lethal mix. Reviews by Joshua Cohen

The EU prohibitsabsinthe containingmore than 10mg of thestuff per kilogram ofalcohol, meaning if youdrink enough you’ll endup fall-down drunk andnot much more.

Zlatá Hvězda S p o r t B a rVe Smečkách 12, P1Tel. 222 210 124www.sportbar.czAll NFL and championships liveFree of charge

Ian SenMonday, February 10th at Roxy

The seven-member Ian Sen band is playing theRoxy for the third time, and like the other twotimes, this is the free show of the month. A“drum’n’funky-pop act” (their words) with astrong dose of dance energy, you might knowthem from their hit “Shake It,” a staple on Radio1. Ian Sen plays all over town, but Free Mondayshas been hot lately, and this is the place tocatch them while you can. ■ Hádrová

Bosworth and WaaweTuesday, February 11th at Akropolis

Bosworth has been pushing its pseudo-indie trailmix on Prague audiences since 1994, when thethree-piece joined up under the influence of thePixies’ Doolittle and Dinosaur. Although theyrecord sporadically – just two records and an EPin eight years – they’re one of Prague’s moreinspired live acts, especially when relayingimpassioned stories of the lads’ drug experi-ences (as on the 1996 demo Pub-Pop U-Ground). With Free Dimension’s Waawe sharingthe bill, this promises to be an amazing show inan otherwise slow month for indie fans. Waawe,which just released All Fabulous Things Turn Outto Happen, is one of the Czech Republic’s tight-est and most creative groups. Paradoxically, itsloud, precise performances come off cleanerand somehow more mechanical than the album,which was an amazing piece of hair-rock- andhardcore-inspired love. But the emotional weightof Kucera’s songwriting shines through when he’sonstage, spitting it out for you live. ■ Jayne

Open House PartySaturday February 8th at Radost FX

The warm-up party kicks off on a special tramleaving from Malostranské nám at 10 p.m. andfinishes around midnight, when it pulls up in frontof Radost FX. Tram ride includes: Music by resi-dent DJ Chris Chemist and David Bowles, freebeer and vodka and American Bull. This ridethrough town should definitely warm you upbefore you moving into Radost to hear the found-ing member of Superfunk duo DJ Fafa Monteco/Marseille. They’ll be joined by Open House resi-dents DJ Paco, Maxx and Renda. The night will bepacked thick with funky house and tech-houserhythms, and the video set is in the hands of VJmaster Milan Perplex. Enjoy the ride. ■ Hádrová


Meloun: Nijak - live, discotheque with Dj Aned Brumla Metropolitan Jazz Club: Bob Zajíček Quartet Mlejn: Monogram + Kvintet (bluegrass, CD release party)Nebe: Dj Big J - SoulfoodNorton: Dj Chris CagsReduta: Gera BandRock Café: Ska Night - 2V1 & Green SmatrollSalmovská literární kavárna: Fianan (Irish songs & ballads with Czech texts)Sedm Vlků: Djs 2K & Babe LN (dń´b)U Malého Glena: Groove (groove, funky, acid jazz, blues)Ultramarin: Dj LumiereUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Chicken Soup - Jazz Fusion Band Vagon: Walk Choc IceWakata: Dj deNisa (freestyle beats)XT3: Turntable lounge - Djs Touchwood & Katcha (jungle, dń´b)Železná: Flavors (modern jazz)007 Strahov: Le Laple

Akcent: Fiery Love Plays (Hans Sachs´s farces, in Czech) at 8Alfred ve Dvoře: Mur-Mur (visual theater, performed by Stage Code,

CH, CZ) at 8All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: The Lonesome West (M. McDonagh, in Czech) at 7:30Damúza: Tramvaj načerno (“Blind Tram” - poetic evening, in Czech) at 8Disk: Disco Pigs (E. Walsh, in Czech) at 7:30 Divadlo ABC: The Golem (G. Meyrink, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: What the Butler Saw (J. Orton, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Zábradlí: Knives in Hens (D. Harrower, in Czech) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: Copenhagen (M. Frayn, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Cabinet (black light theater) at 8Klementinum: Z. Němečková - organ, H. Jonášová - soprano, M.

Laštovka - trumpet (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart) at 5Kolowrat: Countryside (M. Crimp, in Czech) at 7Kongresové Centrum: Singing In the Rain (choreography G. Kelly, S.

Donen, musical, in Czech) at 3Laterna Magika: Ulysses at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: Cyrano from Bergerac (E. Rostand, in Czech) at 7NoD: Dream Play (A. Strindberg, performed by the Bohnická

Divadelní Společnost, in Czech) at 8Ponec: Archa Adrift! - workshop with the CandoCo dance theater

company Rudolfinum: Prague Chamber Orchestra without the conductor (Bizet,

Schumann, Vaňhal) at 7:30 Státní Opera: Nabucco (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: The Entertainer (J. Osborne, in Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: The Hussars (P.A. Bréal, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Marriage Play (E. Albee, in Czech) at 7:55

Thursday, February 13A.M. Vikadlo: ŠlupkaHůla nejen bluesA Studio Rubín: MantisAgharta: Limited Edition (modern jazz)Akropolis: Breakneck Kru (breakbeat, Small Scene), Face2Face (live -

tribal house project, bass, percussions, sax, vocals, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Balbín’s Poetic Cabaret - guests Záviš

and Jiří KonvrzekBaráčnická Rychta: Gaelachas - 29. Evening of Irish music + dance

lessonsBatalion: Hard Rock CaféFuturum: V.T. MarvinGong: The Empire Builders (B. Vian, in Czech) at 7:30Guru: Ermitage (melorock) + ZabaIndustry: Dance party Djs - E.S.W.L.Kain: DolmenKavárna Na Půl Cesty: Jakub Noha Band (big beat)KC Zahrada: Carrabina (bluegrass)Klamovka: Techtle mechtleLa Provence: Caca Band, The Robots, Electric BoogieLe Clan: Show a la House with Dušan - DjsLucerna Music Bar: KrausberryMalostranská Beseda: Proti proudu (Against the Stream) lonely song-

sters festivalMánes: Sebranka (country)Mecca: Valentine Night - Storm & Storm fashion show, party with

Djs and foodMeloun: Karaoke - Dj Aned BrumlaMetropolitan Jazz Club: Jazztet Quintet (dixie, swing, Latin)Nebe: Dj Absolut POPProsek: Faidon, Dr. TriceratopsRadost FX: Soultrain - resident Djs Big J, Rico, Special-K (soul + r’n’b night)Reduta: Jiří Stivín & Co.Rock Café: Orange Tour - Obří Broskev & guests N.O.D. Štěpána

Smetáčka, Maťo MašíkSalmovská literární kavárna: Pavel Bobek & Lída, Miloš and Mikoláš NopSedm Vlků: Dj Ka-Ve (2step, jungle)U Malého Glena: František Kop Quartet (modern jazz)U Vystřelenýho Oka: Baťa & Kalábůf něžný beatUltramarin: Dj VictoriousUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Chicken Soup - Jazz Fusion Band Vagon: Ready KirkenWakata: Tempo is Down - Djs Pintlich & Zichi (downtempo)XT3: Thursday hip hop - Djs Aphect & True (hip hop)Železná: Jan Kořínek & groove (vocal original jazz)007 Strahov: Djs Orion, R.B.R. (hip hop, ragga)


All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: The Lonesome West (M. McDonagh, in Czech) at 7:30Disk: Disco Pigs (E. Walsh, in Czech) at 7:30 Divadlo ABC: Pouic-Pouic (J. Vilfrid, J. Girault, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Bambini di Praga (B. Hrabal, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Rainmaker (R. Nash, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Who´s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (E. Albee, in

Czech) at 7, Scenes from Marriage (I. Bergman, in Czech, in therehearsal room) at 7

Divadlo Na Zábradlí: The Terrace (J.-C. Carriére, in Czech) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: All in the Timing (D. Ives, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Cabinet (black light theater) at 8Klementinum: J. Maťátková - violin, M. Bauerová - soprano, F. Petr -

organ (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Massenet, Gounod) at 5Komedie: Rooms (P. Minyana, in Czech) at 7:30Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: Cyrano from Bergerac (E. Rostand, in Czech) at 7NoD: Sávitrí (shadow theater based on Mahábhárata motives, per-

formed by the Líšeň theater, in Czech) at 8Ponec: Archa Adrift! - workshop with the CandoCo dance theater

companyStátní Opera: Nabucco (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Romeo and Juliet (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Tartuffe (Moliére, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Tell Me On a Sunday (A.L. Weber, D. Black, in Czech) at 7:55Viola: The Gin Game (D.L. Coburn, in Czech) at 8

Friday, February 14A.M. Vikadlo: Jazz Maze at 4, Missa (Karel Kryl revival)A Studio Rubín: Sperms after WeekAgharta: Masala (fusion) Akropolis: Hip Hop Foundation # 15 - Rap - Phat; Djs Battle - Jazzy (SK)

vs Maro vs Enemy, Freestyle Battle - Dano (SK) vs Mc Janek vsSleva; B-Boys Battle - Torzo Breakers vs Energy 49; Beatbox Battle- Kezom vs Anir vs Kafes 33; Graffiti Style Battle - the best writers;Chill Out Djs - Glazy, Trafik, Jürgen, True + the winners of the HipHop Foundation # 14 (Big Hall, Small Scene, Theater Bar)

Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Psalteria (medieval girl band)Baráčnická Rychta: Balkan Music and Dance Evening - Gothart, tradi-

tional Balkan dances, belly dancers Batalion: Valentine PartyDelta: Jiří SchmitzerFuturum: 80s & 90s party - TV show and video, Djs Jirka Neumann,

Roman Pluhař, Jirka Březina & ZuzkaD Guru: Industrial Symphony - Dj Element (techno)Imperial Jazz Café: Senior Dixieland PrahaIndustry: Testament Dance Party - Djs Kavalír & Michal JirákKain: KrlešKD Opatov: South House & Breakbeat Work (southwork vs. pure rhythm)Klamovka: Dasein

listings

PLaYLisT

LeGaL

“Black Souls”I have been working in an English schoolfor the last three months. I still don’t have awork visa. Last week I crossed the borderto renew my tourist visa, but when I got mypassport back, it hadn’t been stamped.Now I don’t have a work visa or a touristvisa. My employer tells me not to worryabout this. I AM worried – should I be?

First, you’re not the only person whoshould be worried. Your employer ought tobe equally worried; he’s employing youillegally, and if the labor office finds out hecould lose his business license. Becauseyou don’t have work permission, for allpractical purposes you’re practically not anemployee, but what is called in Czech a“black soul” – someone who workswithout appearing on any official record.You’re getting your salary on a cash-in-hand basis, you’re not paying socialsecurity or health insurance, and neither isyour employer. In short, you’re workinghere illegally, and stamps in your passportaren’t going to change this. If you’recaught working without official permissionyou can be deported (either by court order,or directly by the police); even worse, youcan be banned from re-entering the CzechRepublic for several years.

It’s time to decide what you want fromlife here. If you plan to stay in the CzechRepublic for more than a brief holiday, you(and your employer) need to take thenecessary steps to make your presencehere legal. Yes, getting a work permit (ortrade license) does involve anunbelievable amount of work – a long,boring and downright awful trudge throughCzech bureaucracy. But at the end of theday it’s necessary, and you should startthe process right now. Good luck!

Our employer insists that we work regularunpaid overtime, usually between threeand six hours per week. We weren’t toldabout this when we started, and there’snothing about it in our contracts. Can werefuse?

Your boss can only insist that you workovertime in exceptional circumstances,described in Paragraph 96 of the CzechLabor Code as “serious operatingreasons.” This covers one-off situationswhere extra work is urgently required tokeep the business running; it does notcover, for example, a staff shortage theemployer has made no effort to remedy.

In deciding whether or not to refuse towork overtime, you must decide if this isthe kind of exceptional case that could beconsidered “serious operating reasons”from your employer’s point of view.Situations arise in many jobs where itbecomes necessary to work overtime, butas I understand, it compulsory overtimeforms part of your regular weeklyworkload. This is completelyunacceptable, and certainly doesn’t fallwithin the Paragraph 96 definition. It’salso worth noting that there is a clearlegal limit on how much overtime you canbe told to work – not more than eighthours extra in one week, and not morethan a total of 150 hours in one year.

Of course, regardless of number ofhours or soundness of reasons, you areentitled to be paid for all work you do. Youare entitled to remuneration for all theunpaid overtime you have done thus far,and you should insist that your employerpay you accordingly. If he or she won’tpay, don’t be afraid to go to court for yourmoney. And don’t be afraid to refuse towork further unpaid overtime, whether ornot the business will collapse as a resultof your absence.

