"Women as Muses" in Monsoon Cafe

We would like to invite you to an exhibition of photographies taken by a young artist Eliza Stegienka and a fashion show of two designers: Katarzyna Bluszcz and Dominika Piekutowska-Swed. The inauguration will take place on 31st July (Friday) at 7 p.m. in Monsoon Cafe (map).
Ela Stegienka has been an amateur photographer for a few years. Women and their beauty is in the centre of her attention. She is not afraid of challenges and is open to new experiences, which is visible in her works. Her photographies can be viewed in Monsoon cafe till the end of August.



During the official opening of the exhibition, the guests can watch a clothes collection prepared by the above-mentioned designers called Zero Gravity Project. The idea of it appeared in 2008 and, as the designers state, its main aim is to fill the gap in the monotonous Polish fashion. They want to create space for people, where they can express themselves artistically, crossing the boundaries set by mass consumption. The clothes were hand-made by introducing alterations to the pieces of clothing coming from the so-called second-hand clothes shops.

"We are inspired by the widely-described mass culture, which we filter through our personal experiences and fascinations. It can be everything, starting from music, literature, hip-hop subculture, straight-edge DIY ideas, through ethnic influences, kitsch of the 80s and 90s, geometry, architecture, to the very place we live in - Warsaw," says Katarzyna Bluszcz.

Katarzyna Bluszcz is a graduate of English Philology at the Warsaw University (UW), but she was always interested in the visual art. Despite that, she has never decided to complete such studies, even though she passed the entry exams at the University of the Arts in London on the graphics faculty. She started the Zero Gravity Project in summer 2008.

Dominika Piekutowska-Swed studied philosophy at UW for a short period of time, but the passion toward art turned out to be stronger. Currently, she is studying clothes design. She plans to take up industrial design in the future.



Monsoon Cafe
Jerozolimskie Avenues 85 (map)
31st July 2009 7 p.m.
www.monsooncafe.pl
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(based on the material from the organisers)
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Let Us Introduce...

Filtry Cafe. This is a place where you can get a lovely froth-made heart with every caffeine (not only) drink.



It is already a cult place for many Ochota inhabitants, which people comment on Warsaw web fora like this: "Stop recommending this place, it is already crowded," :-) This place is a perfect refuge from busy Grójecka street; here, time slows down and kicks back over a cup of nespresso in this open-air cafe. You can watch as the sun lazily sets (Niemcewicza street, where the cafe is located, lies exactly on the East-West axis).
What can you expect on the Filtry Cafe menu? All the combinations based on espresso, i.e. latte, cappuccino, macchiato, or perfect for those hot days - frappe. There is also something to satisfy your hunger - toasts and delicious cakes. If you still feel the atmosphere of Filtry, but you do not fancy more caffeine, you can try freshly-sqeezed juice or "gładzioch", which is the specialty of the house:-) There is a hotspot, too, for those who cannot stay off-line too long and games, such as domino or scrabble, for those who prefer to be off-line as long as possible.
What is more, coffee at Filtry Cafe will not become boring thanks to the variety of new mixtures; the information on them can be found on the cafe's blog. The frothy heart and barista's smile is always included, but that should never get boring. :-)



Filtry Cafe is situated at Niemcewicza 3 (on Lindley's filter station side).
It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays it opens a bit later at 10 a.m., whereas on Sundays it closes at 6 p.m.
You can get there by buses from Raszyńska or Grójecka streets (Narutowicza square), there is so many of them that I will not even list them. :-)
The best idea is to take advantage of the yellow cycle racks just outside the cafe. ;-)
All I can do now is to invite you to the place because not everything can be described by words. Oh, and one more important thing, we do not smoke inside! :-)
_____
Krystian
szultz00@gmail.com
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

A Chance for Ochota Cinema

We have got hold of a very interestng piece of news and we would like to share it with you. It appears that Krystyna Janda is currently negotiating with Max Film company the possible takeover of the Ochota cinema. Within a few months it should be clear whether the building at Grójecka 65 will be granted a chance for its second life. We keep our fingers crossed for that!!!

