No Country for Old Beer

At this year’s World Beer Cup in San Diego, California, the largest competition of its kind, the gold medal for “Bohemian-style lager” did not go to a Czech brewery for the first time since 2000, when the competition was smaller by nearly half and dominated by North American brewers.

Rather, the world’s best pilsner beers can be found in two unlikely places: Portland and Sydney. (more)

Czechs no longer brew top pilsner! WTF is going on out there?

What about beer price?

Average salaries in Prague are now 28,600 Kč ($1,800), driven in part by a growing labor shortage across the country.

But at the same times wages are rising, expenses are, too.

Housing, transportation and food prices have all gone up in recent months, forcing a majority of Czech families to revise their spending habits. (more)

Examples: Tram ticket price gone from 20/14 to 26/18; Podoli swimming pool one-time entrance from 85 to 95; Movie ticket in Village Cinemas from 159 to 169, etc.

What I know is that most Chinese restaurants haven't raised their prices, meaning you can still get an oily saulty heavy big Kung-Pao kuřeci s ryze for 69 kc.

But what about beer price?

Driving lessons in Prague

http://www.autoskola-amos.cz/index.php?id_str=18

1. Price 13 680 kc (7000 kc must be paid on first class) => 9480 kc in Czech
2. Discount 1000kc if there are 3 or more people attending Theory classes
3. Documents required:
1. Passport+visa (confirming that you are in CR for over 6 months)
2. Form from Practical Doctor
3. Statement – Crime (Vypis z rejstriku trestu)
4. What is included?
1. 28 Practical lessons (5 simulator, 23 in the car)
2. 20-28 Theory lessons
5. 700 is a state fee for a test exam (+ around 3 000kc for translator, who has a state stamp)
6. 50 kc for Driving License in Magistrat

New Intern Tips – Prague Annual Event Calendar (Amateur Version)

Reading guide:

* Of course there are loads of websites of event lists. I’m not known for being creative. However most of the lists out there specialize on certain fields, for example, film festivals, wine festivals, music festivals, etc. And there aren’t many good and complete lists about Prague or Czech Republic in general. Sure this list is biased too – it’s mostly culture and fun related, meaning movies, music and parties. But as the title of this posting hinted, it’s for new comers whoever has a slight wonder what we do while we are not drinking pivo (or what we can also do at the same time while drinking). I’ve screened out some television related festivals, because they are not relevant, and that’s because the majority of us don’t watch TV in the Czech Republic, and that’s because most of the programmes are in Czech, a language we don’t master. Sport seasons are excluded too, and I’m not even sporty enough to explain why. Also this is intended to be a yearly event list, so I did not include some one-off festivals – or at least festivals that only happened in 2007 and we are not sure if they are coming back to become regular. We’ll update the list with the new events shall they return to our already eventful life. Don’t hold your breath yet.

* I have been wanting to do this list for a long time but it took me 2.5 years to figure out the regularity and timeline of these events, and even with that observation period there are some flakey events that just can’t make up their mind when in a year they want to take place. Gosh. Therefore for those that are more or less regular for the past three years, the time indicated may remain valid for the future. Otherwise it’ll only mean 2008 as specified.

* The location of these events are in Prague by default unless otherwise specified.

* If you know other good events that should be included in this list and shared in the community, please leave a comment to this posting.

* You might wonder what's going on in January and February every year. Well oddly enough I can't find any, haven't been to any, and don't think there is any. If you know anything I'm all ears. Otherwise just go to a hockey game or get a cottage and ski instead.