Got questions? Send them [email protected] or contact Klára VeseláSamková directly [email protected]. Your personaldetails will be treated with strictestconfidence.

The Flaming LipsYoshimi Battles the Pink RobotsWarner Brothers, 2002

This is not a band that deserves tobe saddled with repeated intro-ductions, but their highly antici-

pated follow-up to the beautifulgenius of The Soft Bulletin somehowseems to fall on virgin ears. Apropostheir obscure fate, Wayne Coyne andThe Flaming Lips are geniuses of per-severance. A 20-year career has pro-duced 11 albums, with each neweffort clawing another rung up theladder of the stubbornly weird. In1984, or so the legend goes, whenMichael Stipe was hiding in a closet inAthens to record Murmur, TheFlaming Lips invested in the first PAsystem in the Oklahoma City punkscene. This marvel of science guaran-teed the modern-day champions ofacid rock a place on stage with bandslike H¸sker D¸, not to mention everysingle band in the local scene.Eventually the Lipsí penchant for realexperimentation via Led Zeppelincovers in the morass of ë80s crapfound them supporting the Jesus andMary Chain and that font of all weird-ness, the Hairway to Steven-eraButthole Surfers. Their reputation aspioneers of the ìalternativeî are fedby rumors of events like the famousìparking-lot experiments,î which cul-minated in a demo at Austinís 1997South by Southwest festival, duringwhich 30 different tapes were playedsimultaneously from 30 differentcars. The result was, perhaps, the onlysuccessful fusion of interactive ele-ments into the creation of listenablemusic. Yoshimi, like The Soft Bulletin, isa concept album. Named afterYoshimi P-we of the Boredoms, theprotagonist explores the death of aJapanese fan and the bizarre circum-stances under which Coyne and theband were told of her death across afertile landscape of subtly tweakedsound. The album is soft, pretty andaccessible, a narrative soundscapetaking the mind-bending technicalexperience of creating 1997ís Zaireekathrough filters of childlike awe andemotional abandonment. It evolvesinto what Coyne himself describes asa ìcandy-coated potato chip,î adeceptively electronic, organic album(or vice versa . . .) that says too muchand ends too soon. It is yet anotherminutely flawed magnum opus froma band that deserves so much morethan a gentle tip of the hat. Which islikely more than the musical prole-tariat of the late 20th century will evergrant them.

Johnny CashAmerican IV: The Man Comes AroundUniversal, 2002

So much ìmainstreamî entertain-ment seems three parts con-trivance to one part each talent

and manufacture, which makes ithard to reconcile certain memories ofMr. John Cash. Cutting the engine tosave gas and winding a Ford van downa 10-kilometer decline in Bosnia witha friend reciting ìA Boy Named Sueîin the passenger seat ñ the first time I

saw shelled-out homes. Arguing withanother friend over a mint vinyl copyof At Folsom Prison we found in asouthside Richmond, Virginia strip-mall thrift store and finally agreeingto wrap it in cellophane tape andkeep it on top of the refrigerator ìfor-ever.î Johnny Cashís lot, to which heseems dourly resigned, is to wanderthe zone between Hank Williamsauthenticity and Tom Jones menda-ciousness. One might say, withoutovermuch irony, that he walks theline. Cash uses the beneath-the-scalebass of his voice like a catís paw tostretch every bit of emotion out ofeach song of this decidedly bizarreassemblage. He makes DepecheModeís ìPersonal Jesusî sound heart-felt, Simon and Garfunkelís ìBridgeover Troubled Waterî sound manlyand ìDanny Boyî comes off asAmerican as Don Henley. (You canactually hear the smile lines deepen atìDesperado, you ainít getting noyounger.î) The collection is saltedwith original tunes like the spine-tin-gling title track, which finds St. Johnset to by countryís most apt voyeur,armed only with a deceptively agingbaritone, a guitar and a steamshippiano. Johnny Cash is an anomaly,simply put. From the baby-faced,tough-as-nails ex-con riffing on thelong-lost girl next door for a newbornSun Records to the dark-miened trou-badour of the omega days, JohnnyCash, and, perhaps more importantly,his image, simply remains ñ and that isa wondrous feat.

ScenicThe Acid Gospel ExperienceÉmigré, 2002

Packaged as part of the …migrÈcompanyís distantly avant-gardetypography and design quarterly,

the debut album of this hypno-elec-tronic ensemble plods a meanderingpath through the conceptual wadingpool that is electronic music. Pawingthrough the hyper-sanitized packag-ing, complete with …migrÈ leaderBruce Licherís painfully proud intro-duction just after the title page, some-how reinforces the fact that youíreswimming in dirty water. Reminiscentof so much and attempting so manyjerky forays into apparent novelty, theoverall affect is of a precisely plannedeffort overfinished. Dropping hints ofethno-trance onto a polished obeliskreflecting Slowdive, Mercury Rev, TheVerve and others, the Acid GospelExperience is often distastefully redo-lent of nothing so much as clichÈ andguitar-noodling solipsism. The sadthing is that 10 years ago, before highschool kids could squeeze home ver-sions of Pro-Tools onto their new G4s,this would have been a breakthroughaccomplishment ñ and itís not asthough the Acid Gospel Experienceis bad music. On the contrary, itísquite listenable, but the fact that it iscouched in such pretensions makes ita bit hard to stomach. Go ahead: Youmight find that you can rock 1995, ifyouíve got the chaise lounge ready.

Micah Jayne is at [email protected]

Burnt OfferingsReviews by Micah Jayne

Gwendolyn AlbertReadingAlchemy Reading and PerformanceSeries Monday, February 17th atShakespeare and Sons

According to some 20th-century literary theorists,a poem doesn’t exist until it is read aloud. Theline is meaningless, many argue, until it meetsthe breath. While this might or might not be true,it did provide a useful subject for a few decadesof doctoral dissertations. Test this thesis onselected Mondays, and this Monday in particular,at a promising installment of the Alchemy series,Prague’s most inclusive and interesting readingsin recent memory. Gwendolyn Albert, an expatri-ate poet or poetess (and herein lies another the-sis) from Oakland, California, will read from herwork, which has appeared in numerous publica-tions, including the prestigious Exquisite Corpse.Shakespeare and Sons, a delightful idea-retailer,is in almost the same quandary as poetry itself: Ifyou’ve only read about the place here, it mightnot really exist. Hop on a tram and find out foryourself. ■ Cohen

Suk, Prokofiev andSchnittkePrague Symphony Orchestra. Wednesday,February 19th at Obecní dům

Minimalism, minimalism, minimalism, minimal-ism and minimalism. And minimalism. Is mini-malism a poverty of expression, or a seriousartistic idea? America thinks minimalism is aproduct of popular music, a product of a widerpopulist aesthetic, of the same advertisementsseen every five minutes, of the same Mondayworkday every Monday workday. Europe dis-agrees. The two apologists for European mini-malism couldn’t be more different. There’s ArvoPart, for whom minimalism is an offshoot of oldreligious music, specifically Gregorian vocalmusic. Then there’s Alfred Schnittke, an affirmedwriter of tonal music, for whom minimalism wasa response to the predictability of tonal polypho-ny. Minimalism for Schnittke was a way out of thepredictable progressions, a way to zero in on tex-ture as opposed to linearity. Hear him at the endof an interesting program of Suk and Prokofievand you’ll understand that not one of his notes isever repeated, it’s only heard again for the firsttime. ■ Cohen

Karaoke nights atScarlett’s every

Wednesday 6pm—midnight.Sponsored by

The Prague Pill


La Provence: Classic Nostalgia Jazz, Valentine Weekend at Banana CaféLe Clan: Lounge with Dj Renda and guestsLucerna Music Bar: Pop 80s & 90s video party - Dj Jirka NeumannMalostranská Beseda: Proti proudu (Against the Stream) lonely song-

sters festival Mánes: Tropicana (latino-american night) Mecca: Dj Vadim Craft with Final Scratch (Megatronpeople, Cyprus),

Dj Kuba Soulcheck, Teddy B (Ibiza) and special guest fromHolland, Coitus’s Workshop - Dj Coitus Exitus live and Djs

Meloun: Czechoslovakian discotheque with Djs Balda and KříčaMetropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens)Mlejn: Bass Beast, Dreat Beat Squad, HypnoMrtvá Vrána: St. Valentine’s Night - Dj Baltazar plays for all those in

love, free pink welcome drink and free entryNebe: Djs Groof + Rend@Radost FX: St. Valentine’s Party with Crazy Penis (UK) - live + Dj set,

Djs Loutka + Vectif Reduta: ImpulsRock Café: Valentine Day Party - Unity & SM LomozRoxy: Mix - special guest Timmy S (UK), Djs Tráva + Rescue, Chill

Out - Significant BrotherRudolfinum: V-Day - Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 5Salmovská literární kavárna: Katka Garcia & guests - Dun An Doras,

Predrag (world music)Sedm Vlků: Djs Skywalker, Cashmeer & Stanzim (oldschool, jungle, ragga)U Malého Glena: Najponk TrioUltramarin: Dj Special K - Valentine Night PartyUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Luboš Andršt Blues Band feat. Ramblin RexVagon: Jetbeat (60s - 70s music), Reggae party at midnightWakata: Djs Gardenzitty SoundSystem (ragga jungle)XT3: Heavy Load - Djs Marvel, Ka-ve & Infinity (dń´b)Železná: František Kop Quartet (modern jazz)007 Strahov: Vertibo, Seher Sekete Kerek (ska, reggae)


All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: Entertaining Mr. Sloane (J. Orton, in Czech) at 7:30Damúza: Agatomania (A. Goldflam, in Czech) at 8Dejvické Divadlo: The Brothers Karamazov (F.M. Dostoyevsky) at 7:30Disk: Some Explicit Polaroids (M. Ravenhill, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo ABC: Charley´s Aunt (J. Brandon - Thomas, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Luv (M. Schisgal, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Marriage (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo V Řeznické: The Collector (J. Fowles, in Czech) at 7:30Image: The Best of Image (black light theater) at 8Klementinum: Mozart Quintet - J. Jonášová - soprano, Z. Němečková -

organ (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart) at 5Kolowrat: Happy Days (S. Beckett, in Czech) at 7Komedie: Here THE Life Is Beautiful (dance performance, in coopera-

tion with the Deja Donne company) at 7:30 Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Národní Divadlo: Maryša (A.+ V. Mrštík, in Czech) at 7NoD: Forest and other pieces (puppet theater, N. Sawa) at 8Ponec: Archa Adrift! - workshop with the CandoCo dance theater companyRokoko: Romeo and Juliet (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Státní Opera: Cosi fan tutte (W.A. Mozart) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: The Bandits (G. Verdi, opera) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Killer Joe (T. Letts, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Viola: Angel in Blue - J. Marais and J. Cocteau (reading, talk, in Czech) at 8

Saturday, February 15A Studio Rubín: SygnusAgharta: Flavours (modern jazz)Akropolis: Rude Audio (Small Scene), Pimprle Mix - Djs Voita &

Kaplick (freestyle, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Taliesyn (jazz, folk, fusion)Batalion: Hard Rock CaféFuturum: 80s & 90s party - TV show and video, Djs Jirka Neumann,

Roman Pluhař, Jirka Březina & ZuzkaD Guru: Birthday Party - Mr. Montana + Dj Kenny (hip hop, rap & soul)Hells Bells: Sci-Fi, FaidonImperial Jazz Café: Dixieland MessengersIndustry: The Sound of Industry - Prochy, Jeremy, Petr Holman, RajuKain: SevenKlamovka: Agáve 9La Provence: O & Band, Valentine Weekend at Banana Café, Cancan

Dancing Le Clan: Moonshine with Dj Brian and guestLucerna Music Bar: Pop 80s & 90s video party - Dj Jirka NeumannMagická Zahrada: Pragasón - La Música Cubana En Praga (son

cubano, latin jazz)Malostranská Beseda: Sto zvířat (rock)Mánes: Chevrolet Oldies PartyMecca: Love’in - US funky & vocal house with resident Djs Neo and

Kristian Szabo and special guest from Germany Dj Hubee akaWackside, history of funky music in C’Lounge by Dj Luděk Fí

Meloun: Czechoslovakian discotheque with Djs Balda and KříčaMetropolitan Jazz Club: The Senior Swingers (swing evergreens) Modrá Vopice: Deheth C, FuckDaKarot + Ambrosia (hardcore)Mrtvá Vrána: Djs Deep Corner (tech house, breakbeat)Nebe: Djs Rockweell + Teddy B.Radost FX: Lollypop - gay night, resident Djs Vilém + Lumiere + spe-

cial guestReduta: Bobby Houda Blues BandRock Café: TakinÓff (latin funky) + Dj MaaraRoxy: Zen - special guest Phil Thompson aka Moonface (UK), resi-

dent Djs Joel Einhorn, Michael Burian, Deep House Chill Out -Dan Cooley + Rai

Sedm Vlků: Djs Beast67, Hellium & Rido (dń´b)Solidarita: Dance Café - Trio Jimi U Malého Glena: Najponk TrioUltramarin: Dj Chris CagsUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Luboš Andršt Blues Band feat. Ramblin RexVagon: Votchi & guests, Rockotheque at midnightWakata: Djs Irie Memba & Anděl (reggae dancehall night)XT3: Premium Wondah of da unda - Djs Pepe & A.L.I. and guests

(hip hop)Železná: Mladá Kref - take the Jazz Train (classic & modern jazz) at

5, Robert Balzar Trio (mainstream jazz)007 Strahov: Djs Orion, Each & Wich (hip hop)

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: Entertaining Mr. Sloane (J. Orton, in Czech) at 7:30Dejvické Divadlo: The Loot (J. Orton, in Czech) at 7:30Disk: Mighty Aphrodite (W. Allen, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo ABC: Double Play (R. Thomas, in Czech) at 5, Nunsense (D.