4 p.m. - UPDATE
found on the Max Film website:

Film Institution Max Film S.A. and Krystyna Janda's Foundation for Culture are proud to invite for a press conference aimed at establishing the co-operation between the two entities. The conference shall be held on 29th July 2009 at 12:00 in Ochota cinema at Grójecka 65. People to take part in the conference are:

- Krystyna Janda - the chairperson of the Krystyna Janda's Foundation for Culture, owner of the Polonia theatre, actress
- Maria Seweryn - the board member of the Krystyna Janda's Foundation for Culture, actress
- Lech Jaworski - the president of the IF MAX-FILM S.A.
- Ludwik Rakowski - the vicepresident of the Mazowieckie province.
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Moni
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Traveller's Map of Warsaw

This map guides to every place a tourist visiting Warsaw should see. And there is plenty to see, including interesting spots in Ochota district. :)
Bęc Zmiana foundation, Warsaw Tourism Agency and the European non-profit organisation USE-IT Europe have just published the updated map - USE-IT Warsaw. It should be available in the Tourist Information points, hostels, galleries and other places often visited by tourists soon. At this point, though, you can download its electronic version from www.use-it-warsaw.pl



Among the described places, one can find two cafes in Ochota, namely Filtry Cafe (www.filtrycafe.blog.pl) and Cafe Kolonia (www.kolonia-ochota.pl). You can read about the former on our blog soon. Moreover, the map provides you with the information on the Pola Mokotowskie park (www.polamokotowskie.pl), National Library (www.bn.org.pl) and Jump Inn hostel (www.jumpinnhostel.com) located near Prokuratorska street.

If you still do not have any plans for the weekend, I recommend printing the map and become a tourist in your own city at least for a day. I am certain that by doing so you will discover a few places that you did not notice while being in an everyday rush.
_____
Moni
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Alpine Coaster

If you do not suffer from vertigo and like to feel the adrenaline rush, then you should go on a roller coaster. And we have some good news for you. If your school ID is valid, it means that you are entitled to ride the Alpine Coaster for free!!!:) You can find the ride in Szczęśliwice park (map), where, thanks to "Lato w Mieście" (Summer in the City) campaign, you can play on the gravitational coaster without paying for the ticket from Tuesdays to Fridays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For those who prefer less extreme fun, the WOSiR (Warsaw Center for Sport and Recreation) prepared a gondola ride for two people up to the viewing deck. To sum it up, the total length of the Alpine Coaster is 715m, the length of the track is 499m, whereas the average speed is 36km/h.
If this does not make your heart jumpstart, then take a look at the picture below:)



There is a possibility of booking the ride for organised groups - just call the number (22) 622-69-61. You can also check the availability of the ride with this number.

Those of you who do not have the school ID can play on the above-mentioned rides, too. The prices can be found on the website of the center (link). The ski run is open from Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Year-long ski slope SZCZĘŚLIWICE
Drawska 22 (map)
tel. (22) 622-69-61
www.wosir.waw.pl
_____
Moni
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

More Films in Ochota

Let us present the propositions of films which you can watch in the upcoming days in our lovely Ochota district.

Tomorrow (on Tuesdays 28.07), in the club-cafe Mam Ochotę, another presentation of two films with Jewish motifs. The screening starts at 7:30 p.m.

Radegast (60 min.)
Poland, 2008
Directed by Borys Lankosz

In 1941, over 20 thousand Jews from Western Europe were brought to the already overcrowded ghetto. For the first time in the modern world, there was a clash of communities which differed considerably in two centuries of development and the level of emancipation that completely transformed the lives of the Western Jews. The majority of the Polish Jew community treated every act of assimilation as a deviation. On the other hand, the German Jews considered standing apart from the society and upholding the Hasidic misticism a display of ignorance and backwardness.

Dowódca Edelman (58 min.)
Poland, 2008
Directed by Artur Więcek "Baron"

Marek Edelman is a member of the Jewish Bund and, after 1943, he becomes one of the leaders of the uprising in the Warsaw's ghetto; a year later, he also fights in the Warsaw Uprising. He does not leave Poland after the war but he stays as a witness of the holocaust to fight for the human rights. He takes part in the creation of the Solidarity movement in 1980. He is interned during the martial law. Edelman does not stop his activity in the independent Poland; he fights for respecting human rights in the world, having his share in NATO intervention in Kosovo... The film depicts Edelman and his personality, a man who sets boundaries of decency from his armchair whereas the world around him moves faster and faster...