March
	"One World" International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival
	Started off in May 1999, later changed to April every year until finally to the week starting on the first Wednesday of March in 2006 and has been sticking to this schedule for the past 3 years.
	Prague Half Marathon + Junior Marathon
	Last Saturday of March in 2008. A warm-up for the full Marathon weekend in May.
	Febiofest
	Last week of March (Thursday – Friday). Previously Prague International Film, Television and Video Festival until 2007, now changed to Prague International Film Festival in 2008. Febiofest always has a movie festival programme accompanied by a small music festival too. Busy schedule.
April
	Days of European Films
	Second half of April in 2008. A European film promoting festival for 14 days.
	International Book Fair and Literary Festival "Book World" Prague
	Last weekend of April in 2008.
May
	Marathon Weekend
	Second Sunday of May in 2008.
	Khamoro World Roma Festival
	Last week of May. A festival of traditional Roma music, Gypsy jazz by the best Roma artists who’ve been performing in the Czech Republic for the past 10 years.
	"Prague Spring" International Music Festival
	Always starts from the second week of May and lasts for a month until mid June. A festival for classical music lovers. Most certainly the oldest music festival in the Czech Republic, Prague Spring started its first note back on May 11th, 1946 and has never been suspended ever since, even in some of the most turbulent times in the country’s history. 2008 will be its 63rd anniversary.
	Prague Fringe Festival
	Last week of May till beginning of June. Theatre galore!
June
	"Tanec Praha" International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Movement Theatre
	First week of June
	Summer Fest Strelak
	Starts in the first week of June and goes on for 3 months altogether. If you’ve never heard of the place or programme, well Strelak is this little Vltavian island under the bridge between Ujezd and Narodni Divadlo. Sounds familiar now, uh? Every summer the island opens up an open air cinema and bar and shows 100 movies, one each day. Sometimes the programme is mixed with small film festivals, foosball games, and concerts. See 2007’s programme here. So basically there is something fun going on every day there and all you need to do is to stop by on your everyday route.
	Summer Shakespeare Festival
	From late June all the way to September. The biggest and oldest open-air theatre festival in the Czech Republic. The venue in Prague is under the open sky with the ancient backdrops of Prague Castle. A tip for you is make reservation as early as possible. If you been to the little yard next to the toy museum down the Castle, you'll know that it's a small open-air theatre with not many seats.
July
	Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
	Ironically the biggest and best-known international film festival that Czech Republic has with a global fame is not based in the capital city. Well the little spa town definitely has its charm despite the tendency of being taken over by rich Russian vacationers and property purchasers. Festival always starts in the first week of July which always coincides with the public holiday Saints Cyril and Methodius' Day (Jul 5) and Jan Hus Day (Jul 6) so it works out perfectly for a long weekend or week off work indulged in the movie world. The festival is also famous for the young people camping and partying outdoor, some by choice, some by the fast-sold-out affordable accommodation.
	New Prague Dance Festival
	First week of July
September
	Burcak (young wine) Festival
	Throughout September. The festival in Prague normally takes places in several parks in Prague, but the main site remain in Vinohrady area. However the biggest wine harvest festival in the Czech Republic actually happens in Znojmo, the Moravian town that’s one of the biggest wine producers of the country. This is 2007’s account of "Znojemske vinobrani" for a big picture. Always a perfect combination of good weather, seasonal young wine, concerts and parties in the open air.
	Manhattan short film fest
	Last weekend of September. The Manhattan Short is not a new festival (becoming the 11th in 2008) but definitely new to the Czech Republic. The one in 2007 was cool but the trick is that they don’t have fixed countries and venues every year. You can nominate a venue online and if it gets enough interest the screeners will come. Hope it can make its way to Prague again in 2008!
October
	Bollywood Film Festival
	Mid October for a week. Need I say more? It’s Bollywood!
	"Music on Film, Film on Music Festival (MOFFOM)" International Festival of Music Films
	5 days throughout the third weekend of October (Thursday – Monday).
November
	"Mezipatra" GLBT Film Festival
	First week of November (some years starting from the last weekend of October).
	Prague Short Film Festival
	A 5 day short festival for short films (ok that was cheesy) in mid November.
	International Jazz Festival Prague
	Last week of November.
December
	"Film Asia" Asian Film Festival in Prague
	First weekend of December.

(Probably) the Biggest Snow in Prague This Winter comes...

... in March, today.

And 5 minutes later, clear blue sky.

Prague pushes Paris for the hearts of the world

In a survey launched by the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social network WAYN.com (Where Are You Now?), Prague has proven a strongly favoured alternative to the traditional ‘most-romantic’ cities. This year’s survey suggests the world’s lovers could soon be popping the question in Bohemia on the banks of the River Vlatva rather than the famous Seine.

WAYN.com polled its 10.8 million members to find out the world’s opinion on the most romantic place to spend Valentine’s Day, and Prague came in fourth.

It was the City of a Hundred Spires which takes the crown for being most impressive new comer in the category of Romance Tourism. (more on WAYN founder's blog)

The Best Thieves in Europe

A survey on stealing in stores by the Nottingham Center for Retail Research, covering 32 countries, placed the Czechs well ahead of its neighbors in terms of numbers of thieves and the damage they do. Last year, Czech thieves cheated retailers of 1.4 percent of their turnover. This makes thieves responsible for 40 percent of overall retail losses.

Although India and Thailand placed first overall in terms of sheer numbers, Czech thieves rule in Europe, placing well ahead of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Austria, Switzerland, Iceland and Germany, on the other hand, placed lowest on the list. (details)

I bet if they counted stealing in bars and restaurants the result would be significantly different, at least not so in favor of Czechs. Or maybe we just haven't tried hard enough?

Also, on a related note, Chinese thieves are nice too, especially wallet pickers. They would only take out the cash and mail you back the wallet with cards and everything else in it; or tell you on the phone where they left your wallet (sometimes involving the 3rd stoll of the Men's room in a department store)... Of course not all of them but the above are real stories I've witnessed or experienced myself! Besides, if Czech thieves really rule, well bring back my Thinkpad and iPod and camera and everything!!!

I'm looking forward to a stealing competition in Europe... should take place soon given the level of boredom European media reaches now.