Goggin, musical, in Czech, on Small Scene - Ábíčko) at 2 and 8:30Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Noises Off (M. Frayn, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Howard Katz (P. Marber, in Czech) at 2 and 7Divadlo Na Zábradlí: In the Summer House (J. Bowles, in Czech) at 7Divadlo U Hasičů: You Know I Can´t Hear You When the Water´s

Running (R. Anderson, in Czech) at 3 and 7Divadlo V Celetné: Supper of Ashes (B. Kuras, in Czech) at 8Image: The Best of Image (black light theater) at 8Kolowrat: Vor dem Ruhestand (T. Bernhard, in Czech) at 7Komedie: Here THE Life Is Beautiful (dance theater, in cooperation

with the Deja Donne company) at 7:30 Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Metro: Carmen (P. Merimée, in Czech, drama) at 3Národní Divadlo: Comedy of Errors (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 2,

The Servant of Two Masters (C. Goldoni, in Czech) at 7Ponec: Archa Adrift! - workshop with the CandoCo dance theater

companyStátní Opera: Aida (G. Verdi) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Rigoletto (G. Verdi, opera) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: The Tempest (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30

Sunday, February 16A Studio Rubín: BengasAgharta: František Uhlíř Team (modern jazz)Akropolis: Za pecí - jungling afternoon at 3 (Big Hall), open stage

(Big Hall), Dj Sunpaya & guest (funky, new york deephouse,Small Scene), Pro Sound System - Djs Liquid A & Kryshpeen,Mc Dr Kary (reggae, dancehall, dub, Theater Bar)

Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Luboš Pavel - One man theater Batalion: Hard Rock CaféGuru: Dj Es.Pe.Ha.Ce (elektroexperiment)La Provence: Valentine Weekend at Banana CaféMetropolitan Jazz Club: Jaroslav “Fats” Kos Trio Nebe: Dj DowntempoReduta: Jazz FragmentRock Café: Music Bar - free entry!U Malého Glena: Leimonarion Jam Session - come to jam!Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Gumbo Blues Band & Ondřej KonrádVagon: Film Blues Band + OOZWakata: Back 2p2p - Djs Ali & Pepe (hip hop)XT3: Sunday breakzŽelezná: Sunflower Caravan (progressive jazzrock)

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Dejvické Divadlo: Three Sisters (A.P. Chekhov, in Czech) at 7:30Disk: Mighty Aphrodite (W. Allen, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Same Time, Next Year (B. Slade, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: Fiddler on the Roof (J. Stein, J. Bock, S.

Harnick, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Ballad about the Thief of the Horses or

Gypsies Go to Heaven (musical, in Slovak) at 5 and 8Divadlo Na Zábradlí: The Dresser (R. Harwood, in Czech, performed b

listings

PraGue LoG

sTaGeMUSIC CLUB ■ INDEPENDENT

MUSIC CLUB 11-05 CAFÉ 11-03ROKYCANOVA 29, PRAHA 3 – ŽIŽKOV

603 115 836, 222 783 463

What’sOpera,Doc?Let me start by warning you: if you knowwhat a coloratura is, just put the paperdown and no one will get hurt. Good. Nowfor the rest of us whose knowledge ofopera consists of Elmer Fudd singing “Killda wabbit,” this is the first in a series ofarticles on the State Opera and its currentrepertoire.

“It’s not easy to make an opera reallygood,” says Vojtěch Spurný, SO’s artisticdirector. There’s singing, acting, set design...” And all this has to come together at thesame time. Live. Repeatedly.

Take Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (or TheMagic Flute, if you like, which is OK butdoesn’t have those rockin’ umlauts.)Zauberflöte is a big, honking crowd-pleaser – sort of like The Lord of theRings meets Moulin Rouge, except thosefilms likely won’t be called masterpiecesin 200 years. SO’s new production – itpremiered last September – is “nomuseum piece,” Spurný says. (“Sniff,” saythe critics.)

Here’s what happens: The evil Sarostrohas kidnapped Pamina, the daughter of themysterious Queen of the Night. The Queensends Prince Tamino to rescue her. He andhis sidekick, the bird-man Papageno, findPamina and learn that Sarostro is justmisunderstood. Pamina and Tamino mustundergo a series of ordeals to win love andfreedom.

Zauberflöte is what is commonly calleda singspiel – what American audienceswould call a musical. There’s a lot ofmusic, obviously, interspersed by spokendialogue. This production has very littledance, but look for the frolicking slavenumber near the end of the first act.

Like a lot of art, you have to meetopera halfway. “It’s not like television,where you can spread out on the couchwith your popcorn,” Spurný says. “Youhave to see it and hear it actively.”

The most enjoyable parts of theproduction are those featuring Papageno.This makes sense when you understandthat Zauberflöte was created for theViennese Theater auf der Wieden, wherethe greater part of the audience aspired tothe middle classes. Papageno was writtenfor them – and for the librettist. EmanuelSchikaneder, the man who wrote the words,was also the first to play the comic star ofthe show. Hardly surprising, then, that hegave himself all the good lines. SO’sproduction features several casts whoperform in rotation. Aleš Jenis’ Papageno ispart surfer-dude, part Jar-Jar Binks, and hebrings the house down in duets with TerezaMerklová, as his flighty sweetheart, andKatharina Müller as Pamina. Other roleswere written with particular singers in mind,to accentuate the strengths of the auf derWieden crew. The reason there’s a magicflute and not a magic ukelele, for example,is because the first Tamino played couldplay the flute. (SO’s Tomáš Černý, however,just sort of holds it nobly aloft while it playsitself.)

SO presents the opera in the originalGerman and the sets evoke Karl FriedrichSchinkel’s Zauberflöte of 1816 – workoften cited as a hallmark of scenography.But the intent is not to re-create an earlierproduction, Spurný says. “There’s aconservative audience who know a lotabout opera, how it ‘should’ be. That thepyramid should be so-and-so, for example,and that there should be 11 elephantscoming out from this direction, and so on.But I love it when an audience has nopreconceptions about how the opera. Thisis how you have to go to the theater. Yougive your heart to the show.”

Spurný is now replacing SO’s mossierproductions with new ones and addingnew works, like local jazzman EmilViklický’s Oráč a smrt (“Death and thePloughman” – no umlauts, but rockin’nonetheless) and Scott Joplin’sTreemonisha.

Jazzier works like these tend to attracta younger audience. Sure, students don’tstand in line all night for tickets like theydid in Verdi’s day, but opera is holding itsown. The Czech Republic has 10 operacompanies (Sweden has only four.)Premieres at SO regularly sell out, andeven regular programs fill 50 to 90 percentof the house. ■ Theodore Schwinke

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)W.A. Mozart, libretto by EmanuelSchikaneder. Directed by Michael Schlüter-Padberg. Next performances: Feb. 9, 2pm.Feb. 10, 7pm. Feb. 16, 2pm. Tickets are100-900 Kč, available at the box office orat the SO web site www.opera.cz.Státní Opera, Wilsonova 4, P1 Tel.: 224 227 266

Casino Palais SavarinNa príkopé 10, Praha 1 – Nové město.Tel. 224.221.636. Open daily 1pm-4am. Poker every Wednesday from7pm to 330am

Americans and poker go togetherlike Elvis and peanut butter,which is why friendly expat poker

games have popped up aroundPrague like mushrooms in September.

One weekly match, held in aVinohrady pub for the past 10 yearsor so, counts amongst its regularstwo of the cityís most prominentrestaurant owners, a technologyentrepreneur and a globetrottingalcohol importer. Another, drawingone of the cityís biggest real-estatemoguls and a well-known film execu-tive, is a high-stakes stunner withpots in the thousands of dollars.

Since last month, a far more egali-tarian game has been holding courtWednesday nights at Casino PalaisSavarin, a swanky spot on the secondfloor of an amazing rococo palacethat, ironically, is also home to theMuseum of Communism. This seven-hour seven card stud marathon,played with Vegas rules on beautifulfelt-topped tables, is secreted in a lav-ish, wood-paneled back room withpiped-in music, brocaded velvet cur-tains and extravagant crystal chande-liers. Itís an amazingly stylish spacethat wouldnít be out of place in aJames Bond fil. (Indeed, it was used asa backdrop for the card scenes in lastyearís Czech hit Babi Leto.) The giddysense of exclusivity is further height-ened by an entrance sign which readsìPrivate Invitation Onlyî to keep theGreat Unwashed at bay.

The game has been attracting adiverse cast of characters that includesa sculptor, a hard-core pornographer,a couple of insanely rich Czech lads ofshady providence, the occasionaltrack-suit-wearing Russian mobsterand a self-proclaimed former profes-sional poker player who loses just asoften as anyone else.

Youíd think you have to be a freak-ing Rockefeller for an invitation tojoin this rarefied assemblage, but theSavarin game is actually open on a

first-come, first-served basis to anyonewith a picture ID and a few thousandcrowns to blow. The result is a sur-prising friendly vibe, with most play-ers on a first-name basis and houserules that are flexible enough to bendto the tableís democratic whims.

Betting is structured and stakesare lowish: 50 KË minimum/100 KËmaximum, though pots can rise intothe thousands of crowns. The casinorakes 10 KË per person per handand, in return, supplies the venue,dealers and a small buffet ofchlebicky and smoked ham, orgreasy egg rolls and mystery meat ina chafing dish. Oh, and cocktails andcigarettes are on the house; just askthe pit boss to ring the bell for one ofthe waitresses.

For all its munificence, the casinoonly grosses about 1,300 KË per play-er. Itís really quite a generous propo-sition that naturally provokes one tolook for the catch. Then one of thechain-smoking mafiosi leaves thepoker table in a huff and drops a tallstack of black chips on roulette toheal his wounded pride. Knowingsmiles flash around the card roomand we summon the waitress foranother round.

Dan Levine has an ace up his sleeve [email protected]

No Ocean, butSharks AplentyPrague’s posh poker scene. By Dan Levine

The game has beenattracting a diverse castof characters thatincludes a sculptor, ahard-core pornographer,and a couple of insanelyrich Czech lads of shadyprovidence.

BumcelloFriday, February 21st at Palác Akropolis

Bumcello is an eclectic duo. With Vincent Segalon electric cello, Cyril Alef on drums, andvocoders, effects boxes and tape loops of theirown music, they are able to create a kaleido-scope of sound from dub, drum ‘n bass, house,jazz, techno, funk, hip hop, oriental sounds andbeyond. Their influences run from African musicto French pop. Just to give you a sense of whatto expect: They’ve dubbed their sampler “headrush,” which means the audience can expect tohave their minds blown. Since the opening actfor this show is Dub-O-Net (featuring vocalistJamajka), as well, everyone’s going to have atleast a contact high for the main attraction. ■Ozuna

Millie HoweAndrew Jose Hairdressing Salon.Michalská 17 in P1. 224 23 20 29

Are you tired of going out night after night to thesame bar, talking up the same girl, only to haveher brush you off her shoulder like a flake ofdandruff when it comes time to go home? She’sprobably laughing at that dead ferret on yourhead whenever you go to take a piss. Sorry tohave to break it to you, man, but you’re wolfin’like a ‘tard these days. What you need is a gayhaircut, and there’s only one woman in this townwho knows what that means. That woman isMillie, the Australian wunderkind specializing inthe funky, the punky, the obtuse, the asymmet-rical, and Wilde Colour. Millie will tell you herselfthat she doesn’t do conservative, so if you workin a bank and hang out at Tretter’s, you’d betterstick to your neighborhood holic. But if you’re atattooed, pierced, fucked-up, trisexual creatureof the night, Milly will make you look cooler thanyou already are. The same holds true for ladies:Milly is responsible for the most talked abouthair cut in Prague this winter, Miss Jill Ruchala’s.Her rates aren’t particularly cheap, but this kindof talent is rare in Prague and you wanna startgetting laid, right? ■ Jeppesen


the Divadlo V Dlouhé) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: supporting concert for Divadlo Jana Kašky - songs

from the performances, O. Wilde - The Canterville Ghost andThe Importance of Being Ernest at 3, Fool For Love (S.Shepard, in Czech) at 7:30

Divadlo V Řeznické: Exit the King (E. Ionesco, in Czech) at 7:30Kolowrat: Czech Secretaries (I. Žantovská, in Czech) at 6Komedie: The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart

(J.A. Komenský, perfomed by the Miloco theater, in Czech) at 7:30 Mlejn: Emil, the Ignorant Lover (J. Cocteau, in Czech, performed by

the ToDivadlo) at 8Národní Divadlo: Káťa Kabanová (L. Janáček, opera) at 7Ponec: Archa Adrift! - workshop with the CandoCo dance theater companyRokoko: Closer (P. Marber, in Czech) at 7Státní Opera: The Magic Flute (W.A. Mozart) at 2Stavovské Divadlo: Isert Incert/ Cor Perdut/ Hands/ Wolfgang, bitte...