And if you want more film attractions, then finish your coffee and take a walk to Pola Mokotowskie park, where at 9:45 p.m. you can watch the film Resident Evil in an open-air cinema.



And here are the films to be shown in the Iluzjon cinema:

27.07 - Monday
18:00 - La signora senza camelie (Dama bez Kamelii)
20:00 - Ladri di biciclette (Złodziej Rowerów)

28.07 - Tuesday
18:00 - Cela s’appelle l’aurore Gli amanti di domani (Jutrzenka)
20:00 - Roma, ore 11 (Rzym, Godzina 11)

29.07 - Wednesday
18:15 - Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna (Dziewczęta z Placu Hiszpańskiego)
20:00 - Le testament d’Orphée (Testament Orfeusza)

30.07 - Thursday
18:00 - Non c'é pace tra gli ulivi (Nie ma pokoju pod oliwkami)
20:00 - Otto e mezzo (Osiem i pół)

31.07 - Friday
18:00 - Cronaca di un amore(Kronika pewnej miłości)
20:00 - Seans z Filmwebem (info)

1.08 - Saturday
17:30 - Paris, Texas (Paryż, Teksas)
20:15 - Eroica

2.08 - Sunday
18:00 - La Strada
20:00 - Warszawa Walczy! cz. II / Warszawa Walczy! Exodus 15. / Powstańcze Kamery (info)

We recommend the Sunday films with uprising motifs.
_____
Monia & Krystian
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Tetka - on the Ochota Tracks

First of all, I have to disappoint those who expect this post is going to be about the car AUDI TT, commonly called Tetka (link) ;) I want to present you with a different Tetka - the tram.

The vehicle, which you can see below, is also called "berlinka". Why? It was manufactured in 1940s in Gdańsk shipyard and was supposed to be used in Warsaw, but eventually it ended up in Berlin... After a few years it returned to Poland to carry passengers from Grodzisk Mazowiecki (present Warsaw's commuting trains - WKD). Not long after that, it was delegated to run on the tramway.



Nowadays, it serves as a tourist attraction. The historic carriage is still in operation and it has become a trademark of summer time in Warsaw as a great idea for a ride at weekends in July and August. Since 1996 ZTM (Warsaw Transport Authority) along with Warsaw Trams company and the Fan Club of Public Transport have been organising rides on the historic trams that operate on a special T route. Tetka trams were different during these 13 years, but the first stop on the route was always Narutowicza square. This year, the T route is as follows:



The route will be modified on the 1.08 and 2.08 for the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising - from Gdański bridge we will go to "Radosława" roundabout, through Okopa and Towarowa streets to Zawiszy square, then along Grójecka street we will get back to Narutowicza square.

As it was mentioned before, the tram runs at weekends - it leaves every 30 min. starting at 11:05. The last carriage departs at 18:05. Choosing the ride with a guide is a brilliant idea as you can learn many fascinating facts about Ochota and Warsaw (I checked it myself, the guide is prepared to answer all the questions so well that nearly an hour-long ride on Tetka seems a fleeting moment:) ). Here are the times of rides with a guide: 12:05, 13:35, 15:05, 16:35, 18:05.

Be sure not to miss a ride on Tetka and enjoy your time.
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Kubota
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Exhibition in Mam Ochotę

Club-cafe Mam Ochotę invites you to a new exhibition of Jan Przybyszewski. Przybyszewski (born in 1983) has been interested in photography for 15 years. Between 2003-2005 he studied at the State College of Advertising. Since 2005 he has been a student of the Art of Media and Scenography department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. In 2008 he acquired his B.A. diploma. His fields of interest are: photography, fine art photography, printmaking, painting, video-art.
His works were presented in various galleries in Warsaw, namely: Galeria DAP (2006), Galeria 3A, Galeria Schody, Galeria 34 (2007), Galeria Aspekt, Galeria InfoQultura (2009). And presently in Mam Ochotę, too.


The exhibition will last 3 months, it is, of course, free of charge:)
What is more, we are pleased to inform that the official blog of Mam Ochotę cafe is in operation. Please visit the website: http://mamOchote.blogspot.com/
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Kubota (using some materials from Mam Ochotę)
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Ochota.info

Are you aware that since last Tuesday a new forum for Ochota is in operation?


