Avoid red carnations — they're Communist flowers! By Caitlin Shapiro

By Caitlin Shapiro

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and although some of us left our other halves back in the States, others may have picked up a sexy Czech since landing in Prague. Even though this holiday only gained popularity in the Czech Republic in the last fifteen years or so, don’t forget to brush up on their cultural traditions before you celebrate Valentine’s Day in Prague!

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(c) Petr Novák, Wikipedia

By Sarah Kolinovsky

As a generation of kids who spent most of our lives under the “judgment” of President George W. Bush, we are no strangers to having a sometimes-wacky, out-of-touch president. In fact, making fun of our president was something of a national pastime in the mid-2000s. Luckily for us, people in the Czech Republic love to make fun of President Václav Klaus — we now have one less reason to feel homesick!

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PANIC

Pronounced PAHN-its, it is the Czech word for a male virgin.

E.G.:  Fakt? Joe Jonas je panic? (Really? Joe Jonas is a virgin?)

Real Men Wear Kilts: The Real McKenzies are performing at Rock Cafe, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, February 9 and 10.

By Yevgeniy Levich

End of The Weak International MC Challenge: Modeled after New York’s long running weekly hip hop open mic of the same name, MCs from across Europe get a chance to show their stuff every second Tuesday of the month at Cross Club. Watch MCs from all over work to impress and enjoy Cross Club’s unique postmodern grunge atmosphere. Tuesday, February 9. Address: Plynarni 23, Prague 7, behind the Autoschool down the block from Nádraží Holešovice metro stop. www.crossclub.cz , http://bit.ly/cds0yW

Concert: The Real McKenzies: Formed in 1994, the band takes influence from their Scottish roots, mixing stylized folk with Scotch fueled punk rock sensibilities. The Canadian Celtic punks bring their unique brand of folk punk, turned down a bit, to the Rock Café for two nights of acoustic sets. Tuesday, February 9, and Wednesday, February 10, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets: CZK 250 for preorder, CZK 300 at the door; Limited availability. Purchase at Rock Café or www.ticketstream.cz. Address: Národní 20, Prague 1, next to Galerie Louvre. http://rockcafe.cz/.

Open Mic: The Royal Oak, an English style pub in Vinohrady, hosts a weekly open mic night every Wednesday with live music throughout the week. They also offer CZK 28 Gambrinus and reasonably priced harder liquor on top of some traditional English pub grub for you to sample. Wednesday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m. Address: Anny Letenské 18, Vinohrady, Prague 2. http://www.royaloakprague.com/

Art: Krištof Kintera’s A Bigger Problem Than Yours: An angel made of light fixtures and glowing bulbs, or a modern raven that speaks in ad slogans and news headlines, are only some of the installations you’ll see at Krištof Kintera’s newest gallery show.  Kintera, who recently worked with David Černý on “Entropa”, specializes in sculptures and installations made from refitted and redefined every day items. Runs until March 20.
Address: Jiří Švestka Gallery; Biskupský dvůr, Prague 1. http://www.jirisvestka.com/

Workshops at Muddum: Instead of doing the museum thing, you can always make your own art. Muddum is a community art space and workshop founded by the Club of Friends and Fine Arts in 2004. During their winter trimester they offer classes in sculpture, pottery, animation and crafts. Classes start daily at 3:00 p.m. Address: Kostelni 24, Prague 7. http://www.muddum.cz/eng/index.html

Yevgeniy Levich is a student at New York University, where he is studying journalism and economics.

By Caitlin Shapiro

Between partying in Berlin last weekend and planning your trip to Krakow later this month, it’s hard to find time to scope out the best cafe (or kavárna) near campus – but fear not, the Wanderer staff has done the legwork for you. Czech out U Budovce (Tynská 7) nestled along the left side of Týn Cathedral on Old Town Square. You won’t be sorry.

Don’t be fooled by its unimpressive exterior — let the echoes of live music will draw you in. U Budovce is a must if you’ll appreciate its mixed scenery consisting of wire and wooden chairs, brick floors, and a large collection of hanging mirrors (they even have a sink hanging like a picture frame).

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By Sarah Kolinovsky

Nearly 200,000 people in Haiti have died as a result of the devastating earthquake there January 12. Roughly 300,000 buildings are damaged or destroyed. In your opinion, what is the best way to help the victims?

“We should help them start over with a competent government.” — Peter Crosta, student, from Davis, California

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Vaclav Klatil likes his business small.

By Michael Stasiak

With rosy cheeks as red as the pig blood splattered on his white shirt, Vaclav Klatil welcomes every customer to his butcher shop as though he were greeting an old friend. His wife and daughter stand dutifully behind the counter in starched white smocks, fetching today’s sausage links and jars of pastika, or liver spread, from a cauldron of simmering water in the rear of the kitchen. Klatil ambles to an eight-foot tall wood-burning stove, pulls open the iron doors, and examines racks of smoked prime rib hanging from hooks. He removes one of the slabs, holds it to his nose, and inhales deeply. Continue Reading »

It’s not that we’ve been in Prague for so long, or that we haven’t found a way to get the latest episodes of Mad Men on line, but there are times when we find ourselves feeling a little homesick. In no particular order: Continue Reading »

Rediscovering family history in a small Italian coastal town

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A madcap race through Prague

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