(ballet, choreography Carlos Iturrioz, Nacho Duato, WimVandekeybus, Rui Horta - IT DANSA Jove Compania) at 7

Švandovo Divadlo: Wuthering Heights (E. Brontë, in Czech, performedby the Moravské Divadlo Olomouc) at 7

Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30

Monday, February 17Agharta: Jiří Stivín & Co. (modern jazz) Akropolis: Metro Djs (trance house, Small Scene), Viva La Musica -

Dj Liquid A (latino, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Paleček & Janík Batalion: Formule 1PartyGuru: Jam with Bohuš Matuš (improvisational show)Kain: Charlie´s Blood GroupKC Kaštan: Noční optika (jazz)KC Zahrada: Langley School Park (girls´ jazz group from Kent)Malostranská Beseda: Yo Yo BandMeloun: Rock and Oldies Party with Radio Beat Djs Metropolitan Jazz Club: Swing Party Jaromíra Konůpky (Steamboat

Stompers)Nebe: Dj DowntempoReduta: R. Krampl Vibe FantasyRock Café: Music Bar - free entry!Roxy: Free Mondays - Al-Yaman (live), Djs Yukimura, Ravi (free entry)Salmovská literární kavárna: Šlupkahula (blues)Sedm Vlků: Kazztroll Sound System (techno)U Malého Glena: Stan the Man Bohemian Blues BandUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Jazz EfterrättVagon: Folimanka Blues + SedumWakata: Djs Voita & Ottoman (breakbeat)XT3: Dj Spejbl (progressive dń´b)Železná: In 2 Funk007 Strahov: Cablecar Theory (USA), Ravelin 7, Thema 11 (hc)

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Branické Divadlo: The Open Couple (D. Fo, in Czech) at 7Činoherní Klub: The Wood Demon (A.P. Chekhov, in Czech) at 7:30Disk: The Marriage (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo ABC: The Front Page (B. Hecht, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Festival of Slovak Theater - Krajčírky (J.C.

Grumberg, in Slovak) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Rainmaker (R. Nash, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Lysistrata (Aristophanes, in Czech) at 7Divadlo V Řeznické: Desire Under the Elms (E. OŃeill, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Fiction (black light theater) at 8Kolowrat: Countryside (M. Crimp, in Czech) at 7Komedie: Je na čase, aby se TO změnilo (motional theater, E.L.

Tobiáš) at 7:30Kongresové Centrum: Singing In the Rain (choreography G. Kelly, S.

Donen, musical, in Czech) at 3Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Národní Divadlo: The Servant of Two Masters (C. Goldoni, in Czech) at 7Pidivadlo: The Storm (A.N. Ostrovsky, in Czech) at 7Ponec: Archa Adrift! - performance of the participants of the

CandoCo dance theater workshops + discussion at 8Rokoko: Death of a Salesman (A. Miller, in Czech) at 7Rudolfinum: Prague Chamber Philharmony (Bodorová, Bruch,

Milhaud, Weber) at 7:30Shakespeare & Sons: The Alchemy Reading & Performance Series -

poet Lucien Zell at 8Švandovo Divadlo: The Tempest (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Killing of Sister George (F. Marcus, in Czech) at 7:55Viola: Master Class (T. McNally, in Czech) at 8

Tuesday, February 18Agharta: Luboš Andršt Group (jazz & blues)Akcent: Pavla Kapitánová & Jakub Zahradník (blues, chanson)Akropolis: Future Line (Big Hall), Dj Yukimura & guest (Small Scene),

Hip Hop Djs Enemy & Kolator (Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Jiří Dědeček Batalion: LäpplaeČajovna pod Stromem čajovým (tea room): Agnes Kutas & Jaroslav Kořán

(Hungarian folk songs)Guru: Cyberdance - Hedonix Sound System (psychedelic trance)Kafárna Na Kus Řeči: Dubia Fortuna (medieval ages music)Kain: Easy Rider, Beat InKC Kaštan: Létající koberec (shaman rituals, dream, house, ethno-

trance-break-beat)KC Zahrada: Bulabula (jazz)KD Opatov: Karel PlíhalKlamovka: Šantré (folk)La Provence: Chanson, Cancan DancingLe Clan: Tropical Heat with Dj Mucho and guestsLucerna Music Bar: And the End, Shampoo (big 60s show)Malostranská Beseda: JablkoňMánes: TaxmeniMeloun: 80s Party with Radio Kiss Djs Metropolitan Jazz Club: Jitka Vrbová and MJB Quartet Nebe: Dj Liquid A Reduta: Return to SilenceRock Café: The Ghost (USA) & Clou & guestsSedm Vlků: Fatal Noise Djs (jungle, techno)U Malého Glena: Stan the Man “In Duo”Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Jazz EfterrättUnijazz: Tuesday Escapes - Bob Dylan (presentation in Czech) at 6Vagon: Jam session - free entry!Wakata: Djs Suki & Coltcharam (dń´b)XT3: Dj O2 (tekhouse)Železná: Gothart (world music)007 Strahov: Djs Rude Audio Sound System (ska, reggae, 2tone)

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: Waiting for Godot (S. Beckett, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Festival of Slovak Theater - The Birthday Party

(H. Pinter, in Slovak) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: Le Dindon (G. Feydeau, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: A Flea in Her Ear (G. Feydeau, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Na Zábradlí: In the Summer House (J. Bowles, in Czech) at 7Divadlo U Hasičů: The Ispector General (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 7Image: Fiction (black light theater) at 8Klementinum: The Best of Classics - T. Vejvoda - violin, P. Mišejka -

cello, R. Jelínková - piano (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Dvořák,Smetana) at 5

Kolowrat: Not Just Hamlet - Radovan Lukavský Beneficium at Komedie: Wyrd Sisters (T. Pratchett, S. Briggs, in Czech) at 7:30Kongresové Centrum: Singing In the Rain (choreography G. Kelly, S.

Donen, musical, in Czech) at 3Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Mlejn: Cosmic Dance Hall I or Belated Lover (movement theater,

authorial project of the PAPP theater, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: Comedy of Errors (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Obecní Dům: Prague Symphony Orchestra (J. Suk, S. Prokofiev, A.

Schnittke) at 7:30Pidivadlo: Dancing at Lughnasa (B. Friel, in Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Volpone (B. Johnson, in Czech) at 7, Václav

Koubek & Pavel Fajt (concert, in the Studio) at 9 Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Marriage Play (E. Albee, in Czech) at 7:55

Wednesday, February 19Agharta: Luboš Andršt Group (jazz & blues)Akropolis: Nahoru po schodišti dolů band - CD realese party (Big

Hall), Dj Zhulenos Aires & guest (elektro, acidtek, freestyle, SmallScene), Cottage Djs t.n.t. & call.da & juan (house, Theater Bar)

Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Radim Hladík and Jaroslav Hutka Batalion: Koko TrioFuturum: Krucipüsk, EleisonGuru: Eastpark (guitar poprock)Industry: Dance party Djs - Happy Night - Michal Jirák & LinerKain: Joe Satriani revivalKD Opatov: Original Indigo (dixieland)Klub V Jelení: Oldřich Janota (guitar recital)La Provence: Soul Connection, Travesti ShowLe Clan: Nuit Sexy - DjsLucerna Music Bar: BrutusMalostranská Beseda: Brnkání na duši (Strumming on the Soul) - Pavel

Žalman Lahonka & guests (folk)Mánes: Motovidlo, Zelená půlnoc (country)Meloun: BBQ Smoke Style + guest (live), discotheque with Dj Jirka

ŠvestákMetropolitan Jazz Club: Jazz Fiddlers (traditional jazz)Mlejn: Jarda Samson Lenk + Hop Trop (folk)Nebe: Dj Big J - Soul foodNorton: Dj Chris Cags

listings

art

Eli Geiser, Galerie Bayer & Bayer, through Feb. 8Asphalt and skin by a Swiss expat.

Czechoslovak Socialist-Realism 1948-58, GalerieRudolfinum, through Feb. 9 Klement, landscape, dam, Stalin, Klement, land-scape, dam, Stalin.

World of Stars and Illusion, Galerie Mánes, through Feb. 9Tracing the evolution of the film poster fromthe silent era to the present, this exhibitiondoes an admirable job of putting the work intoa local context.

Like Old Maps, Obcení galerie beseda, through Feb. 16More like oil paintings by Italian artist RosemariaBenini.

Vladimír Birgus: Something Unspeakable, Austrian Cultural

Institute, through Feb. 16A critic, curator, and professor at FAMU, Birgusalso takes pictures.

Da Paintas, Galerie NoD, through Feb. 20Danda Horáčková, Benjamin Šoltész, MarekHyksa, Martin Káňa, and Jan Kaláb take overupstairs at the Roxy (see review, above.)

Split Points, Veletržní palác, through Feb. 23What’s going on in Dresden these days? Thisgroup show provides an answer.

Teenagers, Galerie Display, through Feb. 23The first joint exhibition of Slovak conceptualartists and longtime collaborators Roman Ondakand Julius Koller in the Czech Republic.

Josef Koudelka, Veletržní palác, through Feb. 23

Gypsies, exiles, actors, the ‘68 invasion and thedevastated landscape, all seen through the lensof this Czech photographer.

Antonín Procházka (1882-1945), Obcení dům, through Mar. 2The largest exhibit to date of this CzechModernist’s paintings.

František Tichý, Prague City Gallery at House at theStone Bell, through Mar. 2Another Czech modern painter. Lots of clownson display.

Dragan Dragin: Shepherd’s Constellation, Josef SudekAtelier, through Mar. 2A series of black-and-white double portraits, peo-ple/landscape.

Slovak Photography, Prague City Gallery at the

Municipal Library, through Mar. 30An important exhibition covering every majormovement in Slovakia, 1925-2000.

Edward Steichen, Leica Gallery, through Mar. 30Steichen was responsible for the infamous “Familyof Man” exhibition, and his work for Vanity Fairhad a lasting impact on portrait photography.

Berlin-Praha-Berlin, Galerie Mánes, Feb. 13-Mar. 11Čečo’s latest work goes on display.

Through Antonín Hudeček’s Landscape of the Soul, CzechMuseum of Fine Art, Feb. 19-Apr. 21This exhibition by Antonín Hudeček is a surveyof his work emphasising the early stage of hiscareer, and features loans from the PragueNational Gallery, the Moravian Gallery in Brnoand a number of other Czech regional galleries.

on display FEBRUARY 7—20

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Da PaintasNoD GalleryDlouhá 33 in P1Through February 20

An exhausted-looking, possiblydrugged man wearing a blue suitpoints to a cartoon-like render-

ing of an android on a chalkboardwhile an airplane crashes into some-thing in the horizon. The somberexpression on the manís face and thedark circles beneath his eyes conveyan air of authority. Heís probably anelementary school teacher, but hecould also be a politician, an art crit-ic, or a zombie. His index fingershoots an invisible beam towards thepicture-within-the-picture: This is theproblem, he seems to be saying.

Whatever creepiness we feel look-ing at the guy dissipates into hilaritywhen we turn our gaze to the forbid-den image and are met with this sillygreen thing ñ maybe itís an alien froman animated childrenís TV show,maybe itís some sort of art prank by arebellious student. It waves at us with ahuge smile. We almost expect it toburst into song. The little alien beck-ons us to run away into fantasyland, atwo-dimensional world of the imagina-tion, an enticing alternative next tothe grim reality of Authority Man andthe exploding sky.

