We, Europeans! Our first year as proud new members of the European Union is almost over, Romanians did not lose any time to become hot news material. From the continuous domestic political infighting that shocks no one any more, to the latest developments from Italy where Romanians and Gypsies are ostracized as the source of all evils on the Peninsula, our brave descendents of Dracula seem nowadays to have a harder time convincing their new EU colleagues that we share the same values and the same Europe as wel... Read More >>
EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS DEC 2007 -JANUARY 2008
EVENTS&ATTRACTIONS DEC07JAN08 Even though snow can be a real pain in the city, winter is still a magical time to be in Bucharest. The snowy shows staged by Old Man Winter in the parks and streets might be worth a frozen nose and feet, but you’d better pray it’s cold enough to stick. Happy Holidays and see you next year!
National Day. December 1 Up for a parade and a day off from office? Well, you've got it, as this year National Day will come on a Thursday (who knows, maybe we'll have a long wee...
Christmas, the Romanian Way! [DEC07] True to its history of wonderful traditions being celebrated throughout the year, Romania offers a feast of heart-warming festivities to enjoy during the Christmas season…
The Village Way Romanian Christmas traditions are based around the idea of time, explains Ion Blajan, head of collections at the Peasant Museum (Muzeul Taranului Roman): the traditional tales and celebrations are based on a 12-day period in which life goes through a chaotic period then starts afresh in the New Yea... Read More >>
SHOPPING SEASON
A Christmas Gift from Bucharest (Dec 2007) If your family is anything like ours, everyone shows up on Christmas Day - which is wonderful, but also calls for some extra shopping and overpacked luggage for the trip home! Wonderful as it is, I'm always a little stressed as to what to buy that is representative of my home country, not to mention easy to carry, reasonably-priced, and not some tacky mantle-filler. In Romania you may need to search a while for an authentic Romanian gift. However, there is much to find out there: colo... Read More >>
OPERA & CONCERTS - DECEMBER 2007
OPERA PROGRAM - DEC 2007 Bucharest National Opera 70-72, M Kogalniceanu Blvd Ph: 313-1857, fax: 315-7849 email:
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www.operanb.ro
December 1, 6h30 pm - O NOAPTE FURTUNOASA / LA PIATA December 2, 11am - MOTANUL INCALTAT December 2, 6h30 pm - BAYADERE December 4, 6h30 pm – IASI NATIONAL OPERA CONCERT December 5, ...
GEORGE ENESCU PHILHARMONIC - PROGRAM [DEC2007] GEORGE ENESCU Philharmonic – The Romanian Athenaeum 1-3, Franklin Str, Tel: 315- 0024, Reservations: 315-6875, www.fge.org.ro Open: Tue to Fri: noon to 7pm, Sat & Sun: 4 to 7pm, Sun matinees: 10 to 11 am. Mon-closed. Shows start at 7pm.
Sunday 2 - Christmas Carols Concert Symbol Choir Director: Jean Lupu
Thursday 6/ Friday 7 - Elgar (Concerto for cello and orchestra), Waughn Williams (Hode) George Enescu Philharmonic Choir Directors: Marc Tardue, Iosif Ion Prunner, soloist:...
The Luxury Industry in Romania: Where To? You can nowadays see on the streets of Bucharest some of the most expensive cars in the world like Maserati, Rolls Royce, Hummer, Porsche or Bentley; the real estate sector is exploding and agencies are selling estates for several million Euro apiece, just like in any other European country… Read More >>
BUSINESS
Downgraded Outlook Last month, Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgraded its outlook on the Romanian economy, singling out the country's political instability as the main factor behind the shift in the country's credit rating.
S&P credit analyst Marko Mrsnik said, "We assigned the negative outlook to Romania to reflect its pursuit of policies inappropriate to its growing macroeconomic imbalances. These result from the worsening political environment." Of particular concern f...
Schengen: Big Bang Enlargement EU interior ministers unanimously agreed Thursday (8 November) that nine member states from central and eastern Europe are sufficiently prepared to join the bloc's Schengen border-free zone this December. Checks at internal land and sea borders will be abolished on 21 December, with air borders to follow in March 2008. After expanding to Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the current 15-member Schengen club will see its bigge... Read More >>
MAGAZINE
DELIA URDES, MASTER DEGREE IN TRIDIMENSIONAL HAIRCUT Originary from Timisoara, hairstylist Delia Urdes is at this time one of the most famous and trained professionals in the field. Her achievements and performances over the fifteen years of activity, her professional background and especially the celebrities who turn to her speak for themselves and represent an important reference. The hair salons in Bucharest and Timisoara bear her name and are among the best known salons. Delia Urdes was part of the Wella Romania team, and in March 1996, ... Read More >>
EXPAT LIFE
The Hip Side of Expat Life [DEC07] Other than what the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide tell you, where are the really good places the expats are hanging out?
If you’re an expat like me, who’s come from a grey old post-winter England, you can give me any place with a big terrace in the glorious Bucharest sun and I will call it fabulous! However, for others there may be a few more influencing factors toward what constitutes a hip place in this buzzing city. For example, a nice selection of Romanian wines and l...
If Not Now, When? If Not I, Then Who? [DEC2007] Every year at this time, as I start to write my last column of the year, I reflect on how quickly time seems to fly. The final months of the year have been busy, but also filled with sadness. I lost my best friend to cancer, and while we knew the end was coming, it came much too soon.
Our editor in chief Ionel Barbalau has moved on to new challenges. We wish him success, and while we will miss his talent and good work, I look at this change as an opportunity to look at our magazine with a ... Read More >>