The forum ochota.info aims at becoming the place for various discussions over topics related to our district. We – the residents and neighbours – do hope that this forum will allow us to integtrate more and get to know one another a lot better. The authors say that one can find information on cultural events as well as current investments and changes in Ochota. Let us make the forum thrive together!!! Your opinions are warmly welcomed!

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Kubota
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Regional Food Fair in Blue City

Not everybody knows that a very interesting fair takes place monthly in the shopping centre Blue City (map). During one of the month’s weekend we have a great opportunity to try and buy delicious regional food and drinks, or even hand-made products. The fair is situated in the main hall, with many stalls around the famous fountain.


The choice is difficult because the wonderful aroma of different types of meat and cheese, freshly-baked bread, delicious cakes and healthy fish will surely draw your attention to every stall. The reasonable solution is to give in the temptation and buy some of every product. For those of you who dislike spending their freetime in the kitchen, we recommend the visit the stalls selling marmalades, jams and other preserves. It is also a good idea to equip oneself with a fair amount of honey and liqueurs. We suggest buying delicious Polish bread and confectionery. There are, of course, Polish pierogi, ghurkins, and the traditional lard with crackling. If you already feel famished just by reading this, then visit the website and check when the next fair takes place. Bon appetite.

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Kubota
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Summer Holiday with English

Are you one of the people who do not like to waste free time? Then enroll for a language course! Surely, you will gain much from one. Here are some language schools located in Ochota district. One of them is bound to suit your needs!

WARSAW STUDY CENTRE – the school claims to be perfect for the demanding learners. It has English, Italian, Spanish and French courses on its offer. Three lessons per week, four hours each, for PLN 990. The school offers an interesting course called “Skills Pills”, which is condense knowledge on a specific topic (grammar, business English, conversations). Lessons are twice a week and last 2h with a price of PLN 379. Similarily, you can choose other courses, such as: Telephone Talks, Art of Negotiating, Better Job. If you prefer languages other than English, there should not be any problems. Here is a link to the special holiday offer.

Address: Włodarzewska 55 (map)
Telephone: 022 822 61 68
Email: szkola.wl@wc.edu.pl

LINGWISTA – a school that can boast with 50 years of tradition in teaching. The offer consists of courses in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian. Holiday courses in English and German cost PLN 500 (30h of conversations), PLN 750 for a standard course (semester material in a month, 60h). The lessons are everyday. Students can get discounts. If you wish to see the holiday offer, click here.

Address: Filtrowa 75 (map)
Telephone: 022 659 50 01 (between 4-7 p.m.)
Email: nauczanie@lingwista.pl

LINGUA NOVA – this year the school celebrates its eighteenth birthday. It is famous in Ochota from its location at Grójecka 27. Unfortunately, this particular school is closed for summer so we encourage you to check other locations of Lingua Nova. Learners can choose from two-week English courses (conversations/vocabulary) for PLN 390. The school has a very interesting division of topics, i.e. work, travels, business, pronunciation workshops, grammar revision… The lessons take place three times a week for 3h. Moreover, there is five-week course in conversations (PLN 590). This link will give you info on holiday offer.

Address: Grójecka 27 (map) (keep in mind it is closed for summer)
Telephone: 022 628 68 88
Email: kursy@linguanova.com.pl

So now all you have to do is choose the school and start learning a fancy foreign language :)

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Kubota
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Films with Jewish Motifs

The club&cafe Mam Ochotę in co-operation with the Jewish Motifs Association invites you to watch the films that were shown during the 6th International Film Festival Jewish Motifs.

The screenings start on Tuesday (7.07) and the first two films to be presented are:

Double Life (30min.)
Poland, 2008
Scriptrwiter and director: Paulina Fiejdasz

Izaak Landesdorfer’s name could be found on the famous Shindler’s list. After the war he changed it into a Polish name in order to hide his true identity. Even though 65 years have passed since the dissolution of the Cracow’s ghetto, the man, who claims he owes his life to Oscar Shindler, still does not want to reveal his true identity so that nobody associates the published memoirs with him.