This is the image that accosts thespectator upon entering the NoDGallery above the Roxy, where agroup of young Czech artists callingthemselves ìDa Paintasî haveinstalled an ebullient show conflatingthe seemingly limitless world of thechildís imagination with the abjectmachinery of the adults enlisted topolice those wild escapist yearnings.Cops figure in works by two different

artists, but theyíre not Czech cops.Theyíre the artistsí re-creation of theUniversal TV Cop, who just happensto wear the same uniform as anAmerican police officer.

Benjamin äoltÈsz, who authoredthe first painting in the exhibit, fol-lows up with a more placid portrait ofsix of New Yorkís finest moving silent-

ly down a street. They donít seem tobe in any hurry, and we have no cluewhether theyíre coming from the sta-tion, a false alarm or the neighbor-hood doughnut shop. We have no rea-son to loathe them, fear them or wor-ship them; theyíre just vulnerablythere, suspended in this ordinarymoment, unable to sustain any realauthority beyond the faÁade of theiruniforms and guns.

Beyond the obvious phallic conno-tations, a gun can be a powerful sym-bol, as well as a beautiful object, asDavid »ern˝ and a three-quarter ass-load of contemporary artists havedemonstrated. A loaded gun held toyour head is endowed with a differ-ent meaning than the cap gun youchased your sister around with as a

child. Attached to a copyís uniform,a loaded gun may go unnoticed untilit comes out of his holster.

The other Universal Cop in theexhibition, probably a found object, isa small statue of a traffic cop reachingfor his gun. He feels compelled to doso because Marek Hyksaís massivesculpture of a Voltron-like robot ispointing at something in the distancethat heís about to destroy. Whileinverting äoltÈszís initial painting,Hyksaís sculpture also pays homage tothe action figures that populate chil-drenís TV shows and comic bookssuch as Spiderman, He-Man andVoltron. The sculpture is surroundedby awe-inspiring paintings of similarretro-futuristic robotic entities inmotion, as well as little-girlish imagesof cute froggies spraypainted on to asilver-paneled background that re-sembles candy-bar wrappers.

So what are all these cops doinginterrupting this celebration of fin desiecle kiddie pop culture? The policeare obviously an integral part of theworld television culture of the last 20years, but theyíre also universal sym-bols of authority in the same league asparents and teachers. But the mostinfluential authority of the last 20years isnít God or any other spiritualdeity ñ itís Television. Da Paintas mayjust be indulging a superficial obses-

sion with their recent past. Or theymay be after something more subver-sive: unmasking those action heroesas the commodification of the childísimagination by an invisible apparatuswhose power defies all limits.

Travis Jeppesen is at [email protected]

Out of OrderDa Paintas have come for your children. By Travis Jeppesen

A loaded gun held againstyour head is endowedwith a different meaningthan the cap gun youchased your sister aroundwith as a child.

“I’ll get you and your little gun, too!”

At the time of his death last year,Ji¯Ì Kol·¯ had acquired a reputa-tion as one of the more inventive

20th-century Czech artists. He was amember of Group 42 and the firstCzech Group of Experimental Poetry,and he helped develop the collagetechniques of froissage and con-frontage.

As writing poems and crumplingup pieces of paper were consideredsubversive activities under the com-munist regime, Kol·¯ was continu-ously harassed and jailed by theauthorities. After he signed Charter77, life became unbearable in hisnative country. The artist emigratedto France, where he continued towork and was finally able to attainsome international renown.

The exhibit of Kol·¯ís work cur-rently at the French Instituteís modestgallery couldnít possibly represent theentirety of his oeuvre. Instead, thecurators have chosen to focus onthree random strains of Kol·¯ís longcareer: confrontages from the earlyë50s, a couple of rollages from theearly ë60s, and a series of froissagesprobably dating from 1977. (Oddlyenough, none of the work in the cur-rent exhibit dates from Kol·¯ís yearsin France.)

Froissage is a method developed byKol·¯ís friend Ladislav Nov·k in whichthe lines made by crumpling up apiece of paper are used to create a

drawing. The clear highlight of theexhibit, Kol·¯ís froissages utilize previ-ously existing works, in this case 17th-century French drawings, to form new,abstract pictures. The results occasion-ally resemble early Cubist efforts tocapture several different movementswithin a single image. Entire citiescrumble into themselves; pieces ofornate buildings collide into oneanother and coalesce into chaotic anti-structures; noblemen are transformedinto grotesque, retarded machines.

Like most great artists of the pastcentury, Kol·¯ was both an anarchistand a reactionary. In order to ìmakeit new,î the artist must systematicallyreject every aesthetic tendency thatíscome before; the artist can eitheraccomplish this task via exclusion ordestruction. Witnessing first-hand thesteady self-destruction of Europeancivilization throughout his life, itseems only natural that Kol·¯ wouldgo the latter route ñ picking throughthe debris and disfiguring all that hecame across, granting his objects anovel significance that certainlywouldíve baffled their original cre-ators. ■ Travis Jeppesen

CrumpledRemembering Jiří Kolář’sbeautiful mess.

CanDoCoSunday, February 9th and Monday,February 10th at Divadlo Ponec

Don’t miss this chance to see CanDoCo as partof the Archa Adrift! Program at the Ponec the-ater. The British company astounded Czech audi-ences in 2001, and this time its they’re bringingnot one, but three newly devised works by chore-ographers Jamie Watton (Phasing), Javier deFrutos (Sour Milk), and Fin Walker (Shadow).Phasing is an upbeat exploration of human rela-tionships set to a soundtrack created by theSteven Reich Group. Sour Milk is an elaborate,theatrical piece set to visceral Chinese drum-ming, and Shadow is a stroboscopic piece rely-ing on precision and speed. CanDoCo has beenperforming together since 1991, guided by theconceptual premise of blending performers withphysical handicaps with non-handicapped per-formers. Given the omnipresence of electronicsin music, it seems only natural to employmechanical devices to augment human capabil-ities in performance. ■ Jayne

Son CubanoAt Magická Zahrada (behind LaternaMagika on Národní třída). Saturday,February 8th and February 15th

Did your romantic gene get caught in the bicyclechain when you were a kid? Did the workweekfoul your well-made plans? Clear your calendarfor Saturday the 15th and prepare to makeamends. Son Cubano, though composed ofentirely Czech members, plays some pretty con-vincing Havana jazz a la Buena Vista SocialClub. Set in the Magicka zahrada restaurant, abeautifully adapted foyer space hidden in thecourtyard of the Laterna magika theater, themusic is a slightly mismatched but welcomeflourish on top of the excellent Latin-Americaninspired cuisine. The performance and onemixed drink are free for everyone who spendsmore than 350 Kč on dinner, which is a safeestimate in this slightly pricey venue. Attentive,friendly waiters and a long, unusual wine listcomplete the experience. ■ Jayne

PsalteriaFriday, February 14th at Balbínova

You can have your riot grrrls and punk-rockchicks – Psalteria kicks it old school. Like, 15thcentury. Billed as a “medieval girls band,”Psalteria re-creates Gothic and Renaissancemusic (and dresses the part), covering earlyEuropean songs from Spanish to Sephardic. Thequartet’s sound is built on four-part harmony,but the glorious ladies of Psalteria also accom-pany themselves on a variety of medieval instru-ments – lute, drum, fiddle, shawn, whatever ittakes. Their name is derived from the word for acollection of psalms set to music; come worshipat Balbinova. ■ Markowitz


N11: BrutusReduta: Emil Viklický TrioRock Café: Bublifuck (videoclip release party) & Soul DiscountSalmovská literární kavárna: On the Ways of the Twilight -J. Rychterová

(singer)Sedm Vlků: Djs Element & B.One (techno)U Malého Glena: Groove (groove, funky, acid jazz, blues)Ultramarin: Dj David BowlesUngelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Roman Pokorný & Blues Box HeroesVagon: Echt! (punk)Wakata: The Original Moody Djs Baltazar & Filippitch (funk, latino)XT3: DJs Crew Wednesday - Djs Rido & Hellium (dń´b) Železná: Sextet Pana Jana (fusion)007 Strahov: Djs Pold.1K & Reverb (jungle night)

A Studio Rubín: Dog´s Heart (M. Bulgakov, in Czech) at 7:30Alfred ve Dvoře: Bliss (V. Švejda, dance theater, scenic comics & pan-

tomime) at 8All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Činoherní Klub: A Midsummer Night´s Sex (W. Allen, in Czech) at 7:30 Damúza: Emil, the ignorant lover (J. Cocteau, in Czech, performed by

Todivadlo) at 8Dejvické Divadlo: The Brothers Karamazov (F.M. Dostoyevsky, in

Czech) at 7:30Divadlo ABC: The Ash and Akvavit (B. Ahlfors, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Festival of Slovak Theater - Striptease Tartuffe

(Moliére, Polák, Císař, in Slovak) at 7Divadlo Jiřího Grossmanna: Wow - 3D black light theater show at 8Divadlo Na Vinohradech: The Lady from Maxim´s (G. Feydeau, in

Czech) at 7Divadlo V Celetné: Bloody Wedding (F.G. Lorca, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo V Řeznické: Premiere of Youth (Ch. Giudicelli, in Czech) at 7:30Image: Cabinet (black light theater) at 8Klementinum: H. Jonášová - soprano, M. Laštovka - trumpet, Z.

Němečková - organ (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart) at 5Kongresové Centrum: Chicago (F. Ebb, B. Fosse, musical, in Czech) at 7Laterna Magika: The Wonderful Circus at 8Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8Národní Divadlo: Marketa Lazarová (V. Vančura, in Czech) at 7NoD: Woman Who Killed God (dance theater, direction O. David) at 8Obecní Dům: Prague Symphony Orchestra (J. Suk, S. Prokofiev, A.

Schnittke) at 7:30Orfeus: Beatniks - A. Ginsberg, G. Corso, L. Ferlinghetti (talk, in

Czech) at 7 Ponec: The Nangnang Drum (magic play, author - Cchö in-hun, direc-

tion - Ho Shin, South Korea) at 8Rokoko: The Revenge of Caramba L. (W. Norfolk, in Czech) at 7Rudolfinum: Concert of the Prague Spring 2002 laureate at 5:30,

Czech National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Paul Freeman(Beethoven, Mahler) at 7:30

Salesiánské Divadlo: Columna Vertebrarum (modern dance) at 8Stavovské Divadlo: Švejk´s Grandson (L. Balák, in Czech) at 7Studio Ypsilon: Orfeus in the Underworld (J. Offenbach, operetta, in

Czech) at 7:30Švandovo Divadlo: Clavijo (J.W. Goethe, in Czech) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Play Strindberg (F. Dürrenmatt, in Czech) at 7:55

Thursday, February 20Agharta: Petr Zeman Quintet (fusion)Akropolis: Vltava (Big Hall), Dread Beat Squad (Small Scene), Djs

Groof & Renda (house, deephouse, Theater Bar)Balbínova Poetická Hospůdka: Pětník (vocal)Batalion: 80s PartyDelta: Neočekávaný dýchánek + guestFuturum: Visací zámek, Dj JB 008Guru: Hermafrodit, Discrimination & Dj Lamontes (electronic body music)Industry: Dance party Djs - E.S.W.L.Kafárna Na Kus Řeči: Marw (Irish, Celtic music) Kain: TörrKavárna Na Půl Cesty: Extempore (underground)KC Zahrada: Jiří Schmitzer (recital)La Provence: Alice & Company, The Robots, Electric BoogieLe Clan: Show a la House with Dušan - DjsLucerna Music Bar: U2 revivalMalostranská Beseda: T4 - S.Kubeš, V. Guma Kulhánek, R. Dragoun,

M. Kopřiva (rock)Mánes: Sebranka (country)Meloun: Karaoke - Dj Aned BrumlaMetropolitan Jazz Club: XXL Blues Band Mlejn: MlejniceNebe: Dj Absolut POPProsek: Disharmonici, Odečet plynuRadost FX: Soultrain - resident Djs Big J, Rico, Special-K (soul + r’n’b night)Reduta: Golden SwingRock Café: 60s party - Sunflower Caravan & guestsSalmovská literární kavárna: Ivan HlasSedm Vlků: Music ShuffleU Malého Glena: Blues MessengersU Vystřelenýho Oka: Holmes Šolmes bezva hrajouUltramarin: Dj Thomas (acid jazz, dance)Ungelt JazzŃ´Blues Club: Roman Pokorný & Blues Box HeroesVagon: Nahoru Po Schodišti Dolů Band Wakata: Djs Babe LN & 2K (dń´b, downtempo)XT3: Wondah of da unda - Djs Pepe & A.L.I. (hip hop)Železná: Emil Viklický Trio (contemporary jazz)007 Strahov: Robocop Craus, Landmine Spring

Alfred ve Dvoře: Bliss (V. Švejda, dance theater, scenic comics & pan-tomime) at 8

All Colours Theatre: Faust (black light theater) at 8:30Animato: Rock Therapy - Beatles Story (black light theater) at 8:30Branické Divadlo: Last of the Red Hot Lovers (N. Simon, in Czech) at 7Damúza: Play Strindberg - The Dance of Death (A. Strindberg, in

Czech, performed by the Divadlo Neklid) at 8Divadlo ABC: The Importance of Being Ernest (O. Wilde, in Czech) at 7Divadlo Bez Zábradlí: Festival of Slovak Theater - Closer (P. Marber, in

Slovak) at 7Divadlo Na Fidlovačce: The Marriage (N.V. Gogol, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo Na Vinohradech: Don Juan (Moliére, in Czech) at 7, An Evening

with the Family/ Unveiling (V. Havel, in Czech, in the rehearsalroom) at 7

Divadlo Na Zábradlí: The Baroness and the Maid (M. Mackenzie, inCzech) at 7

Divadlo V Celetné: The Metamorphosis (F. Kafka, in Czech) at 7:30Divadlo V Řeznické: Exit the King (E. Ionesco, in Czech) at 7:30Gong: 9 Lives (movement theater, choreography A. Svobodová) at 7:30Image: Cabinet (black light theater) at 8Kolowrat: Vabank (M. Puig, in Czech) at 7Komedie: 2 in 1 - Expedient Packing (performed by the M.U.T. 2003

Mensch und Trauma, in Czech) at 9:30Malé Nosticovo Divadlo: Vagina Monologues (E. Ensler, in Czech) at 8NoD: Bacchantes 20th February 2003 - experimental inspiring

workshop on a Bacchus theme (in Czech) at 8Pidivadlo: The Trojan Women (B. Vian, in Czech) at 7Stavovské Divadlo: Romeo and Juliet (W. Shakespeare, in Czech) at 7Švandovo Divadlo: Mother´s Day (D. Storey, in Czech, in the Studio) at 7Ta Fantastika: Aspects of Alice (black light theater) at 9:30Ungelt: Sylvia (A.R. Gurney, in Czech) at 7:55Viola: Master Class (T. McNally, in Czech) at 8

listings

savagelove

Iwent on to The Drudge Reporttoday and read something thatmust be a bunch of shit or a com-

plete hoax: ìMAG: 25% OF NEWHIV-INFECTED GAY MEN SOUGHTOUT VIRUS, SAYS SAN FRANHEALTH OFFICIAL.î Is there anytruth to this? The link was e-mailed allover my office today and it makes gaymen look awful if itís true. Can youprove or disprove Matt Drudgeís out-rageous claims? I sincerely hope thatitís not true and that Matt Drudgeísìjournalistî badge is revoked!

Can’t Trust Drudge

Sorry, CTD, but we canít takeaway Drudgeís journalismbadge. First, thereís no such

thing as a journalism badge. Second,the claim that 25 percent of all newHIV infections in gay men are inten-tional wasnít made by Matt Drudge.Drudge doesnít do much actualreporting; any Drudge Report regularcan tell you that his website is almostentirely composed of links to stories inother publications. All Drudge isguilty of is disseminating a claim madein the February 6 issue of Rolling Stone.

Gregory Freeman wrote the storythat Drudge trumpeted on his site.Freemanís piece focuses on so-calledìbug chasers,î HIV-negative gay menwho are actively trying to get infected,and ìgift givers,î HIV-positive gay menwho are only too happy to infect othergay men. After a depressing slogthrough the cracked thinking of onebug chaser, Freeman whips a littleamateur psychoanalysis on us:ì[Some] see HIV infection asinevitable ... so they decide to takecontrol of the situation and infectthemselves. For others, deliberatelyinfecting themselves is the ultimatetaboo ... and that has a strong eroticappeal for some men who have triedeverything else.î

Then he introduces Dr. Bob Cabaj,director of behavioral-health servicesfor San Francisco County. ìSome menconsciously seek the virus,î Freemanwrites, paraphrasing Cabaj, ìwhilemany more are just as actively seekingHIV but are in denial and wouldnít callthemselves bug chasers.î ThenFreeman blows his wad, spewing theshocking sound bite that The DrudgeReport made famous: ìCabaj estimatesthat at least twenty-five percent of allnewly infected gay men fall into thatcategory.î

The day after Drudge picked upthe story, Cabaj accused Freeman offabricating his quotes. In an interviewwith Newsweek, the doctor denied eversaying that 25 percent of the newinfections in gay men are due to bugchasing. Freeman told Newsweek thathe quoted Cabaj accurately andimplied that Cabaj got cold feet oncethe story hit the cable news talk shows.

Who to believe? On the one hand, Iknow from personal experience that atleast 25 percent of the people whowork in AIDS ñ how can I put this nice-ly? ñ are gutless wonders. People whowork in HIV/AIDS have told methings in on-the-record interviews thatthey denied saying once their quoteswere published. On the other hand,Freeman goes on to make such a huge,glaring, obvious error that any reason-able person has to doubt his skills as areporter, and his motives. After trot-ting out the 25 percent figure in hisRolling Stone story, Freeman writes this:ìWith about 40,000 new infections inthe United States per year, accordingto government reports, that wouldmean around 10,000 each year areattributable to that more liberal defin-ition of bug chasing.î

Uh, no. While the U.S. Centers forDisease Control and Prevention esti-mates that there are ìapproximately40,000 new HIV infections occurringin the United States every year,î only

42 percent of them are occurring inmen who have sex with men. (Therest of the infections are attributedto heterosexual sex and IV druguse.) That means the number of newinfections in gay and bisexual meneach year is roughly 17,000, not40,000. Even if that sensational 25percent figure is accurate ñ andthatís one huge ìifî (thereís no actu-al data backing it up, only a disputedquote) ñ that would mean there areìonlyî 4,250 conscious and subcon-scious bug chasers getting infectedevery year, not 10,000. Whatís worse,by lumping conscious bug chasers (avery small number of very crazy ass-holes) in with subconscious bugchasers (a comparatively large num-ber of self-destructive gay dopes)Freeman dishonestly distorts thescale of the problem.

Considering how badly Freemanbotched some relatively simple andwidely available stats, and how he dis-torts the size of the problem, hisentire piece is easily dismissed. Butthe damage has been done, thanksin part to Drudge, and the 25 per-cent figure, as Andrew Sullivan com-plained on Salon.com, ìwill soon beaccepted as fact,î despite the storyhaving ìcompletely fallen apart.î

Personally, I donít think Freemanísstory has completely fallen apart, nordo I think the entire piece should bedismissed. While the 25 percent fig-ure is clearly bullshit, the barebackingwebsites Freeman writes about arereal, and some men with HIV are onlytoo willing to engage in unprotectedsex with guys who arenít HIV-positive.And before gay men congratulatethemselves for ìonlyî making up 42percent of all new HIV infections,consider this: Gay and bisexual menmake up only 3 percent of the popu-lation. Regardless of how gay men aregetting the virus, they are gettinginfected at appalling rates.

Why? Thereís a clue in Freemaníspiece. When I read the article, I didnítthink the now-infamous ì25 percentî

was the most shocking thing in it. Thathonor goes to a comment by DanielCastellanos, assistant director of com-munity education at Gay MenísHealth Crisis in New York.Castellanos, who acknowledges thatthe bug-chasing phenomenon is real,was asked if he would try to talk some-one out of trying to catch HIV. ìIfsomeone comes to me and says hewants to get HIV,î Castellanos replies,ìI might work with him around thewhy he wants to do it. ... But if in theend thatís a decision he wants tomake, thereís a point where we haveto respect peopleís decisions.î

While active ìbug chasingî may onlyaccount for a handful of new infec-tions in gay men, the inability ofHIV/AIDS educators to aggressivelychallenge gay men surely accounts fora large chunk. Since the arrival on thescene of effective treatments for HIV,gay men in urban areas have beenbusily re-creating the kind of sexualsubcultures that laid out the welcomemat for HIV in the 1970s. Rates of sex-ually transmitted diseases are soaring,and ñ who knows? ñ perhaps someunknown STD is gaining a toehold inurban gay scenes, just as HIV did in the70s. And at the same time that infec-tion rates are rising among gay men,the education strategy in vogue at GayMenís Health Crisis and other AIDSorganizations is: We must respect thedecisions gay men make, up to andincluding the decision to get infectedwith HIV for fun. Itís a bizarre and,judging from those infection rates,shockingly ineffective strategy.

Perhaps itís time for AIDS groups tostart telling gay men the truth. Takingstupid sexual risks ñ even if risk turnsyou on ñ is reckless. Anal sex on thefirst date ñ even with condoms ñ is abad idea. Giving someone HIV ñ evenif he wants it ñ is immoral. Being ahuge slut ñ as popular as it mightmake you ñ has physical and emotion-al consequences. And, finally, gay menneed to be told that stupid decisionsdonít deserve anyoneís respect. Solong as AIDS educators refuse to chal-lenge gay men, HIV infection rateswill continue to rise. Thatís the realscandal, not Matt Drudgeís link, orGregory Freemanís story, or RollingStoneís ineptitude.

Pill readers are encouragedto send their question, nomatter how gross, [email protected].

Perhaps some unknownSTD is gaining a toeholdin urban gay scenes, justas HIV did in the 70s.

The Bug Chasers A new gay subculture fetishizes the virus. By Dan Savage

Tuning MetronomesWednesday, February 12 at the Atriumat 7:30pm

In a strange role reversal from the previous era,our pop culture has silently evolved an under-ground, nearly irrelevant scene of previouslyhigh-culture art, especially music. TuningMetronomes is one of the few dedicated ensem-bles that thrive in this ghetto, and one of thevery few who play. This show (and their perfor-mances are much closer to shows than con-certs) features the works of KarlheinzStockhausen, Anton Webern and Igor Stravinsky.Open your ears and get marginalized. ■ Cohen

Prague InternationalBlues Night-Albert LeeTuesday, February 11th at LucernaMusic Bar

Lucerna’s International Blues Nights, which onlylast month imported the American BernardAllison, welcomes another stellar fretter, AlbertLee, native of Herefordshire, England. With near-flawless technique and speed that would put anF-16 to shame, Lee is a guitar geek’s wet dream.Aspiring pickers working at fast-food eateriesand still living in their mothers’ basements oftenslow his records to half-speed to steal a few tastylicks. For the average music lover, however, Leehas much to offer: a wide-ranging repertoire, anamazing sense of showmanship, and, with theaccompanying Hogan’s Heroes, incredibly tightensemble playing. Like his less-talented peersEric Clapton and Jimmy Page, Lee is living proofthat you don’t have to be African-American toplay the blues. You can also be English. ■ Cohen

Třetí dechWednesday, February 12th at BalbínovaPoetická Hospůdka

Treti dech, with a modicum of talent and pride,keeps the tradition of Czech “folkor” alive. This iscigarette-smoking, beer-stein-pounding, felt-hat-wearing fun for the whole family. Well, at leasteveryone in the family old enough to drink. An inter-esting aside: The Balbinova pub may be the onlysuch establishment in the world to have proudlylent its name to a political party – the BalbinovePoeticky strany, a brainchild of Magor, the guru ofPrague’s own Plastic People of the Universe. Asidefrom the fact that Magor drinks there, Balbinova isa fairly typical, if slightly more lively, representativeof the typical corner hospoda. And Třetí dech willtake the night up another notch or two. It’s humpday, so come on and get some culture. ■ Jayne

THe DisH

Sushi is one of those rare global-ization-resistant foods. It wouldbe a surprise to find a restaurant

in Prague specializing in food from,say, Namibia, but if you wanted tostart one, you probably could. And ifyou tried hard enough you couldmake the food just as good as it isback in Namibia. You might havetrouble finding an importer of goodKalahari truffles, and you might haveto start your own springbok farm, butit could be done.

Sushi, on the other hand, is of a by-gone era. Barring the emergence of alocal restaurant serving fresh-killedfish from an on-premises tank (youíllbe the first to know, but donít holdyour breath) or a slightly less likelyseismic cataclysm that rearrangesEuropeís geography, youíll never findtop-quality sushi in Prague; the seaísjust too darned far away. No amountof improvement in ìjust-in-timeîdelivery will change that.

Or so they say. Logistics aside, letísget real for a moment: Anybody whocomes to the Czech Republic, or anylandlocked country, and complainsabout the quality of the sushi shouldhave his rod bent, especially after theexplosion of decent sushi outletsover the last two years.

Expect to pay a bundle relative toother cuisines in Prague, but few localsushi places are outright rip-offs.Sushi, like many overseas commodi-ties, is more expensive than localofferings. While some importsattempt to adjust their prices for localbudgets, sushi hasnít deigned to dinewith the natives. Still, thereís expen-sive and thereís expensive, and at mostplaces, sushi makes for a reasonableSaturday-night splurge. Stick withthese recommendations, and mayyour dining be bacteria-free.