And the second film:

Volunteers (54 min.)
Israel, 2008
Director: Mooly Landesman

The film poses questions about one’s identity, nationality, and the reasons behind emigrating to a foreign country. In 1960s, kibbutzim – a kind of communes, offered young people from Europe the promised land. Utopian socialism, the sun, alcohol and casual sex. Angelica, the daughter of a former Wermacht officer, becomes discontended.

We will inform you about the next propositions of films presented weekly so check our blog regularly!

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/Krystian
/szultz00@gmail.com
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Three Times Coffee in Ochota

Do you sometimes wonder where you could enjoy good coffee accompanied by friends, a good book, or a laptop?
The vicinity of Narutowicza’s square offers multiple choice to satiate your needs. Within the peculiar triangle of three streets: Grójecka-Wawelska-Raszyńska one can find up to eight cafes!
Coffee lovers can choose from a café-gallery Stara Ochota, which is furnished in a pre-war style and located at Glogera street, for a modern-looking Filtry cafe near Niemcewicza street, where available Wi-Fi network lets you decide whether to read the morning press on your computer screen or the traditional way. For all those globetrotters who seek new tastes, Filtry café offers “Travels with Espresso”, an opportunity to drink variety of coffee mixtures from different parts of the world. If coffee is not enough to make you feel as travelling, visit café Afryka in Grójecka street, where you can also buy Africa-related art. Another exotic place, at least in name, is café Caracas, which upholds the tradition of the famous café of the same name from the 1960s that was situated at Słupecka 4. Café Bugatti also has a long tradition as well as Azalia cafe, which has been refurbished recently. Both Azalia and coctail-bar Akwarium have delicious ice-cream on the menu. Perfect for this time of year. During those hot summers, one should visit Kolonia cafe, a place granted the quality sign of MaMa foundation. One more cafe, which is more suitable for business people rather than mums, Alexander is located in Sobieski hotel. Apparently, you do not have to go all the way to the centre to drink good coffee in an interesting place.

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-moni-
Tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Warsaw’s Summer Film Festival

Another edition of the open-air cinemas festival has just began in Warsaw. Filmowa Stolica Lata had its inauguration in Skaryszewski Park where cinema fans could watch a film with Charlie Chaplin from 1925 entitled “Goldrush”. To enhance the atmosphere of the evening, the band Maćko Korba (MySpace) performed live.



Just like the previous year, the festival will take place in Pola Mokotowskie Park, too. You can watch a film from the Fashionable Blockbusters series (Hity na Czasie).

07.07. - 21:45 - Underworld
14.07. - 21:45 - Jersey Girl
21.07. - 21:45 - Next
28.07. - 21:45 - Resident Evil
04.08. - 21:15 - Good Will Hunting
11.08. - 21:15 - 88 minutes
18.08. - 21:15 - Mr. & Mrs. Smith
25.08. -21:15 - The Illusionist
01.09. - 21:15 - The Next Best Thing


Pokaż OCHOTA na Wolny Czas - Filmowa Stolica Lata 2009 na większej mapie

Other days of the week are also filled with interesting screenings:

Wednesdays – Chech Comedies in Skaryszewski Park (“Ucastnici zajezdu”, “Divoke Vcely”, “Nuda v Brne”)
Thursdays – Praskie Klimaty in Praski Park (“Burn after reading”, “The Bank Job”, “Rezerwat”)
Fridays – MultimediaOFF in Saski Garden (“Konsumenci”, “Osiem w poziomie”)
Saturdays – Romantic Comedies in Bródnowski Park (“Manuale D'amore”, “In search of midnight kiss”)
Sundays – Musicals and Dance Films near Słodowiec metro station (“Fados”, “Step Up”)

What is more, there will be special presentations of historical movies in Frascati Gardens in August (“The Empress”, Goya’s ghosts”, “Gangs of New York”).

All the screenings are free of charge. All the necessary information is on the festival’s official website: www.filmowastolica.pl

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-moni-
tr@nsl@ted by Paweł Ochmański

Introduction and a Warm Welcome

Now you can finally read our blog - OCHOTA na Wolny Czas - in the English version: Free Time in OCHOTA :) It is designed for all those who prefer reading in English and those who wish to polish their language skills and at the same time keep abreast with the news from Ochota. We hope that you will enjoy this new addition to our ever-expanding blog. Keep on reading and give us your feedback.