The Sushi BarZborovská 49a, P5(bordering Malá strana)Tel. 603 244 882Open daily noon-10 p.m.

Letís say atmosphere, location andprice are of no consideration.Youíre simply looking for The

Best Sushi in Prague. Make your wayto The Sushi Bar, a sleek, miniaturespot in Smichov that takes a com-manding lead in quality and presen-tation, scoring excellent marks inmost other categories as well.

A good sushi chef approaches hisor her work with measured artistry,arranging the colorful slices of rawfish, salmon roe, the green dab ofwasabi (or imitation wasabi), and pick-led ginger enticingly just so. Theenjoyment of sushi, above all otherfoods, relies on more than just stuff-ing and swallowing. At The Sushi Bar,

aesthetic ensembles are the norm. Itsnine-piece sashimi set is almost asenjoyable to look at as it is to eat. (Butnot quite.) The wait staff (thereís usu-ally only one waiter; he and the chefare brothers) is helpful when askedand invisible otherwise. And with arestaurant the size of a crab cage,theyíre never far off.

The appetizer always consists ofbreaded fried fish, the selection ofwhich changes daily, sprinkled withsesame seeds and served on a smallbed of salad with exquisitely nuttydressing. Expect to pay a reasonable50 KË couvert for this worthy starter.

Preparation can often take sometime ñ a drawback. The best sushichefs are quick with the knife, assushi lovers do not suffer delay glad-ly. For the best catch, ask the staffwhatís freshest. High-turnover itemssuch as tuna (maguro) and salmon(saki) are always decent bets; arecent visit yielded exceptionallytasty servings of sea bass based on thestaffís recommendation.

Oddly enough, this is probably themost ìCzechî of Pragueís sushi dens.The owner, manager, waiter, and chefare all Czech, and guests consist main-ly of well-heeled natives ready to shellout 700 KË and up for a meal. TheSushi Bar and the neighboringSeafood Shop (a wholesale distribu-tor and retail store) are the propertyof Luk·ö PospÌöil, who last year addedto his portfolio of piscine businessesby acquiring and reconstructing theCafÈ Savoy across the street. Savoynow specializes in fresh seafood, giv-ing this corner the largest concentra-tion of fresh fish of any in Prague.

Two-piece sushi a la carte starts at

170 KË and shoots up to 480 KË for therare sea ear or abalone (awabi). Ifyouíre on a budget, the sets offer goodvalue at 395 KË to 690 KË, but donít betempted by the Kirin beer. That novel-ty alone adds a whopping 130 KË tothe bill. Reservations are recommend-ed, but weeknights appear to be slow,perhaps a product of the season.

HanilSlavíkova 24, P3Tel. 222 715 867Open Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.,5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

With a good seating area andlarge Korean-Japanese menudevoted to more than sushi,

éiûkovís Hanil makes an ideal choicefor a large group. In terms of dÈcorand atmosphere, Hanil is likely asclose as youíll get in Prague to a taste-ful, run-of-the-mill Japanese restau-rant in a bigger Western city. Its wood-ed interior, marble tables and com-fortable banquettes could lie off amajor street in New York or London.

The range of specialities is wide,with Korean dishes prepared mini-bar-beque style on a grill at the table,warm starters like chicken wings, coldstarters like kimchee (pickled cabbage),hot-pot soups and Japanese mainstayssuch as vegetable and fish tempura.

On the whole, prices are aboveaverage in terms of Prague restaurants(above 300 KË for most entrees, butwith a number of less expensive appe-tizers), but the sushi section offersexceptionally good value, with itemslike a 12-piece avocado maki roll foronly 145 KË. A maguro cut perhaps felltoo much on the lean side, but qualityand freshness are reliable and consis-tent. The drawback is the lack of vari-ety; the sushi menu is limited com-pared to the other places on this page.

Small sushi sets go for 330-400 KË,while chirashi sushi makes a goodlunch or light dinner at 450 KË.Cleanse your palate with a dab of pick-led ginger and a 60 KË ginseng tea.

Millhouse SushiSlovanský důmNa přikopě 22, P1Tel. 221 451 771Open daily 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Millhouse wins a mention for itsunbeatable location, just insidethe courtyard of the Slovansk˝

d˘m shopping mall in the center ofPrague, site of the cityís busiest cine-ma. Millhouseís fare is unspectacularbut safe, with the quality of items con-sistently in the fair-to-middling range.

The restaurantsí gimmick is a con-veyor belt, a staple of sushi barsaround the globe. Judging by thefreshness of some items, Iíd guessMillhouse does not have adequatebusiness to support the concept. Thestaff assured me that nothing stays onthe belt for more than 10 minutes; ifso, then the customer pays extra forwasted food. For the record, Iobserved one tekka maki circlinguntouched for 15 minutes. Ideally,sushi should be eaten immediatelyafter itís cut.

Recent staff recommendationsincluded salmon and red snapper.The latter ñ from the menu, not thebaggage claim ñ had the exceptionallyfresh taste of the ocean. The salmonwas on the fatty side, with a thin layerof flab around the edge, making for afull, none-too-subtle flavor.

It may surprise some that Mil-lhouse Sushi did not get its namefrom Richard Nixon (himself an avidfisherman, but his middle name hadonly one ìlî). Rather, it came from anactual mill that once served as a propand leitmotif at the companyís firstlocation in flood-ravaged KarlÌn.Owing to the recent disturbances,the first Millhouse will be closed untillater this year.

Scott MacMillan is a co-owner of Tulip Café.He can be reached at [email protected].

The nine-piece sashimiset is almost asenjoyable to look at as itis to eat.

Opening Soon...

Rose & Crown

Traditional British Sports Pub

Masná 3, Prague 1

www.roseandcrown.cz

e-mail: [email protected]

Restaurant Gitanes

TrûiötÏ 7

Mal· Strana

118 00 Praha 1

257 530 163

[email protected]

www.gitanes.cz

Eat It RawTrawling for the best sushi in town. By Scott MacMillan

Gone fishin’ in Smichov.


Genuine French bakery in PragueKostelní 16, Praha 7-Letná

Open Monday to Friday 07.30 am - 09.00 pmDELIVERY SERVICE-CATERING

Sandwiches-panini-salads-quiches-desertswww.delicatesse.cztel.: 220 571 775

LLAA CCRREEPPEERRIIEEBar-Restaurant-Salon de Thé

THE CELTIC ATMOSPHERE FROM BRETAGNE

Janovského 4, Praha 7-LetnáOpen daily 09.00 am- 11.00 pm

tel.: 220 878 040

Riverside terrraceTrue Neapolitan pizza

Excellent International and Czech cuisine15 m bar

Regular music programDowntempo lounge-style chillout with DJs and live sets

Cihelna 2b118 00 Praha - Mala Strana

Reservations:257 535 534

[email protected]

'

'


Broken Breaks By Tim OtisMy musical survival depends quitesuperficially on a steady soundtrack ofbreaks, the occasional live gig, and thepervasive atmosphere of “what’s next.”Prague’s recent resurgence into all thingsBreakbeat is due in large part to localpromoter Josef Sedlon’s creation of “TheBreakbeat Conference,” a weekly radiobroadcast highlighting new releases withthe fresh-faced youngster Dj Kaplick.

Sedlon’s local production company,Lighthouse, has recently booked somehighbrow talent in this genre, includingAdam Freeland, Koma & Bones, TheDrummatic Twins and Lee “Perfecto”Coombs. The recent Freeland show at theRoxy was a heart-stopper. Local DJsmeshed effortlessly with the Marine Paradelabel founder, alongside a fascist-stylepodium caked in foil framed by UnionJacks. A 500-plus crowd stomped to theinescapable 2/4 rhythms ‘til dawn. Dj barslike Punto Azul, XT3 and Wakata havehelped fuel this renaissance, inviting thosewith vinyl to B.Y.O.V. Come ‘round andshow them! No ego, no groupies, just solidsteady beats to coat your weekends.

On the 7th the Bugged Out crewdescends on Dlouha for yet anotherincomparable UK treat. Justin “Lionrock”Robertson will headline on a fresh bed ofripe local talent. Justin’s 2001 release,Revtone delves deep into the electro/clashgenre with bleepy ‘80s synth patches andrave-esque melodies that push this well-established DJ/producer further intouncharted realms. The Bugged Out formathas been a monster success for the Roxy.Try and make it down and save the airfareto London for drinks and couscous in theIndian themed chill-out hosted by Lucasand Airto. February also features the returnof the Reading-based Sneaker Pimps on the27th. I unfairly gave up on this outfit whenlead siren Kelli Dayton departed followingthe Pimps’ wildly successful debutBecoming X in ‘96. The band has indeedhit stride with the lushly crafted Splinter(Clean Up ‘99) and Bloodsport (TommyBoy ‘02). Liam Howe conceives andproduces all the tracks, and Chris Cornerhandles vocal responsibilities quite tidily.This is a sensible, cerebral pop band thatcontinues to surprise critics and fans alike.Their last Roxy set was a well-attended andtight performance. Trip hop’s not dead yet.

If you make only one show this month,catch the TCR production team of Koma &Bones at Radost FX on the 22nd. Heraldedby Remix magazine as the “best breaksremixers of 2002,” this duo from Lancaster,England has been responsible fortreatments of The Crystal Method,Kosheen, X-Press 2 and the stunningrework of New Orders classic “Confusion.”Their Blinded by Science album continuesto spawn quality 12-inch floor fillers.Currently in studio with D&B legendProteus, Koma & Bones’ second full lengthwill drop later this year on Thursday ClubRecordings. Widely acclaimed and freshfrom touring Australia and Asia, their discsare favorites with the likes of Hybrid, Blim,Hyper and Tayo.

What? There’s more?Devotees MUST NOT miss the

incomparable Lee”Perfecto” Coombs andRennie Pilgrem gig at Abaton on the March8th. Tribal Tech-House vs. Tech Breaks ontwo floors should send skeptics sailing.Why Lighthouse continues to programthese costly and renowned demi-gods ofthe industry remains a mystery. I for onewill follow the breaks gospel set forth bySaint Sedlon and solemnly attend.

For weeklies, check out Red BeardRecords’ Chris Cags & Tram Party“Chemist” Sundays at Naif off Old Town forveggie grub, green tea and fat, soulfulhouse beats. For R&B: M1’s Big J sells outin style with Top 40 teasers every Friday.Thongs and tube tops abound as theclueless crowd does Finlandia shots andflops about to Jerome’s thumping radiofare. Consistent quality breaks can be hadin the Brown Bar at Akropolis Saturdays.Look for DJs Boland and Blue and arevolving array of up and comingbreaksters to keep your soul-a twitching.Oh, and be sure to buy your lover some1200s and a box of chocolates.

Terrible Tim’s Top Five•ILS / Soul Trader (Marine Parade)•Koma & Bones / Blinded By Science

(TCR Music)•Hotel Costes / Volume 5 (Pschent)•J-Walk / A Night on The Rocks

(East/West)•The Drummatic Twins / Drummatical

(Finger Lickin’)

Tim Otis is at [email protected]. He can beheard Fridays 8-11 pm on Radio One (91.9FM). Breakbeat Conference airs 6-7 pmevery Tuesday on the same station.

La Casa BlůTvá španělská vesnice “Your Spanish village”

Do you know what “Spanish village” means in Czech? Excellent people. Beverages and food for good prices!!

Música y Ambiente Rica Cocina y CóctelesWe speak Spanish, Czech and English

Kozí 15, just 500 mtrs. off Old Town Square 224 818 270

Voted 3x the best coffee in

Prague!

FFFFrrrreeeeeeee iiiinnnntttteeeerrrrnnnneeeettttwwwwiiii tttthhhhppppuuuurrrrcccchhhhaaaasssseeee!!!!

West Coast Style CoffeeshopWest Coast Style Coffeeshop

Open Mon/Fri: 7am—10pm, Sat/Sun: 9am—10pmCourtyard Platýz, Národní třída 37

Tel.: 224 228 862 • e-mail: [email protected] • www.kava-coffee.cz

Download hi-res copies from the PTV galleries at www.prague.tv


AnnouncementsEnglish family with boys 2 and 4 y.o. who understandEnglish seeks English speeking playmades. I canlook after the children in the afternoon here in thegarden or at nearby Obora Hvězda. Please call at723 980 443.BASSIST WANTED for alt. Rock band. Influences includeSmiths, Pixies, Joy Division. Phone 732 229 321.Would you like to lose 20 Lbs before spring? Natural, safe,doctors recommended! Call 777600854, 222 322 237.VIDEO CASTING in the City of Prague.One localfemale model needed with very long hair and a "one-of-a-kind" look. You must be very sexy, under 30 yearold, not taller than 1.72m (5' 8") for a slow pop-balladvideo, in March 2003, in the City of Prague.Compensation negotiable. Please send resume oryour qualifications with contact information to the e-mail address indicated [email protected] for actors, males and females in their early20s with Czech and English fluency. Also looking fora German male in his early 20's with Czech andEnglish fluency. Unpaid, though food provided. Email:[email protected] for squash players. Mid-level playersespecially for practice and games. Email:[email protected] and teams for winter season basketballleague. Call Lucie: 723.839.843.The next Initiative against War peace demonstration isplanned for February 15 at 1:00 p.m. on Palachovonam. (near the Philosophical Faculty of CharlesUniversity). Show your solidarity.

EducationExperienced teacher offers Czech lessons. Teacherwill travel to your office. Email: [email protected] American English teacher seeksindividual students or companies for privatelessons/conversation. Call Earnest at 732 388 103.

Experienced teacher/native speaker offers fun, high-qualityEnglish instruction at all levels. Grammar, vocabulary, andconversation. Call Adrienne at 721 355 907Looking for someone to teach English once or twiceper week. Call Pavel: 607.900.424.Native English speaker with teaching experience. For

lessons, Email Hilary: [email protected] Czech lessons offered. Call: 604.625.092.Qualified Teacher with B.A in Education and TOEFLcertificate available to teach or tutor all ages inEnglish or French. Prices negotiable. Call VanessaGendron: 737.879.476.Private Piano lessons available on your piano. Call:608.508.377.Highly skilled tennis trainer from Russia gives lessons.Call Nikolay: 776.192.936.

Flats OfferedFurnished room in 4+2 flat (100m2) in Karlin, 10 minwalk to Nam. Republiky. 6500 Kc/month all incl.Long term preferred. Call: 732.853.786. Apartment nearby the Old Town Sq., max for 3months, 4-th floor, lift, 65 m2, 2 rooms + kitchen,wood floors, TV/SAT, 23000czk/month, call60227307625 year old Czech female, smoker, seeks fun andmature female roommate to share a 2 + kk flat next toOld Town Square. Partially furnished, new washerand fridge. Rent: 6000Kc/m plus half utilities.Gorgeous view. Email: [email protected] needed in spacious flat at Strossmayerovonamesti. Fully furnished, washing machine and dryer,large kitchen, balcony. Rent 9000Kc/month includingutilities. Would like a clean considerate person. Email:[email protected] or Call: 776.008.348.Looking for non-smoking flatmate in large 3+1apartment (100 m2) at Budejovicka. Fridge, washingmachine, TV, video, weekly turndown service.7800Kc/month. Email: [email protected] or Call:732.355.893.

For SaleYamaha DGX 300 keyboard for sale.76 keys withtouch response, pitch wheel, floppy disk drive, ACadaptor. 12,000Kc includes 2 year guarantee andCZ, EN manuals/songs. Email: [email protected] Call: 721.843.869.

2X 20GB IBM IDE HDD,1X 14GB WD IDE HDD, RAM256MB /133 & 100 MHZ, IDE CD-DRIVE 52X , ZIPMedia 100MB. Best offer. Email: [email protected] 18" television. Bought a few months ago(5500Kc), used very little. Dual receiver, remote. Finecondition. Yours for 3000Kc. Call/text:732.532.649.

JobsA university educated lady looks for an Englishlanguage native speaker for English conversation.Both Czech or French conversations in return are

possible. Email to [email protected] for tour guides. Czech citizens, fluent Englishand other languages are bonuses. Must be young oryoung at heart. Must have a driver's license. Make4000Kc in 3 days. Email CV and letter:[email protected]

Seeking Sales Executives for Advertising Salesdepartment. Previous experience and Czech/Englishskills a must. Email:[email protected] or Fax:257.530.343.Seeking a native English speaker with conversationalCzech to work in the roles of help desk and qualityassurance for company in Brno. Email your CV andcover letter (in .pdf or .rtf format) to Mr. Lubos Hanak:[email protected]

PersonalAmerican gentleman desires to correspond withCzech, Slovak or Ukrainian lady via E-mail. 30 years

of age or older. Seeking friendship, maybe more.Email: [email protected] czech girl-17-which finds american or englishguyes and girls to practise my english.Istudy highschool in Prague.Ilearn English,German and Italian.With the best regards Daniela. My phone number-00420737830268

Classifieds

2 2 2 7 1 8 2 7 1 , 2 2 2 7 1 8 0 9 7 , 6 0 3 4 5 0 4 2 0

Browse the photos!www.prague-rentals.cz

FLATS in the center + aroundand VILLAS in Prague 6 + Nebušice

Regus is a multi-national organisationand leading worldwide operator ofbusiness centres, bringing togetherpeople, property and technology toprovide you with a platform for doingbusiness on flexible terms, whenever andwherever you require. We offer a globalnetwork of fully equipped offices andmeeting rooms which you can hire forand hour, a day, a month, a year or longerjust as easily as you would book a hotel.

Prague Contact: 222 191 110http://www.regus.com

AMERICAN MEN NEEDEDFOR AMERICAN

FEATURE FILM. Shootingin Prague March-July

2003. Need men who are5'9" or under, aged 25-45

who have Americanaccents, conservative

look and willingness toact. For further

information call NancyBishop casting 2 2108

0201 or email photo andcontact info to:

[email protected] or drop off photo

at Anenske nam 2. All submissions must bein by January 14 at the

latest.

How to place a classified advertisement in The Prague PillClassified ads are the best way to get what you want, get rid of what you don’t want and let the world know where you are. We offer you threedifferent packages. Ordering is simple:Step 1: Decide which format you want: plain, premium, or premium plus.Step 2: Write your copy and pick a category from the list provided below. Step 3: Write out the form below. Contact us by phone (257 534 015), by fax (257 534 016), or by e-mail ([email protected]) and our staff will guide you through the rest.You can also place a classified through our website at www.pill.cz!

Stuff❏❏ IItteemmss ffoorr SSaallee❏❏ IItteemmss WWaanntteedd

Jobs❏❏ SSeeeekkiinngg JJoobbss❏❏ HHeellpp WWaanntteedd

Real Estate❏❏ FFllaattss ooffffeerreedd❏❏ FFllaatt WWaanntteedd

❏❏ Announcements❏❏ Personals❏❏ Escorts

signature

■ Standard 6 lines, plain text.200 Kč

■ Premium Dark 6 lines, justified text350 Kč

■ Premium Light6 lines, justified text350 Kč

■ Premium Plus18 lines, b/w logo700 Kč

Payments must bemade in advance bybank transfer,složenka, directdeposit or cash.Contact our salesoffice for details.

Classified ad sales and pricesapply only to privateindividuals.

Rehabil

itating

Mr. W

iggles

by

N

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Place an “I Saw You Ad”! It’s Free!I Saw You ads are free, 50 words max. Pleaseinclude a phone number or email address foruse in the ad. Submit via email([email protected]) or visit pill.cz. You can alsostop by our offices at Karmelitská 18 and fillout the form while sneaking peaks at theawfully attractive Pill staff.You asked me where the Metro was and I toldyou it was closed from the floods. You're here foranother month; let's see what we can make of it.You: green eyes, dark hair, Mary. Me: tall,glasses and yours. [email protected] you reading Raspe on the tram lastWednesday. Red dress and blonde, looked toointo it to disturb. I need another [email protected] were the guy at Fraktal with the tattoos. I'mthe girl with the dog you liked. You said you wereleaving for New York. Hope you didn't leavewithout me. [email protected] Blonde Stefan: I got pulled away fromyou Saturday in Radost before I could get yournumber in Berlin. If you're still in town, get ittouch. Had a blast with you, really. I'm [email protected] saw you writing something in Akropolis 5/1. Icalled it "KETSACH" u think not so?Whatfuckwasit? Email [email protected]. OK?

I Saw You, Prague, in my rear-viewmirror. Thanks for the early sunrises,late sunsets, outdoor parties, fresh

beer, cheap drugs, wonderful friendsand, of course, the best job in the

world. I will miss all of you. Be proud,Micah, of everything you've done at this

newspaper. It is truly a unique andspectacular thing. -Jeff Koyen

I Saw You

FREE ENGLISH CLASSESPrague Schools, a TEFL certificationtraining center, is offering freeEnglish classes to students of alllevels. Day and evening lessonsavailable. Interested? Call Martin at233 322 742 or visitwww.pragueschools.cz.

Trinity TEFL Certificate course isa practical and theoretical trainingcourse designed to produce teach-

ers with the proper skills andtechniques needed in order toteach English abroad. Job guid-

ance is available to all graduatesand some may even be hired atour in-house language school,

Prague Schools. For more infor-mation, visit www.tefl.cz or contact

[email protected].

Conspiracy s.r.o. Flyering,postering. Distribution inPrague's clubs, pubs etc./more then 250 places indatabase/, promotion ofcultural events. Info on

222522519 or 222516380.Or send email to

[email protected] ask for our offer

and references.www.conspiracy.cz

Having a party? You needsound! From small bars tolarge halls 1/2 kW to 6 kWturntables, CDs, mixers,speakers, microphones.

Delivered plus professionallyinstalled.

Call Kevin at 732 469 507.

Depressed? Bad hangover?Crisis? Contact me:

Dr. Peter Pöthe,therapist with international

experience.Národní 9, Prague 1Tel. 602 289 717www.dr.pothe.sk

Sound for hire parties,concerts and

conferences. Clubs,pubs and boats from500w to 15 000 w -

new 10 kJBL/Precision devices

system available.Competitive prices.

732 469 507.

ANTIQUEAHASVERProkopská 3, Prague 1(just round the corner fromthe Pill, opposite El Centro)

Tel.: 257 531 404Open Tue—Sun 11am till 6pm

Specialising in laces, oldembroideried textiles, andoriginal vintage clothing,jewelry, glass, porcelain

original folklore costumes,paintings, photographs, curios

Talented team offerssound design

consultation andproduction. Music for

TV/radio adverts,games and web

pages. Multi trackrecording and editing.

Competitive rates.Contact Zip sound

factory at 737 348 270or 603 917 638.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOREX-PATRIATES

BUPA InternationalThe World's Health Service

Corporate or individualschemes

For info call 221 667 384 or visitwww.health-insurance.cz

GAY MONDAY03.03.03.

Industry 55 at 9pm-?Boy dancers show time

happy hour 9h-10hIndustry 55,

Vinohradská 40,Praha 2

L.A. movie script writer,40's, 183cm, 80k,

educated, nice looking,living in Prague wouldlike to meet a warm,attractive, interestingfemale.723906891,

email: [email protected]

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2+1, Two floor apartment, Prague 2, Vinohrady, Cerchovska, 6th Floor (top),Modern flat, Fully Furn, Modern furn, W. M., Dishwasher, Telephone,Television, TV, sat, Bathtub, Sunny, TERRACE, FIXED INTERNETCONNECTION, Fireplace, rent: 25 000 CZK +

2+1, Prague 1, Old Town, Truhlarska, Modern equipted flat, Fully Furnwith antique furn, Historical, Parking in secure courtyard/garden/etc for 1 Vehicle, W.M, TV, sat, rent: long term 19 000 CZK shortterm 24 000 CZK

3+1, Prague 1, New Town, Narodni, 95 m2, 4th Floor, Fully Furn, Modern furn, W M, Dishwasher, Telephone, TV, sat, Bathtub, great locationwith good public transport. rent: long term 30 000 CZK + , short term 40 000 CZK

b r o w s e o u r o n - l i n e g a l l e r y :www.happyhouserentals.comp h o t o s . . . p h o t o s . . . a g a i n m a n y p h o t o s

Flats & Houses, long & short term rentalsfor every budget and taste! We also do sales.Stop by our office at Soukenická 8, Prague 1 (9am–5pm) or call Aleš 602 375 513 or Yanna 604 205 866 or Lukáš 603 839 362e-mail: [email protected]

1+1,Prague 1, Old Town, Konviktska, 60m2, Modern flat, Fully Furn, Antiquefurn, Parquet Floor, Lift, W.M, Telephone, TV, Bathtub, Balcony, Apartmentby the river side Vltava with a view of Hradcany rent: long term 15 000 CZKshort term 21 000 CZK

STUDIO, Prague 1, Mala Strana – historical building next to Charles Bridge Mostecka, FullyFurnished, Modern furn, Brick, Parquet Floor, Telephone, Television, TV, sat, Sunny, Refridgerator,IDEAL FOR A COUPLE – exclusive neighbourhood, one does not find so inexpensive accommodation here. You walkout of the historical apartment building and you are right at the Charles Bridge. Restaurant in the apt. building.You are able to have a discount on a romantic dinner. rent: long term 18 000 CZK Short term 25 000

Pill 25 part I.qxd - Think Magazine

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